Issuu

Rotary Club of Powell River

PROPERTY PROPOSAL

Owner seeks Beach Gardens redevelopment PAGE 3

SOCCER STARS

Rep teams and players receive recognition PAGE 13

Kings rebuildinmode

Head coach and general manager Steph Seeger already building the next team with the best players he can attract

PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

Now that the 2024/2025 junior hockey season has concluded for the Powell River Kings, preparations are already underway for the next hockey season.

Having conducted exit interviews with outgoing players and with staff, head coach and general manager Steph Seeger is now setting his sights on building a competitive team for the future.

Seeger said he is starting to put together the next team.

“It’s already underway,” said Seeger. “We have one player who has already signed a new recruit form for next year. That’s Tristan Williams, who we had as an affiliate player for 10 games this season from the Campbell River Storm.

“I would say recruitment really started a month or so ago in terms of reaching out to players, getting our lists in order, and start-

ing to get into a deeper dive on the video side of things, which is extremely important.”

Seeger said because the Kings did not make the playoffs this BC Hockey League season, it has provided some extra time for him to focus on attracting the right players to next year’s team.

“A large part of it is getting the right personnel in here, the right kind of people and the right kind of players,” said Seeger. “We are doing a lot of background research on our players to make sure we are getting the right kind of players in here, whether that is from advisors or other resources. The more information we have on the player before they come here, the better.”

Seeger said in Powell River, players are recognizable, and often go to Tim Hortons or Subway, where someone knows them.

“I don’t want to bring players into the community who aren’t going to be able to fit in or adjust well to the style and pace of life here,” said Seeger. “We want good, young gentlemen. We want to find them in a really great place and then have them leave even better after they are finished.”

Making the players comfortable when they are in the community is important, and Seeger said the club’s billet coordinator Aaron Reid has done an amazing job at finding places for the players to stay, and feel like they have a home away from home.

Support remains strong, says GM

“We hear horror stories about players in other leagues,” said Seeger. “If the players don’t feel at home, they are not going to play to their fullest potential. It’s definitely a big piece of the puzzle.

“I know that after I played my junior hockey, I’ve still been in touch with some of the billet families that I had. They became a second family for me, and they still check in. I still get birthday and Christmas wishes from some of them.”

In terms of what the next team might look like, Seeger said between 10 and 14 players could be returning.

“Those are the players I’ve asked to come back,” said Seeger. “The numbers are not set in stone, especially with the NCAA rules change, so there was extra turnover that I didn’t account for.

With that being said, we have a little bit of a different landscape now, heading into training camps, with the Ontario Hockey League

and Quebec major junior training camps happening around the same time. So, some players have an opportunity they never had before to play for major junior teams and have the college option open to them.

“School guys can pretty much go anywhere now, so they might be looking into some other opportunities. My biggest message to them is, I hope they’re doing their research with wherever they are going. If the next level doesn’t work out for them, then, hopefully, I’m getting that phone call pretty quickly, and they are able to come back and help the Powell River Kings be successful.”

who are Powell Riverites, with one of them being Kyle Mayenburg, who played 10 affiliate games with us this year,” said Seeger. “We were able to get him in games after his Comox season ended.

“So, if we can give guys who are from Powell River a home back home, that’s always a bonus. I want

I want to have fans here because they want to be here, because we are putting out a product that is entertaining.

STEPH SEEGER

POWELL RIVER KINGS HEAD COACH AND GENERAL MANAGER

In terms of local minor hockey players joining the Kings’ ranks, Seeger said there might be some camp invitations doled out.

“We’re in contact with a couple right now, or even junior players

to make sure if that is a route that we go, they are doing it purely on their capabilities.”

Seeger said going forward, the team does not want to repeat the results of the last two seasons, missing the playoffs.

“It’s not good for the players, the

coaching staff or the community,” said Seeger. “We want the community to come and support us, and it is easier if we’re winning games, especially at home.”

The Kings were coached by NHL legend Glenn Anderson at the beginning of the season, but Anderson left the team partway through the campaign, and Seeger took over coaching duties. Seeger said he is hoping with him being there at the start, it will help him develop the team from the start.

“I was working very closely with Glenn and we got along greatly,” said Seeger. “But, everyone has a little bit of a different way of doing things. There’s little tweaks I would like to make from the start. So, there’s a different strategy and a different approach.

Seeger said he would like to make the Kings the head coach’s team.

“If not, you’re doing things the wrong way,” said Seeger. “I do want to say thank you, one last time, to Glenn for everything he did for me, because he has been an absolutely awesome mentor to me through it all.”

Seeger said community support for the team remains strong. He did not have average game attendance at hand, or the season ticket base numbers, but said he always hopes for more. He said the team has to make sure players put on good performances on-ice to draw the crowds and to keep earning the support.

“Just like I don’t want to sign a player as a favour to anybody, I also don’t want to have fans come here as a favour,” said Seeger. “I want to have fans here because they want to be here, because we are putting out a product that is entertaining.”

“There’s nothing crazy in terms of reinventing the wheel of hockey, but there’s things I’d like to set in stone the way I would like them from the very beginning.”

Owner proposes redevelopment

City council considers initiative to build 215 new residential units adjacent to hotel facility

PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

City of Powell River Council is directing staff to prepare a draft amendment bylaw that would facilitate redevelopment of the Beach Gardens complex. At the April 3 city council meeting, councillors reviewed a proposal for 215 new residential units on the property.

Director of planning services Jason Gow said the purpose of his report to council was to present an application that proposes to amend the city’s sustainable official community plan and zoning bylaw for land located between Cariboo Avenue and Lillooet Place, known as the Beach Gardens complex. He said staff was seeking direction on the preparation of draft amendment bylaws to be considered by council at a future date, and, if directed, to prepare an amendment to the official community plan.

Staff is also seeking direction regarding meetings pertaining to consultation during development of an official community plan.

“A local government must provide one or more opportunities it considers appropriate for consultation with persons or organizations and authorities it considers will be affected,” said Gow.

“The local government must consider whether the opportunities for consultation should be early and ongoing, and specifically consider whether consultation is required with the board of any regional districts, First Nations, boards of education, plus the provincial and federal governments. Consultation is in addition to the public hearing that is still required when developing or amending an official community plan.”

Gow said the complex consists of five separate parcels of land that are fee simple, owned by Seaboard Hotels. He said the parcels vary in size and land use. The development proposes to reconfigure the five parcels into two lots and rezone them, according to Gow.

Once subdivided, the property would feature two different zones, one being C4 (tourist commercial), and the

other RM4 (multiple family residential four). If successful, the area currently zoned C4, housing the Beach Gardens Resort and Marina, would be reduced by approximately 0.7 hectares and the area to house the multi-unit residential development would grow to 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres), according to Gow’s report to council.

Gow said the RM4 zone would permit apartments, townhouses and cluster homes.

“The applicant has proposed three four-storey apartment buildings between Cariboo and Lillooet, providing 140 new units of housing,” said Gow. “Closer to the ocean, there would be three rows of six-unit and three-unit townhouses proposed, that would contribute 75 new units of housing.

“Council will want to consider associated impacts on adjacent owners and occupiers of property. This location, when you add 215 new units, is going to translate into a significant increase in population. More people means more cars and more potential for conflict. There will be direct impacts on residents living on Cariboo and Lillooet, as well as those living directly across the highway.”

Gow said while this was true, it would probably be good for council to consider there are existing development rights held by the property owner.

The ministry of transportation and transit has required the property owner to prepare a traffic impact assessment. Gow said that assessment, prepared by Creative Transportation Solutions (CTS), was delivered to the ministry and the city last fall, and was included in Gow’s staff report.

“Based on the proposal, which includes closure of the current driveway to the Beach Gardens Resort that connects directly to the highway, CTS performed an intersection capacity

analysis of the adjacent key intersections with the addition of the site traffic for the years 2024 to 2029, which is the full build-out, and 2034, which is five years after the build-out,” said Gow. “From this analysis, CTS determined the traffic impacts of the additional site generated traffic volumes to be negligible, as none of the intersection performance and level of service measurements changed. While adjacent streets and intersections would get busier, they would still perform at a level deemed acceptable to traffic movement.”

Gow said staff was seeking direction on whether to further this application process by developing draft bylaws

Residential permits receive support

Councillors vote unanimously in favour of allowing nine-unit development with residential and commercial uses

PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

City of Powell River Council has approved a development permit and development variance permit for a planned multi-unit, mixed-use development at 6954 Alberni

Street, owned by Al Austin.

At the March 27 council meeting, councillors considered the two permits after a successful rezoning of the property, which is 0.38 acres in size. It was rezoned from single-unit residential to CD5 (Joyce Commons mixed-use development).

Councillor Trina Isakson said she understood that public notice had been given about the development, and she wanted to confirm with staff that there were no concerns or issues raised.

At the meeting, director of planning services Jason Gow said it was understood that the city has heard nothing from the public on this matter.

Isakson said this was an opportunity to

build more housing close to the downtown core, and the variance would reduce the number of parking spaces, which council endorsed at a previous meeting.

Councillor Rob Southcott said he wanted to express his appreciation for this variance permit, which would reduce off-street parking from 20 to 13 spaces.

“It probably allows for more dwelling spaces,” said Southcott. “It’s a trend that has been going on in the city here for some time and really represents where we are headed into the future, where alternative forms of transportation, beyond everyone owning a private vehicle, is becoming more and more the practice. I’m really glad to see this happen and I will support this, and the same

for council to consider at a future meeting, and to initiate steps related to meeting requirements of the Local Government Act regarding public consultation and engagement.

Council voted to direct staff to prepare for council’s consideration, draft amendment bylaws to the sustainable official community plan and zoning bylaw that would facilitate the redevelopment of the Beach Gardens complex, and that council, with respect to considering an amendment to the official community plan that would support redevelopment of the five parcels that make up the complex, considers appropriate consultation opportunities.

principle into the future.”

Council voted unanimously for the development variance permit and development permit, subject to receipt of a landscape security deposit to the satisfaction of Gow.

According to a staff report, the proposed development is a two-storey, nine-unit development that will house both residential and commercial uses. The seven residential units range in size from 1,251 to 1,500 square feet and all have three bedrooms. Staff was supportive of the variance for parking spaces because the property is located centrally within walking distance to several recreational, commercial and employment destinations.

PURSUES PLAN: Seaboard Hotels, which owns the Beach Gardens Resort and Marina, is seeking to amend the city’s official community plan and zoning bylaw to build 215 new residential units on the upland of the hotel’s property.

PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: Zyrox Mining Company representatives appeared before qathet Regional District’s board of directors to outline its Texada Island operation. After the presentation, regional directors voted to send a letter of concern to the ministry of environment and climate change strategy regarding Zyrox’s application for a permit under the Environmental Management Act ALEX QUINN PHOTO

Mining company explains application

Delegation

members outline Texada Island operation to regional district directors

PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

A Texada Island mining company has appeared before qathet Regional District’s (qRD) board of directors to outline its operation on the island.

At the April 8 regional board meeting, Zyrox Mining Company director Robert Papalia said his delegation was appearing before the board to shed some light on an application the company has before BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. He said the company has shared recently via email with the regional district an environmental protection notice. This goes out as an authorization to discharge, he said.

“We have been wanting to come and give the board an opportunity to ask questions,” said Papalia. “It has been brought to our attention by [Electoral Area D] director [Sandy] McCormick that there would be discussion today about a potential letter to the ministry regarding this application, so we wanted to give an opportunity for you to ask questions about the project.

“I could give you a brief overview of what the application actually means and a brief history as well. We’ve been encouraged by residents of Texada Island to hold a community meeting to share some information we have and take questions.”

That meeting took place at the community hall in Gillies Bay on April 14.

Papalia said the application is not in relation to any exploration activities or production. He said it is about current discharges that are happening now and have been happening for multiple decades.

“The site has been operated by a number of different entities over many years,” said Papalia. “This is about us getting into compliance with the ministry of environment. There is an exchange of information going back and forth. We are collecting samples at regular intervals and we want to be sharing that data with the ministry of environment.”

Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said from Papalia’s presentation, she understood the discharge from Zyrox’s Yew mine is primarily seepage.

Papalia said there are two micro-pits onsite. One is lined and the other isn’t. He said the lined pond is isolated from the unlined pond.

“The water in the lined pond is rainfall,” said Papalia. “That is discharging via culvert to ground. On the north micro-pit side, that one has seepage going to ground. When water quality deteriorates, we perform treatment. That isn’t a frequently occurring activity.”

McCormick said monitoring is going on, and she asked if there is any way the public can better understand what is going on through that monitoring.

“That would help clear up a lot of misinformation if the public could actually see what those results were,” added McCormick.

Papalia said it was the company’s intent to get more technical data to the public.

“This is about transparency,” said Papalia. “The ministry of environment has stringent regulations and they are well aware of what we are doing. There has been a back-andforth dialogue going on for many months now. They have seen the data and have a level of comfort with the information provided and the course of action that we have taken. We want to get the public up to speed.”

McCormick was told that an environmental monitoring business from Vancouver Island takes care of the environmental monitoring. She said one of the main concerns expressed to her is what is in the discharge, and does it pose risk to the sensitive habitat?

“What residents are telling me is under certain conditions, when you get the atmospheric rivers and huge runoff, you can get a lot of water that flows from Priest Lake down to Van Anda Creek down to Emily Lake, out to the ocean,” said McCormick. “The concern is whatever is in the discharge can be harming the habitat.”

Project specialist Gerry Papini said the discharges are not going to Priest Lake.

“We have information we will be sharing with the public next week to show that,” said Papini. “We will be sharing our monitoring results and our mine plans with the community. We are convinced we can do a project which protects the environment.”

Later in the meeting, directors considered a recommendation that the board write a letter of concern to the director of environmental protection, with the ministry of environment and climate change strategy, regarding the application for permit under the Environmental Management Act from Zyrox Mining Company. The board carried a motion to send the letter.

Complex care facility opens

Tla’amin

Nation has official opening for four new housing units providing specialized support

Community members gathered on April 4 to celebrate the official opening t̓ɛχɛθot (teh-heh-thot), which means to warm oneself by the fire, a new complex care housing program providing specialized support for Tla’amin Nation citizens living with mental health and substance use challenges.

Located in the village of tišosəm, the four new homes offer a safe, stable environment paired with wraparound health, cultural and social supports, accord-

ing to a media release from Tla’amin. The homes are the first in Tla’amin to be purpose-built for citizens requiring complex care — including primary care, mental health and addictions support, peer programming, daily living assistance and culturally based healing.

The morning’s ceremony began with an ancestral food-burning ceremony to honour loved ones lost to addiction and mental health struggles. Traditional foods were offered to the spirit world, with families invited to bring plates for their own relations.

Community services housepost Brandon Louie reflected on the importance of taking care of the ancestors when doing any kind of work.

“Our Tla’amin families have suffered many sudden losses,” stated Louie. “Taking care of our relations in the spiritual realm brings healing

— both in their world and in ours. Our ceremony today starts this new program off on the right foot.”

The burning was followed by a cedar brushing and official opening of the new units.

“We stand with the Tla’amin Nation community today as they honour their loved ones lost to struggles with mental health and substance use,” stated provincial minister of health Josie Osborne. “The opening of t̓ɛχɛθot brings an opportunity for people living with overlapping mental health, substance use and cognitive challenges to enter stable housing, receive wraparound care and take steps toward healing.”

The homes are located close to essential services in the community, ensuring tenants are supported by nearby health, housing and social services, according to

the release. As part of the program, Tla’amin Health has hired an Indigenous cultural support worker to walk alongside individuals accessing these specialized supports.

t̓ɛχɛθot is a partnership between Tla’amin, Vancouver Coastal Health and Lift Community Services, through the qathet region’s complex care housing program. The release stated that the program, launched in 2021, was developed to serve citizens with overlap-

ping mental health, addictions and cognitive challenges, and is the result of ongoing collaboration and community advocacy.

According to the release, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for safe, supportive housing in Tla’amin became increasingly urgent. In response, Tla’amin secured six emergency housing trailers through the provincial reaching home fund. While this addressed an immediate need, Tla’amin recognized

a broader range of housing was necessary — from emergency and transitional units, to supportive, social rental and private ownership models. The complex care housing program supports individuals living with significant mental health, addiction, or co-occurring challenges who are at risk of homelessness. In Tla’amin, this includes people with overlapping needs related to substance use, trauma, mental illness, and brain injury.

Thank you, Powell River!

Oceanside Entertainment is honoured to be named Entrepreneur of the Year

We are beyond grateful to our amazing community for voting us Entrepreneur of the Year! This recognition means so much to us, and we couldn't have done it without your support.

Thank you for choosing us and for being part of our journey. We are committed to continuing to serve and bring even more entertainment and joy to this wonderful community. Here’s to many more years of fun and connection!

From all of us at Oceanside Entertainment, THANK YOU for your trust and belief in what we do.

NEW PROGRAM: Standing in front of one of four new complex care houses, Tla’amin Nation singers took part in an official opening, which included a food burning ceremony and brushing of the new residences with cedar boughs. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO

ELECTION 2025 »

Candidate wants to bring ‘common- sense change’ to Ottawa

Aaron Gunn seeks move from filmmaking into political position as MP

PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

Documentary filmmaker Aaron Gunn wants to use his experiences and knowledge from covering key Canadian issues to assist him in member of parliament business in Ottawa. He is one of six candidates seeking to represent North Island-Powell River as MP.

Gunn, who is the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the riding, spoke to the Peak on April 11.

Peak: Why do you want to be an MP?

Gunn: For the past five years, I’ve been a documentary filmmaker. I’ve produced over 25 documentaries, and after years of talking about and reporting on these issues, I want to do something about them. It’s about making a difference and it’s all about making a change.

In the past 10 years, there’s lots of things in Canada that haven’t been governed well. We have the highest inflation in 30 years. Housing prices have doubled and so has the national debt. Our military is in a very bad place. We need to bring some commonsense change to Ottawa.

A perfect example would be the opioid crisis. Since 2015, 50,000 Canadians have died. It’s an issue that I’ve investigated thoroughly through three documentaries. The government’s policy of decriminalizing hard drugs, of handing out deadly, dangerous and addictive opioids, has been a terrible disaster. The Conservatives want to take the money that

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has been spent on the drug crisis and put it into treatment and recovery instead.

Peak: How will you address the needs of qathet region constituents as MP when you live on Vancouver Island.

Gunn: There are not any shortcuts. You have to come to Powell River frequently, often on a regular schedule. I feel like I have spent the most time here in Powell River of any candidate. I have been a candidate for more than a year.

I’ve been to Powell River many times, including when I was running for the nomination. We always get a strong turnout here and a strong response.

I’ve come to know Powell River well. My previous experience here was mainly playing hockey against the Powell River team, with mixed success, while growing up.

It’s about coming to Powell River and talking to the people here, the business owners and recognizing what powers and drives the local economy. I think we have to establish a constituency office here.

Peak: Why is your party best suited to address the needs of Canadians?

Gunn: If you look back, politics is all about elections and all about choices. If you look back over the past 10 years, the Liberals and NDP have been working together. For myself, I think we’ve been heading in the wrong direction.

The reason why I believe the Conservative Party is the one to vote for and the party that I’m running for is because we have solutions to problems such as high inflation, the high rate of drug overdoses, violent repeat offenders being allowed to walk free, and many other issues.

We need to stop printing, spending and borrowing so much money. It’s about permanently getting rid of the carbon tax and

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to stop taxing Canadian energy. It’s to fasttrack new home construction by incentivizing municipalities to do so. It’s about bringing in a common sense, capped immigration that is tied to new housing bills.

It’s about stopping handing out free drugs and to reverse the destructive policy of decriminalization, putting more money into treatment and recovery. It’s about standing up for Canada and not backing down. We need to make sure Canada’s economy is strong and resilient, and that means developing our resource sector.

Peak: What do you feel is the right way to handle US president Donald Trump’s administration on the national stage?

Gunn: We have to be proud to be Canadian. We have to be firm, but fair, and we can’t back down.

The first thing is that we support reciprocal tariffs. If the Americans bring in tariffs against us, we will put tariffs on them. We want a future where there is free trade between Canada and the United States.

We need to negotiate with president Trump from a position of strength. The Liberals and the NDP have put us in a position of weakness by not getting pipelines built and by undermining our resource sector. Also, by undermining the value of the Canadian dollar, by not diversifying our trade market overseas, and by not dismantling the trade barriers between individual provinces right here in Canada.

Canada should be the easiest place in the world to do business, while maintaining the highest standards.

Peak: What makes you the best choice to represent the North Island-Powell River riding in Ottawa?

Gunn: I’ve always been a fighter. I was a fighter when I was at the Canadian

Taxpayers Federation fighting for lower taxes, less waste and a more accountable government for all Canadians. I was a fighter, quite literally, when I was in the Canadian Army Reserves and the Fifth Field Artillery Regiment.

For the past five years, I’ve been fighting to investigate some of the biggest, most important issues facing the country, whether it is the opioid epidemic, the housing crisis or infringements on free speech.

Now, I want to go to Ottawa to fight for the people of this riding and to fight for the constituents. It’s a big, beautiful riding and I feel blessed to be able to have my name on the ballot, and for voters to be able to have a choice of how they want the country to move forward on April 28.

KELLY KEIL publisher SHANE CARLSON editor

PAUL GALINSKI reporter

SANDY ADAMS

NO SHORTCUTS: Aaron Gunn, a documentary filmmaker, is running as the federal Conservative Party candidate in the North Island-Powell River riding. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Independent looks to shake things up

Glen Staples believes party politics is part of the problem

TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com

The 2025 federal election is on Monday, April 28, but not everyone who enters an election campaign necessarily wants to win.

Some folks, like Independent candidate for North Island-Powell River Glen Staples, want to shake things up a little, ask some tough questions and get people talking and thinking about politics a little differently.

"I've been interested in politics my whole life; I ran as a Green Party candidate when I started in 1984," said Staples. "I went around to different [political] parties, trying to work from within the system, and I've come to a conclusion that the whole system is kind of broken."

Staples, who has lived in Courtenay for decades on a small acreage where he raises chickens, said one of the main reasons he decided to run is to attend the all-candidates meetings. He ran as an independent in the 2019 federal election and was happy with the result.

"I want to thank everyone for their kind words of encouragement, and especially for the 350 who voted for me," he stated in a social media message after the election in 2019. "Now I can get back to getting my firewood in, my hens and gardens."

Staples said he believes the Canadian public would be better served by more independent Members of Parliament.

"I've come to the realization that parties are a big part of the problem," said

Staples. "Now you need a million dollars just to run for leader."

He thinks the political system has become too topdown and that the public basically only has a choice between two parties (Liberals and Conservatives).

Although there is the Green Party of Canada and New Democratic Party, neither has won the largest share of seats at the federal level and thus has never formed a government.

"The other big problem now is polarization," said Staples. "I'm strong on the environment, but on social issues, I agree more with the right [wing parties]."

Staples said he disagreed with most of what former prime minister Justin Trudeau put into place.

"The one good thing he [Trudeau] did was the carbon tax," said Staples. "So what does Pierre Poilievre do? For years, he ran against the carbon tax, and he managed to get rid of it, not just federally, but even provincially."

Staples confesses that this time around, as an independent candidate, [his campaign] is more of a oneman show and he doesn't believe he has any chance of winning.

"[I wanted to run] to air out the issues; I think the [Canadian] government is really important," said Staples. "It's the only method we have to solve the large problems and I've done a lot of thinking about it my whole life."

Staples grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan and then went to university in Calgary.

"I lived in Ashcroft for 10 years, then in the Nemaiah Valley, with my wife in Bella Bella, then we moved here [Courtenay] in the fall of 1985."

He said most of the [political] candidates he has met through the years are good people, but that the system is too polarized.

"I'm hoping to get some information out there and a different point of view," said Staples. "I'll bet you at the all-candidates meetings, you'll hear people talking a lot about promises to cut taxes, and then you’ll hear other people talking about promises to start new programs to pay for things, but nobody talks about increasing taxes or cutting programs, because nobody wants to hear that."

Staples said it seems like everyone [the public] wants money for things [like services] but they don't want to pay taxes for it.

"I think the carbon tax was a good thing," said Staples. "People earning minimum wage need their income, and the [Canadian government] is taxing that, and yet, people who have a really expensive yacht that burns a lot of fuel, or they fly back and forth across the ocean, do not have to pay the carbon tax on the omissions that are actually

harming our planet."

The independent candidate shared his feelings on how to handle recent actions of US president Donald Trump.

"Trump is a bully, and he looks for victims," said Staples. "He looks for victims like Panama, Greenland and Canada, so I think you have to stand up to him."

If chosen to represent the riding in Ottawa, Staples said he would look at each piece of legislation and decide whether or not it is good for Canada.

""I would be lobbying, trying to get to know the other MPs,” said Staples, “and trying to convince them that they should drop from their party and become independent."

Powell River Chamber of Commerce will host an all-candidates meeting from 6 to 8 pm at Evergreen Theatre in Powell River Recreation Complex on Thursday, April 17. Also vying to represent the riding is People’s Party of Canada candidate Paul Macknight, who did not schedule an interview offered by the Peak

ONE-MAN SHOW: Glen Staples is running as an independent candidate in the North Island-Powell River riding in the 2025 federal election on April 28. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Lash betting on swell of support

Liberal hopes to receive boost from party leader

ROCHELLE BAKER National Observer

The federal Liberal candidate in North Island-Powell River riding is confident the surge of support behind prime minister Mark Carney will boost her chances in a riding that historically leans orange or blue.

Jennifer Lash noted that Carney, a former governor for the Bank of Canada and more recently for the Bank of England, is laser-focused on the economy.

“He is, by far, the best federal political leader we have to keep a steady hand on the tiller as we navigate the very stormy waters that Donald Trump is stirring up,” she said.

Lash suggested that as a potential Liberal MP for the riding, she’d have a seat at the federal table to advocate for her riding’s specific needs, something that’s more effective than being an opposition MP with the NDP having little chance of forming government. Her most recent work has been as a senior policy advisor to the federal ministry of environment and climate change Canada. She is also the founder of the Living Oceans Society, a BC science-based marine conservation group.

As a riding resident living for close to three decades in the village of Sointula on Malcolm Island, she said she understands the challenges faced by rural communities and can ensure their interests are addressed when it comes to the impacts of potential tariffs.

Like Canadians everywhere, voters are anxious about how tariffs are going

CONFIDENT CANDIDATE: Jennifer Lash, the federal Liberal candidate for North Island-Powell River, is confident the surge of support behind prime minister Mark Carney will boost her chances in a riding that historically leans orange or blue.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

to affect the economy and people’s livelihoods in the riding.

“How we ensure that people are kept whole during this time is the number one issue for us,” said Lash.

The Liberal Party will concentrate on uplifting community strengths and Canadian unity in contrast to divisive Conservative tactics, she added.

“Conservatives are using tried-and-true populist techniques where they discredit experts like economists and scientists, and then use fear to whip up this frenzy of anger that's really tearing away at our communities,” said Lash. “People are really starting to see how that's playing out in the United States, and they're realizing they don't want that here.”

The Liberals would cooperate with the province to reduce dependency on US markets for logging and the fishing sector and ensure support is there for workers in industries hard hit by tariffs, said Lash, adding that she’d also work to continue diversifying the riding’s economy and find ways of keeping more revenue from industry like forestry within the community. Other top goals are to assist and support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region as well as addressing the on-

going health care crisis by attracting more doctors and nurses to the riding.

The Liberals remain committed to reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people and First Nations within the riding, said Lash, emphasizing that the Liberals have worked hard to ensure reconciliation is internalized in the federal government.

“We cannot afford to walk that back, both from a moral perspective or from an economic perspective,” said Lash. “We need to renew that relationship so that we have healthy, vibrant communities going forward.”

The riding has been held by the federal NDP for the last decade, and before that by the conservatives. However, Lash feels Carney will draw votes regardless of past election results.

“Mark Carney has been able to draw support from across the spectrum of voters,” she said.

Rachel Blaney, who isn’t running in the upcoming election, held the riding since 2015. She won for the NDP in 2021 with 39.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the Conservatives at 36 per cent, and the Liberals with just over 13 per cent.

This story was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

Johnston unfazed by national polls

NDP candidate sees benefits in minority governments

TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com

New Democratic Party candidate for North Island-Powell River Tanille Johnston is out knocking on doors and listening to constituents' concerns. She will be in the qathet region this week.

Currently, the NDP is polling at 8.2 per cent federally, but Johnston said she doesn't pay too much attention to the polls.

"Those polls and predictions are so heavily weighted on the east coast of our country and it's really hard to take them seriously or even bother looking at them at all, to be honest," said Johnston. "British Columbia sits uniquely in the federal space, and in the sense that we are highly an NDP province, both federally and provincially."

Johnston said the [federal] NDP has been the social conscience of the federal government and that's been its role for years.

"What she's [former North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney] been able to accomplish in a minority opposition govern-

ment has been amazing, and it's proved how well we function as a team," said Johnston. "Another thing that's being pushed out there by our Liberal candidate is that you have to be in the sitting governing party in order to get anything done, and that's absolutely not true."

In 2022 the federal Liberals and federal NDP announced a Supply and Confidence Agreement, allowing for quicker movement on issues such as $10 a day child care, dental care and pharmacare.

"It's a long reach for the Liberals to take, to try to discount the value of the NDP party at the table in Ottawa," said Johnston. "It's also concerning that the Liberals are talking in a way where a majority government would be a good thing, because that's just not true."

Johnstone said she is hearing a lot of concern about strategic voting from constituents.

"The conversation that I end up having the most is the strategic voting conversation," said Johnston. "People want to feel confident in what their strategic vote is but it overshadows [other issues such as] the huge health care crisis we all know that we're in, it overshadows platform announcements, because people are more focused on keeping the Conservatives out of government."

Johnston said she is still hearing from voters that the opioid crisis is a huge issue for people in this riding, and the cost of living is a concern.

"Another concern [from constituents] is when there are different platform announcements being made [by political parties], where is the money going to come from?" said Johnston. "As far as I'm aware, it's only the NDP and the Green Party that have said, well, that money is going to be coming from the ultra-rich and from the billionaires; equitable taxation so that money is available to do these great things, but we're not hearing where the funding is coming from, from the Conservatives."

Johnston said there is talk of the federal NDP losing party status but she doesn't think that's possible.

"We see our Green Party friends pull through, and there's just no way the NDP is dropping under two per cent, which would lose their party status and lose funding," said Johnston.

She believes her experience sitting on council for City of Campbell River has primed her for working through differences with other parties as an MP.

"I work with folks who have alternate viewpoints [to mine] about the best path-

way forward to accomplish a specific task," said Johnston. "This skill set is also something that I'm not overly unfamiliar with as a social worker, working with many different kinds of people and different kinds of beliefs and being able to get to an agreeable place."

UNIQUE AREA: Tanille Johnston, the federal NDP candidate for North IslandPowell River, says BC’s political landscape is unique compared to other provinces. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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Candidate pitches climate action to fix affordability

VIAHA Division 2 League Champions

VIAHA Tier 3 District Champions

Powell River U18A Kings would like to thank all those who supported the team this season on our journey to the Provincial Championships.

Jessica Wegg pursues position as riding’s MP for the second time

ROCHELLE BAKER National Observer

who has held the SaanichGulf Islands riding since 2011. Typically, the more an island riding’s economy is resource-based, the more poorly the Green Party does at the polls.

2% Realty

32 Lakes Cafe and Bakery A&W

32 Lakes Cafe and Bakery

A&W

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Anchor Apparel

Anytime Fitness

Armitage Mens Wear

Augusta Recyclers

Berghauser & Associates

Bob Marquis

Bryce Plumbing

Cedar Spring Brushing

The Chopping Block

Curtis Yungen Remax

Don and Joyce Carlson

Extreme weather or disasters, like fires or floods caused by global warming, dramatically increase the cost of food, housing and health care, and threaten people’s well-being. The key is viewing climate action not as a cost, but as an economic advantage, says Jessica Wegg, the federal Green Party candidate for North Island-Powell River.

Construction, trades, tourism and health and education jobs are outstripping declining traditional sectors like fishing, forestry and agriculture in the riding, but the resource sector still represents 20 per cent of jobs in smaller communities.

By developing sustainable resource sectors and renewable energy, Wegg said Canada can create jobs and build economic resilience to buffer the financial impacts of sweeping tariffs.

KEY ISSUE: North Island-Powell River Green Party candidate and self-described advocate for climate justice and economic equity wants the riding to remain ‘the most beautiful place on earth.’ CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Edgehill Timber Fits to a T FreshCo

Happy's Source for Sports Henderson Edwards Developments

Henderson Law

HouseBout Tour DeVita

JL Contracting

Kelly's Health Shop

Ken's Custom Welding

Lund Water Taxi

McDonald Marine

M Hudson Trucking

The affordability and housing crisis, health care and the trade war are just some key issues that could be addressed by taking a green approach, said Wegg, a Comox resident and lawyer, currently providing criminal defense through Legal Aid BC.

Pitching the expansion of fossil fuels to create jobs and grow the economy like the federal Conservatives and president Trump are doing is “short-sighted,” she said. “The oil and gas era is over. We need to be doing everything in our power in the fight against climate change.

sources and there’s a balance we can find and money to be made for ordinary Canadians.”

federal policy is needed to curb speculation and hedge fund investment and speculation in the housing market while encouraging the construction of affordable rental housing, she suggested.

M Hudson Trucking

The Nutcracker Market

Paperworks Gift Gallery

The Peak

Pollen Sweaters Inc

The Peak Pollen Sweaters Inc

Powell River Community Forest

“Climate change, writ large, is the filter that we look at everything through,” said Wegg. “We all want this [area] to stay the most beautiful place on earth, but it means seeking smart choices.”

“There are lots of jobs and opportunities for us in renewables. We can save the world, and then we don't need to be worrying about selling oil to the US.”

Powell River Community Forest

Powell River Kings - Birch Group - Alan Fougere

Powell River Regals

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River City Coffee

Powell River Regals

Robbins and Company

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A self-described advocate for climate justice and economic equity, Wegg said the climate crisis is an affordability issue.

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Robbins and Company

qathet Rentals

Romeo Styles

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Scotiabank

Shorefront Plumbing

It’s her second bid to win the riding. As the Green candidate in the 2021 election, she secured six per cent of the vote.

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Swanson's Distributing TAWS

Tempco

Thichim Forest Products

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Voter support for the Greens is typically higher in south island ridings, close to the federal party co-leader Elizabeth May,

Oil companies and logging corporations reap massive profits while voters bear the brunt of environmental destruction and the costs of climate change, said Wegg. It doesn’t have to be this way — workers in traditional resource industries have skills that can be transferred to sustainable resource sectors and the clean energy economy, she added.

“We have industries available for workers. We need to be stewards of these re-

Advancing green building standards and renewable infrastructure will reduce costs for homeowners and create climate-resilient housing that can withstand extreme weather, curb rising insurance costs and continue to generate jobs in the construction and energy sectors, said Wegg. Helping producers develop sustainable agriculture and adapt to heat or drought, building local food distribution systems and promoting local produce would help stabilize farmers’ costs and consumers’ food prices, she added.

Wegg also stressed the need for policies that boost the well-being of ordinary Canadians over big business profits. Windfall profit taxes for grocery corporations should be put in place to discourage gouging food shoppers, she said. Additionally, more

Revamping traditional resource sectors, like mining or forestry, to ensure they support environmental health and economic growth moving forward, — such as ensuring wood or timber products are manufactured in BC — would also help diversify markets and buffer the effects of increased lumber tariffs imposed south of the border.

“We have to think about the long-term effects,” said Wegg. “We have to have sustainable industries that continue to last and feed our families into the future, and aren't just geared to the here and now.”

This story was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

Soccer association hands out awards

Rep teams and individuals recognized for achievements over last season

Powell River Youth Soccer Association (PRYSA) wrapped its 2024/2025 rep season with an awards ceremony honouring players, referees and volunteers on Saturday, April 5, at Villa Soccer Centre.

PRYSA president Todd Cross emceed the ceremony. Coaches presented individual awards and team highlights. A total of six teams competed in the Upper Island Soccer Association (UISA).

The big news of the season included the U18 girls earning a spot to compete in the provincials in Kelowna this July; the U12 girls going undefeated in their season; the U13 boys being at the top of the table for their division for the second year in a row; and the growth of the club with PRYSA entering more teams into the UISA each year.

U12 girls were the team everyone wanted to beat. The dedication and coachability of the players shined through, according to a PRYSA volunteer, who added that, “it was a joy to watch them putting all of the puzzle pieces together to play the beautiful game.”

Taliyah Souch and Isla O’Donnell were named Most Valuable Players; Most Improved Player awards went to Gianna Hull and Arya Hildering; and Most Sportsmanlike honours

were bestowed upon Seni Mocevakaca and Hunter Larkin.

Two teams from PRYSA make their debuts in the U12 boys division. U12 (Cross), the younger of the two squads, played in an age group above their own, allowing players to gain valuable game experience and increase their confidence through the season. Nelson Bratseth and Caleb Gordon were chosen as Most Valuable Players; Quinn Wallace and Sawyer Dodgson were named as Most Improved Players; Joseph Cross and Lucas Morrice were honoured as Most Sportsmanlike.

U12 (Johansen) entered its first year of rep play and had a lot to celebrate, as the team saw massive growth in ability. Most Valuable Player was Noah Olson; Most Improved Player was Jaouen Gicquel; and Most Sportsmanlike was Logan Johansen.

U13 boys had another fantastic season, “bringing unbelievable passion to the game, and playing seamlessly together,” the volunteer stated. Awards were presented to Brayden Messner and Luca Pierano (Most Valuable); Adrian Tom and Jesse Cairns (Most Improved); and Wren

Barfoot and Calyx Kernohan (Most Sportsmanlike).

U14/15 boys played their season out with some tough losses and amazing wins. Heart and hustle all year earned the team the Technical Director’s Male Team of the Year Award. Individual awards were presented to Alex Dowding, Most Valuable Player; Torrin Anderson, Most Improved Player; and Tanner Ciarniello, Most Sportsmanlike Player.

U18 girls received the Technical Director’s Female Team of the Year Award for their determination and skill displayed during the season. Most Valuable Player honours were shared by Sydney Miller and Helen Barszczewski; Most Improved Player was Brooklyn Klassen; and the Most Sportsmanlike award went to Addy Shipley. Brooklynn Klassen also received the Technical Director’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

Other awards were presented to Cam Miller, longtime PRYSA coach and coach of the U18 girls, who was honoured with the Coach of the Year Award; Emil Valing, who was named Referee of the Year; and Heather Anderson (Volunteer of the Year).

BC Timber Sales

Chinook -SunshineCoast FieldTeam

InvitationtoComment—ForestOperationsMap

Thepublic is invitedtorevie wand comment on theBCTimberSales Chinook -Sunshine CoastField Team (BCTSTCH)ForestOperations MapID 2190,showing proposedroadconstruc tion andcut blockdevelopment underForestSte wardship Plan #672 within Forest De velopmentUnits in theSunshineCoast NaturalR esource District.The mapwill be valid forthe operatingper iodfrom May17, 2025 –M ay 16, 2028.Dur ingthe operating period,the Timber Sales Manager mayinviteapplications forTimberSale Licenses forthe harvesting of cutblocksshown on themap andapplyfor Road Permitstoconstruct roadsshown on themap

Themap is availablefor public re view andcomment online,at: fom.nrs.gov.bc.c a/public/projects

Themap is also availablefor in-personrevie wand commentbyappointment at theBCTSTCH office,M onday to Fr iday from 8a.m.to4:30p.m., at: 7077 Dunc an Street, Powell River, B.C., V8A1W1

Tel: 604 485-0700

Commentswill be accepted between April17–M ay 16, 2025.Comments maybesubmitteddirec tlythrough fom.nrs.gov.bc.c a/public/projects, emailedto BC TS.S unshineCoast@gov.bc.c a,delivered in person at the addressabove dur ingbusinesshours, or mailed to theaddress abovetothe attentionofthe BC TS SunshineCoast Planning Department

If youhavequestions orrequire assistance,pleaseemail BC TS.S unshineCoast@gov.bc.ca.

SOCCER STARS: [Back row, from left] Powell River Youth Soccer Association U12 boys (Cross) coach Matt Dodgson, coach Chris Bratseth, players Rowan LeBlanc, Shamus Homen, Sable Fitzpatrick, Arlo Johansen, Woodrow Becker, Lincoln Rubin and coach Todd Cross. [Front row, from left] Nelson Bratseth, Sawyer Dodgson, Lucas Morrice, Quinn Wallace, Caleb Gordon and Joseph Cross. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Police Patrol: RCMP report

Powell River RCMP responded to 122 total calls for service from April 2 to 8, including six thefts, three for impaired driving, two assaults, 13 cases of mischief and seven related to mental health.

At approximately 2 pm on April 6, local police received a report that two people were trapped under a residence that had collapsed on Patricia Crescent on Savary Island.

Savary Island Fire and EHS arrived on scene and determined that the house was being renovated and in the process of being lowered onto a new foundation when it collapsed.

Two men were located underneath the house by Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department members and were confirmed deceased. A third man escaped with serious injury and was transported to qathet General Hospital by EHS. He is expected to recover.

Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department worked tirelessly to raise and stabilize the house in order to reach the deceased men. The men were extracted with the help of EHS, the BC Coroner’s Service and Powell River RCMP.

The RCMP investigation has determined

that there was no criminality involved.

At approximately 8 am on April 8, local police received a request from Quadra Island RCMP to assist with intercepting a stolen boat in the Mitlenatch Island area. The boat had been stolen out of Campbell River and tracked via GPS and RCMP Air Services to the Mitlenatch/Cortes Island area.

Powell River RCMP agreed to assist using the police vessel. While en route, Powell River police officers were advised that Quadra police had located the stolen boat and were escorting the boat with two suspects to the dock at Manson Landing on Cortes Island.

The stolen boat was secured and the two suspects were arrested for possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. The suspects were transported by boat to Campbell River where they were handed over to Campbell River RCMP.

Anyone with information about a crime is asked to contact Powell River RCMP at 604.485.6255, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1.800.222.8477 or bccrimestoppers.com.

School district releases byelection results

Based on preliminary results released after voting concluded on Saturday, April 12, Gretchen Conti has won the qathet School District by-election.

Conti was the choice to fill an empty qSD board trustee

position on 229 of the 394 ballots cast during advanced and mail-in voting, as well as on general election day. Her opponent, Guy Chartier, received 165 votes.

Results are subject to determination by chief election officer Twyla Slonski, according to the school district.

Footbridge made with wood from a fallen tree

Crossing had long been in disrepair, but storm was

the last blow

A giant cedar tree fell during a wind storm a couple of months back, below the Second Beach trestle, damaging and blocking a foot-

bridge, plus leaving branches and debris on the beach.

Now a brand new bridge is in place, ready to be used by the public. A sturdy pathway was built over the creek, leading to a pathway back to the Willingdon Beach Trail. The Second Beach trestle is still waiting to have its own permanent bridge.

FIGHTING BLAZE: Powell River Fire Rescue attended a house fire on lower Duncan Street during the early afternoon of April 11. All of the department’s fire engines were mobilized, plus a complement of career and paid on-call firefighters. The fire is still under investigation and foul play is not suspected. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO

Gretchen Conti

Who is responsible for warming?

As Earth Week begins (April 16 to 22), it might be wise to keep the following in mind.

Fossil fuel companies and chemical industries often shift blame to consumers by saying they're just supplying a commodity that people want or demand. So, we're all equally blameworthy. It's a clever propaganda strategy, but it just happens to be dead wrong.

It is not fossil fuel or toxic chemical demand that causes its supply; it is fossil fuel and

CLIMATE CROSSROADS

By By Fred Guerin

chemical supply that creates the demand.

Why that is an important truth becomes very clear the moment any economy begins to move away from toxic chemicals and fossil fuels toward cleaner alternatives and renewable forms of energy. When e-cars and ebikes came into the market, the

demand for these skyrocketed.

The same would be the case for other commodities based on clean alternatives and renewable energy.

The fact is that chemical industries and fossil fuel companies are not going to voluntarily stop doing what they are doing for the sake of the future health and well-being of the planet. Profit-oriented fossil-fuel companies see climate warming as an externality; in other words, something that affects others,

Townsite, connection.

The new Mid-Level Connector is scheduled to open in April! This 1.5km pathway will link Westview and Townsite, creating new opportunities for recreation & connection. Learn more at participatepr.ca

Planting grows resilience

Working with nature impacts our surroundings

BY LESLEY THORSELL

Birds are chirping and looking for mates; bees are buzzing and looking for blossoms and dandelions.

In April people wonder what they can do for Earth Month, how they can contribute to a better, healthier environment. The best option is to act and support locally.

Make your dollars count by buying at the farmers’ market or directly from a farmer. Don’t use any pesticide on your lawn. Leave the dandelions for the bees as it’s their first food. There are many small ways that if we each did them it would have a massive impact on our surroundings.

Locally, Ray Lambert has been making mason bee houses and giving workshops on how to use them. He sells the houses and the

bee cocoons. If you want to do one project to make a huge difference with minimal effort, putting up a mason bee house is your ticket. It is a very easy way to help the bee population and pollination of flowers and trees. Mason bees pollinate up to 100 times more than honey bees. There is no upkeep except in the winter with taking out the cocoons and cleaning the house. To find out more, contact Ray at karlambert@icloud.com.

Another way to have an impact is to plant pollinators, even if it’s a small patch in your garden or boulevard. Bees need variety and the more flowers there are the healthier the bees are.

One of our board members tends to three pollinator patches in the community in partnership with the City of Powell River parks department. It takes commitment and time but it is well worth the effort and many people are dedicated to creating a blooming habitat in their own yards.

Organic seeds or plants and not

hybrid selections are the best option. Springtime Nursery, Mother Nature and farmers’ markets have a wonderful selection. We have an abundance of healthy choices in our community.

Malaspina Land Conservancy Society has also been making an impact for the last five years by handing out fir and cedar seedlings in the spring for people to plant on their property. All together we have now planted 10,000 trees and some of those are on the grounds of elementary schools and surrounding Brooks Secondary School.

Trees are natural carbon sequesters so they are the most important species to us as we also exchange oxygen. It’s crucial to plant trees wherever possible, protecting old growth and switching to a renewable model for logging that includes selective logging.

Suzanne Simard, UBC professor of forest ecology, is the author of Finding the Mother Tree. If you are looking to have an impact on pol-

CELEBRATING EARTH MONTH

•

icy in British Columbia, this is the book to read.

Malaspina Land Conservancy Society is always willing to meet landowners interested in preparing a conservation covenant to protect their property. Reach out to us with any questions at mala-

spinalandinfo@gmail.com. Happy planting!

Lesley Thorsell is a board member with Malaspina Land Conservancy Society. Find out more about the land conservancy movement through malaspinaland.ca.

Polluters should ‘cover the costs’

not their bottom line. The harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, are not reflected in the market price of goods and services that produce those emissions.

The same holds for chemical industries when they release harmful chemicals into the environment. The negative impacts of these chemicals on humans and ecosystems are considered externalities—a cost that is not factored into the company's production costs, but is still borne by those who are negatively affected.

If governments integrated climate warming and toxic effects of chemicals into their long-run macroeconomic policies, the cost of both would be so incredibly high no one would be able to afford them. We would suddenly be scrambling to power our world with renewables, dramatically reducing toxic chemicals and rethinking our entire Western consumerist culture.

Simply put, we need extensive government regulation that makes it unprofitable for polluters, fossil fuel companies, banks and investors to finance themselves by

burning down or toxifying the planet. And, of course, it might also help if we launched massive class-action suits against chemical industries, fossil fuel companies and the banks that aid and abet them, for the damage they have already caused.

There's a widely recognized principle in environmental law called the polluter pays, which holds for climate warmers as well. It simply means that those who have contributed most to climate change and pollution of the environment should bear the primary responsibility for addressing it and be forced to cover the costs associated with toxic chemical cleanup or climate warming mitigation and adaptation efforts.

So, every time a spokesperson for the chemical industry or fossil fuel company offloads blame onto consumers, every time you hear that we are all equally morally responsible for toxifying or warming our planet, understand that this is nothing more or less than propaganda. Don't ever let them off the hook for what they have done and continue to do.

Fred Guerin is a member of the qathet Climate Alliance Writers Group.

LESLEY THORSELL PHOTO

15« CLIMATE CROSSROADS

A brief history of Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated each April and draws attention to a range of issues affecting the environment. Earth Day aims to raise awareness in the hope of inspiring change.

Earth Day is observed on April 22. According to National Geographic, the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired to begin a national celebration uniting the environmental movement after witnessing environmental activism in the 1960s. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day. Twenty million people participated in events across the United States and strengthened support for environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act Earth Day was expanded to a global initiative in 1990 under guidance from Hayes. Nearly 200 million participants in more than 140 countries now join together in the name of protecting the planet. Awareness continues to be raised each year regarding

renewable energy and climate change.

One of the hallmarks of Earth Day celebrations is the planting of trees. Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees are cut down each year across the globe. By planting a tree every Earth Day, people can make a difference. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and bolster ecosystems

and air conditioning systems. Everyone can do their part to promote the ideals behind Earth Day. For 55 years, millions of people have been advocating for change to benefit the planet and human and animal health, and that fight is ongoing.

Earth Day: it’s time to transition to renewable energies

April 22, 2025, is Earth Day, a time to remember the importance of protecting the world’s natural resources and prioritizing renewable energies. This year’s theme, established by EarthDay.org, is “Our Power, Our Planet.”

This theme highlights the urgent need to switch to renewable energies in response to the climate crisis. Emphasizing the environmental, economic and health benefits, EarthDay.org recommends tripling the global production of renewable energy by 2030.

Earth Day mobilizes citizens, businesses and governments to accelerate the energy transition. Educational initiatives, interactive tools and community events will be held to raise awareness and build commitment to this global initiative.

Get involved!

Would you like to get involved? You can participate in many efforts to protect the planet, not just on Earth Day but every day. Join millions of people around the world by taking part in a local event, or by organizing your own, on April 22.

Act now! Make eco-responsible choices and demand rapid renewable energy deployment from your governments, industries and businesses because the planet won’t wait.

for wildlife. Shade trees can reduce reliance

fans

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(WLRS), for a Licence of oc‐cupation

Ancillar y Aquacul‐ture situated on Provincial Crown land located on Coode Peninsula, Okeover Inlet The Lands File Number that has been established for this application is 1415565 Comments may be submitted electronically via the provin‐cial Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision webpage at https://comment nrs gov bc ca/ Alter natively hard copy comments may be directed to the Senior Land Officer, Ministr y of Water, Land & Resource Steward‐ship at 142 - 2080 Labieux Rd, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6J9 Comments will be received by WLRS up to May 21st 2025 WLRS may not be able to consider comments re‐ceived after this date Please visit the website at https:// comment nrs gov bc ca/ for more infor mation Be advised that any response to this ad‐ver tisement will be consid‐ered par t of the public record For infor mation, con‐tact the Freedom of Infor ma‐tion Advisor at the Ministr y of Water, Land & Resource Stewardship office in Nanaimo

Land

Take notice that I, F. Bruce Shepherd, from Vancouver and Powell River, BC have applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS), South Coast Region, for a Residential Private Moorage situated on Provincial Crown land located at 12600 Lancelot Inlet.

WLRS invites comments on this application. The Lands File is 241 2830. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to the Senior Land Officer, South Coast Region, WLRS, at Suite 200 - 10428 153rd Street, Surrey BC V3R 1E1. Comments will be received by WLRS up to May 23, 2025. WLRS may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision Database website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/ freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.