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Choreographer comes home Cameron Fraser-Monroe creates ballet piece through lens of a fully Indigenous creative team TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com The dance production T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods, choreographed by Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) school alumnus and Tla’amin Nation member Cameron FraserMonroe, will have its west coast premiere at Evergreen Theatre on January 27. “This will be the first time this [production] has been performed outside of Winnipeg,” says Fraser-Monroe. “It’s fitting and exciting to be bringing it back to the place where the story originated, in Tla’amin.” RWB has collaborated with Indigenous artists in the past, however, this will be the first production created through the lens of a fully Indigenous creative team. The contemporary dance production is narrated in both English and ayajuthem by Tla’amin elder Elsie Paul. The original score is composed by twospirit Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen, and costume design is by Navajo designer and Yale graduate Asa Benally. “A big piece of my work is making sure [the production] is able to be performed, not only in the concert hall in Winnipeg or at larger theatres in Vancouver, but that it also stays tour-able and accessible to people who contributed to the work, and ultimately NEW RANCHER

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who the work is for,” adds Fraser-Monroe. “A good example of that is the fact that Elsie Paul, 94 years old, will be able to attend this performance.” The story follows a woman who sets out to rescue her sister from T’əl, a dark figure who steals children under the cover of night. “A young woman named Erica, as she is living in her community, all of the children are being kidnapped, and then her sister is kidnapped,” explains Fraser-Monroe, describing the Indigenous legend. “She follows T’əl into the woods and finds these children, and ultimately tries to find a way to free them.” What he likes about the story is that it’s not only entertainment, like so many Tla’amin stories, but it’s also a tool. “It was used to keep children safe by making sure they stayed close to the house and weren’t out after dark,” he adds. “Part of the reason I selected this story is that no matter where you go, there’s someone in the woods, whether it’s Yeti or Sasquatch. It’s something that’s very culturally specific, at the same time universally relatable.” He emphasized that it’s not an everyday occurrence to have 26 dancers touring on the road. “It’s a visual feast. We have two poles for the props, and the rest of the storytelling is done by the dancers with beautiful costumes by Asa Benally.” Having the production come to qathet is also an incredible opportunity for the artists to see where the story comes from, he adds. “This story has been passed down for generations through Elsie, and we wouldn’t have NEW OCEAN VIEW CONDOS

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WARREN BEHAN PREMIERE PERFORMANCE: Royal Winnipeg Ballet school alumnus, choreographer and PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION Get the Peak to Go Tla’amin Nation member Cameron Fraser-Monroe [left], will present the west coast premiere iPhone app now of T’əl: The Wild Man of the Woods on January 27 at the Evergreen available Theatre in the in Powell River Recreation Complex. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO App Store or iTunes it without her incredible memory and her incredible oral history tradition that she’s passing on. My family is absolutely excited; we have a whole cheering section [in the theatre]. The performance is meant to share Tla’amin language and history with everyone, and that’s reflected in the narration, which is in both languages, English and ayajuthem. “I wanted [to maintain] the integrity of the way this story has been passed down; it really feels like we’re all sitting in her living room together, hearing this story and enjoying the process. These artists are Indigenous, yes, but 6900 Burnaby Street

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WA they’re actually just some of the best artists on Turtle Island [Earth].” ESTATE CORPORATION T’əl: ThePERSONAL Wild ManREAL of the Woods, will be perPERS formed in the first half of the night, but following is a performance of Carmina Burana, which is more in the classical form of ballet. “It’s still contemporary, but closer to that tradition. So, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re more interested in contemporary ballet or classical.” For more information, go to rwb.org/performance/təl-the-wild-man-of-the-woodsPERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION on-tour, or rwb.org.

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NEWS »

MLA comments on busy year Randene Neill reflects on various activities that have been part of her elected responsibilities PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill, who is also the cabinet minister in charge of the province’s water, land and resource stewardship, says she has enjoyed serving her constituents in this region. “It has been a busy year,” said Neill, in an interview with the Peak last month. “I’ve met so many great folks in Powell River, in qathet, and had lots and lots of meetings there with different groups and individuals. We’ve been working really hard in both of our constituency offices, doing great work and solving constituents’ problems one at a time. Our constituency advisors are doing a really fantastic job.” Regarding local issues, Neill said she has met with Tla’amin Nation and Cranberry Business Park representatives about the purchase of the former Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill.

“I have been learning more about what they are doing and to let them know that I am absolutely here to advocate for them or help them bring ideas, or introduce them to different ministers if they are looking for economic opportunities,” said Neill. “I am trying to be there in a supportive role and help them navigate the provincial landscape as needed. “I’m really excited about that whole project. The redevelopment of the mill is going to be absolutely amazing for the entire region. It’s just a matter of time while they get things sorted and get all the permits they need to get moving. I believe it is going to bring a really good, solid tax base for the region. It’s going to help reinvigorate Powell River in a good way.” In terms of her time in the legislature, Neill said earlier this year, the government passed some good legislation sponsored by her ministry involving the fight against invasive species. Neill said she loves being a cabinet minister and is especially fond of her portfolio. “It feels like we’re working on things that will make people’s lives easier,” said Neill. “We just finished a whole bunch of engagement with the public on changes to the Water Sustainability Act, with legislative amendments and regulatory amendments. We’ll make

those changes next year. It will make people’s lives easier for permitting for water and having more security, certainty and predictability. We’re also working hard on plans for getting communities more involved in their watersheds, protecting them.” Neill said the government is getting close to protecting 30 per cent of the province’s land and water by 2030, which is part of her ministry’s activity. There is also extensive work being done on land use planning. “Through my ministry, we are working on a big land use planning project in the northwest of the province, which will unlock our mineral potential and mining potential in the province, as well as really protecting some key areas. Finding a good balance between good industry and environmental protection is key. “We look at our land base and ask what we want to do with these areas? Are the areas that we’re going to work on for economic sustainability and growth, or is that going to be a special area full of biodiversity? Are we going to protect it or is it a combination of both?” Neill said in the engagement process, First Nations, local governments, community groups, outdoor activists, hunters and fishers have been brought together

EXTENSIVE ACTIVITY: Shouldering the responsibilities as a cabinet minister has kept Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill busy, but she is revelling in the challenges for which she is responsible. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

to let the government know what they want in a specific area. “The key to making progress is doing it together to find a way to build our prosperity in British Columbia, so we can build our hospitals, expand our schools and do all those things,” added Neill. In terms of an issue of concern to British Columbians, the Cowichan claim regarding ownership of land in the Richmond area, Neill said premier David Eby has made it very clear that private property rights are extremely important. She said the provincial government was the first to appeal the decision.

“Private property rights are the basis for our economy,” said Neill. “We’re going to work to make sure that fee simple property, people’s private property, stays their private property. We’ll do everything we can to ensure that remains true.” Moving forward, the MLA said she is working to fulfill the mandate letter that was directed by the premier. She said her ministry plays a big role in working with different ministries, such as mining and forestry, to bring clarity and predictability to the land. “These ministries are big and getting siloed doesn’t help anyone,” said Neill. “My

ministry works with all the other ministries and plays a supporting role to help them get done what they need to get done. I really enjoy that aspect of it.” Neill said she feels comfortable in her cabinet post. “I feel I know my files and my ministry,” said Neill. “There’s still a lot to learn and there is always going to be a lot to learn. I’ve learned through life, and also through this job, that we can only find permanent, long-lasting solutions when we work together to figure out what our goals are, what our values are, aligning them, and working together to reach them.”

Council amends official community plan Changes made to provide for updates to housing needs report PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

City of Powell River has amended its sustainable official community plan (SOCP) to be in line with the

Province of BC’s Bill 44, which provides for greater densification of properties for housing. Council had a public hearing last month for the bylaw to amend the SOCP. There was no public input at the hearing. Later in the meeting, council gave third reading to the amendment bylaw. On the motion to adopt the amendment bylaw, councillor George Doubt said what city council was trying to do is up-

date Powell River’s SOCP to reflect ongoing changes in housing markets and the changing population to make sure there is an opportunity to have enough housing built here. “There are changes to allow for different types of affordable housing, rental housing, special needs housing, et cetera,” said Doubt. “There are quite a few significant changes in there and they all point toward improving our sustainable

official community plan. “It’s part of the work that council is elected to do. We are accomplishing something significant when we move to pass this.” The motion to adopt carried unanimously. According to a staff report, under the new provincial legislation, local governments are required to include housing policies that address each of the seven classes of housing needs identified in

the most recent housing needs report. These include: affordable housing, rental housing, special needs housing, seniors housing, family housing, shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness and housing for individuals at risk of homelessness, and housing in close proximity to transportation infrastructure that supports walking, bicycling, public transit or other alternative forms of transportation.

4 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

Dear Powell River and qathet, Thank you for your care and support during the loss of our precious daughter Savannah. I have made the decision to not return to Real Estate and I will be leaving my business with Rachel McKamey. She has worked alongside me and took things over when I really needed her. I consider Rachel as a part of our extended family. She is hard working, confidential, and detail oriented, so you will be in good hands. Please call her at 604-578-1168, email her at rachelmckamey@royallepage.ca, or visit her at Royal Lepage Powell River. It’s been an honour to work with such wonderful clients and colleagues, and I’m thankful for the relationships and friendships built along the way.

Love, Valerie

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Policing costs outlined Correspondence indicates large increase could be coming in 2027 PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

City of Powell River taxpayers could be facing an additional $1 million in taxation in 2027 for RCMP services if the 2026 census population figures for the city exceed 15,000 residents. At the December 18 city council meeting, acting chief financial officer Ken Bjorgaard outlined potential changes resulting from expected population growth. Currently, communities with a population of fewer than 15,000 pay 70 per cent of policing costs, while cities larger than 15,000 pay 90 per cent of the policing costs. Bjorgaard said the city is in receipt of a letter from the provincial assistant deputy minister, director of policing and law enforcement services, indicating that it is likely Powell River will move from 70 per cent cost sharing for RCMP services to 90 per cent, based on expected census numbers in 2026. Bjorgaard said that in the letter, the 2024 city population is listed at 14,937. “We don’t need much of a change to reach the threshold of 15,000, which would

put us in the category of having to pay the 90 per cent,” said Bjorgaard. “Should the census in 2026 indicate that City of Powell River is above the threshold, we will, starting April 1, 2027, be subject to the additional cost sharing.” Bjorgaard said in his report to council, the estimated impact is approximately $1 million, which equates to a 3.73 per cent property tax impact. He said the city has an RCMP reserve in place which is intended to mitigate the impact of the increased costs. The balance of that reserve, projected in 2027, is about $1.1 million, he added. “Staff are recommending that we put, in draft two of the five-year financial plan, the impact of this change,” said Bjorgaard. “It is very likely that this will occur. In draft two we would have a strategy for dealing with

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BIG ADJUSTMENT: The cost to run the Powell River RCMP detachment came under discussion by city council, which reviewed correspondence indicating that the 2026 census is likely to show the city’s population at greater than 15,000, which would bump the city’s contribution from 70 per cent to 90 per cent of the overall policing cost. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO

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this very large cost.” Councillor Cindy Elliott said she didn’t like it. Councillor Rob Southcott said that obviously, there is some new information that the province has come across to send the city this correspondence. “It’s pretty interesting to add to the rest of our fiscal challenges that we are going to be facing,” said Southcott. “It sure was a surprise to me.” Councillor Trina Isakson said this will make budgeting for the next council very challenging. Councillor Earl Almeida said the BC government correspondence lists the city’s population in 2021 as 14,392 when the last census was taken, but the census in 2021 puts the population at 13,943. He suggested that even if the population increased between 2021 and 2026 by six per cent, as it did between 2016 and 2021, it would still be less than 15,000. “I’m not opposed to saving for this reserve because it is going to come eventually, but whose number do we go by?” asked Almeida. “Is it the Province of BC or is it the Census Canada number?” Bjorgaard said the ultimate authority on what the population is will be the Canada-wide 2026 census. That, he said, will determine the RCMP cost-sharing. A motion was introduced that draft two of the 2026

to 2030 five-year financial plan include the financial impact of the change in RCMP contract cost-sharing from 70 per cent to 90 per cent starting in 2027, including a strategy for phasing in the financial impact. The motion carried unanimously. Elliott then introduced a motion for council to direct staff in draft two of the fiveyear financial plan to add strategies to mitigate the change to 90 per cent that may include adjusting authorized numbers of RCMP members. Councillor George Doubt, who chaired the council meeting, said because the item was not on the council agenda, he was wondering if Elliott could write a motion for the next council meeting. Elliott said she disagreed and that the motion was related to the agenda item that had been discussed. Doubt and Elliott couldn’t agree so Elliott challenged the chair. When it was put to a vote, the motion was ruled in order by the majority of council. Bjorgaard said the motion looked at reducing the RCMP complement in Powell River and how that could partially impact the increase in costs. Elliott’s motion to mitigate the change to 90 per cent that may include adjusting authorized numbers of RCMP members carried, with councillor Jim Palm opposed.

5 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

Board adopts parkland policy qRD directors want to guide future decisions on acquiring regionally significant property PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

qathet Regional District directors have adopted the regional district’s parkland acquisition policy to guide future decisions on the acquisition of regionally significant parkland. At a meeting last month, Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he was not entirely sure he would support the motion to adopt the policy. He said the regional district has some incredible parks such as Haywire

Bay, Paradise Exhibition Park and Shelter Point. “I believe we were able to acquire the parks without having a parkland acquisition policy; it was the political will of the board,” said Gisborne. “I’m thinking about our financial plan and every time we create a policy, such as parkland acquisition or anything else, that comes with costs to our organization.” Gisborne said the regional district was doing well up to this point with the board making decisions without having a policy. Electoral Area C director and board chair Clay Brander said the policy has already been created, and when property comes on the market, the regional district would have a way to evaluate it. Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said the policy could save the regional district money.

“It will help us be more efficient in the process to bring proposals forward, and will provide clarity for staff to provide information to the board in a more timely way,” said Fall. “Past decisions may have been perfectly fine. We can’t speculate on how things may or may not be different if we had this policy. The parks we have may well have scored high, but it might have been more efficient and clear. “It would also provide much clearer justification and communication to the public why we might choose certain parks. We might get higher buy-in by the public for using their money to buy parks.” Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said as the region densifies, having a policy for how much the regional district wants to give to its future generations is important.

RCMP stats released Staff sergeant highlights policing numbers for regional district PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

Second quarter RCMP statistics for qathet Regional District show reductions in a number of categories monitored by Powell River RCMP in the electoral areas. At a committee of the whole meeting in December, staff sergeant Lee Dyson presented statistics from July to September to regional board members. Dyson said in the electoral areas outside of City of Powell River, calls for service went down from 470 in the second quarter of 2024 to 392 in the second quarter of 2025. Dyson said well-being checks were down quite a bit from 44 in 2024 to 25 in 2025, but mental health calls went up from 10 in 2024 to 14 in 2025. Unspecified assistance dropped from 30 to 25, year-over-year. Missing persons calls rose from two in 2024 to seven in 2025. Overall persons crimes dropped 38 per cent, from 60 in 2024 to 37 in 2025. Assaults also dropped, from 21 in 2024 to 17 in 2025,

according to Dyson. Sexual offences were down from eight in 2024 to two in 2025. Harassment calls went from 11 in 2024 to nine in 2025 and uttering threats dropped from 20 in 2024 to nine in 2025. According to Dyson, overall property crime remained relatively stable, dropping from 55 in 2024 to 51 in 2025. There was, however, an increase in break and enters. Theft under $5,000 dropped from 11 in 2024 to seven in 2025, but theft from vehicles went up from two in 2024 to six in 2025. Dyson said theft from vehicles was also up in the second quarter in the city. “We currently have our crime analyst taking a look at these numbers and I expect to have an answer on this,” said Dyson. Theft of vehicles went up from two in 2024 to four in 2025. Fraud went up substantially in the second quarter, from two in 2024 to nine in 2025. Dyson said there were some online frauds that caused a spike. Mischief dropped from 34 in 2024 to 19 in 2025. Drug offences remained static at one for both years. There were no weapons offences in 2024 and two in 2025. Dyson said for impaired driving, there were two instances in 2024 and three in 2025. Year-to-date indicated 12 in 2024 and 11 in 2025.

RECREATIONAL PROSPECTS: Parkland policy and acquisition came up for discussion at qathet Regional District’s board meeting, with the board voting to adopt an acquisition policy, and to acquire at least 21.3 hectares of additional parkland by 2031. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO

The motion to adopt the regional district’s parkland acquisition policy carried, with Gisborne and Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox opposed. The board then considered a motion to set a target to acquire, at least, an additional 21.3 hectares of regional parkland by the year 2031 in order to maintain current regional parks service levels as the population

increases. The motion carried, with Brander, Gisborne

and Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox opposed.

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OPINION »

Published every Thursday 4493F Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2K1

Annual assessment BC Assessment’s 2026 report offers a familiar message for qathet Regional District. The local housing market is steady and, in a time of broader uncertainty, relatively healthy. Most residential properties in the city saw only modest changes in assessed value, with small increases in some neighbourhoods and little movement elsewhere. Rural properties across qathet’s electoral areas showed similar stability. In many parts of BC, assessments have swung sharply in recent years, creating anxiety for homeowners and headaches for local governments. That hasn’t happened here. For residents, the key point bears repeating: assessment changes do not automatically translate into tax increases. Property taxes are driven by local government budgets, not BC Assessment values alone. A homeowner whose assessment rises in line

with the community average should not see a disproportionate tax hike. The real pressure comes when spending rises faster than the tax base. That puts responsibility squarely on elected officials. Stable assessments give the city and regional district a predictable foundation as they finalize 2026 budgets. Predictability should encourage restraint as households are still grappling with higher food costs and interest rates. For those on fixed incomes, especially seniors, the lack of sharp assessment increases offers some breathing room. Homeowner grant and property tax deferment programs remain critical tools, but they work best when assessments and taxes remain manageable. The 2026 assessment shows that the region is not overheated, but it is holding its value. The challenge now is ensuring municipal and regional spending respects that balance, rather than undermining it.

Inclusive design benefits a wide range of people There was a time in Powell River’s history when we aspired to build a city that was accessible to everyone. The 13-kilometre trail around Inland Lake was a prime example of a community coming together to finance and build a path that met the needs of some of our most vulnerable members, those with severe mobility impairments. In recent years, despite a recent bridge replacement, the trail has degraded to the point where it is virtually impassable in a wheelchair and a far cry from its former self. In urban and architectural design, planning for the needs of people who have physical impairments is called universal design. For example, entrances to build-

QATHET WALK N’ ROLL By Dave Hodgins

ings must have wheelchair ramps in addition to stairs, and most door handles are lever style instead of round knobs because they are easier to open for most people. Universal design, when applied to our city, ideally involves designing our paths, parks and roadways to be safe and accessible for people from eight to 80 years of age, whether they’re walking, biking or rolling. Unfortunately, too often, the needs of people with mobility impairments are considered after the fact, if at all. One example of planning for

We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional and treaty lands of the Tla’amin people. Published every Thursday by 1553164 BC LTD dba The Peak. REACH US Phone 604.485.5313 publisher@prpeak.com • prpeak.com Unit F, 4493 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2K3 Member of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association and the British Columbia Yukon Newspaper Association.

wheelchairs as an afterthought is a curb letdown on the newly redone Maple Avenue in Townsite. Wheelchair-accessible ramps were added to many sidewalks, and bump-outs were added to make crossing the street safer. These features are a step in the right direction. On one section of sidewalk, however, a few steps were replaced by a ramp steep enough to topple most wheelchairs or mobility scooters. The Accessible British Columbia Act came into effect in 2021, requiring BC public sector organizations to identify, remove and prevent barriers for people with disabilities. Our public library has made great improvements to improve accessi-

bility to its building. However, the mid-level connector path between Brooks Secondary School and Powell River Recreation Complex will become wheelchair accessible once the section around the Brooks soccer field and parking lot is complete, and if the wooden bridge is replaced to accommodate wheelchairs. Despite the act coming into effect several years ago, to date, City of Powell River has budgeted no funding for recommendations brought forward from members of the city’s accessibility committee. Inclusive design, while essential for people with mobility impairments, benefits a wide range of people across the lifespan. For

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Dave Hodgins is vice president of the Powell River Joint Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

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example, people with age-related mobility changes, parents with strollers and young children, individuals carrying heavy luggage or pushing delivery carts, and people with temporary injuries such as a broken leg can more easily access the community when there are curb letdowns, ramps and sidewalk bulb-outs to improve visibility. Ultimately, an accessible city is a more livable, resilient and thriving place for its citizens. It’s time the Province of BC and City of Powell River invest in making places which are accessible to everyone.

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CROSSWORD

Camp a lifeline for youth Majority of participants say they would attend outdoor adventure again TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com

CRUCIAL CAMP: A weeklong outdoor adventure camp at the Outdoor Learning Centre at Haywire Bay on Powell Lake was offered to marginalized children and youth in the qathet region in 2024. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO

The remaining 13 attendees were marginalized children and youth who would not get a chance to attend a camp like this without it being free with transportation and food provided. Harper said the Youth and Family Services team actively tracked measurable outcomes for each of their goals, which were: enhancing health and wellbeing of CYIC and marginalized youth through a barrier-free, fully funded, weeklong outdoor adventure camp; skill building and community connec-

tions; encouraging ongoing participation in outdoor and sports communities; and providing caregivers with daytime respite. "The respite the camp offered to us as parents was good, but the more positive thing was that we were able to see our youth motivated and laughing and having fun,” reported some parents and caregivers in feedback about the camp. “The whole atmosphere in the home was lighter and happier.” Harper is hoping the camp will run again in July 2026, with help from qSD.

Assessments remain stable BC Assessment issues market value analysis as of July 1, 2025

Property assessments for 2026, which reflect market value as of July 1, 2025, have been announced for property owners of about 400,000 properties throughout Vancouver Island and the qathet region. According to a media release from BC Assessment, the updated property values are now available at

bcassessment.ca in addition to 2026 property assessment notices being mailed to each property owner. “The Vancouver Island housing market has been generally quite stable, which is reflected in the 2026 property assessments," stated BC Assessment deputy assessor Matthew Butterfield. "Most homeowners can expect minimal assessment value changes in the range of minus-5 to plus-5 per cent." As BC's provider of property assessment information, BC Assessment collects, monitors and analyzes

property data throughout the year. The newly released 2026 property assessment details can be searched and accessed any time at bcassessment.ca by using BC Assessment's assessment search online service. Overall, Vancouver Island's total assessments increased from almost $391 billion in 2025 to almost $399 billion this year. About $4.71 billion of the region's updated assessments is from new construction, subdivisions and rezoning of properties. The Vancouver Island region includes all communities located within Greater

Victoria, South Island, Central Island, North Island, the west coast, Northern and Southern Gulf Islands and Powell River. In terms of local assessments, according to BC Assessment, the typical assessed value of a single-family home in City of Powell River was $575,000 in the 2025 assessments, rising to $580,000 in the 2026 assessments, for a one per cent increase. In the qathet rural areas, the 2025 typical assessed value was $490,000, dropping to $489,000 in 2026, for a zero per cent change.

ACROSS 1. Volcanic discharge 4. Sluggers’ sticks 8. Turkey or chicken 12. Murmur softly 13. Department 14. Woodwind 15. Push firmly 16. Memo error 17. Took advantage of 18. Put up 20. Infrequent 22. Pruned 25. Talk over 28. Sailor 31. Wicked person 33. Test 34. Jerk 36. Gambling site 37. Legal excuse 39. Evans’s series 41. Knockout count 42. Recurring topics 44. Blend 46. Lukewarm 50. Laser ray 52. Abandoned 55. Lyric poem 56. Canine cry 57. Wan 58. 2,000 pounds 59. Annexes 60. Small earring 61. Cagey DOWN 1. Real-estate measure 2. Fly high 3. Catcher’s place

4. Shirt fastener 5. Some 6. Hint 7. Retail outlet 8. Quartet number 9. Witnesses 10. Distress 11. Directed 19. Scale 21. Tack on 23. Family animal 24. Overly modest one 26. “____ No Sunshine” 27. Scheme 28. Pork, for one 29. Wheel shaft 30. Showers 32. Delete 35. Recreational area 38. “____ Not Unusual” 40. Snared 43. Supports 45. Refs’ kin 47. Saucepans 48. Matinee hero 49. Refute 50. See ya! 51. Slippery as an ____ 53. Have brunch 54. Common ailment LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:

According to Youth and Family Services representative Delyth Harper, a weeklong outdoor adventure camp at the Outdoor Learning Centre on Powell Lake, which was offered to marginalized children and youth in the qathet region in 2024, was a huge success. Harper presented data and outcomes from the camp to qathet School District (qSD) trustees at a board meeting in late 2026. "We would like this camp to become an annual occurrence that is supported and sustained by the community," said Harper. "Marginalized children and youth deserve experiences like these." However, due to costs and other logistics, Harper said the camp was not offered in the summer of 2025. She said she is hoping qSD can help with rental fees, transportation and janitorial costs so the camp can happen in the summer of 2026. Harper said 35 children and youth participated in the summer camp and 22 of those were in Children and Youth in Care (CYIC), or foster care.

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8 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

Councillors discuss emergency shelter spaces Need outlined for facilities for the homeless in inclement weather PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

City of Powell River Council is directing staff to activate city space in partnership with community partners to open a warming shelter or extreme weather response shelter. During a meeting on December 18, councillor Trina Isakson said there had been a robust conversation at the December 16 committee of the whole meeting regarding the issue. She said without a dedicated shelter space in this community, the motion to activate space was intended to give staff the tools to work with partners to activate space if necessary, which could be city council chambers, Powell River Recreation Complex, the city’s bylaw building and other sites. Isakson said none of the options for city space are perfect, and most of them are not great, but if the goal is for five to 10

nights per year to open an extreme weather response shelter or warming shelter, the city has planned ahead. “Unfortunately, if the motion passes, it still requires time to get things up and running,” said Isakson. “The purpose of this motion is to keep people alive when the temperatures drop, or the snow accumulates.” During discussion on the matter, Isakson drew attention to the faith community. She said she had a broader sense of frustration with the shelter situation in general, and not with any person or group or organization. “In order to move things forward, it is easier than building on land that is already zoned institutional,” said Isakson. “I hope the community can pull together to find solutions and a suitable partner can help make this happen.” Councillor Earl Almeida said someone had mentioned to him in passing that one option was a provincial building. He said there is a provincial court and it is the province’s mandate to cover housing so it might be worth a phone call to see if the province is willing to use its own space. City chief administrative

officer Sundance Topham said there had been a conversation with qathet Coalition to End Homelessness about the Duncan Street building and at this time, the coalition does not have the resources to move forward with expansion. He added that the city had also made contact with Lift Community Services. “We are trying to partner with community groups and these are the two that come to mind,” said Topham. “We had a good conversation with Lift. There is an opportunity to potentially partner with them for an extreme weather response shelter. Specifically, we are going to be looking at the former library portion of Dwight Hall and investigate whether that will be suitable or not. There may be other options that we can look at as well. “Part of the challenge is that there is a time constraint and work required by the community group before we can move forward. Staff will be meeting with them to try and get something in process before the holidays.” Topham said city staff also reached out to qathet Regional District to play a role. The answer was that qRD does not play a role, and that its interpretation

SEEKING OPTIONS: City councillors discussed directing staff to activate city space for a warming shelter or emergency weather response centre, and Dwight Hall’s old library space downstairs was outlined as a possible site. Efforts are being made to provide space after the former emergency centre space was sold. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO

of emergencies does not, at this point, include shelter from heat or cold. “It is interesting that a lot of other regional districts through their emergency programs do provide that service,” said Topham. “It’s something to look into moving forward in that the city provides half the funding for that particular service.” Councillor Jim Palm said he was not overjoyed with Dwight Hall being a potential site because it is historic and has tremendous value for community use. He said he had received emails on a couple of other possibilities, including the Lift building on Marine Avenue, The bottom floor, he believes, is not occupied. “Considering last year

emergency shelter was 12 nights in total, that is something that should possibly be looked at,” said Palm. “A number of cots could be set up under their supervision.” Councillor and meeting chair George Doubt thanked staff for looking into availability. “What we are really looking at is city-controlled property,” said Doubt. “You can’t demand that a property owner provide property at their own expense to provide an emergency warming centre. What is available in the emergency situation we find ourselves in is looking for a facility the city has that is capable of holding cots for 20 people, that has two bathrooms, that is properly zoned.”

Doubt said if a prospective shelter does not meet city standards, it takes a while to get zoning in place. “It would be nice if someone had a piece of property they could offer up but we don’t have that,” said Doubt. “I truly hope we can put something together so people aren’t sleeping outside in the cold.” Council unanimously carried a motion to direct staff to activate city space in partnership with community partners to open a warming centre or extreme weather response shelter, and if necessary, that staff amend the licence of occupation with qathet Coalition to End Homelessness for the Duncan Street bylaw building.

Winter forecast expected to be near average Environment and Climate Change Canada launches system to show how human-caused climate change affects extreme precipitation TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released the 2025 to 2026 winter seasonal forecast and launched the

expanded Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution system to show how humancaused climate change affects extreme precipitation. According to an ECCC media release for the 2026 season, meteorologists predict the southwestern BC coast will be near average temperature, and above average precipitation, while parts of Yukon, Northwest Territories and western Nova Scotia may be colder; more precipitation is expected near the Rockies, as is a more dynamic season in the east. "Canada is warming about twice as fast as the global average and even faster in the north,” the release stated. "While climate

change is altering winter conditions across Canada, this year’s forecast is also shaped by a relatively weak La Niña." La Niña happens when strong winds push warm ocean water west across the Pacific Ocean. This allows cooler water to rise toward South America, which can lead to lower sea temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. "On average, precipitation rates in Canada are increasing, but the amount of precipitation varies widely across the country," stated ECCC scientists. "Some locations on the west coast receive an average of 3,000 millimetres of precipitation in a year, while areas of the prairies and the far north can

receive around 300 millimetres." Researchers have analyzed 42 of the most extreme precipitation events across Canada since June 2025 and determined that 39 were made more likely to occur by humancaused climate change. Three additional events were made much more likely, according to the release. “Heavy rain is the most common type of extreme precipitation in Canada; extreme precipitation events are expected to become more frequent and more intense because of human-caused climate change; in addition to extreme temperature events, the system can now analyze extreme precipitation events.”

9 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

BUSINESS »

Baker a finalist in online competition Campaign raises funds and awareness to support families navigating childhood cancer TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com

Local small-batch baker Liz Wik, known as The Cookie Gal, has recently been named a Top 15 finalist in Colossal’s Greatest Baker online competition. The online campaign raises funds and awareness for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which supports families navigating childhood cancer. "What makes this especially exciting is that the competition is powered by commu-

nity votes," said Wik. "Every vote helps raise awareness, and the winner receives a feature in Bake From Scratch magazine along with a $10,000 prize." Wik started making and selling cookies at markets in the qathet region last year, and recently offered folks boxes of cookies made for the holiday season. "I've always been baking for my friends and family and sharing what I'm making," said Wik. "People were always saying, 'get yourself out there, share these with people.'" Wik said she never thought she would start her own business, but that so far, it's been a fun and enjoyable experience. "I follow a lot of different baking pages, a lot of different things online, and I thought, 'oh, that looks in-

teresting,'" said Wik about entering the online baking contest. "I put my name in the hat for stuff like that all the time, but usually it never gets accepted, so it was pretty exciting when I was accepted." The competition started in early December and runs in weekly rounds that are entirely decided by public votes. "We started off with several large groups of bakers each week," said Wik. "The final winner is announced in February, and I'm currently in the top 15, holding third place and hoping that I can climb to the number one spot." She said she also entered the competition because the contest supports a foundation that raises financial and emotional support for families going through childhood cancer.

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"I personally have been affected by cancer in my life, and I think it's really important to support people who are going through that, because it's often something people don't talk about," said Wik. "It really is a life changing thing to go through, and it can be really difficult." She said if she does win, her plan would be to keep growing her cookie business. "It's been my dream this past year, as I've watched things grow and to actually get to a point where I could maybe think about getting a storefront or a food trailer," said Wik. Many of her cookie creations are family recipes. "My grandma and my mom were both huge bakers, and I was very lucky to grow up around that," said Wik. "I have a lot of family recipes, but I also spend a lot

SWEET TREAT: Local small-batch baker Liz Wik, known as The Cookie Gal, was recently named a Top 15 finalist in Colossal’s Greatest Baker online competition. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

of time looking at different food blogs and testing my own recipes." She describes her cookies as soft, chewy and nostalgic. "They taste like a cookie you would remember from when you were a kid, that just blew your mind, and it was the best cookie you ever had," said Wik. "I actually

25 MARCH

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just applied for the Great Canadian Baking Show, and they have responded positively to my application." Wik said people can vote by going to The Cookie Gal Kitchen Instagram or Facebook pages, or directly to the Greatest Baker website at greatestbaker.org/ liz-wik-nEyw.

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10 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

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11 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

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CULTURE »

Children immerse themselves in language program Teacher feels she is ‘witnessing our ancestors wildest dreams’ ABBY FRANCIS IndigiNews

As the school day begins in Tla’amin Nation’s ʔayʔaǰuθəm language immersion program, children gather around for the morning exercise: tikkity tikkity məmyɛgi (bumblebee). The kids clap to keep rhythm, and then, each student introduces themselves and shares how they are feeling — entirely in ʔayʔaǰuθəm. ʔayʔaǰuθəm is the ancestral language of Tla’amin. Koosen Pielle teaches at the language immersion program, called qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt (qay-mixw qeh-numsht), which translates to “we are all learning the language together.” “It’s like a little emotional checkin to start off our day and we have our morning protocol together, which includes drumming and singing,” said Pielle. The classroom is an ʔayʔaǰuθəmonly space, and each subject or learning activity is taught through the language. qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt — a collaboration between Tla’amin and qathet School District — is currently for preschool students and a combined kindergarten and grade one split class, which happens for a full school day, twice a week. Pielle teaches the older group of kids, with a rotation of teachers for each subject. Teaching the language to preschool-aged children has been ongoing since the 1970s and an ʔayʔaǰuθəm language class has been offered in schools since the 1990s. The immersion program, however, launched its pilot year in 2023 and continues to grow each year. After their morning checkin, Pielle said the class jumps into daily calendars, looking at weather and dates in ʔayʔaǰuθəm. Following daily calendars is math and a snack break.

“And then we usually have some sort of literacy and writing, reading as well — like journal reflections with the students,” said Pielle. “And we switch back and forth between science and social studies.” Pielle and her family have been key knowledge keepers and teachers for Tla’amin’s language and school programs for decades. She said she is following the footsteps of her granny and aunts in teaching the language. Along with Pielle, Karina Peters and Alyssa Louie are the other two teachers at qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt. “I feel really fortunate that I picked up where they left off, with the current team that I have,” said Pielle. “This work has been going on for years in our community. The impact is feeling closely connected to the children in the community, but I also feel closely connected to our elders and our ancestors, and that’s something I remind myself not to take for granted.” Pielle explained that the program’s curriculum combines the provincial curriculum and Tla’amin’s 13-moons calendar and culturally-relevant teachings. In the program, the subjects are all seasonal, following the 13-moons calendar. Recently, the class learned about salmon, because fall was when salmon returned to spawn back in the rivers. “We talked about smoked salmon and barbecued salmon. Going into the winter, it’ll be more of a focus on storytelling, because that’s what our people would have done historically,” she added. In science, the class talks about their five senses. In social studies, the discussion is around family, the different ʔayʔaǰuθəm words for family and the different roles in community. Pielle said it’s “like playing with playdough between the two policies, the 13-moons and then the other curriculum.” Thee biggest challenge in creating a curriculum for qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt has been time. “There was no money to make this happen until there was,” she said, adding that there is a sense

of urgency as the community loses elders who speak the language. First Peoples Cultural Council’s 2022 Language Report cites a total of 238 speakers, 78 being fluent and 160 semi-fluent. Tla’amin is working on its own updated data around fluency after launching a community census earlier this year. “We’re creating absolutely everything from scratch,” said Pielle. “So for us, time is a real challenge, but right now, we’re investing our time, and we probably won’t see all of our work come to fruition for a little bit but it’s still worth it.” The qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt program is part of a wider revitalization in ʔayʔaǰuθəm, a shared language between the sister nations Tla’amin, Xwémalhkwu (Homalco), Klahoose and K’ómoks. Recently, the Tla’amin governance adopted a five-year revitalization plan for ʔayʔaǰuθəm, which includes five key goals: to expand the language database, strengthen immersion programs, hire more teachers and language leaders, integrate ʔayʔaǰuθəm into governance, community and daily life, and finally to collaborate on the revitalization with the sister nations. ʔayʔaǰuθəm was once spoken widely throughout the four nations’ homelands, but was lost in many families because of its attempted extinguishment in residential schools, where children were forced to speak English. The ʔayʔaǰuθəm database has a growing 6,530 words and 8,901 phrases recorded, according to Tla’amin. The revitalization plan aims to document and log a total of 22,000 entries of 10,000 words and 12,000 phrases in the FirstVoices platform. In the plan document, the nation said typically 20,000 words and phrases is considered a “critical benchmark” for language revitalization. Another key part of the strategy includes strengthening the qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt program by adding additional days, expanding the program to go up to grade three, including elders in the classrooms and expanding resources and materials for the classroom.

A math lesson for the qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt program at Tla’amin Nation. KOOSEN PIELLE PHOTO

Pielle said already this year, they are starting to teach students to read the written form of ʔayʔaǰuθəm. “It was kind of like a social experiment; how young can you teach someone how to read our language?” she said. “And with the help of Karina and Alyssa, we’ve been teaching the orthography through an alphabet song and we have a letter of the day. That’s something that I’m really proud of.” Brandon Louie, an elected Tla’amin executive council member and housepost of čɛčɛgatawɬ (community services), said the plan brings excitement for the future. “Our qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt, which is the immersion program, it’s quite amazing to see the kids, and how well they absorb the language,” said Louie. A housepost is a key component that makes up Tla’amin’s House of Governance. There are houseposts for community services, lands and resources, finance and admin, capital and infrastructure, governance and economic development. Each housepost is overseen by an executive council member and governance is overseen by the hegus (chief). Not only does the nation hope to grow the qaymɩχʷqɛnəmšt program, but it also hopes to expand the adult immersion program, which is in its pilot year through University of Victoria. Louie said the course has

been running for a little over eight weeks and has nearly 50 adult participants. Completion of the course will provide the student with a certificate in Indigenous Language Proficiency. “Another part that excites me is trying to bring out the silent speakers,” said Louie. “These are the individuals who know the language but don’t necessarily speak it, or they’re not confident, or shy in public and it doesn’t come out. So trying to get them into places where they’re comfortable and amongst each other, and being able to maybe learn new words.” The nation said this will be done through “silent speaker gatherings” which will be small group settings that are “designed to promote comfort, connection and reengagement with the language.” The gatherings will have conversational practice facilitated by elders and fluent speakers, and include activities like storytelling, shared meals and guided dialogue to encourage participants to use ʔayʔaǰuθəm in a low-pressure setting. In both adult and child immersion programs, Tla’amin hopes to expand staff for additional ʔayʔaǰuθəm teachers. Pielle said currently, there are four, each with a different age group. “We’re all spread so thin, so I’m really looking forward to the next up and coming teachers in »13

13 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

12« TLA’AMIN our village to sustain our language long term,” she added. Tla’amin will also introduce a master-apprentice model, which will pair up fluent elders and master speakers with motivated learners to offer one-to-one learning. Louie said another part of the revitalization plan is to bring ʔayʔaǰuθəm into governance and daily lives. “We all hold a responsibility to the language, to our people; we gotta move that into our governance piece,” he added. “And I think everybody’s on board. It’s just a matter of getting into operations.” Already to support this, the nation has put up street signs in the community that incorporate ʔayʔaǰuθəm and English as well as into newsletters, social media and other documents. Louie said similarly to Tla’amin, Xwémalhkwu, Klahoose and K’ómoks, all have their own five-year plans, too.

“It’s all really amazing work, and it’s just about coming together, sharing. One of the big things that was an outcome from that language gathering was the sharing of resources,” he said. “Everybody’s kind of like, we have our immersion teachers, we’ve got our adult language teachers, we’ve got our high school teachers. We’ve got all these people doing their work in their space, but they’re not necessarily able to cross those platforms and share their resources. And it’s the same with the sister nations.” He mentioned that with Tla’amin’s immersion program, they have a strong teacher team who’re able to develop curriculum and materials on the fly. “That’s partly due to the fact that the program hasn’t been well established,” added Louie. “They don’t have all that [materials], so they’re developing all of these resources within their class. Other nations can benefit from those resourc-

es, and we can benefit from what other people are doing. “The more we can get together and talk about those things, we’re all going to benefit together.” Similar to Pielle, language has been a part of Louie’s life since he was a kid. “My uncle Fred was my language teacher until he

and there.” His uncle said at high tide, the islands are broken up — but at low tide, they are connected, and people can walk from one island to another. “That’s kind of like the symbolism for our revitalization plan. To connect all of these plans together and initiatives. To keep on that

The way they [ancestors] name places and things, it’s just beautiful. Some of the words are just perfect in terms of how they describe the place. BRANDON LOUIE

TLA’AMIN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER

passed; he was really funny with the language and how we used to talk about it,” he explained. “There’s a place name we have here and it’s kʷʊkʷʊkʷθays, which is the Ragged Islands (Copeland Islands), and it means ‘they’re all broken up.’ He described my language as all broken up like those islands; I only know a little bit here

work and eventually we’ll be in a good place.” Louie said back when he was in elementary and high school, there were language courses students could take, but they didn’t have a welldeveloped curriculum. “You get to a point where you plateau. But now we’ve done a huge amount of work,” he added. “This was

probably 30 years ago. So, over that time, we’ve got to a place, we have all these resources and we have all these speakers, and the language is truly who we are.” Louie said whether it’s a word or phrase for animals, the land, places, people or what people are doing, they relate to “just everything about who we are and what we were doing on our territory and on our lands. “The way they [ancestors] name places and things, it’s just beautiful. Some of the words are just perfect in terms of how they describe the place — you get there, and it’s like ‘oh, yeah, I know exactly why they call this.’” He gave the example of Tla’amin’s village name, t̓išosəm, which means “milky waters from herring spawn.” “These types of words, I just find them really, really beautiful; it connects you to who you are.” Pielle said she’s looking forward to the future and is very proud of how far the language program has

grown and watching the students learn and participate in culture. “Every morning, we have morning protocols,” she added. “We do drumming, singing and dancing with students. I’m very proud of that part of the day.” She said, being in her 30s, she didn’t have the same opportunities as a child to feel proud of being Tla’amin. When she sees the immersion students at community events getting up on the floor to dance and sing, she feels how important that is. “That’s just so impactful for me as an older Indigenous person, to see our little ones be proud of who they are and where they come from and have no ounce of shyness in them,” she added. “I feel like I am witnessing our ancestors’ wildest dreams. You know, the right to teach our language, the right to teach our culture.” This story was made possible due to the Local Journalism Initiative.

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15 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

SPORTS »

Swimmers conclude fall session West Coast Wind Swim Club members have great competition in Nanaimo, plus a fun meet at recreation complex pool

Last month, West Coast Wind Swim Club closed out the fall training session with two exciting backto-back events. Beginning with a swim meet held in Nanaimo on the weekend of December 12 to 14, the Wind saw seven athletes attend and give a final push to end the year with personal best times, stated coach Marissa Schweitzer, in an email to the Peak. Schweitzer explained that this meet was big for every athlete in a different way. “For some, it was a chance to face their fears by doing events that they had never tried before,” stated

Schweitzer. “For instance, one of our swimmers was worried about racing the 50-metre butterfly. Not only did they get on the blocks and make it happen, but they took off nearly four seconds from their best practice time. “Another swimmer decided to do the 400-metre individual medley, an event no one in our club has ever tried to do in an official race setting before. They not only accomplished this feat, but managed to drop 48 seconds off their best practice time and place first in their age group.” Sweitzer stated that as a whole, the club saw athletes achieving personal best times left and right. ““It was like the group of them just stepped up and decided to really put themselves out there and see what they could accomplish” stated Schweitzer. Two swimmers in particular, Hayden Sinotte and Ewan Naylor, achieved all-star awards for getting best times in every swim they entered at the meet. A standout swim for Sinotte was the 200-me-

tre butterfly. “In the event he dropped 20 seconds off of his previous best time and placed second in his age group,” stated Schweitzer. “Throughout the weekend, Ewan managed to achieve three first place finishes in the 200-metre individual medley, 200-metre breaststroke and 400-metre individual medley, as well as second place in the 100-metre breaststroke and third in the 50-metre breaststroke events. This was a big meet for him as he also achieved provincial qualifying standards in two events, the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke.” Schweitzer stated that coming off this meet, the athletes were happy and tired. “Everyone was feeling ready for the Christmas holidays, so to kick-start the two-week break, the team held an all-groups fun meet for their final fall practice,” stated Schweitzer. “For two hours, the club rented out the big pool at Powell River Recreation Complex and swimmers from six to 54 years old took to the blocks to race one

SHOWING STYLE: West Coast Wind Swim Club member Jack Jarvie shows his style in breaststroke. Swim club members attended a meet in Nanaimo where several personal bests were recorded, and then they had a fun meet at Powell River Recreation Complex pool to close out the fall session. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

another.” Schweitzer added that the fun meet allowed the competitive swimmers a chance to model what racing was like to their teammates, while the pre-competitive and noncompetitive swimmers had the opportunity to give racing a try. “It was a fun, family-friendly event that allowed the swimmers a chance to bond with one another and showcase the skills they have

been working on for the past 14 weeks,” stated Schweitzer. “Our family volunteers really came through to help the meet be a successful experience. It was so special watching the young swimmers see our masters athletes racing. It just brought this whole new awareness that you can swim, race and enjoy our sport at any age.” The swimmers returned for the winter session on January 5.

Player of the year honours bestowed Duncan McDonald named Canada’s top para soccer player for second year in a row PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com

Former Powell River soccer player Duncan McDonald has been named Canada Soccer’s para player of the year for the second consecutive time. Having played for Canada’s para team since the age of 15, McDonald, now 25, has won 37 caps for international play and has 34 starts. He has recorded four goals and six assists in that time. McDonald, who is currently living in Australia for post-secondary education, but was in Powell River for the Christmas holidays, said he is honoured to be recognized. “It means a lot,” said McDonald. He was quick to recognize his teammates and said the para player of the year could have been given to four or five other players on the team. “Our whole team did great overall; it’s a team

sport at the end of the day,” said McDonald. “It’s always exceptional going to tournaments and playing for Canada. I hope to continue as long as I can and as long as I am selected. I’m excited to see where things go.” Canada’s para team competed in the 2025 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) Copa America Cup in October in Maldonado, Uruguay. The Canadian team placed fourth and qualified for the IFCPF World Cup. In the tournament in Uruguay, McDonald served as captain of the seven-aside Canadian team. He took over from former captain Samuel Charron, a four-time para player of the year, who was recovering from a second Achilles tendon injury. While he has been a midfielder for much of his soccer career, McDonald played centre back in Uruguay. “For the last two tournaments I have been playing centre back,” said McDonald. “I really enjoy it and I’m becoming more comfortable there. It’s definitely less attacking involvement but there are plenty of challenges to go along with it.” McDonald said for this tournament, there were several young players who travelled and played, and they mainly took up the

midfield positions. “In those positions, like the wings, they definitely are required to fly up and down the field,” said McDonald. “Playing sevenaside is definitely different from playing 11-aside. It’s more fast-paced and there is probably more running involved. So, it’s a different kind of flow, but it’s super fun to play and I really enjoy it.” Canada para team head coach Drew Ferguson, also of Powell River, said he named McDonald para player of the year. “That’s two years in a row for Duncan,” said Ferguson. “Duncan stepped up and we gave him the captain’s arm band again, so he served as leader on and off the field. “He prefers playing midfield but because he’s big and strong, solid and brave, we had him play centre back. I believe he led the tournament in blocked shots and in tackles. That sums up Duncan’s play. He plays every minute of every game and he’s not afraid of anyone. He probably came home with a lot of bumps and bruises. He’s a super kid on and off the field.” Ferguson said the team is in the middle of a rebuild with some of the older players moving on in life. He said that for the Uruguay tournament, the team took a 15-year-old,

IMPORTANT RECOGNITION: Being named Canada’s para soccer player for a second year in a row is an honour for former Powell River soccer player Duncan McDonald. He has been a standout in international play according to his coach, Drew Ferguson, also of Powell River. CANADA SOCCER PHOTO

two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds. “It wasn’t risky,” said Ferguson. “We knew we were going to take them. We gave them good playing time and experience. We have a world cup coming up in 2026. The young players fit in pretty well. It was a good learning experience for them.” Ferguson said when the team does its selections for the world cup, McDonald is an automatic selection.

16 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

Kings confirm season completion

Agreements ensure hockey club finishes BCHL schedule SHANE CARLSON editor@prpeak.com

Following a recent town hall meeting highlighting rising costs, reduced revenue and volunteer fatigue, Powell River Kings president Stephan Seeger Sr. is assuring local hockey fans that the team will complete the 2025/2026 BC Hockey League season. “We thank the [Powell River Kings Hockey Club Society] and the community at large for allowing us to be a small part of the rich history of junior hockey here in Powell River,” stated Seeger Sr. “It is also with great pleasure and excitement that we announce and confirm that the Powell River Kings’ season will in fact continue without interruption.” Constant collaboration between the society and the Birch Group, which manages the team, since last month’s town hall has resulted in agreements that will ensure the

season will continue without any changes to any aspect of the schedule, according to Seeger Sr. “Our players, advisors and their families have been informed of the news, and we express our sincere thanks to all of them for their patience and faith in what we recognize as a trying experience rooted in the stress of uncertainty,” stated Seeger Sr. “Notably, our coaches have made it clear from the outset that they would rise or fall first and foremostly with their players; their adhesive efforts do not go unnoticed, and we thank the many parents who have written in to confirm their solidarity. “We have a great group of young men here in Powell River and our intention is to ensure the continued development and opportunity necessary to keep our players at home in Powell River, thriving and working toward hockey and educational goals.” Seeger Sr. pointed to a recent home victory as a signal that the Kings can compete and excel in the BCHL. On December 19, Kings played their last home game of 2025 and edged Victoria Grizzlies

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5-4 in overtime. Casey Bridgewater scored in extra time to secure the win for the home team, which had trailed 3-0 until the final minute of the second period, when Jace Harder cut the deficit to 3-1. Marek Beaudoin, Chris Battaini and Tadeas Mack had third period goals for Powell River. Kings’ goaltender David Skacel stopped 38 of the 42 shots he faced, one save more than his counterpart Spencer Michnik, who also saw 42 shots. Attendance at Hap Parker Arena was 697. “It is with great hope and expectation that our team will continue to develop and perform in the upcoming second half of the season,” he added. “Our record will improve with added support of the community, to be sure. The society and the notable work of Joe Mastrodonato continue in full force, pursuing the preservation of Powell River’s BCHL hockey tradition well into the future. We call upon all of our fans and supporters in the community to assist in paving the way forward.” Powell River scored five goals again the next night, but it wasn’t enough. Alberni Valley Bulldogs

SAVING SEASON: Powell River Kings’ goaltender David Skacel makes a save during a BC Hockey League game versus Victoria Grizzlies earlier this season at Hap Parker Arena. The BC Hockey League club required a bigger save recently in order to continue operations for the the rest of the 2025/2026 campaign ALICIA BAAS PHOTO

beat Skacel on six occasions, and added an empty-net goal en route to a 7-5 win. Beaudoin scored once in each period for the Kings, who, after entering the second period tied 1-1, trailed 5-3 at the second intermission. The teams added a pair of goals each in the final frame. Ben Wright scored his fourth and fifth goals of the BC Hockey League season for

Powell River. Shots were 54-28 in favour of the host Bulldogs. Attendance at Alberni Valley Multiplex was 1,357. Following the town hall meeting on December 18, Kings director Aaron Reid indicated on social media that the team needed financial support, fans in seats at home games, billet families and volunteers to help on game nights and run operations.

Former Whitecap attends match Powell River Sports Hall of Fame member among others cheering on team

Drew Ferguson joined other former Vancouver Whitecaps players for a trip to watch the current squad play Lionel Messi and Inter Miami earlier in December. The Vancouver squad lost the MLS Cup championship match 3-1. The Powell River Sports Hall of Fame member said the Whitecaps should have won the game with their overall play but a giveaway and bad luck with the ball hitting both goal posts and staying out contributed to the loss. “The owner of the Whitecaps chartered planes to take 141 staff and members of the 1979 team that won the [North American Soccer League] title,” said Ferguson, adding that he did not play in that game as he was traded to Edmonton Drillers a short time before it took place. However, he was invited to all the celebrations. Among his former teammates on the Florida trip were Bob Leonarduzzi and Buzz Parsons, as well as Vancouver mayor Ken Sims, Whitecaps part-owner Jeff Mallett and former NBA player Steve Nash, who is also one of the Whitecaps’ owners. Ferguson said he was sipping a beer in the Carlson Club in Powell River and with “the snap of a finger” he was on a plane to Florida. “Ownership was just amazing, world class in their treatment of us,” added Ferguson. “A big party was planned for

PAST AND PRESENT: Former Vancouver Whitecaps players Drew Ferguson [left] and Buzz Parsons [right] met up with current Whitecaps star Thomas Müller at the Major Soccer League championship game in Florida last month. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

after the game in celebration of the entire season and such an unbelievable year. The whole Florida experience was very exciting and totally cool.” He is happy that Thomas Müller, who joined the team in August and was a big part in the success of the year, had signed a deal to stay for next season. One of the world’s best players, he has had a 25-year career with FC Bayern Munich and led Germany to the World Cup victory in 2014. “He’s a classy guy, on and off the field, and loves Vancouver,” said Ferguson.

SCENE 17 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

AROUNDTOWN

Festive tradition

Families gathered at Dwight Hall on December 20 for the annual Breakfast With Santa, cohosted by City of Powell River’s parks, recreation and culture department and Rotary Club of Powell River. Photos with Santa, bouncy castles, face-painting, the Grinch movie and, of course, breakfast of pancakes, sausages, oranges, bananas and juice were available. As happens every year, it was a sellout of 100 seatings at two different times. JOYCE CARLSON PHO

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1105 Obituaries

William Keith Joseph Thibeault September 14, 1935 December 21, 2025

Born in Chatham, Ontario, and passed away peacefully at the age of 90 in Powell River, Keith was the fourth of 10 children born to Midas Thibeault and Stella Thibeault. He was predeceased by both of his parents and by his siblings Earl, May, Donald, James, Larry, Bonnie, Paul and Daniel. Keith was also predeceased by his first wife Janet Rita Thibeault and his youngest daughter Sandra Lynne Thibeault. Keith is survived by one brother, William Garland (Dora), and by his firstborn daughter Frances Ann Thibeault, his beloved middle daughter Donna Marie Thibeault (William Walton), and by his current wife Joan and her sons Jeff, Jim and Gerry Andersen. Keith is also survived by four granddaughters, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, as well as many, many nieces and nephews. Keith was born and raised in Ontario and at a young age he decided to move west. He got work on the trains and worked to pay his way across Canada all the way to Alberta, where he settled for a short while in Edmonton, taking a job on a horse farm. It was there he met his first wife, Janet. They were soon married and started their family, welcoming their first daughter Frances Ann. Soon thereafter they decided to move west to BC and settled in the Fraser Valley, where their next two daughters were born and raised. Keith rode and showed horses with his family. He also worked on a few large dairy farms in Chilliwack. By the mid 70s, Keith travelled around BC working different places until he settled in Penticton. There he worked at Moduline Homes building cabinetry. He loved the water, his boats and fishing. He also loved music, played the guitar, sang and was a very sought-after squaredance caller for many years. He then met and married Joan Andersen and they moved to Logan Lake, BC, where Keith worked for most of his career at Lornex Mines and Highland Valley Copper. He made many, many friends along the way. Come time to retire, his love for the water drew him to Powell River, where he settled for his golden years and to be near Joan’s son. Keith spent his final three years in the Evergreen Care Home, where he was very well cared for. We want to thank the doctors, nurses and staff. The biggest heartfelt thank-you to all the hardworking care aides who took the best care of him. Rest in peace now, Dad, until we come together again. We love you! Time to go fishing!

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1010 Announcements

Anita Zohner (Piccinato)

Anita Zohner (Piccinato) passed away on Tuesday, December 22, 2025, in Vernon, BC. Anita was born on February 23, 1949, in Powell River, to Luigi and Lena Piccinato. She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years Vern, two sons Darren (Rhysa) and Jason, one grandchild, her sister Gloria (Fred) and many relatives.

Cathy Samoleski October 14, 1943 December 22, 2025

If you cast your gaze high Into the midnight sky You will find a new beautiful star Shining brightly in the heavens. Remembering

Marjorie ('Margie') Blandford February 28, 1931 December 19, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Marjorie Harriet Blandford on December 19, 2025, at the age of 94. Margie was predeceased by her husband Tom (2019) and grandson Kristopher Bjarnason (2024). Margie will be lovingly remembered by daughters Sheila Bjarnason (Bart) of Pátzcuaro and June Tyrrell (Geoff) of Powell River. Also grieving are the pride and joys of her life, grandchildren Jennifer Bjarnason, Cailin Tyrrell and Brogan Tyrrell (Ashley).

NEED SOME OLD PAPERS FOR WOOD FIRES, CRAFTING, ANIMALS, OR YOUR GARDEN? Come by the Peak office to grab a bundle or two. Our newspapers are printed with vegetable-based inks. We are at: 4493F Marine Ave A donation of $5 towards the Food Bank would be appreciated.

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Service to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Covenant House. No time on Earth is long enough to share with those we love, or to prepare our hearts for goodbye.

1010 Announcements remember your family or friend.

Donate to Powell River Hospital Foundation All funds raised used locally to improve our health care. prhospitalfoundation.com

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Join TPID Exteriors, a leader in exterior envelope work, and become a valued part of our team. We are actively hiring experienced carpenters, roofers, and labourers for consistent year-round work. Our focus on roofing and siding projects ensures a steady workload. We are dedicated to our employees’ professional growth, offering competitive, merit-based wages and a supportive environment where you can build your skills and advance your career. If you are a motivated and skilled professional seeking a stable and rewarding opportunity, we invite you to apply. If interested, please email taras@tpiandd.com or call Taras 604.208.4025.

19 Thursday, January 8.2026 | Peak » prpeak.com

1010 Announcements

3560 Pets

2026 qathet Regional District Meeting Schedule

Finance Committee 1:00 pm January 13, 2026 February 10, 2026 March 18, 2026 April 7, 2026 May 12, 2026 June 9, 2026 July 7, 2026 August, 2026 - No Meeting September 8, 2026 October, 2026 - No Meeting November, 2026 - No Meeting December 8, 2026

qathet Regional District holds regularly scheduled Board and Standing Committee meetings at #201 – 4675 Marine Ave, Powell River. Members of the public are welcome to attend these meetings, virtually or in person. Closed meetings are conducted by resolution in accordance with the Community Charter. Regional Board • 4:00 pm Committee of the Whole Planning Committee January 13 & 28, 2026 1:00 pm 4:00 pm February 10 & 25, 2026 January 28, 2026 January 27, 2026 March 18 & 25, 2026 February 25, 2026 February 24, 2026 April 7 & 29, 2026 March 25, 2026 March 24, 2026 May 12 & 27, 2026 April 29, 2026 April 28, 2026 June 9 & 24, 2026 May 27, 2026 May 26, 2026 July 8, 2026 June 24, 2026 June 23, 2026 August 26, 2026 July 8, 2026 July, 2026 - No Meeting September 8 & 23, 2026 August 26, 2026 August 25, 2026 October 2026 - No Meetings September 23, 2026 September 22, 2026 November 5, 2026 Inaugural October, 2026 - No Meeting October, 2026 - No Meeting November 25, 2026 November 25, 2026 November 24, 2026 December 10, 2026 December 10, 2026 December 9, 2026 The qathet Regional Hospital District holds regularly scheduled Board and Committee meetings, in person and virtually, at #201 – 4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC, in January, March, April, June, August, October, and December only as follows:

Regional Hospital District Board • 3:00 pm January 27, 2026 Inaugural April 28, 2026 March 24, 2026 June 23, 2026

August 25, 2026 October, 2026 - No Meeting

December 8, 2026

The public may attend meetings in person, or electronically via Zoom. For more information on how to participate, please visit qathet.ca/meetings, or contact Michelle Jones, Corporate Officer at administration@qathet.ca or call 604-485-2260. Additional meetings may be scheduled. Notices of any schedule changes will be made available as soon as possible and updated in the qathet.ca events calendar. Notices of Special Meetings are issued separately from the regular meeting schedule. Please check our website and the Public Notice Board located at 202-4675 Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC for any scheduling updates.

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