Province funds residential school investigations

Ahousaht hereditary chief criticizes church fi res for ‘causing more anguish’ as school survivors seek support

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Tofi no, BC - The B.C. government has allocated $12 million to support First Nations in examining former residential school sites, following the federal government’s commitment of $27 million. The funding will be used to support First Nations as they begin their own investigations to identify and locate children who died at residential schools. It is also meant to commemorate residential school sites, along with providing mental health support. Using ground-penetrating radar, the Tk’emlúps te SecwépemcKukpi7 First Nations announced it found the remains of 215 children buried at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, on May 27. The discovery sent shockwaves throughout the country prompting Indigenous leaders and residential school survivors to call on the federal and provincial governments to provide funding towards the research and excavation of all former residential school sites. Since then, the Cowessess First Nation said it found 751 unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan, and the Lower Kootenay Band announced that a search revealed 182 unmarked graves adjacent to the former St. Eugene’s Mission Residential School, near Cranbrook. “Finding evidence of a burial site for children who attended the former Kamloops residential school was a stark reminder of the atrocities of the Canadian residential school system and how those continue to be felt to this day,” said Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin, in a release. “Many other sites throughout the province and country are still the source of unanswered questions and terrible pain. It is imperative that we take our lead from First Nations as we move forward, and we will continue to act quickly and in a co-ordinated way to support their needs.” There were 18 residential schools that operated in B.C., and more than 100 day schools. Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is in the process of applying for federal funding to examine the former Christie Student Residence, where the Best Western Plus Tin Wis Resort now stands. Meanwhile, Ahousaht and Tseshaht First Nations are awaiting federal funding approval to further investigate the sites of the former Ahousaht Indian Residential School, on Flores Island, Christie Indian Residential School, on Meares Island, and Alberni Indian Residential School, in Port Alberni. As the B.C. Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation plans their next steps in coordination with First Nation leaders and federal partners, the ministry said details around the application process will soon be released. “We have spoken with a number of Nuu-chah-nulth nations who have expressed interest in the provincial funding,” said the ministry. “We will continue to work closely with them as their proposals are developed.” While Ahousaht Tyee Ha’wilth Hasheukumiss (hereditary chief Richard George) said the provincial funding is a start, it “falls short” for what is needed within each community. The recent discoveries have triggered residential school survivors who have

Photos by Melissa Renwick The Best Western Plus Tin Wis resort in Tofi no has set up a memorial to remember the 215 children who were found buried at a site near the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The resort invited community members to visit their totem pole and leave a pair of shoes or a stuff ed animal. been paying for counselling on “their own dime” to cope with the trauma from attending the schools for decades, he said. Up until now, Hasheukumiss said the government has overlooked the need to establish direct funding towards health and wellness care centres and that they’re only “stepping up to plate because of the fi ndings,” he said. “They’re funding money, but where are the rehabilitation facilities that should be built for people to go in and actually work on all of the trauma that came out of this?” Hasheukumiss said. “The unfortunate incidences of rape were a big part of the residential school [experience]. What came out of that was a lot of anger, and a lot of frustration has carried on throughout the generations. So, breaking the pattern – we have to break the pattern somewhere.” In response to the associated pain, there is an “identifi ed need for mental, emotional and cultural supports for survivors, intergenerational survivors and communities as the most urgent priority,” read a joint release from the ministry, the First Nations Health Council and the First Nations Health Authority. Richard Jock, First Nations Health Authority chief executive offi cer, said in a statement that “acknowledging trauma and the damaging and lasting impacts residential school have on First Nations people, their families and communities is a fi rst step.” Moving forward, the primary focus must be on community-driven and nationbased healing and wellness supports, he added. Tseshaht First Nation elected chief Ken Watts echoed Hasheukumiss and said that the federal funding is “probably not going to be enough to do it right.” There are 139 recognized residential schools in Canada. If the $27 million federal funding was distributed equally among them all, Tseshaht would receive less than $200 thousand. “I’m hoping they go beyond that,” said Watts. “It’s really important to honour those children that never made it home.” In what is believed to be a reaction to the discovery of the unmarked grave sites, people have begun to set churches ablaze, including St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Nanaimo and St. Columba Anglican Church in Tofi no. “There’s no room for any kind of acts of violence,” said Hasheukumiss. “It’s only causing more anguish than it is causing good. We as First Nations always have to respect one another – Indigenous and non-Indigenous. We have to move forward in this reconciliation as one.” Residential school survivors and those who have been impacted by intergenerational trauma can call a 24-hour National Crisis Line at: 1-866-925-4419.

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Barkley Sound destination a racts approximately 9,000 overnight users annually, according to Parks Canada

By Karly Blats Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Port Alberni, BC - The Tseshaht First Nation have implemented a new beach keeper fee for companies who operate within the Broken Group Islands—the birthplace and territory of the Tseshaht First Nation. The new $10 a day, per use fee will be charged by the companies who participate and that revenue will be given to Tseshaht, who will put all the funds directly back into their Beach Keeper Program. The Beach Keeper Program is a partnership between the Tseshaht First Nation and Parks Canada. Beach keepers assist as ambassadors, monitor, report and off er historical information about the area to tourists, kayakers and other visitors to the Broken Group Islands. “[The program] has really evolved over the years, it’s been around for a number of years now. [Beach keepers] really provide a great ambassadorship for Tseshaht as well, but when tourists are out there they’re able to provide historical background and information about Tseshaht and all the islands and their names and history,” said Tseshaht elected chief councillor Ken Watts. “Beach keepers are out on patrol and observing the area. They work closely with Parks Canada and they also work closely with the nation as well.” Watts said years ago a working group was formed to discuss the Beach Keeper Program and the Broken Group Islands with the goal of making the program sustainable and for operators in the area to show recognition for Tseshaht territory. “We can’t just rely on funding from the federal government and so one way to do that is having a (user) fee,” Watts said. “Every dollar that we get from [the user fee] we reinvest back into the program. [The beach keepers] are already talking

Photo from Wikimedia Commons According to Parks Canada, in 2018, there were 9,115 overnight users in the Broken Group Island and 8,932 overnight users in 2019. about looking at potential equipment that they’ve never been able to buy through our contract with Parks Canada because that’s limited funding and it’s short-term, it doesn’t fund the whole year. So our hope is to really have the program money all year throughout our territory.” The Beach Keeper Program pulls from traditional Nuu-chah-nulth roles. “It was a role of people who watched certain beaches and certain areas from their hereditary chief. That was one of their roles to watch a certain beach and keep it protected, make sure it’s safe and report any activity to whoever they needed to,” Watts said. “It’s a historical role and I think it’s coming back to that. [The beach keepers’] role specifi cally is to the Broken Group Islands. We do have several reserves down there as well.” Currently fi ve beach keepers, based at Keith Island, are working from about June until September or October but with more funding, Watts says he hopes the program will be year round. So far companies that participate in the fee program include Majestic Ocean Kayaking and Hello Nature Kayaking. Wild Root Journeys have also committed to the fee. Watts hopes that all companies operating in the Broken Group Islands will eventually embrace the new fee. Watts said he’s proud and thankful to the companies who have stepped up and implemented the new fee. “In a time when we’re going through so many diffi cult things as Indigenous people or First Nations, there’s these companies in the private sector that step up and say ‘I want to respect you and your territory and I want to give back’,” Watts said. “This funding is going to help improve the (Beach Keeper) program, which is in turn going to help [visitor’s] experience out in the Broken Group. We talk about reconciliation with the Crown but really Canadians have a role to play too, and businesses in the private sector have a role to play too. I think they’re stepping up, I’m really proud of the ones who have stepped up.” Reconciliation is a major reason Kevin Bradshaw, owner and guide at Hello Nature Kayaking, wanted to participate in the beach keeper fee program. “We wanted to show a positive step toward reconciliation and recognizing the territories that we are working in,” Bradshaw said. “I’ve worked in the Broken Group for the last 19 years. I’ve defi nitely seen a major shift in the Beach Keepers Program…it allows for a connection with the culture, people and territory which is unmatched anywhere else that I’ve paddled.” Bradshaw said he anticipates the kayaking company will host more than 250 guests in the Broken Group Islands in the next month. Tracy Eeftink, who owns Majestic Ocean Kayaking with her husband Ted, said it wasn’t a surprise when the Tseshaht implemented the new user fee. “I also collect fees on behalf of the Tlao-qui-aht, Ahousaht and Toquaht so when Tseshaht said they would like to have a fee then I just went ‘oh of course’,” Eeftink said. “I think when people are travelling they expect that there’s going to be some things like that added on, it’s not unheard of when you travel to other parts of the world, there’s always some type of eco fee or community fee.” Eeftink, who’s been operating in the Broken Group Islands for 28 years, said she hopes the fee will help the Beach Keeper Program expand and become sustainable. “The Broken Group Islands are a world class destination and it’s important that people are educated about several things while they’re on their trip,” Eeftink said. “It’s not just about paddling around and seeing how beautiful the islands are but it’s also important to learn about respecting nature and understanding the culture and the history and the people that came before them.” According to Parks Canada, in 2018, there were 9,115 overnight users in the Broken Group Island and 8,932 overnight users in 2019. The Broken Group Islands were closed to overnight camping in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Indigenous businesses see $50 million in grant relief

By Sam Laskaris Ha-Shilth-Sa Contributor

Tofi no, BC – Help is on the way. Though news of a newly created federal Tourism Relief Fund is welcome, a couple of Nuu-chah-nulth leaders are wondering if enough is being done. At a news conference this past week, Melanie Joly, the minister of Economic Development, announced the Canadian government has established a $500 million Tourism Relief Fund. Funds will be distributed during the next two years. Joly, who also holds the portfolio of minister of Offi cial Languages, revealed that a minimum of 10 per cent of this fund, $50 million, would be set aside for Indigenous tourism business operators across the country. “It is an extremely important part of the Indigenous economic development approach that we support our Indigenous tourism operators,” Joly said. “We’ve heard their call for help and that’s exactly why we wanted to make sure that there was an Indigenous lens given to this new funding.” Jim Chisholm, the tribal administrator for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, can only wonder if enough is being done. “To be honest, it seems like a lot,” Chisholm said. “But in today’s world $50 million is not a lot of money.” There are more than 630 First Nations in Canada. Chisholm speculated even if only Indigenous tourism operators from 50 diff erent First Nations applied for the new funding he wondered how much would indeed be available for various businesses across the country. Chisholm said the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation would indeed send in a funding application. It suff ered tremendous fi nancial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic from its main tourism business, the Best Western Plus Tin Win Resort located in Tofi no. “Obviously with COVID we were hit very hard because of travel bans in the province,” he said. The Tin Win Resort operated at less than 20 per cent of its capacity for a good chunk of the past year, due to provincial restrictions that banned international visitors, allowing only some travel within one’s health region in B.C. Now that health and travel regulations have been eased, Chisholm said the First Nation’s resort is fully booked daily through the end of September. Bryan Cofsky, the executive director of the Ditidaht Economic Development Corporation, is also questioning whether the amount allocated to Indigenous tourism operators via the new fund is suffi cient. “It’s never enough,” Cofsky said of the majority of funding initiatives. “It depends on what your parameters on it are. And it depends on who can apply for it.” Those seeking funding will be required to send in their applications through six regional development agencies across Canada. British Columbia tourism businesses have to apply through the Western Economic Diversifi cation Canada. “It’s almost going to be on a fi rst come fi rst served basis,” Cofsky said. “You have to have your ducks in a row and to have a plan.” Cofsky said Ditidaht will indeed be applying for some funding. “We have quite a few tourism initiatives going on,” he said. Cofsky added all of the First Nation’s tourism businesses have been greatly affected fi nancially by the pandemic. That includes both the Nitinaht shuttle service, which brings people to and from the First Nation’s village and an entry point to the West Coast Trail. During last week’s press conference, Joly said the federal government is cognizant of the role Indigenous business operators have in the country’s tourism industry. “We know that Indigenous tourism operators were doing great just before the pandemic,” she said. “Of all the tourism businesses, it was Indigenous tourism businesses that were really growing the fastest, just before the pandemic. And in that sense, we want to make sure that we’re there for them.” Joly also said it should be noted that the Canadian government could indeed still provide more funding for the Indigenous tourism industry. “I think ($50 million is) a good start in the sense that it’s a minimum and if the ask is higher, we will adapt,” she said. Pam Damoff , the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Indigenous Services, also welcomed the amount of money pledged last week. “The Indigenous tourism industry supports the overall Indigenous economy and creates jobs, supports families, and allows travelers to experience the vibrant and diverse communities and cultures of Indigenous peoples,” Damoff said. “The Tourism Relief Fund will provide needed support to Indigenous tourism businesses all across the country in order for the industry to turn the page from crisis to recovery and build back better.” Keith Henry, who is the president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), welcomed the new funding news. “The Government of Canada demonstrated their commitment to the importance of investing in Indigenous tourism in Canada,” Henry said. “This is a very signifi cant direct commitment for Indigenous tourism businesses, Indigenous tourism provincial/territorial partners and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. We are working out the two-year implementation details and will be moving quickly to support our Indigenous tourism industry recover and rebuild.”

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B.C. implements prescribed safe supply

Policy pushes for medical alternatives in a eff ort to curb the overdose death toll

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia is the fi rst Canadian province to introduce a new policy that will expand access to a safer drug supply. The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions said that once the Prescribed Safer Supply initiative is fully implemented, people who use or are at risk of dying from drugs will have access to alternatives covered by Pharmacare. These will include a range of opioids and stimulants that will be determined by programs and prescribers. “With more than 7,000 lives lost to toxic illicit drugs, we need new measures to connect people to the supports they need to stay safe,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health offi cer, in a release. “Reducing harm for people who use drugs is the right thing to do. Bringing in this new policy to expand prescribed safer supply is a big change for B.C.’s health-care system. It’s about meeting people where they are at, reducing risk of toxic drug death and connecting people to the care they need and deserve.” The new policy was created in consultation with clinicians, people with lived experience, Indigenous partners, health authorities, among others, and will roll out in a phased approach. The fi rst phase will see the policy integrated into existing health-authority funded programs that prescribe drug alternatives. New programs, such as service hubs and outreach teams, will also be created to further provide prescribe safer supply services. As data is collected, the fi rst phase of the initiative is anticipated to remain in place for 18 to 24 months. “Further phases will expand broader access once the clinical guidance is developed based on fi ndings from the monitoring and evaluation process,” said the ministry. For the next three years, the province will be directing $22.6 million in funding to health authorities to implement the program. Dr. Shannon McDonald, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) acting chief medical offi cer, said the initiative will provide “important tools to help reduce toxic drug overdose deaths among First Nations people who continue to be overrepresented as compared to the rest of the population.” Based on racism experienced in the health care system, McDonald said there continues to be barriers for Indigenous peoples. With 203 First Nations in B.C., and around 60 per cent of the First Nations population living away from home, Henry said that expanding access to more rural and remote communities is a “really important piece of this.” McDonald said that this program will work in addition to harm reduction and treatment models, such as on-the-land treatment programs, that are already supported by the governments. “We’re really looking at a holistic program of care that includes these medications, but there’s also a broader range of services available to support people in community,” she said. As the prescribed safer supply program develops, McDonald said there are details that still need to be worked out. One of the main challenges will be the safe transportation of drugs to remote settings, she said. Meanwhile, McDonald said that FNHA is working with nurses who operate in remote First Nations communities to help them become certifi ed to prescribe opioid agonist therapies, a treatment for opioid addictions. “The overdose crisis remains a public health emergency,” said Dr. Réka Gustafson, B.C.’s deputy provincial health offi cer, in a release. “During the pandemic, it was, by far, the most common cause of death in British Columbians aged 19 to 39. Response to a public health emergency requires us to use all available tools and to develop new ones to save lives. Safer supply is one of the suite of interventions that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to implement as part of a co-ordinated and system-wide eff ort to end the overdose emergency in British Columbia.” In 2020, there were 1,728 overdose deaths. It was the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded. There have been 851 overdose deaths in 2021, compared to 569 in the same period of 2020. According to the ministry, case studies have shown that access to a regular and safe supply of fentanyl patches improves connections with primary care services, reduces or eliminates illicit drug use, cuts down on the number of overdoses and hospitalizations, as well as improves social connection. “We are certainly happy to have access to every tool in the available toolkit to respond to this ongoing [overdose] crisis,” said McDonald.

Dr. Shannon McDonald, First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) acting chief medical offi cer, speaks during a July 15 press conference announcing a policy to increase the use of safer drugs to replace narcotics.

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Almost nine out of 10 forest fi res this year are caused by people, as remote communities face a greater risk

By Melissa Renwick Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After many parts of B.C. experienced record-breaking temperatures, a provincewide fi re ban was implemented from June 30 through to Oct. 15. Around 88 per cent of the 337 wildfi res that occurred between April 1 and June 24 were caused by people, according to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Despite the fi re ban, Timmy Masso said he has been “truly disgusted” to see the number of illegal campfi res along the logging roads off Highway 4 leading to Winchie Creek Hydro. At least once a week, Masso accompanies his father, Trent, to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation-owned hydropower facility. As the plant operator, Trent regularly monitors its operations. Now, part of the job consists of picking up garbage, burnt fi rewood and extinguishing abandoned fi res left behind by campers, said Masso. Some fi res sit only fi ve to 10 feet away from the bush, he added. “So much of B.C. is on fi re right now and I really don’t want that to happen to our west coast,” he said. “The abandoned fi res could easily get out of hand and spread to the forest.” Any local or tourist lighting fi res at this time is “irresponsible,” said Masso. “This is my territory and it’s my dad’s territory and we’re trying to keep it safe and keep it protected for future generations,” he added. At the end of June a wildfi re near Zeballos prompted the Ehattesaht/Chinehkint First Nation to declare a state of emergency, which has since been rescinded. The fi re was reminiscent of a 2018 blaze that led to extended evacuation orders for the remote community. During the night on June 29 and into the morning on June 30, a lightning storm passed through the North Island and midcoast. In combination with fi re reports, along with air and ground patrols by BC Wildfi re Service personnel, eight fi res were quickly confi rmed and located, including one a few kilometres west of Zeballos, said Donna MacPherson, Coastal Fire Centre fi re information offi cer. “It was only because this fi re was reported quickly and accurately that wildfi re crews were able to jump on it and contain its spread before it could grow and threaten Ehatis,” read a statement by the Ehattesaht/Chinehkint chief and council. Identifying a fi re early on allows the Coastal Fire Centre to determine the location of the fi re. It also allows staff to decipher what might have triggered the fi re, said Macpherson. “The [smoke] colour alone helps us understand what it is we’re dealing with,” she said. “And often, the caller has some really good information about where it is and how the roads are – especially in the more remote areas.” Access to fi res in remote communities, like Ehatis, pose some challenges. In this case, the only way to access the fi re, which was burning at the base of a cliff , was through a deactivated logging road, described MacPherson.

Photo by Jen Joseph Although most of Vancouver Island is under a “high” danger rating, all of the province’s wildfi res of note are outside of the region. Pictured is a mountainside blaze that put much of the Village of Zeballos and Ehatis under evacuation orders in 2018. It required the Zeballos fi re chief to access an excavator and fi ll in the ditches to make the road passable, she said. While it’s not unusual for fi re crews to reconstruct de-activated logging roads, Macpherson said that “people living in remote areas are carrying a bigger burden than people who are in a fi re department jurisdiction that have paved roads.” On July 2, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General announced that Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) is available for local governments and First Nations in regions that might have been impacted by the wildfi res which began June 16, 2021. “DFA is available to help community authorities cover disaster-related losses that are not covered by insurance, such as wildfi re damage to public infrastructure – including roads, bridges and other publicly owned infrastructure,” read a release. With almost 300 wildfi res burning in British Columbia, Macpherson said she is “urging” the public to report anyone breaking the open fi re prohibition. “Unfortunately, it seems to be some kind of entitlement that people have that they feel they can get away with stuff ,” she said. Currently fi nes of up to $1,150 can come to anyone found having an open fi re, using fi reworks, fi recrackers, sky lanterns, burning barrels or using binary exploding targets. If a fi re escapes and causes a wildfi re, perpetrators may be fi ned anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million, and face a one-year prison sentence, according to the B.C. Wildfi re Service. As Masso continues to help his father monitor the Winchie Creek Hydro, he said he would keep watch of the surrounding backroads. “These areas that we live in are so beautiful,” he said. “We do not need our west coast on fi re.” To report a wildfi re, you can call: 1-800663-5555

Series of brush fi res in Port Alberni raises concerns

By Denise Titian Ha-Shilth-sa Reporter

Port Alberni, BC – The Port Alberni Fire Department has been busier than usual battling small brush fi res in the Alberni Valley as the city sizzles under hotter and drier than normal weather conditions. According to PAFD Chief Mike Owens there were 13 fi res from July 4-13. Most were brush fi res caused by either abandoned campfi res or unknown but suspicious causes. “It seems to be far too many as of late,” said Owens. “There are several suspicious fi res in Dry Creek Park or the quadrant area (near 4th Avenue and Napier Streets),” said Owens, adding that they and the RCMP are appealing for information about these incidents. “Your observations, dashcam or other video may assist to identify those responsible before there is a signifi cant loss to fi re or serious injury,” said the Port Alberni RCMP in a public statement, asking people to report suspicious activity to the police. “With the current weather and winds it is crucial that we control all potential sources of ignition and be mindful of activities in our area that may result in fi res.” On July 4 six fi res were called in. One was in Dry Creek Park behind the Port Alberni Friendship Center; there were two more in Dry Creek Park near Anderson Avenue. Owens said that one fi re was in the Dry Creek bed in a pile of logs and the other was just up the hillside. That same day there was a larger fi re in Roger Creek Park that was extinguished by PAFD. On July 5th there were three fi res. One was a vehicle fi re on an industrial logging road that started to spread to the trees. PAFD responded under authority of the BC Wildfi re Services. A small brushfi re on Melrose Street was put out by residents and a third fi re was put out in Roger Creek Park. Between July 6 and 10, four more fi res in Dry Creek Park were put out. Two were abandoned campfi res, one was in a stump near 8th Avenue, and the third was behind the horseshoe pit and the creek. There was a brushfi re in the forest behind the No Frills grocery store and another brushfi re between the Barclay Best Western Hotel and the BC Ambulance Services building. On the 10th of July a shed on Glenside Road caught fi re, burning the shed, a fence and a boat. There was a fi re outside of city limits in the Roger Creek Park area that was extinguished under the authority of the BC Wildfi re Services. On Sunday, July 11, there was another fi re in Roger Creek Park behind the caretakers’ quarters. A Mike Owens fi re in the bark mulch of a fl ower bed at Victoria Quay was quickly extinguished. On Monday, July 12, a larger fi re broke out in Dry Creek Park near Anderson Avenue. Firefi ghters accessed the area at North Park Drive and Anderson. Owens said this fi re was large, making it halfway up the hill. The blaze burned an area of about 80 square feet and was declared out at 11 p.m. The following morning crews from PAFD were back at Dry Creek, checking for hot spots. They responded to another fi re in Dry Creek Park near 9th Avenue that morning. The second fi re burned an area 15 feet by 40 feet. Owens says the City of Port Alberni has stringent fi re regulations. They, along with Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations, have implemented the provincewide fi re bans in their respective areas. “People may use UL or CSA approved appliances like barbecues or fi re rings – no wood fi res are allowed,” said Owens. Port Alberni RCMP Detachment has received reports of several suspicious fi res since June 27th. The locations of these fi res, in wooded areas, have the potential for rapid spread with the current dry conditions and typical winds in the area. “The fi re department has attended and successfully suppressed all of these fi res and have been advised there may have been suspect(s) observed in the area at the time the fi res started or were detected,” stated the RCMP. Chief Owens says that the fi re situation in Kamloops and Lytton has everyone on edge and that the campfi re ban won’t likely be lifted until October. If you see a column of smoke in city limits, Owens says to call 911. If you’re out camping or outside city limits and spot a fi re, call *5555 on your cell phone for the BC Wildfi re Services. If you have any information regarding these incidents, contact the Port Alberni RCMP Detachment at the general inquiries line at 250-723-2424.