Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, February 06, 2019

17 ON PAGE 15 - TIDE TABLES PAGE 3 AND MORE VISITOR INFORMATION: COMMUNITY CALENDAR

TOFINO-UCLUELET

Westerly

News WesterlyNews.ca

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

PROVOCATIVE MESSAGING Park Reserve unveils new animal signs

7

Housing proposal

$1.25

(including tax)

Enjoy a la carte menu featuring (Temaki Sushi’s Chef) & fres JAPANESE DISHES h seafood options.

Taste the best for as little as one plate and a glass of wine.

Reserve Now: (250) 7266122

Tofino council hears pitch from developer ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A new neighbourhood could be coming to Tofino.

Bruce Haden owns a roughly two-acre property at 565 Campbell Street and presented to Tofino’s municipal council on Thursday to test their appetite for a residential housing project.

The lot is currently zoned for two large single family residences, which Haden dubbed ‘McMansions.’

“I want to be absolutely clear; even though, oddly enough, if you do the math, this is a really desirable financial thing to do, I am never going to do this kind of thing. I have absolutely no interest in it whatsoever and I don’t think it would be good for Tofino,” Haden said of building two large homes on the site.

He said he purchased the site roughly ten years ago and has a vision to build a 74-unit townhouse development featuring two, three-storey, buildings with each consisting of one-bedroom units on the ground floor and two-storey, two-bedroom, units above as well as a storage building that would include two apartment units. He added he’s also considering creating another building of studio-style apartments to be used for staff accommodations and said that he planned to talk to local business owners to see if there would be an interest in that type of housing.

Continued on A3

FLO BESSON PHOTO

MISSOULA: Young local thespians delighted their audiences during two Missoula Children’s Theatre performances of Robin Hood in Tofino on Saturday. Missoula’s 27th annual visit to the West Coast saw roughly 60 youth from 5-18 years old building their confidence and performance skills alongside theatre professionals.

ILLEGAL DUMPING FRUSTRATES COAST

CO-OP CELEBRATED FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Event planned to clear mess

Ucluelet shop up for award

2

9

A2 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

Mid-Island Realty Tofino Independently Owned and Operated

“Here to help you live the dream…”

250-534-9842 cell | 250-725-2038 office tia @realestatetofino.ca | www.realestatetofino.ca

Illegal dumping a bane on backroads Cleanup event on Feb. 16 ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

KENNER REITE’S

SHREDDER UP

paper shredding ~ pick up / drop off PHONE: 250.724.4055 CELL: 250-816-7565 EMAIL: kennerreite@yahoo.ca

www.westerlynews.ca

RATES: 68L Tote $20 // Banker Box $10

NEWS TIP?

Call the Westerly Newsroom at

259.726.70289

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

westerlynews.ca

As part of the Federated Co-operatives Retailing system, Ucluelet Co-op is pleased to announce . . .

CO-OP IS DEDICATING

TO FUND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

APPLICATIONS NOW APPLY ONLINE: FEB. BEING 1 – MAR. 1,ACCEPTED! 2018 APPLY ONLINE: FEB. 1 – MAR. 1, 2019

Illegal dumping continues to plague Ucluelet’s backroads and frustrate local residents who will gather to clear out as much as they can on Feb. 16.

“When debris and garbage is dumped in the woods it doesn’t break down or go away, but the forest does continue to grow, making it harder to find and remove,” said Michael Lewis of Surfrider Pacific Rim. “If left, it will continue to contaminate and alter environments affecting everything from soil dwelling organisms to a curious bear out for a stroll.”

Surfrider is co-hosting a ‘Backroads Clean Up’ event alongside the Central Westcoast Forest Society on Feb. 16 to help remove the perpetually accumulating mess around Kennedy Lake.

“A lot of people may be surprised at how much is actually back there,” Lewis said adding the area is home to a diverse range of species and sensitive habitats. “Illegal dumping causes them to be exposed to dangerous pollutants and plastics at a critical development stage for our water dwelling friends…We want to empower people to take pride in the backroads and to speak up when they see this kind of behaviour in the future.”

Anyone willing to get their hands dirty cleaning up their coast can meet at the Tofino-Ucluelet junction at 11 a.m. to sign up. The event will run until 3:30 p.m and participants will be treated to a barbecue and reception hosted by Beyond the Bar and The Blue Room.

The Central Westcoast Forest Society has been hosting clean up events around Kennedy Lake for roughly seven years. The most recent one was held in November and resulted in 7,633 kilograms of garbage being removed, according to the society’s project manager Megan Francis.

“Since then, there has been quite a bit of garbage accumulated and we’ve had quite a lot of interest from the community to host another one,” Francis said adding that, while it’s unfortunate that they’re need-

CWFS PHOTO

A trailer, car and other illegally dumped garbage was removed from Kennedy Lake during a November clean up event hosted by the CWFS.

“A lot of people may be surprised at how much is actually back there.”

– Michael Lewis ed so frequently, the CWFS’ Kennedy Lake cleanups have become popular community events.

“It’s really fun, surprisingly fun, and very satisfying. It’s a very big community event.

Everyone is really excited and then, at the end of the day, you’ve done something really good for your local environment.”

This is the first time Surfrider has partnered with the CWFS on a backroads cleanup and both organizations are excited to be working together.

“We are really looking forward to working alongside their talented and passionate crew and learning from their combined experience,” Lewis said.

“There is just so many amazing non-profits operating in this region that the more we collaborate, the stronger we are, the more of an impact we can have, a larger audience we can reach,” Francis said. “It’s exciting to work with Surfrider because, not only are they interested in getting waste out of the backroads, but they are also really excited about doing proper waste management with what we collect.”

She said the debris being dumped in the area consists largely of household items like mattresses, kitchen appliances and televisions, but also includes the occasional car or trailer along with general waste associated with irresponsible lake users.

“We get a lot of fridges and freezers and things like that and a lot of them have chemicals and, as they break apart, all those chemicals are leaching into the water table,” she said adding discarded televisions, computers and appliances can blanket the forest floor with broken glass.

“There’s a bit of sloppy camping going on too. People camping out there and instead of taking their waste with them, leaving it.”

Lewis said preventing illegal dumping from happening has been a perpetual struggle and that Surfrider hopes to engage the clean up’s participants and community at large, in a conversation around how to prevent the unwelcome pop-up landfills from forming.

“In a perfect world people could just realize that they shouldn’t be doing this and just stop, dispose of their garbage correctly and through the correct channels,” he said.

Anyone with ideas around preventing illegal dumping in the area is encouraged to email their potential solutions to Surfrider’s chapter manager Lilly Woodbury at chaptermanager@pacificrim. surfrider.org.

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A3

Movie rentals go extinct in Ukee

Murray’s selling off all DVD’s

Ucluelet / Tofino midislandrealty.com

ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Since 1996, Billy Payne has looked forward to the box of new releases that arrived at his Murray’s Grocery convenience store each week.

It’s an experience he’s sad to see evaporate as the convenience store has officially announced it will no longer be renting movies.

Payne’s uncle Murray Payne opened the Peninsula Road store in 1968 and was renting movies from it prior to Billy purchasing the business in 1996. Billy’s wife Sue believes the store has rented movies for over 30 years.

“Back in the day it made pretty good money,” Billy said, adding that the arrival of high-speed fibre optic internet in 2017 was the final nail in the movie rental coffin as faster download speeds made online streaming services more palpable for West Coast residents.

“One word, Netflix,” Sue said.

Sue suggested Murray’s was “one of the last holdouts” in the vanishing movie rental industry and added that the store offered a unique one-stop-shop movie night experience where families could pick a movie along with an assortment of treats to enjoy while watching it.

“It’s an institution with Murray’s.

Everybody knew us for goodies and movies. So that’s a big part of us that we’re losing and it’s sad,” she said.

MID ISLAND REALTY 250-726-2228 250-725-2038

TIDES & WEATHER 7 Days Tidal Predictions Provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Ucluelet THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2019 TIDE 02:07 07:47 13:45 20:12

Metres 3.1 1.4 3.3 0.7

Feet 10.2 4.6 10.8 2.3

4°/2°

Morning rain

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2019 TIDE 02:37 08:23 14:21 20:41

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

Billy and Sue Payne are sad to be saying, good bye to the movie rental portion of their Murray’s Grocery business in Ucluelet.

“One word, Netflix.”

– Sue Payne Billy added that the news was sad for customers who had enjoyed the now-retro experience.

“We’ve had a lot of people down here that have said, ‘Thank you very much for having the movies here for all this time so we can come down with our kids and our kids can have the experience of renting a movie,’” he said. “That’s the main thing, the comradery between your customers and what

you’re providing them…It’s very sad.”

Murray’s clerk Kyle Deakin said movie rentals were popular amongst tourists as well and that he’ll miss interacting with customers coming in to rent DVD’s, as well as renting them himself.

“For me, it’s the experience.

It’s just fun to look at all of the different covers and decide on a movie,” he said. “There’s a noticeable difference between standing in front of a wall and seeing physical copies as opposed to scrolling on the Internet.”

Sue added that Murray’s fre-

quently supported local community events and fundraisers by offering up free DVD’s and rentals for prizes and auctions.

“We gave to just about everybody,” she said. “And, movies were always a good thing. People would always bid on movies. So, that’s one support that we can no longer give to the community which, again, is sad.”

Murray’s current movie inventory is all up for sale and the Paynes said they are still determining what to do with the space that will open up along the wall that once housed movies.

Metres 3.1 1.4 3.2 0.9

Feet 10.2 4.6 10.5 3.0

4°/-2°

Mostly cloudy

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2019 TIDE 03:07 09:03 14:59 21:11

Metres 3.1 1.4 3 1

Feet 10.2 4.6 9.8 3.3

2°/-1° Clearing

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2019 TIDE 03:40 09:47 15:42 21:45

Metres 3.1 1.4 2.8 1.2

Feet 10.2 4.6 9.2 3.9

2°/-1°

Cloudy; windy; cold

MONDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2019 TIDE 04:18 10:40 16:35 22:25

Metres 3.1 1.4 2.6 1.4

Feet 10.2 4.6 8.5 4.6

7°/-2°

Afternoon rain

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2019

Developer has big plans for Gibson St. From A1 He said he is in negotiations with B.C. Housing to have some of the units sold as low-income housing, but wanted to hear council’s thoughts before he moved forward.

“We want to move the stones one at a time. If you’re interested in this, then we would go into much more serious discussions with B.C. Housing. If you’re not interested in it at all, then we wouldn’t. It’s kind of that straight forward,” he said.

He said his two-acre site includes 500 linear-feet of frontage along Gibson Road, which he believes is in need of an aesthetic upgrade.

“We think that Gibson should become an active street edge. It should actually be a small town open street,” he said. “We do believe that the quality and character of Gibson should be transformed.”

“We do believe that the quality and character of Gibson should be transformed.”

– Bruce Haden He added that he wants the project to include a “green social heart,” which would include landscaped green areas and communal gathering spaces for residents.

He noted that the project might require some leniency around Tofino’s parking requirements to accommodate the units and greenspaces “Parking is a real issue in Tofino, I’m not ever going to be easy about that. I just don’t want to have a site that’s just parking,” he said.

“The more space you have for cars, the less space you have for greenspace. It’s just that straight forward.”

He said the project would utilize modular construction and would be built in phases, through possible consultation with B.C. Housing.

Tofino’s council seemed warm to Hayden’s idea and did not raise any ardent red flags out of the gate.

“I don’t see any show stoppers,” said Tofino mayor Josie Osborne.

She questioned what the density of the units might feel like on the site and the reaction residents might have to the proposal, but suggested the site’s location made the proposed density and potential decrease in parking requirements more tolerable.

“There’s a lot of appeal to me about densifying that part of our

community, as opposed to compromising maybe some of the rural outlying areas of Tofino,” she said.

“To my mind, if you’re going to relax parking standards, the place to do that is really downtown.”

Tofino’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers cautioned that if Haden was to submit an official application for the project, district staff would be requesting a consultant to review it as staff would not have time to conduct a thorough review within Haden’s requested timeline.

“This is a giant project for Tofino,” he said. “It’s very complicated from our perspective on a sophistication level, working with BC Housing and all the other pieces that are going to have to move; that’s going to take focused attention.”

TIDE 05:03 11:44 17:46 23:17

Metres 3.1 1.4 2.5 1.6

Feet 10.2 4.6 8.2 5.2

7°/-3°

Morning flurries

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2019 TIDE 05:57 12:59 19:16

Metres 3.1 1.2 2.4

Feet 10.2 3.9 7.9

8°/1°

Mostly cloudy

www.460realty.com

A4 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

OPINION

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News is published every Wednesday

by Black Press Ltd. 102-1801 Bay St., Ucluelet Phone: 250-726-7029

www.westerlynews.ca

B.C. VIEWS

Government resumes taxing, spending to battle poverty Some brief updates for you today, starting with the Nanaimo by-election that was won comfortably by the NDP to retain its two-vote governing edge in the B.C. legislature.

I will spare you the horse-race commentary and backroom strategy that fill TV newscasts. What matters now is that the minority government carries on with its agenda, preparing a budget for Feb. 19 that will feature the NDP’s long-awaited poverty reduction plan. That budget requires the support of the three-member B.C. Greens, but it’s the only vote in the near future where Premier John Horgan puts his government on the line.

And it means more spending and likely more intervention in the housing market.

Housing was the overwhelming response to the government’s poverty plan consultation last year. The NDP has moved ahead with renter protection measures, limiting annual rent increases

to inflation and urgent repair costs their homes and secondary properties. only, and making it more difficult to My thanks to Simon Fraser Unipush tenants out to upgrade buildversity public policy professor Josh ings. This is popular with people who Gordon for pointing out a major error demand “universal basic housing” in my column on this two weeks ago.

He points out that it’s not just targetand such Utopian socialist goals. One problem with this kind of regulation ing empty homes, but those occupied is that it deters construction of supply by “satellite families” who pay little or Tom Fletcher that meets the demand. Moving to a no B.C. and Canadian income tax, new or renovated home brings a lowbut use subsidized health, school and er-priced unit onto the market. The NDP doesn’t transportation services. Most don’t pay the 15 per talk much about unclogging local government cent Metro Vancouver foreign buyer tax because barriers to building, preferring to spend more they are permanent residents or citizens, Gordon on taxpayer-subsidized housing while squeezing says. The speculation tax captures them, working as a backstop for an income tax system that property owners to pay for it.

• This brings me back to the “speculation and assumes residents work and pay income taxes empty homes tax,” for which 1.6 million urban where they live. In total, about 32,000 people B.C. property owners are now being notified of are expected to end up paying the tax, starting the requirement to register and state the status of this year. Those who own secondary properties

occupied by relatives or others paying reduced rent will find their situation isn’t as simple as the finance ministry would like us to believe.

• Paying more taxes isn’t popular with anyone, especially when the ability of the province to prevent it from being wasted is shaken by events such as the B.C. legislature spending scandal.

B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson is attempting to move past the finger-pointing with a 20-point plan to clean up that reputation, as police and auditors probe the secrecy and apparent abuses by top legislature management, revealed

by Speaker Darryl Plecas.

No one should object to his call for clear salary caps and expense disclosure for the speaker, clerk and sergeant-at-arms, and an end to decades of “Commonwealth governance” trips to exotic locales.

Read more at www.WesterlyNews.ca

Who We Are: Peter McCully - Publisher Peter.McCully@WesterlyNews.ca 250-905-0018 Andrew Bailey - Editor Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca 250-726-7029 Nora O’Malley Advertising / Multi-Media Journalist Nora.Omalley@WesterlyNews.ca 250-726-7029

Annual Subscription Rates: Local Area Local Area Seniors Canada United States

$75.18 $63.91 $84.56 $155.18

To subscribe call: 250-726-7029

Deadlines:

Display Advertising Friday 2:00pm office@westerlynews.ca Classified Advertising Monday 10:00am classifieds@westerlynews.ca 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.

Letters:

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.

E-mail: Andrew.Bailey@westerlynews.ca Deadline: Sunday at 2 p.m.

LORNE PRIESTLEY PHOTO

Ucluelet resident Lorne Priestley snapped this photo of a kingfisher that was recently rescued after crashing into a window. Priestley said fellow Ucluetian Robert Edy located the bird and kept it warm and safe from predators while it recuperated. The bird recovered within two hours and flew away. Priestley said he often sees this kingfisher along Ucluelet’s harbourside “watching for its lunch to swim by.” Do you have a photo you’d like to share? Send it to us at Andrew.Bailey@WesterlyNews.ca.

The Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, a division of Black Press, respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available by calling 250-905-0018. The contents of this newspaper are protected by copyright and may be used only for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Question of the week

Have you participated in a volunteer cleanup event in the past year?

Vote at the Westerly News Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/WesterlyNews or Call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

on our Twitter feed @WesterlyNews

Last week’s question Would you support building a new gymnasium in Tofino?

YES 48%

NO 52%

LETTERS

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

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 Westerly retains the right not to publish submissions.

TRENDING ONLINE

TRENDING ONLINE

FOOD BANK ON THE EDGE SOCIETY ASKS FOR NEW FACILITY: It would make sense to get the food bank above the very low lying location. In case of, you know, a tsunami.

John McDiarmid

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A5

UKEE NOMINATED FOR SMALL BUSINESS B.C. AWARD: So proud of this!!!!

Awesome!!!

Yessss. The communities need to support this!! They do so much for all of our communities.

Laurie Gehrke

Every Ad You Place Runs in Print and Online

Debbie Vance

UCLUELET CULINARY CLUB IN THE WORKS:

Carla Anderson It was ready to fall down when they moved into it...

Catherine Speechley-Pell Thank you, everyone, for your support. The Food Bank volunteers will be attending the first night of business for the Floathouse [Feb. 13]. We don’t want to miss out on the FUN!! And, great FOOD!! Hope to see everyone there. Cheers!

Food Bank on the Edge

Love this so much!

Great news.

Yes!!!

Lyvier Rivera Meikle Kathy De Vries Sharryn Modder

YOUR VIEWS www.facebook.com/WesterlyNews 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.

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

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

#102-1801 Bay Street, Ucluelet

formal complaint, visit the web site at mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

GENERATING INCOME WITH A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS extended hours for rrsp & tfsa investors

canada’s popular income investment

*

rrsp - tfsa - cash • 8.03% Compounded GROWTH • $1,000 minimum investment

• Income or Growth option • 1-month redemption option

Call 250.382.9255 or visit us online at fisgard.com/investments

During February we will be open Saturdays 8:30 - 5:00 and evenings by appointment.

Based on Fisgard Capital II Corp A-5 Investment

asset management corporation

Investing in Canadian mortgages for 25 years

*net cash and compounded growth return is exactly what fisgard investors received after deduction of all expenses. all rates based on fisgard capital ii corp. a-5 investment.

Before considering an investment please request a copy of Fisgard’s Offering Memorandum that details risk. Mortgage investments are not guaranteed, returns may fluctuate and past performance may not be repeated.

A6 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

FEBRUARY SAVINGS SALE FEBRUARY 6 - 13, 2019

BEST PRICING EVER oN SALT! WE ARE oVER SToCkEd! 44lbs Natural Ice Melter Safe for Concrete

Arctic Eco Green Ice Melter Concrete/Plants/Pets/Kid Safe 10lb

22lb

Snow pusher, 21” poly blade, steel wear strip

44lb

WAS $34.99 Each

WAS $7.99 Each WAS $15.99 Each WAS $29.99 Each

WAS $29.99 Each

$28.88

$5.88 $11.88 $19.88

$18.88

NOW!

NOW!

EA.

NOW!

EA.

#0721043

#0760010

10kg 1420

NOW!

NOW!

EA.

#0760021

EA.

EA.

#0760043

#4535456

Snow pusher, 30’’ poly blade

Windsor Safe-T-Salt 5.4kg 7821

Clean Burn Wood Pellets

20kg 1416

40lB BAg, Fir only, BurnS ClEAnEr And HottEr

WAS $7.99 Each WAS $10.99 Each WAS $13.99 Each

WAS $34.99 Each

WAS $6.99 Bag

$6.88 $6.88 $9.88

$22.88

$6.58

NOW!

NOW!

EA.

#1903699

#4206025

NOW!

NOW!

EA.

EA.

NOW!

/BAG

EA.

#4206033

#WP

#7070774

Cedar

Presto Logs

Great for shelving and other home projects!

GYPROC

5lB - BurnS ClEAn, long lASting

5/4”x12”x10’ Cedar

1/2” 4’X8’

WAS $1.49 Each

WAS $19.99 Each

WAS $18.24 PCE

$1.28

$17.98

$16.24

NOW!

NOW!

NOW!

EA.

EA.

#PRESTO

ALL POWER OOLS TOOLS

PCE

#541210C

#GYP1248

Certainteed Insulation

Roxul Comfortbatt r14x15 59.7 sq

was $44.89 Each r12-15 88.1 sq ft

NOW! $3088 #r1215g

r22x15 39.8 sq

was $45.99 Each

88 NOW! $43 #roXul2216

EACH

r20-15 48.9 sq ft

was $31.29 Bag

OFF

88 NOW! $41 #roXul1416

EACH

was $33.88 Bag

BAG

15%

No RAIN ChECkS.

88 NOW! $27 #r2015g

BAG

roxul Safe n Sound 3x15x47 insulation 59.7 sq. ft.

was $49.69 Each

NOW! $4588 #Stud47

EACH

SENIORS DAY EVERY SUNDAY 15% OFF *Some restrictions apply

250.724.1291

4643 Gertrude Street | www.beavercreekhomecenter.com Mon - Fri: 7:30 am - 5:30 pm • Sat: 8:00 am -5:30 pm • Sunday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm SENIORS DAY EVERY SUNDAY 15% OFF SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

PROFILE

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A7

Do you have something to say?

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

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

Parks Canada installed this new, $33,000 billboard on the Pacific Rim Highway to highlight the impacts irresponsible Park Reserve users can have on local wildlife. Smaller signs have also been installed throughout the area.

Park Reserve installs ‘provocative’ billboard ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A provocative new billboard that features a predator chewing on plastic is earning some much needed attention along the Pacific Rim Highway.

The large sign shows a troubling image of a water bottle being clenched between a coastal wolf’s teeth next to the words ‘Human food kills wildlife.’

“It was definitely meant to be somewhat thought provoking. It’s a pretty intense image,” said the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve’s human-wildlife conflict specialist Todd Windle.

“Hopefully it makes people think a little bit.”

The billboard is supplemented by roughly 25 smaller signs being installed throughout the Park Reserve to hammer home the message that leaving food unattended or feeding wildlife, leads to death.

“Keeping wildlife wild is a shared responsibil-

You’ll find the Westerly News every Wednesday at the following locations:

“It’s a pretty intense image,”” – Todd Windle ity. Everybody has a role in that,” Windle said.

He added the smaller signs include information around how to coexist with local wildlife and what to do if you come upon a predator.

“We really tried to keep it simple,” he said.

“There is a lot of messaging about wildlife but it starts with the basic of just letting people know that wolves, cougars and bears are here.”

He said the signs are part of a multi-faceted approach the Park Reserve is taking to educate its visitors on co-existing with wildlife.

“Until these signs have gone up, it’s been hard to find information on-site anywhere.

Everything else has been, kind of, web-based or through other programs, which are also wonderful, but there was a bit of a void there so this is filling that gap,” he said.

AHOUSAHT Ahousaht General Store TOFINO Beaches Grocery, Green Soul Organics, LA Grocery, Long Beach Gas & Go, Tofino Co-op, Tofino Co-op Gas Bar, Tofino Pharmacy

He added that the new signs are also the start of a five-year ‘Wild about Wolves’ project aimed at promoting coexistence and reducing conflict between people and wolves.

“We’re really looking at a multifaceted, multidimensional approach, so looking at some of the classical ecological dimensions that contribute but also looking at what we call the human dimensions so people’s beliefs, attitudes and values around wolves,” he said.

“We’re also working with First Nations elders on traditional knowledge and what they can share and teach us, because they’ve been coexisting with wolves for thousands of years.

We’re pretty excited to get going on this project.

I think it’s extremely timely and needed.”

Windle acknowledged that there has been a troubling rise in wildlife interactions, particularly involving wolves, in recent years and said the Park Reserve is focused on increasing awareness and knowledge among visitors to

UCLUELET Barry’s Pharmacy, Blackberry Cove Market, Murray’s Grocery, Harbourview Drugstore, Petro Canada Store, Ucluelet Co-op, Ucluelet Co-op Gas Bar, Westerly News office.

cut down on the attractants that can lead to habituation among the species.

“Ecologically they’re a very important species.

They’re a keystone predator. They help keep the ecosystem in check. They’re a symbol of wilderness and part of why people want to live here and come here as tourists to have that wild feel. Spiritually and culturally, wolves are a significant species to the Nuu chah nulth Nations and to non Nuu chah nulth people as well,” he said. “They’re amazing animals on so many different levels and, certainly from the National Park Reserve’s perspective, the maintenance of ecological integrity and the restoration of ecological integrity is a primary part of our mandate, so it’s important for us.”

The highway billboard cost the Park Reserve roughly $33,000 and the creation and installation of the roughly 25 smaller signs cost approximately $1,500 per sign, according to Parks Canada spokesperson Laura Judson.

Dealer sales & subscription enquiries welcome.

250-726-7029 office@ westerlynews.ca

westerlynews.ca

A8 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Liquor Primary Transfer of Location Application Notice Notice is hereby given that the District of Ucluelet Council will be considering a Liquor Primary Transfer of Location Application at its Regular Council Meeting at the Ucluelet Community Centre, located at 500 Matterson Drive, Ucluelet B.C., on February 12th, 2019 commencing at 2:30 p.m.

As part of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) review process, the District of Ucluelet is responsible for gathering the views of nearby residents and businesses. The District of Ucluelet Council must then submit a recommendation to the LCRB on whether the application should be approved or not.

The mandatory considerations for this Liquor Primary Transfer of Location Application are: • The location of the establishment.

• The person capacity and hours of liquor service of the establishment.

The District of Ucluelet Council is to provide the LCRB with a resolution commenting on: • The impact of noise on nearby residents.

• The impact on the community if the application is approved.

• The view of residents and a description of the method used to gather views.

• The District’s recommendations (including whether or not the application be approved) and the reasons on which they are based.

Application Details: • The transfer of the liquor licence for 466442 BC LTD, Archipelago Cruises, from its current docking location at 1634 Cedar Road to its new docking location at 1943 Peninsula Road.

NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO

Anyone who believes this application will affect their interests will be given an opportunity to be heard at the February 12th Meeting. Inquiries and comments may also be directed to the District of Ucluelet’s Planning Department by telephone at 250-726-7744 or email: jtowgood@ucluelet.ca. Written submissions may also be mailed to the District of Ucluelet, P.O. Box 999, Ucluelet B.C., V0R 3AO, or faxed to 250-726-7335 but must be received before the commencement of the Council Meeting. A copy of the application and other relevant information may be inspected at the District of Ucluelet office at 200 Main Street from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays except statutory holidays.

Every Ad You Place Runs in Print and Online

westerlynews.ca

will be sharing all of her fashion secrets, every Friday across the Black Press Media network!

Style by Kim XO will be the star of Fashion Fridays only available on the Life channel across Black Press Media websites.

Kim Appelt will give style tips and ideas to help you look your very best.

Community funding for local nonprofits NORA O’MALLEY nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Call 250.726.7029 or email nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

One of Canada’s top stylists

SURFRIDER SUCCESS: Surfrider volunteer Clint Mack shows off his certificate for completing the Foundations for Chapter Leaders curriculum in association with SFU - Surfrider Foundation University. The environmental nonprofit held a fun-filled AGM on Jan. 30 at the Tofino Botanical Gardens with standing room only crowd in attendance to celebrate the successes of 2018.

WATCH FOR IT EVERY FRIDAY!

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust’s annual granting cycle is underway.

Multiple granting streams are available for local projects that boost the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region, and a full rundown of funding opportunities can be found at clayoquotbiosphere.org/discover-our-grants/.

Applications for grants up to $5,000 in the Arts & Culture, Youth & Education, Community Development, Research & Education streams are due Feb. 28. Funding proposals in the Vital Grants and Biosphere Research Award categories are due Mar. 7.

“It’s exciting to see organizations and communities working together to achieve all aspects of sustainability. We’re looking for ideas to come forward from communities, organizations, and individuals,” said the CBT’s executive director Rebecca Hurwitz.

In 2018, the CBT provided over $245,000 in grants to more than 60 projects and scholarships, notes Hurwitz.

“We have a similar budget for this year,” she said.

Vital Grants, a new stream of partnership funding that was launched last year to address regional priorities and complex challenges, will once again be offered.

“We’re really excited to offer that program again this year. Last year we had four awards and we’re expecting a similar number of awards this year with an $80,000 budget,” said Hurwitz.

We’re focusing on partnerships because we believe it’s important for folks to work between communities, between organizations, and between cultures in order to address our greatest needs.”

CBT will also launch a new stream of funding in the spring called ‘Neighbourhood Green Grants’, according to Hurwitz.

“It will build on the success of the Neighbourhood Small Grants funding and apply that to a environmental sustainability focus.”

Co-op Community Spaces is now accepting grant applications from registered nonprofits or charities interested in building new green spaces, community gardens, interpretative centres or playgrounds for their neighbourhood.

Capital funding between $25,000 and $150,000 is available per project. Community Spaces funding categories include Recreation, Environmental Conservation, and Urban Agriculture.

“It’s free money. There is $2 million worth of funding to be had. For example, Victoria won $75,225 for a floating boardwalk,” said Ucluelet Co-op general manager Laurie Gehrke, adding that Victoria applied in the Environmental Conservation category.

The Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary in Victoria is home to many native plants and animals and features more than 1,000 feet of floating boardwalks, which are used as outdoor classrooms, notes the Community Spaces website. The Nature Sanctuary installed a new aluminum boardwalk to increase safety and allow the organization to deliver more educational services.

“We encourage anyone in our communities that run a nonprofit organization that fall into those funding categories to apply,” she said.

“We’re encouraging everybody. Get on [the website] and start writing your grant now.”

Qualified organizations are encouraged to visit communityspaces.ca to apply.

Deadline for grant submissions is Mar. 1, 2019.

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A9

Ukee Co-op nominated for sustainability award NORA O’MALLEY nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Green steps taken by the Ucluelet Co-op haven’t gone unnoticed by Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) of Western Canada.

The small town grocer was recently nominated by the massive Co-operative Retailing System for a sustainability award. General manager Laurie Gehrke and board president Gordon Dunsmore will travel to Saskatoon at the beginning of March for the awards ceremoLaurie Gehrke ny, joining representatives from over 200 retail co-operatives in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

This is the first award the Ucluelet Co-op has ever been nominated for by the FCL, according Gehrke.

“It’s a pretty big deal for us. It’s a good thing,” she said. “Co-op is rocking it.”

In the spring of 2017, Ucluelet Co-op teamed up with Surfrider Pacific Rim Foundation to phase out single-use plastic bags at the till. They replaced the plastic bag option with free cardboard boxes, paper bags for ten cents or reusable cloth bags for one dollar.

“There has been push back for sure. Every step of the way there is going to be push back,” said Gehrke. “People thought it was a money grab, but it’s not. If anything it’s costing us more.”

In the summer of 2018, Ucluelet Co-op became the first business in B.C. to own a food waste digester. Dubbed ‘EGOR™’, the machine can process up to 500-pounds of

WESTERLY FILE PHOTO

Back in August, Ucluelet Co-op staff joined representatives from Eco-Growth Environmental and Assured Renewables for a hands-on training session. The team learned how to use their new food waste converter and what they can and can’t throw in the machine. organic waste per day, including items like coffee cups, wooden stir sticks, bamboo cutlery, and even small bones and deep fryer grease.

Gehrke said, much like nixing plastic bags, the transition to using the new green technology wasn’t straight and it wasn’t easy.

“Because we’re the first out here, we’ve had issues. We’ve cooked the motor in it twice,” she said.

The support of the board and staff make staying optimistic and on top of the changes much simpler, Gehrke notes.

“We need to take care of where we live and a lot of the members feel the same way. Most

of our members are surfers, hikers, and environmentalists who really love this area so you have to protect it,” she said.

Surfrider chapter manager Lilly Woodbury said they are thrilled about the Ucluelet Coop’s nomination.

“Our relationship with the Ucluelet Co-op has been instrumental to our efforts since they led the way in eliminating plastic straws and bags, and through these actions, they demonstrated this change was achievable to this region’s business community. The Ucluelet Co-op continues to green their practices, from water conservation to composting and di-

verting waste from landfill. Through their dedication to sustainability, we know that the Ucluelet Co-op is a key partner in creating a single-use plastic free Ocean Friendly Corridor by 2022,” said Woodbury in an email to the Westerly.

Also worth noting is the reclamation car wash at the Ucluelet Co-op gas bar.

“It re-uses the water,” said gas bar manager Michelle Martin, adding that the sustainable car wash was installed about six years ago.

“We just felt it was a good way to save. You’re not using the District’s water and that. We just try to help out how we can,” she said.

Career fair matches people with opportunities KARL YU reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

Recruiters will be looking for all kinds of experience levels and personality traits at this week’s Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair in Comox.

Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens will be there actively recruiting empathetic salespeople.

The Cedar-based company has an opening and is hoping to speak to qualified and interested candidates, according to branch manager Darryl Grossauer.

“The position title is a family services director, so we help families mostly with pre-arrangements of cemetery. We also help with the funeral,” said Grossauer.

“If the candidate fits the bill, we may move them on to our at-need team where they’ll help families who have just lost someone. That takes a little bit more qualification than just anybody applying for an entry-level, but once they’re trained up on the pre-need, we find suitable individuals to put [there].”

In terms of necessary skills, Gros-

“Anybody who’s been in a position where they were counselling before, where they were doing any work with seniors or other vulnerable people, that’s always good as well, because we know they know how to approach the subject.”

Representatives from Vancouver Island University will also be at the event.

“We’re there to connect with potential students and help them find the right program for them,” Rob Barcelos, VIU recruitment officer said in an e-mail.

“Often people will approach us and say, ‘I really like doing X, but I don’t know if there’s a program to help me do that.’ That’s where we can help.

“At these fairs, we’ll see a lot of people looking for new opportunities or training opportunities. On top of our degree programs, we offer quick BLACK PRESS PHOTO turn-around certificates, diplomas The Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair goes Feb. 7 in Comox and Vancouver Island University will have a booth set up there. and trades programs.”

The Black Press Extreme Education and Career Fair takes place Thursday, sauer said it’s not so much about skills compassion, patience,” he said. “It we look for when we’re looking at a Feb. 7, at 19 Wing Comox, Station as it is about character traits. is an asset to have sales or customer resumé, is someone whose dealt with Main, Lazo Road in Comox, from “Definitely [a] personable character, service skills. That is typically what the public before.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A10 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

You’ll find the Westerly News every Wednesday at the following locations: AHOUSAHT Ahousaht General Store TOFINO Beaches Grocery Green Soul Organics LA Grocery Long Beach Gas & Go Tofino Co-op Tofino Co-op Gas Bar Tofino Pharmacy UCLUELET Barry’s Pharmacy Blackberry Cove Market Murray’s Grocery Harbourview Drugstore Petro Canada Store Ucluelet Co-op Ucluelet Co-op Gas Bar Westerly News Office Dealer Sales and Subscription Enquiries Welcomed at

250.726.7029 office@westerlynews.ca

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

SURPRISE SNOWFALL: Ucluelet’s first snowfall of the year had local kids seeking frosty fun on Sunday. From left, Grace Henry, 6, Tianna Henry, 9, Mackenzee Moore, 11, and Chloe Moore, 9, had sleds in hand as they stomped through the snow around Ucluelet Secondary School.

Tofino wolf sighting delights ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Sandra Riches is still in awe of a breathtaking encounter she had with a coastal grey wolf in Tofino last week.

“It took me totally off guard and it really shocked me. I felt really fortunate that I was having this opportunity just one on one, because there was nobody else on the beach. It was just the two of us, so it felt like a moment of a lifetime,” she told the Westerly News on Sunday.

“I was just mesmerized and felt really struck by the whole experience…It was really special for me.”

Riches spotted the animal alone on MacKenzie Beach around 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 29 while exploring her surroundings outside Tofino’s Ocean Village Resort and was thrilled to capture the experience on video.

“I put on my phone and decided to video myself walking down the boardwalk there and as I was walking towards the beach I saw something come out of the corner of the left hand of the screen,” she said. “I just felt really fortunate and honoured to see such a healthy creature in its environment.”

Riches said she has enjoyed many wildlife sightings in the over 25 years she’s spent in outdoor recreation management, but the Tofino wolf stands out among them.

“This adds to the list and I’d say it’s right at the top,” she said adding that she never felt scared of the animal.

“I felt comfortable and more in the moment than probably I have been in a while…No fear at all. That didn’t even cross my mind.”

She posted her wolf encounter online and the video was shared widely around social media, including by Tofino mayor Josie Osborne who posted

“It was really special for me.”

– Sandra Riches the video to her ‘Tofino mayor’ Facebook page and urged residents to use the encounter as a reminder to be aware of the wildlife around them.

“Here’s a very visual reminder that we are living amongst wildlife,” Osborne wrote. “That’s the time of day I am often walking my dog on a local beach, how about you? Please, take good care of your domestic animals AND the wild animals by keeping your pets close, under control, and leashed.”

WildSafeBC also shared the video and encouraged West Coast visitors and residents to check out wildsafebc.com for information around avoiding conflicts with wildlife.

“The wolf behaved like a wild and wary wolf. It avoided the encounter by quickly returning to the forest before the visitor realized the animal was wolf,” the post read. “When encountering wolves, keep your distance and do not run. If a wolf approaches you, be assertive and discourage it from approaching further.”

Riches coordinates AdventureSmart in B.C. and was visiting the West Coast to meet with Parks Canada around preventing incidents around shorelines.

“We’re all about outdoor safety, personal preparedness and situational awareness,” she said. “It’s about incident prevention and how we can be prepared and safe.”

She added that she was happy to share her experience and video with Parks Canada staff, who were pleased to see the wolf showed no signs of habituation.

“He sensed me or saw me because he stopped and, as you can see in the

video, he kind of glanced in my direction and then turned and went back where he came from. So, from Parks Canada’s perspective he did exactly what he should have. He didn’t act habituated or anything of the sort,” she said.

She said her encounter shows the importance of researching locations before exploring them.

“We can be ‘adventure smart’ in many ways. We can be prepared with gear, but mentally we can be prepared as well and that can really get us through situations,” she said.

“This was a once in a lifetime chance, but there are signs posted throughout your community of the wildlife in the area and that’s my responsibility to educate myself about what’s in the area…Do your own homework before you head out so that you are aware of wildlife situations.”

She said AdventureSmart is working closely with Parks Canada on preventing incidents and promoting the CoastSmart program to help locals and visitors stay safe around West Coast shorelines. The group is hoping local businesses can help deliver CoastSmart messaging to visitors this summer and asks anyone interested in helping spread the safety messaging to reach out to her at bccoordinator@ adventuresmart.ca or 1-604-671-2241.

“We’re trying to primarily work closely with the outfitters, so that they can help us increase awareness to the visitors of town,” she said. “If anyone is interested in partnering up with us, we’re here for you. We’d love to get this ball rolling. We’ve got it started and the more people the merrier that can jump on board.”

Watch Riches wolf encounter at www.WesterlyNews.ca.

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A11

800-year-old tree to become UN project Pole to honour Year of Indigenous Languages NICOLE CRESCENZI nicole.crescenzi@vicnews.com

An 800-year-old tree that’s been lying in the woods near Bamfield for over 50 years will now get a second life as a part of a UN project.

The Huu-ay-aht People gifted the 40,000-pound red cedar to the First Nations Education Foundation (FNEF). It will be taken to Port Alberni and carved by master carver, Tim Paul, into a Language Revitalization Pole in recognition of the UN 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages. Upon completion, the pole will be moved to a prominent site at the University of Victoria.

The entire moving and carving process – including story telling, teaching and community involvement – will be documented in photo and film. This footage will be used in tool kits for distribution to the 11,000 UNESCO Associated School Network in over 180 countries to teach people about Indigenous culture and language.

“Recording, filming and documenting the language and stories… it was never that easy for our people.

That’s not the way the Indigenous people were, ” said Les Doiron, chief executive officer of the FNEF and elected president of the Ucluelet First Nation.

“There are threats facing Indigenous languages around the world, and there’s an urgent need to ad-

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY FIRST NATIONS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Master Nuu-Chah-Nulth carver Tim Paul (Left) and Edward Johnson Jr., program manager for Huu-ay-aht First Nation, stood near an 800-year-old felled tree near Bamfield. Paul will carve the tree into a new Language Revitalization Pole for the UN 2019 Year of Indigenous languages. vance reconciliation and to preserve and promote language and culture through innovative solutions.

Doiron said the First Nations peoples of the West Coast were always visual story tellers, and that totems are traditionally sacred additions to the family.

“A totem tells a story, you erect it and it’s there for the world to see and view,” Doiron said. “This pole will not only help bring a shift the Canadian mindset, but be available whether you’re a student at UVic or a tourist traveling to see it.”

Nuu-chah-nulth artist Tim Paul

has chosen stories and themes which help explain the bonds between language and art. It will encompass 10 relatives of the Nuu-chah-nulth people: the sky, sun, moon, mountains, rivers, lakes, land, sea, wind and stars.

“He will also add an eleventh rel-

ative: the earthquake, sent to teach humility and remind human beings of the all-encompassing power of the Creator,” Doiron said.

The Language Revitalization Pole will stand 70 feet tall when complete, with a target completion date of November 2019.

Support your

Ucluelet Volunteer SupportFire your Brigade Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade Take your sweetheart out for

Valentine’s Dinner Tuesday, February 14 Valentine’ s Dinner Take your sweetheart out for Join us at

Thursday,February February Matterson House1414 Tuesday, Joinus us at Restaurant Join at First Seating at 5pm Heartwood Kitchen Matterson House

1682Peninsula Peninsula Road, Ucluelet 1682 Rd, Ucluelet Restaurant Seating at Call 5pm • Please Reservations First Required 250.726.2200 Peninsula Ucluelet Enjoy1682 a wonderful eveningRd, while the volunteer firefighters serve dinner and help in the

7425987

7425987

• Please Call 250.726.2200 Reservations kitchenRequired to raise funds for the brigade.

Enjoy a wonderful evening while&the volunteer Thanks once again to Jennifer Sandy at firefighters serve dinner andthis helpfundraiser. in the Proudly supported by Matterson House for supporting kitchen to raise funds for the brigade.

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

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

SPECIAL EVENTS Saturday, Feb. 9 15 at the

$

door

REGULAR EVENTS GAMES & SOCIAL FRIDAYS 4-9pm • Drop in Pool, Ping Pong, Foosball, Darts INDUSTRY NIGHT TUESDAYS No cover, drink specials DART LEAGUE TUESDAYS 7-9pm 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.

TALKING ABOUT CANNABIS CAN GO MANY WAYS PRACTICEKIDS.CA

A12 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

WEEKLY CROSSWORD

PUZZLE #19211

SUDOKU

GAMES & PUZZLES SU192060

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!

HOROSCOPE CLUES ACROSS 1. Got paid 7. Sets free 13. Domestic hybrid cattle 14. Quality of one’s character 16. Doctor’s helper 17. Not holding back 19. Type of degree 20. Short but severe 22. 007’s creator 23. Linguistics icon 25. Large integers 26. Upset 28. Former 29. Peyton’s younger brother 30. An Irish dance 31. Title of respect 33. Small lump 34. Baroque musical instrument 36. The third sign of the zodiac 38. The 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabet 40. A group of nine 41. Garment 43. Capital of Yemen 44. One point south of due east 45. Drain 47. Moved quickly 48. Bar bill 51. An idiot 53. Indicates silence 55. Protein-rich liquids 56. Samoan monetary units

30. Toilets 58. “__ your i’s, cross your 32. “Life of Jesus” theologian t’s” 35. A big deal on Wall St. 59. Forms the bottom 37. Western Thai people 60. Potato state 38. Free from contamination 61. Toy that spins around 39. Type of dog 64. Barium 42. Revolver 65. Type of molding 43. High schoolers’ exam 67. Closes again 46. San Diego ballplayers 69. Sounds the same 47. Hit the sack 70. Come into view 49. Suitable for crops CLUES DOWN 50. Red mineral 1. Nix 52. Yellowish-brown 2. Indicates position 54. Lowest point between two 3. Quantitative facts peaks 4. Strong and healthy 55. Late TNT broadcaster 5. Former measure of length 57. Thin strip to align parts 6. Dads tend to be this 59. Swiss wind 7. Parts of a movie 62. A way to chill 8. An animal’s foot 63. Jewel 9. Expression of sorrow or 66. Rhodium pity 68. The top lawyer in the land 10. Saudi Arabian money 11. One billion gigabytes THIS WEEKS ANSWER 12. Smallest musical interval 13. A rugged box (usually made of wood) 15. Cheese dish 18. An ugly, evil-looking old woman 21. Widely used 24. Makes into pages 26. Afflict in mind or body 27. Set up

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 Change is on the horizon, but you don’t yet know where you fit into the equation, Aries. Enjoy the unexpected and don’t worry so much about the future.

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, though you may think you can only choose one direction in life, you really can reverse course and go in another direction if you so desire.

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, normally you are conservative and weigh things carefully, However, this week your other side takes over and you are apt to be a little more spontaneous.

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, there is only so much time to learn something new at work and you may be worried a bit. Someone will talk you through, and you’ll find your way.

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, if life seems a little more hectic these days, you may be taking on too many responsibilities. Lighten the load and focus on what matters most.

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 It can be challenging to wrap your head around certain goals, Virgo. However, you will manage to pick and choose those tasks that are most important and get things done.

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, you may be compelled to be introspective this week. Use this time to reflect and explore all the reasons why you typically enjoy being an extrovert.

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 If there is something on your mind, Scorpio, now is not the time to share it with everyone.

Let this settle for a bit, then choose the right time to share your discovery.

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 People around you who are irritable might try to pull you into their situations, Sagittarius. Resist the urge to become influenced by their bad moods and perceptions.

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, a little extra concentration will have you flying through your to-do list in no time. Devote the time now and enjoy the reward and time off later.

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, it is never too late to get some exercise, even if you think that a dedicated workout regimen can’t fit in your schedule. Try socializing while working out.

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 This could be a week passion comes to the forefront, Pisces. If you keep your options open, you may be surprised at what comes your way.

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

ELEL^EPHMb Bh_EU MEV Place your condolences online.

(Visit your local newspaper website, obituary page)

CRIPPS, Steve passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday ,January 4, 2019 at the age of 45 years. Predeceased by his father Chuck, grandfather Mike, Granny Beth and his uncle Randy; Steve leaves behind his mother Diana, brothers Raymond and Trevor (Charety); nephew Jordan, niece Ava-rose , Gramma Marge and his fur babies Max and Teka as well as lots of family and friends.

Steve was born on the West Coast where he spent most of his childhood and adulthood until he moved to Port Alberni. He worked on excavators for many years all around the island. He was caring, easygoing man with a ease for sports. He was a simple soul who loved being around his family and friends including those dogs of his.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s memory can be made to the S.P.C.A, 4936 Broughton St, Port Alberni, V9Y 7L9

Ch��h y� t�e

Togethďż˝

BCClassifieds.com

ONLINE bcclassifieds@blackpress.ca IN PRINT 1.866.865.4460

...in your community, online and in print

Friendly Frank says...

CLEAR THE CLUTTER!

It’s time to sell, call today!

Garage sales are the talk of town!

Give your JUNK a new life!

Showcase your hidden treasures.

Sell any single item dirt cheap!

INDEX IN BRIEF FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS ..............1-8 COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS....9-57 TRAVEL .......................................61-76 CHILDREN ...................................80-98 EMPLOYMENT .........................102-198 BUSINESS SERVICES ...............203-387 PETS & LIVESTOCK .................453-483 MERCHANDISE FOR SALE........503-587 REAL ESTATE...........................603-969 RENTALS.................................703-757 AUTOMOTIVE...........................804-862 MARINE...................................902-920

INDEX IN BRIEF

It is agreed by any Display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the newspaper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such an advertisement. The Publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. cannot bcclassifieds.com be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition. bcclassifieds.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassifieds.com Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION

Advertisers are reminded that provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, age, and physical or mental disability, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHT

In life I loved you dearly In death I love you still; In my heart you hold a place No one else could ever fill.

Wednesday, FebruaryNews 6, 2019 A13 A13 Wed, Feb 6, 2019 Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly

Copyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of bcclassifieds.com. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the Publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recouse in law.

ON THE WEB:

Information

Information

The District of Tofino is seeking applications for 2019 Arts and Culture Grants and 2019 Council Grants.

For more information, please contact: Laura Giffin, Accounting Clerk lgiffin@tofino.ca (T) 250.725.3229 Ext 602

Employment Community Annoucements

Legal Notices

Information

CRIMINAL RECORD?

TROUBLE WALKING? HIP or KNEE REPLACEMENT, or other conditions causing restrictions in daily activities? $2,000 tax credit. $40,000 refund cheque/rebates.

Disability Tax Credit. 1-844-453-5372

Why suffer Employment/ Licensing loss? Travel/ Business opportunities?

Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US Entry Waiver. Record Purge.

File Destruction.

Free Consultation 1-800-347-2540. accesslegalmjf.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Pioneer Boatworks Shipwrights Helper Wanted Duties include: • Maintenance and Repair of Boats • Maintaining a clean working environment. • Helping Shipwrights in the performance of their duties. • Basic use of hand tools required. • Basic reading and writing skills needed. • Work hours vary at times.

A knowledge of the fishing industry and boats an asset. Must be capable of working independently and available to work weekends.

Apply with resume to: Pioneer Boatworks Store 166 Fraser Lane, Ucluelet, on the waterfront

Call today to reserve your spot, space is limited!

Career Opportunities

Resident Manager Team Victoria

CALL FOR 2019 GRANT APPLICATIONS

Grant applications and policies are available on the District’s website by visiting www. tofino.ca

Spotlight your business with our business builder packages

Career Opportunities

Business Opportunities

DISTRICT OF TOFINO Box 9, 121 3rd Street Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0

The deadline for grant applications is 4:00pm on February 28, 2019. Late applications will not be accepted.

Are You The Best at What You Do?

Log Hauling Contract available for southern Vancouver Island.

Approx 120,000m3 per year.

For more information please email haulingopportunity @gmail.com

Career Opportunities

Two Positions, FT & PT. New building of 50 units in Langford.

Rent discount, beneďŹ ts.

Previous experience & vehicle required.

Pet free bldg. September 1, 2019.

Fax (250) 920-5437 resman665@gmail.com

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

SALTWATER HUSBANDRY TECHNICIANS Full Time with Benefits

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 fish. 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 fit, 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.

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

A14 FebruaryWesterly 6, 2019 News Wed, Feb 6, 2019 A14 Wednesday, Tofino-Ucluelet

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

Legal Notices

www.westerlynews.ca

Legal Notices

NOTICE OF DISPOSITION

YOUR NEW CAREER

WITH BLACK PRESS STARTS HERE Black Press Media is the leading North American local news champion with operations across British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, Washington State, California, Alaska and Hawaii.

Over 2,000 talented employees work with us delivering unique community news and information across a full suite of digital and traditional media channels. We value diverse viewpoints, new ways of thinking and a collaborative approach to delivering results.

MULTI-MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT (CAMPBELL RIVER, OAK BAY)

Black Press is looking for a high energy, enthusiastic go-getter to take our leading print and digital advertising solutions to market. Your multi-tasking skills will be put to good use as you balance the day-to-day advertising requirements of existing customers while growing business through dedication to acquiring new customers. You are relationship oriented and understand how to organize yourself to be successful in a deadline driven environment. Outgoing personalities that focus on business needs through creativity, high energy and excellent problem solving are most successful in our industry.

FLYBOY (LADYSMITH)

There is an immediate opening for a full time Flyboy for a night shift at our Ladysmith location. Duties include lifting papers from stacker to skids, helping the Pressman with repairs and learning to operate a forklift to use when needed. Must have your own mode of transportation and the ability to work nights.

GRAPHIC ARTIST – PRINT DIVISION (CAMPBELL RIVER)

This position requires the successful applicant to be proficient in Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat Professional in a Mac environment with an eye for detail. The focus is on print publications although experience in digital media would be an asset. The position is a full time position and may require some shift work.

Minimum 2 years creative design experience in graphic arts is required and as well as a portfolio.

CIRCULATION COORDINATOR (PARKSVILLE)

The Parksville Qualicum News is looking for a permanent full time Circulation Coordinator.

The right candidate must have excellent communication and organizational skills. Your attention to detail and ability to work with minimum supervision set you apart from other applicants. Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel and Outlook Express is required. Duties include hiring and overseeing youth carriers, monitoring carrier performance and following up on reader delivery concerns. A vulnerable sector criminal record check is also mandatory.

Re: Property owned by Noreen Frank of site 447\ Orca Crescent, Ucluelet, BC VOR 3AO Take notice that pursuant to section 37(3) of the Regulation to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, the landlord of the Manufactured Home Park at Cynamoka Rd, Ucluelet, BC intends to dispose of a 1970 Ambassador Manufactured Horne, 12x68 feet, and its contents, located in the Whispering Pines Manufactured Home Park in Ucluelet, BC 30 days after the publication date of this notice, unless: - You take possession of the Property, or - You establish a right to possession of the Property, or - You make an application to the Supreme Court to establish such a right.

After the expiration of the 30 day period, the Property wtll be disposed of with no further notice to you.

Stop Bullies in their Tracks!

Landlord: Mulberry Park Developments Ltd. PO Box 69, Ucluelet BCVOR 3AO. Phone: 250-726-6525.

Building Supplies

Misc. for Sale

STEEL BUILDING SALE...”REALLY BIG SALE-EXTRA WINTER DISCOUNT ON NOW!!”

20X21 $5,726. 25X25 $6,370. 30X31 $8,818.

32X33 $8,995. 35X35 $12,464. One end wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-855-212-7036. www.pioneersteel.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 1-800-567-0404 Ext:400OT.

It’s Not Trash,

MULTI-MEDIA JOURNALIST (PORT HARDY, LADYSMITH, PARKSVILLE)

The right candidate will have outstanding and diverse writing abilities, specifically suited for both online and print with the ability to work well under deadline pressure. This position will be a key contributor to our websites and social media engagement. Advanced video and photography skills will be key attributes, along with an extensive knowledge of social media best practices and a strong understanding of how to tailor online content accordingly.

You will have a diploma/degree in journalism, including training in broadcast media and be comfortable working in a variety of environments.

APPLY today WITH YOUR RESUME AND COVER LETTER TO CAREERS@BLACKPRESS.CA , BE SURE TO REFERENCE THE JOB AND LOCATION YOU’RE APPLYING FOR. PLEASE NOTE ONLY SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED.

It’s

Recycleable!

PET SPECIALS 25.00

Financial Services GET BACK ON TRACK!

Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money?

We Lend! If you own your own home - you qualify.

Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420 www.pioneerwest.com

Counselling IF YOU want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help.

Alcoholics Anonymous, Ucluelet/Tofino 1-800-883-3968

t Batteries t CFMM QIPOFT t ElectrPOJDT t HPVTFIPME )BzerEPVT Waste t MFEJcaUJPO

3 lines Neighbouring papers 2 Weeks

50.00

$

$

For more information on these vacancies and other regions throughout BC visit: www.blackpress.ca/careers

1 x 1 Boxed Ad 3 Neighbouring papers 2 Weeks

Return them to the appropriate collection site by visiting bcrecycles.ca

BCClassifieds.com

...in your community, online and in print

ONLINE bcclassifieds@blackpress.ca IN PRINT 1.866.865.4460

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

C O M M U N I T Y

events

CALENDAR ongoing

WILD PACIFIC TRAIL SOCIETY BOARD MEETING, Wednesday, Feb. 6. 7pm at the UCC. Members of the public are invited to attend, observe and learn about one of the West Coast’s top attractions.

WEST COAST AA GROUP, Mondays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. 1663 Peninsula Road, Ucluelet.

SURFRIDER MEET UP, Wednesday, Feb. 6. 6:30pm at Ukee Dogs. Come for snacks, discussions and laughter.

KARAOKE AT THE LEGION, Wednesdays, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tofino Legion.

OCIE ELLIOT @ THE MAQ, Friday, Feb. 8. 9pm till late at the Maq Pub in Tofino. Ocie Elliott is musical duo Jon Middleton and Sierra Lundy from Victoria, B.C., Canada. $5 at the door.

KARAOKE NIGHT, Friday, Feb. 8. 9pm till late the ANAF in Ucluelet. No cover!

MOVIE NIGHT, Monday, Feb. 11. Doors at 7:15pm, show at 8 in the Clayoquot Theatre. ‘The Favourite:’ In 18th Century England, intrigue, love, ambition and pineapple-eating are rampant in the court of Queen Anne. Tix $8.

FEATURED EVENT OF THE WEEK

BADMINTON, Sundays, 7-9pm. USS Gym. $2 drop-in.

DARTS, Mondays, 7pm.

Tofino Legion.

service HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC CHURCH, Sunday Mass 10 am. Weekday Mass: Wed 9:30 am and Fri 7 pm.

Ucluelet.

ST. COLUMBA CHURCH Sundays, 10:30am.

GRACE BIBLE CHURCH, Sundays at 10:30am at UCC.

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF ALBERNI-CLAYOQUOT

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ELECTORAL AREA ‘C’ – Long Beach

A Public Hearing for residents and property owners within Electoral Area ‘C’ will be held in the District of Tofino Council Chambers, 380 Campbell Street, Tofino BC, at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019. The purpose of this hearing is to consider Bylaw P1386. This bylaw is necessary to facilitate the development of a marine research facility on Vargas Island.

Bylaw P1386 to rezone LOT 1, DISTRICT LOT 1016, VARGAS ISLAND, CLAYOQUOT DISTRICT, PLAN 20252 from Forest Reserve (A4) District to Institutional (P1) District.

SAIN Holdings Inc. (Nessman) – Lot 1, Vargas Island

UCLUELET ALANON GROUP, Wednesdays, 7:30pm. 1663 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet.

CHI GONG, Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30am, UCC Main Hall. $2 drop-in.

Wednesday, February 6, 2019 A15

Anyone who feels their interest in property will be affected by the proposed bylaw will be given an opportunity to speak on matters contained in the bylaw.

February 7 Conservation of Wild Salmon: The Species at Risk Act Join the Raincoast Education Society at the Tofino Botanical Gardens on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 7-9pm to learn about ‘the lifeblood of the coast,’ with a presentation from Dr. John Reynolds who has been studying the ecological role of salmon in B.C. for years.

service ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH Saturday, 5pm.

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

service CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH AND SUNDAY SCHOOL, Sundays, 10:30 am. 1419 Peninsula Rd, Ucluelet.

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.

Housing

Barriers and opportunities There have been two main barriers to the Studying communities and countries solving development of affordable housing. One is their housing crises is a start: for example, ‘NIMBY’, the ‘not-in-my-backyard’ sentiment. Vancouver’s Affordable Home Ownership Comfortable neighbourhoods do not welcome Pilot Program, the Whistler Village, Montrethe intrusion of less-affluent social housing al’s Grow Homes, Portland’s Dignity Village, which is affordable to less affluent people. The Netherlands’ self-building programs. We can other is slow response by financing sources, create community money resources like Seatgovernment and private, to the tle’s 1981 Affordable Housing Levy, growing housing crisis. with annual building targets.

NIMBY is a complex issue that We can start housing cooperacalls for tact, imagination and good tives and local community housing design – an opportunity for the alignment associations, focused on development/construction indusaffordable housing construction try. The financial barrier is also with a passionate membership of those hardest hit to drive it. complex in that it calls for major In 2016 a helpful opinion piece financial commitments in developappeared in the Globe & Mail by ment wherein the returns are often Daniel Duggan then mayors John Tory (Toronto) as much social as they are financial. and Don Iveson (Edmonton).

But looked at another way, this Their suggestions included: secure affordrepresents a huge opportunity for governments and financiers to do good, important things able housing through a dedicated allocation in for their communities. federal social infrastructure program budgets, Gregor Robertson, Vancouver’s recently-re- securing social housing for seniors, disabled tired mayor, said housing solutions need to be and low income groups.

Limit annual home loss by vulnerable popabout “homes”, not “housing as a commodity”. Treating houses as tradable commodities ulation segments. elevates housing prices, pushing many people Increase construction, support new social out of the market, and some onto the streets. and affordable housing, with more flexibility, What’s to be done? Governments are now fac- personalized solutions to local needs.

Aggressively address homelessness by douing up to the crisis, setting targets for housing type, numbers and completion dates, and put- bling the overall Homelessness Partnering ting financial resources in place, but they need Strategy through to 2025. the active involvement of the private sector and, most important, the people themselves Daniel Duggan is the Executive Director of the to really get momentum going.

Affordable Housing: Vancouver Island Society.

The Public Hearing will be held by the Director for Electoral Area ‘C’, the Alternate Director or the Chairperson of the Regional Board, as a delegate of the Regional Board. A copy of the Board resolution making this delegation is available for public review.

If you would like more information on this proposal, the bylaw and relevant background documents are available for public review at the Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot office during normal office hours, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays, from February 6, 2019 to February 18, 2019 inclusive.

Any correspondence submitted prior to the Public Hearing should be addressed to the following: Mike Irg, Manager of Planning and Development Regional District of Alberni-Clayoquot 3008 Fifth Avenue Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2E3 Telephone: (250) 720-2700 Email: planning@acrd.bc.ca

News Tip? 250-726-7029 Contact the Westerly newsroom at

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

westerlynews.ca

TOFINO

Winter Hours 0PM DAILY

0AM - 7:0 :3 8 : E R O T S D O FO

M DAILY

- 11:00P M A 0 :3 6 : R A B S GA

0AM - 5:00PM :0 0 1 : G IN H T O L C TOFINO LIFE ND MONDAY A Y A D N U S D E S O CL :30AM - 5:30PM 8 I R -F N O M : E R O HARDWARE ST SUNDAY D E S O L C M P 0 :0 5 AM SAT & Holidays 8:30

A16 Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News

www.westerlynews.ca

Bamfield water advisory ends after 5 years

Bamfield has finally cancelled its water quality advisory—after five years.

The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) opened a new water treatment plant in Bamfield in August 2018, and has been given the all-clear from Island Health to lift the advisory.

In November 2013 the ACRD issued the water quality advisory after elevated trihalomethane (THM) levels were discovered in the water system.

Water quality testing that had been done throughout 2013 showed consistently high levels of THMs in the drinking water.

THMs are a group of chemical compounds that are made when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water, such as wood and leaves. The level of THMs in drinking water depends on the amount of organic material in the water source.

Bamfield’s community water system was built in 1980 and uses Sugsaw Lake, three kilometres northeast of Bamfield, as its source.

In June 2017 the ACRD was awarded a federal/provincial grant of $1.4 million through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The federal government provided funding of up to 50 percent for the eligible project cost and the BC government provided an additional 33 percent. The entire project cost $2.36 million.

Koers & Associates Engineering Ltd. coordinated the testing of various systems to make sure the technology they eventually chose—dissolved air flotation (DAF) equipment—would work for Sugsaw Lake. Koers designed the new water treatment plant starting in the spring of 2018. Equipment was purchased from AWC Water Solutions and Ridgeline Mechanical Ltd. built the plant.

The plant treats seven litres of water per second and now provides potable water to 197 households.

Bamfield’s water technician, Les Butler, has overseen the entire project, ACRD general manager of environmental services Rob Williams said.

The new treatment plant went online in August 2018, but Island Health required the water quality advisory to stay in place until a “consistently high” record of high-quality potable water production had been established.

– www.albernivalleynews.com Federal minister dismisses call to close Georgia Strait herring roe fishery While calls for the closure of a herring roe fishery operation in the Strait of Georgia are increasing in volume, the federal government has stood firm in support of the fishery and their scientific research methods.

Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns spoke at the House of Commons on Thursday, expressing concern about the fishery, and imploring Fisheries and Oceans Minister Jonathan Wilkinson to impose a moratorium.

He spoke about the important role the herring have at the bottom of the

ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS PHOTO

A new water treatment plant in Bamfield means a five-year-old water advisory has been lifted. The public will get a chance to see the new treatment plant at an open house on March 1.

ISLAND IN BRIEF

food chain for sustaining endangered Chinook salmon and southern resident killer whale populations.

“If a moratorium is not enforced to protect this critical food source and allow the stocks to rebuild, we’re endangering these interdependent species,” said Johns in his speech.

Throughout January, Conservancy Hornby Island has been heavily campaigning for the closure of the fishery, and as of Sunday afternoon, theirChange.org petition had 40,100 signatures with the number rising rapidly.

Wilkinson replied to Johns’ request saying all decisions regarding fisheries are backed by science and evidence.

“There are five different herring fisheries areas off of the B.C. coast, three of them are presently closed, one is open for a commercial fishery based on the abundance of the stock that exists there,” he said. “And as I say, we make our decisions based on science.”

Later in a Facebook post, Johns stated that allowing this fishery to operate is reckless.

“The Minister knows very well that the model DFO uses to estimate the size of the Pacific herring stock in the Salish Sea has failed six times in the last 13 years,” he said. “[The Strait of Georgia fishery] is the only herring run of five that hasn’t been closed because of over-fishing.”

According to Conservancy Hornby Island, the Strait of Georgia is the last remaining major Pacific herring

spawning area from Washington State to Alaska.

The approval for the herring roe fishery would allow for the catch of 20 per cent of herring in this area, equalling approximately 28,000 tons of spawning herring or approximately 200 million fish.

– www.comoxvalleyrecord.com Victoria voted ‘most romantic city’ in Canada Love is in the air, especially for Victorians.

And residents of the Comox Valley are apparently not far behind.

For the seventh year in a row, Amazon named Victoria as the most romantic city in Canada, followed by LaSalle, Que. and Fort McMurray, Alta, with Courtenay finishing in 9th.

Other B.C. cities that made the list were North Vancouver (4th) Kelowna (7th), Vancouver (15th), Langley (16th) and Port Coquitlam (20th).

The stats come from compiling sales data from Jan. 1, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2019 on a per capita basis in cities with more than 20,000 residents. The data looks at the purchases of romantic comedies, jewellery, sexual wellness products, relationship books and romance novels (both print and Kindle editions).

Victoria not only got the top spot in general, but actually came in first for all five of the romantic product categories.

Additionally, Victoria made the top three spots with the most jewellery purchases, with earrings being the most popular buy.

There’s a sense of nostalgia to the romantically-inclined; the top romantic movie sold was the 1990 feature, Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.

The top love story, page-turner was

the magically-inspired The All Souls Trilogyby Deborah Harkness..

– www.vicnews.com Nanaimo man dies in highway crash One man is dead after a collision on the Trans-Canada Highway near the Leigh Road overpass on Sunday.

West Shore RCMP has confirmed a 24-year-old man has died as a result of the two vehicle head-on collision. BC Coroners Service confirmed the man who died was from Nanaimo.

Just after 1 p.m. on Sunday, a BMW and an Acura collided near the Leigh Road overpass in Langford. The BMW, travelling southbound, had two passengers – neither of whom reported serious injuries to RCMP. An Acura travelling northbound carried three passengers, including the male driver who later died.

“This is a very tragic incident,” said Const. Nancy Saggar. “Although it is unknown if weather was a contributing factor in this case, it has since started snowing and we would like to remind motorists to please slow down and drive according to road conditions.”

Investigators do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation.

– www.agassizharrisonobserver.com Tourism companies wait for effect of later Family Day weekend B.C. residents will have to wait an extra week for their next Family Day long weekend, as the NDP government’s shift to the third Monday in February takes effect for the first time.

It wouldn’t have been on many people’s list of pressing problems, but moving the date to match the holiday in other provinces was a high priority for

Premier John Horgan, with the amendment debated last February in the B.C. legislature. Introducing Family Day had been a signature move for former premier Christy Clark in 2013, but the NDP decided her decision to make it earlier than other provinces was business-friendly but not family-friendly.

B.C. ski resorts in particular pressed for the earlier date, to avoid room shortages and long lift lines as out-of-province tourists travelled on the common Family Day long weekend. When B.C. Liberal critic Michelle Stilwell asked Tourism Minister Lisa Beare what consultation was done with thousands of tourism businesses, Beare repeatedly ducked the question, calling the previous government “out of touch with the people.”

“I have answered questions about Family Day a number of times in this house, and my answer remains the same,” Beare said Feb. 20, 2018.

“Moving Family Day was the right thing for families in British Columbia.”

Beare then described government consultations on raising the minimum wage and dealing with the opioid overdose crisis, before the Speaker cut her off. An executive at Big White Ski Resort predicted the move would be “a disaster,” with B.C.’s popular resorts having room capacity problems.

“All we’re doing is cramming everyone into one weekend,” Michael Ballingall told the Kelowna Capital News.

“So you’re just displacing people from B.C. with people who have already booked from America and Ontario.”

– www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com Island Health launches needle-awareness campaign Island Health is launching a campaign to encourage people who use needles to return them safely.

The campaign will remind people to “make it your gig to return your rig” and support local needle-recovery efforts. The Island, like much of the rest of the province, is grappling with addiction and drug issues that have led to a provincial emergency being called in 2016 to try and deal with the growing crisis. The ongoing emergency is also seeing drug paraphernalia, particularly used needles, being discarded in parks, alleys and other public places. This has added to the urgency of the situation.

Island Health medical health officer Dr. Shannon Waters said that with discarded needle boxes now spread throughout communities and designated places to pick up fresh needles and drop off used ones, efforts are being made to control the situation.

“The vast majority of needles are being returned after use, but not all of them,” the Duncan-based Waters said. “We’re looking at getting the community’s stakeholders together for a collaboration to further target discarded needles. We also want those who use substances to get involved and help keep their communities free of this debris.”

– www.agassizharrisonobserver.com