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Family-run shop moves uphill
Vanderkemp Sales & Service handles electrical and mechanical repairs in new building After 41 years of running a gas station and repair shop on Highway 101, Vanderkemp Sales & Service has moved its operation into a new building on the same property. Canco now operates the pumps, however, the electrical and mechanical work that built the family business remains firmly in the hands of John Vanderkemp. Not quite ready to hang up the wrench, both John and his co-worker of 35 years, Brian, decided to relocate their workshop up the hill. “Neither of us really wanted to stop working,” says John. “We just wanted a pace that lets us take a few days off when we want.” Although their new shop with a rather large VANDERKEMP sign is tucked behind storage buildings up the hill from the highway, it can be harder to spot than the old front-and-centre gas bay at 7408 Highway 101, just south of Powell River. Electrical work remains the heart of the operation. Vanderkemp Sales & Service rewinds electric motors, rebuilds starters and alternators, tracks down wiring faults and services water pumps, skills which are in short supply on the upper Sunshine Coast. The shop also repairs and stocks parts for recreational vehicles, handling propane, electrical and plumbing systems. John, along with his front-end co-worker Nancie, also operates a U-Haul depot. Vanderkemp Sales & Service also ofOCEAN VIEW
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fers storage, with five fenced buildings offering heated and unheated lockers. Plans are underway for outdoor RV stalls. The service list includes light mechanical work on domestic vehicles such as oil changes, inspections and small repairs. “If it’s something we can’t handle, we’ll point you in the right direction,” explains John. Most customers are locals, although summer travellers still roll in with trailer troubles. John has noticed more residents choosing to holiday close to home and fixing up older rigs rather than buying new. That suits the repair trade. “I love the thought process of figuring things out,” says John. “Putting your mind—and sometimes your body—to work keeps me going.” Electric Motor Services, founded by John’s father in the late 1960s, became Vanderkemp Sales & Service when the company incorporated in 1978. John and his brother bought the gas station in 1983 and gradually expanded, adding tenants such as Columbia Fuels and Superior Propane, then constructing storage buildings, including the one that now houses the shop. “Our legacy is that we were always here when something needed fixing, whether it was a pump, a motor, or just helping someone with a moving truck.” For more i n for mat ion, c a l l 604.485. 9774.
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Guiding Principle: Created by youth “Foundry qathet’s mission is to provide a safe, youth-centred community space for accessible resources and services.” This statement guides the development of Foundry qathet. We are now fundraising for the capital costs of renovating and furnishing a centrally located space to be announced soon!
Summer Special Restaurant Collaborations
Join the excitement at Foundry qathet! Promote your restaurant while supporting a great cause. Learn more about Foundry qathet by following us on FB or IG.
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HELP SPREAD THE WORD! By creating a special menu item for Foundry qathet and donating a portion of the proceeds, you can help our cause, and we will in turn promote your restaurant. Other options are to post a poster, host a fundraiser or make a donation. Call Delyth 604-223-7047
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NEWS »
Crew completes filming on feature Movie based on 1970s autobiography shot where book was based PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
A motion picture adaptation of the 1970s autobiography The Eden Express, which originally took place in the qathet region, has wrapped up shooting here. Shot in this region over a six-week period, the motion picture details the early life of Mark Vonnegut, son of famed US writer Kurt Vonnegut, who travelled to this region after graduation from college, lived in a commune on Powell Lake, and became afflicted with schizophrenia. Producer Dan Bekerman said this is the second feature film he has been involved in that was filmed in this region, with the first one called Kayak to Klemtu. “I was familiar with Powell River from that experience,” said Bekerman. He said he became familiar with The Eden Express years ago, when he was much younger, and the book left a lasting impression. “It was very meaningful to me,” said Bekerman. “So, it’s been a more than a decade process of talking to Mark, working on the project, developing the script and finding all the people to get involved, including the director and actors. “I thought it would be really neat if we could film it in Powell River, but we
were keeping an open mind. We were looking all around British Columbia for locations. It’s more like fate directed us to where the story actually took place, because this is where we found the right locations and the right sort of feeling as a place to make the movie and tell the story. Powell River was just the best place to film.” Bekerman said the community has been incredible in support of the production. “So many people have been super generous in helping us find locations and letting us accommodate our crew,” said Bekerman. “There’s quite a few people in the movie as background actors in different capacities.” He added that one of the lead actors, Paloma Kwiatkowski, is from this community. Wherever possible, the production has also used local crew. Bekerman said it’s always a goal when filming in a location to find as many people to work on the movie as possible. “Frankly, it’s just the most efficient thing, because you don’t want to have to travel with more people than necessary,” said Bekerman. “So, yeah, we’ve definitely been working with local folks and integrating them into the crew as much as possible.” Bekerman said he found Powell River to be an incredibly special place. “There was truly no other place that had the right feeling to tell this story,” said Beckerman. “It’s not just because this is where the story took place. I think it’s because there is a uniqueness to Powell River that you
just wouldn’t find anywhere else.” Similar to Mark Vonnegut, Bekerman said he came from out east and made his way west when he was in his 20s. He said The Eden Express really captured the feeling of discovering the west coast, and the strong feelings and dreams that are associated with that. “As I became a producer and started to make movies, it dawned on me that I can try to tell any story in the world,” said Bekerman. “So, I thought about different stories I wanted to help bring to life. The Eden Express had so much impact on me that it was one of the first things I thought of trying to do. However, I was an independent Canadian producer, and it takes a lot to get a feature film off the ground, so it took a long time. “I’m extremely pleased with how we’ve mounted it and there were many other producers who were instrumental in getting the project off the ground.” Christina Wood, another producer on the film, said executive producers Sam Pressman and Bianca Rusureally championed the project since bringing it to a financing forum at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. Other producers, including Kaja Sokola, Jorey Worb, Sarah D’Ambrosio, Stephen Fry and lori lozinski were also instrumental in making the movie. Wood said it was worth focusing on the fact that the film has themes of mental health that are core to the story. She said the producers were not only helping to
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AUTHENTIC ACTION: The Eden Express writer-director Daniel Cockburn and cinematographer Bob Aschmann, along with other crew members, film part of the motion picture on Powell Lake, where the 1970s Mark Vonnegut autobiography, in part, is based. EDEN PRODUCTIONS BC PHOTO
assemble the pieces of the production, but they were also passionate advocates for mental health. “We have great ambitions to redefine the way mental health is depicted on-screen with this movie, and to destigmatize and reframe audiences’ minds around what it means to be someone who lives with mental illness, and that it not being their entire identity or a sweeping label,” added Wood. “In conjunction with the release of the film, we have plans to run a mental illness social campaign. One of our executive producers is Steven Fry, the brilliant British actor, novelist and playwright, who is afflicted with bipolar disorder, and has endured a life of ups and downs as a result of it, has been so outspoken about what it looks like to live with
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it and not let it define him.” One of the great features of the production was that Mark Vonnegut and his family were able to travel here and witness the production of the film. “I believe it was a very meaningful experience for him, and for the whole cast and crew as well, to have him here with us,” said Bekerman. “He’s a very generous and lovely person.” Bekerman said everybody on the crew has discovered what a special place Powell River is, which has played out on the overall look of the shoot. “Every independent film is incredibly challenging and you’re just trying to squeeze it out, because financing is always really challenging, especially when you want to tell a story like this, which, at its core, is a very human
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story, including some of the more challenging aspects of life,” he added. “It’s an uphill climb for a movie like this and you can only get there if you’re working across the board with some very dedicated artists who believe in the story. We were extremely fortunate to have a cast and crew of people like that.” Bekerman said The Eden Express has a distribution partner in Canada, so it should be in Canadian theatres. Beyond that, the producers are hoping to take the film to one of the big festivals and look for broader distribution. And of course, the producers are hoping, when they are finished with the film, to have a screening at the Patricia Theatre for anyone who would like to come and see it.
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Tourism statistics presented PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
City of Powell River Council members have been provided an overview of Sunshine Coast Tourism’s operations for 2024. At a June 19 meeting, SCT executive director Annie Wise said she was appearing before council to share highlights from the organization’s 2024 annual report and to reflect on the measurable value the organization delivers on behalf of Powell River. “Tourism isn’t just about visitors, it’s a powerful economic driver that touches nearly every part of our local economy,” said Wise. “What we are doing at Sunshine Coast Tourism often isn’t just about promotion. It’s about making sure that tourism supports the well-being of our community, creates value for local businesses and reflects the values of the people who live here.” Wise said SCT’s marketing reach had more than 14 million ad impressions last year and website traffic jumped 39 per cent, reaching 2.4 million pageviews. She said there were also 221,000 business referrals to local businesses. “Those are real customers finding places to stay, eat, shop and explore,” said Wise. “We also estimate $256 million in direct visitor
spending in the Sunshine Coast region over 12 months.” Wise said SCT also looks closely at the commercial accommodation sector, monitoring room revenues. She said traditional room revenues were up 10 per cent over the previous years and the focus is building on the shoulder season and off-peak season, which more than doubled the rate of growth of the peak season. SCT’s media relations program earned 57 media features, including the New York Times and Amazing Race Canada, according to Wise. She said a TV crew was brought to Powell River to film an episode of a show called Carpe Diem, which will air in the coming weeks. Wise said challenges include ongoing changes to short-term rental regulations, locally and at the provincial level, which have created some challenges in terms of inventory for clients such as families who want to stay in multibedroom facilities. “This has led to some compression during peak season, especially when there are major festivals and events,” said Wise. “Fewer places for visitors to stay can have a real ripple effect on businesses like restaurants and shops. “Second, there is transportation. It’s no secret that ferry access con-
tinues to be a barrier for our industry. Last summer, in our visitor survey, 43 per cent of visitors told us they had to adjust their travel plans because of issues with BC Ferries.” The third challenge is industry collaboration, said Wise, keeping everyone rowing together in the same direction. She said SCT works across two regional districts (qathet and Sunshine Coast), three municipalities and hundreds of independent businesses and organizations. “Our strength as a destination comes from working together as one,” said Wise. “That takes constant work, and the more fragmented we are, the less effective we will be, and end up duplicating efforts and working at cross-purposes. Marketing costs continue to rise while we continue to face stiff competition from destinations with larger budgets.” Wise said that looking ahead, the focus is on keeping the momentum going and making sure tourism continues to deliver value year-round, and not just in the summer months. “We’ll keep rolling out key parts of our new five-year financial plan, which includes growing sectors like small meetings, retreats and corporate travel,” said Wise. “We’ll be looking more at sport tourism and film production, and opportunities for us to influence and bring new
DATA EXPLAINED: Sunshine Coast Tourism director Gary Shilling and executive director Annie Wise appeared before City of Powell River Council to outline the organization’s 2024 annual report, which highlighted some key statistics from the past year. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO
business in those areas, all of which are a great fit for our communities and will help diversify the visitor economy from leisure travel. “We’ll also continue to invest in further data and research programs so we can better understand who is visiting, how and why and when, and how we can serve them better.” Wise said everything SCT is going to do in the coming year ties back to the goals of supporting local businesses and building a strong and sustainable tourism economy that represents the values of the communities they represent. She said she was requesting a letter of support from city council to support SCT’s application to the province to renew the municipal
and regional district tax (MRDT) program, which is the additional hotel tax, currently at two per cent. She said in addition to renewal of the tax, the SCT board unanimously voted for an increase from two to three per cent, as allowed by the province. Wise said this is a tax paid by visitors on their overnight accommodation and it has been the primary source of tourism funding for the past decade. She added that a letter of support from city council is a required part of the process, as well as from the other local governments SCT works with. City councillor Earl Almeida made a motion that staff put the MRDT letter of support on the August 19 council meeting agenda. The motion passed unanimously.
City names next CAO PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
City of Powell River will have a new chief administra-
tive officer (CAO) beginning July 7. On June 19, mayor Ron Woznow said on behalf of council, he was happy to
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announce the appointment of Sundance Topham as the city’s new CAO. “Sundance brings significant experience in local government, having served as CAO in Cumberland and Wells, and most recently as interim CAO for the District of Lantzville,” said Woznow. “He also holds diplomas in
local government management and communications. “We’re confident that his leadership will support both council and staff in advancing the city’s goals, and we’re pleased to welcome Sundance and his family as they make Powell River their new home.” Woznow said it was impressive that the time
Topham requires to take this new position with the city, from the time the job was offered, to the time of him arriving, is about a month. “Some of you would know from similar situations that often, it takes three or four months,” said Woznow. “On that, I would like to acknowledge that our acting CAO,
Mark Brown, has done an excellent job,” said Woznow. Topham, in a city media release, stated that he and his wife are looking forward to settling in Powell River. “I am eager to begin working with city staff, council, and community members to support the city’s ongoing priorities,” stated Topham.
DON’T MISS THIS WEEK
DON’T MISS THIS WEEK
SMOKE AND HEAT PREPAREDNESS
TRAUMA ACROSS TIME
TUESDAY JULY 8
Meghan Straight from Vancouver Coastal Health will present practical tips to protect your health from wildfire smoke and heat waves. The presentation starts at 3 pm at Powell River Public Library. For information, email Mark at mmerlino@prpl.ca.
FRIDAY JULY 11
Historian Keith Carlson will share research into intergenerational trauma cased by the tragic history of settler colonial exploitation of Indigenous children. The presentation starts at 4 pm at Powell River Public Library. For information, email Mark at mmerlino@prpl.ca.
5 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
Ratepayers raise nuisance issues Regional hospital district hears from delegation about issues related to facility PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
Westview Ratepayers Society (WRS) has requested qathet Regional Hospital District address ongoing nuisance issues affecting the Joyce Avenue supportive housing facility and neighbouring properties. At the June 24 hospital district board meeting, Mark Scott, WRS supportive housing subcommittee member, asked that the hospital board take appropriate action to address concerns raised by the community. “Westview Ratepayers Society, and in particular, this subcommittee, strongly support housing for the unhoused in our community,” said Scott. “For almost three
years, the subcommittee has been engaging with BC Housing, the supportive housing provider, which is Lift Community Services, and City [of Powell River] Council, to address significant operational issues with the current supportive housing at 4910 Joyce Avenue. We believe that an external evaluation of the housing provider’s management and operations is necessary.” Scott referred to the lease between the hospital district and the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation, which is administered by BC Housing Corporation. The supportive housing facility is located on hospital district property. Scott said there is a section pertaining to nuisance, which states: “The tenant will not carry on, or suffer, or permit to be carried on, in or upon the leased area, anything which constitutes a nuisance or annoyance to any neighbouring properties, or their owners or occupants.” Scott said that according
to a freedom of information request, WRS has two letters from the hospital board to Lift Community Services. He said the letters include the following statements: “We would like to address with you the antisocial issues spilling from Lift’s supportive housing facility at 4910 Joyce Avenue onto the adjacent regional hospital district property. qathet Regional District staff have spent numerous hours dealing with issues from the site, talking and following up with the RCMP, Lift staff, city bylaw officers and the neighbours. We believe the root cause of these issues stems from activities introduced by the establishment of the supportive housing unit.” Scott said WRS members and the community report frequent incidents of violence, sexual assaults and coercion within the supportive housing facility. “We also hear regular reports of disturbances, theft and antisocial behaviour
MP receives appointment Aaron Gunn to serve on standing committee for fisheries and oceans
trary closures that jeopardize their livelihoods and ability to feed their families.” Gunn stated that two years ago, he produced a documentary on this very subject, entitled No Fishing Allowed: The Liberal Plan to Decimate an Entire Industry, which garPAUL GALINSKI nered more than half a milreporter@prpeak.com lion views on YouTube and North Island-Powell River highlighted important conMP Aaron Gunn has been cerns surrounding the mass appointed to the House of maritime closures planned by Commons standing committhe Liberal government. tee for fisheries and oceans. “I look forward to working In a statement from Gunn, with Mel Arnold, Clifford he indicated that this comSmall, Chris D’Entremont mittee represents multiple inand other committee memdustries within his riding and bers on this critical file and thousands of jobs, including in standing up for the hardrecreational fishing, commerworking fishermen of North Aaron Gunn cial fishing and aquaculture. Island-Powell River,” stated “More importantly, it also Gunn. represents a way of life that is central to Gunn has also released a statement on the many coastal communities and more than a provincial government’s plans to have four dozen First Nations,” stated Gunn. “This is new ferries built in a Chinese shipyard. personal for me. For years, individuals who Readers can follow this link: https:// earn their living on the ocean have been www.faceb o ok .com/A aronGunn.ca/ punished by punitive legislation and arbi- videos/1442729936751392
affecting neighbouring properties and businesses,” added Scott. “We respectfully request that the hospital board, in its capacity as landlord, fulfill its fiduciary duty and address the ongoing nuisance issues. “We believe these issues largely relate to current management and operations of the housing provider. We respectfully request that the hospital board take immediate action to ensure the tenant addresses the nuisance issues.” Scott said WRS has direct evidence related to nuisance and can provide it to support every claim they are making. “We believe the impacts we are experiencing are excessive and above and beyond what should be tolerated,” said Scott. City director Cindy Elliott said the WRS ask is for the hospital board to make
SEEKING ACTION: Westview Ratepayers Society members appeared before qathet Regional Hospital District to request the hospital district address nuisance issues pertaining to the supportive housing building at 4910 Joyce Avenue. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO
some preliminary enquiries with tenants around options for improving things. “Those would need to be within our mandate from the agreement,” said Elliott. “That may be a legal thing.” Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox suggested a notice of motion that the regional hospital district
require staff to prepare a report on the definitions of nuisance within the current lease agreement pertaining to the supportive housing facility, and options to ensure compliance from the tenant. The motion has been referred to the August 26 regional hospital board meeting.
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Coast guard wants expansion City council approves a development permit to add new workshop and storage sheds PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
A development permit for an expansion of the Canadian Coast Guard Powell River search and rescue station by the south harbour has been approved by City of Powell River Council. At the June 19 council meeting, director of planning services Jason Gow said the proposed development includes a new workshop building, a disaster response shed and a storage shed. He said before the applicant can apply for a building permit, they must first secure a
development permit. “Construction includes a 53-square-metre, single-storey workshop building, and the placement of two new sheds within the search and rescue station expanded lease area,” said Gow. “The workshop building will have a wooden frame and exterior finishes matching the existing search and rescue station. The two new sheds will be made from repurposed shipping containers.” Gow said the larger of the two sheds will be used as a disaster response shed while the smaller shed will be used for storage. He said the existing coast guard station and workshop will be enclosed by a chain-link fence, which will be treated with images printed on vertical slats with Indigenous motifs designed by a Tla’amin Nation artist. The new workshop building will have a height, size and shape in keeping with the adjacent development, which is the existing search
and rescue station, said Gow. “Under the zoning bylaw, the expanded lease area now requires four parking spaces,” said Gow. “The applicant is proposing to maintain the existing three spaces designated at the time the existing search and rescue station was constructed, but the applicant is also proposing to install a secure bike rack within the search and rescue station compound. “As for the guidelines, council may consider reduction of the parking requirements based on assessment of need and the character of the area. Staff is supportive of this reduced parking requirement by one stall and maintaining the existing parking for the facility.” Gow said staff members are supportive of the application as presented and recommend council approve for issuance the development permit to facilitate expansion of the search and rescue station.
SEEKING IMPROVEMENTS: City of Powell River Council has approved a development permit for the Canadian Coast Guard station at the south harbour to allow for construction of a new workshop building and two new sheds. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO
Councillor Rob Southcott asked if the access to the area to the southwest of the coast guard’s leased area would still be accessible to the public. “I believe there is significant public interest in the future potential
for that area in terms of amenities serving the public,” added Southcott. Gow said the area would still be accessible. Council voted unanimously to support the development permit.
Mill property sales agreement reached Domtar and Cranberry Business Park Ltd. come to terms over Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill site
paper mill site in Powell River. that would ensure that the lands continue to “We are looking forward to contributing generate jobs and economic benefit for the to the economic future of Powell River and broader community well into the future,” the region,” stated Craig Austin and Thomas stated Carlo Dal Monte, vice-president, Ligocki, from Cranberry Business Park Domtar Legacy Assets. “In March, we reLtd., in a media release. “With waterfront turned a substantial portion of the Tis’kwat access and abundant energy sources, this site to Tla’amin Nation. We are proud that site has so much potential. We are proud the agreements that we’ve reached offer Domtar (formerly Paper Excellence) has to be part of the revitalization of the city’s such a bright future for the region.” Blocked signed a purchase agreement with Cranberry Historic Townsite,Content alongside our neighbour According to the release, earlier this year, Business Park Ltd. for the sale of the remain- at Tis’kwat, the Tla’amin Nation.” together with Tla’amin Nation, Domtar annews is byfor USDomtar socialtomedia giants,nounced that it was returning a substantial ing half of its lands at the former This Tis’kwat “Itcensored was a priority find a buyer portion of the Tis’kwat lands to the nation. Syrup is a social newsfeed supported by Canadian journalists. This historic agreement aligns with the company’s commitment to a reconciliation-centered approach to engaging with Indigenous communities, the release stated. Closing of the sales agreement with Cranberry Business Park Ltd. is expected Blocked Content to take place later in the year, subject to the completion of standard regulatory approvals. Blocked Content The Cranberry Business Park team inThis news is censored by US social media giants, cludes several entrepreneurs who have creThis news is censored by US social media giants, ated hundreds of jobs in Canada across mulSyrup is a social newsfeed supported by Canadian journalists. tiple industries and communities, including Syrup is a social newsfeed supported by Canadian journalists. in Powell River, the release stated. Sonny Huang is a key leader on the team, who has demonstrated success, and owns and operates businesses such as Mt. Boucherie and Rust wineries in the Okanagan Valley, as well as an energy solutions business at Vancouver International Airport, the release stated. Huang is excited to be part of the Cranberry Business Park team and is dedi-
TOWNSITE REVITALIZATION: Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill site is subject to a sales agreement between Domtar, which owns the property, and Cranberry Business Park Ltd. A portion of the property is under Tla’amin Nation ownership, with the remainder to be held by Cranberry Business Park, which is looking to revitalize the property. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO
cated to supporting economic development at the Tis’kwat site, according to the release. Domtar is a leading, privately held manufacturer of diversified forest products, with a workforce of about 14,000 employees in more than 60 locations across North America. The company has an annual production capacity of 9.1 million metric tonnes of pulp, paper, packaging and tissue, and approximately three billion board feet of lumber and other wood products, the release stated. Formerly known as the Paper Excellence Group, Domtar is comprised of legacy businesses Paper Excellence, Domtar and Resolute Forest Products.
7 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
Breached house arrest order results in jail time Judge sentences Kasimir Tyabji-Sandana to 65 days for failing to complete sex offender course BOB MACKIN
A 37-year-old man convicted of sexually interfering with a girl under age 16 in Powell River returned to court for the second time in less than a year because he breached conditions of his conditional sentence. In June 2024, a BC Supreme Court judge sentenced Kasimir TyabjiSandana to two years, less a day, to be served under house arrest, plus three years probation. Tyabji-Sandana failed to immediately report his attendance at a Surrey alcohol addiction treatment facility a week after sentencing and also failed to immediately report his early departure. He was arrested, but freed after one day in jail last July and faced no additional discipline. On May 24, he was taken into custody again. This time on a warrant for failing to complete a required a sex offender treatment course. A Provincial Court judge in Kelowna sentenced him June 17 to an additional 65 days in jail. “The requirement that he complete the sex offender programming is, to a certain extent, at the heart of his rehabilitation, given the na-
ture of the offence for which a jury found him guilty of,” said judge Clarke Burnett. “The fact that he failed to do so is of significance.” Crown prosecutor Kara Shin sought a 90-day jail sentence. She would have asked for more, but parliament mandates lighter sentences for those who identify as Indigenous. Shin also told the court that Tyabji-Sandana’s conditional sentence order supervisor believes his pattern of disobedience should be enough for a judge to convert the remaining time under house arrest into a jail sentence. “While this is his second submitted breach, the CSO supervisor has indicated that he has chosen to not submit breaches for missed appointments and residences being switched without permission ahead of time,” said Shin. Defence lawyer Michael Stephenson suggested the 25 days in jail was enough and argued for leniency because Tyabji-Sandana had been in detox twice this year, is five courses shy of a law degree and seeking financing with family members to establish a nutrition supplement company. Burnett disagreed with Stephenson. He added clauses to the conditional sentence, including mandatory abstention from possessing or consuming alcohol and nonprescription drugs, and a ban on visiting any liquor store, bar or nightclub. He must also report to forensic psychiatric services and attend all appointments.
Burnett warned TyabjiSandana that a third breach would likely mean finishing the sentence in jail, “so you best ensure that, once you are released from custody, that you abide strictly and religiously in all the conditions.” Tyabji-Sandana met the girl in 2016 when she volunteered at his mother and stepfather’s farm for work experience credits toward high school graduation. He was, coincidentally, under an Alberta judge’s house arrest order and pleaded guilty in 2018 to attempting to possess acetyl fentanyl, for which he received an eight-month house arrest and eight-month curfew sentence. The Crown sought a fourto-five year jail sentence for the sexual interference crime, but justice Peter Edelmann agreed with Tyabji-Sandana’s defence lawyer for house arrest because of his suffering due to Métis heritage. In March, a judge ordered release of court exhibits, including Tyabji-Sandana’s pre-sentencing reports and a character reference letter from the superintendent of the Powell River Board of Education. Less than two weeks after the sentencing, the school board announced Jay Yule would leave the top job at the end of the school year. During that March court hearing, Yule’s lawyer, who formerly represented TyabjiSandana, told Justice Jan Brongers that details of his departure from the board are protected by a nondisclosure agreement.
8 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
OPINION »
Published every Thursday 4493F Marine Avenue, Powell River, BC V8A 2K1
VIEWPOINT
Get in line with what we have to do to stay sovereign By Glenn Holstine The status quo of us against them has to stop. We all have to work together in this barely so called [federal] minority government situation. BC premier David Eby is in a very difficult role and must address the federal expectations of what us British Columbians have to do to supply an opportunity to get in line with what we have to do to stay sovereign. Our principles across party lines have to come to an understanding that it’s in every individual’s best interest, including First Nations, to stop delaying the inevitable change that is coming worldwide and to protect our country no matter what needs to be streamlined at this juncture of
our existence as a nation. We don’t have time for rhetoric and delaying tactics. Stop and think about this for a while and understand that we are all in this together and if we do not do what needs to be done now, our country as we know it will no longer exist. Russia, China, even the current United States president, are waiting to see whether we get along and make some difficult decisions now to stop the overall threat to our existence as a country. We don’t have much time to get this figured out. Glenn Holstine is a Powell River resident.
Setting it straight
In her message to students in the June 26 graduation section, Randene Neill was mistakenly referred to as North Island-Powell River MP. Her correct title is Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA.
Moving our bodies is good for us There is no shortage of information these days on how we might live healthier lives. There is also a lot of competition for our attention, and we often hear unclear or conflicting information. One of the few healthy habits nearly everyone can agree on is physical activity. We know moving our bodies is good for us and generally makes us feel better. Movement is medicine. Physical activity has proven benefits for a huge variety of conditions. It can be used for both treatment and prevention in nearly every age group. The current Canadian activity guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate activity per week for adults (roughly 30 minutes of activity, five days per week). For children and youth, double that to at least 60 minutes per day. While this may be ideal, we know that
We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional and treaty lands of the Tla’amin people.
QATHET WALK N’ ROLL By Chris Morwood
even short amounts of regular activity can have big impacts on our mental and physical health. Moderate activity means working hard enough to get your heart and breathing rates up a little. You can still talk, but you probably can’t sing. While high intensity activity can be beneficial, the majority of benefit from exercise comes from more moderate activities such as walking, dancing, exercise classes, swimming or riding a bike. Lighter activities can also improve health. Every bit helps. Here are a few tricks that might help sustain an activity plan, whatever that may be: Start slow and work your way up over weeks and months, allowing your body to adjust. If you have side effects like injuries
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but it gets easier with practice. Electric bikes are an option for those who want to go further, faster, or with a little less effort. Powell River and qathet are well-suited to active transportation because of the moderate weather and relatively limited distance between most destinations. If you haven’t tried the new connector trail between Powell River Recreation Complex and Brooks Secondary School, check it out; you’ll be amazed how fast you can get from Westview to Townsite under your own power. For more information on riding safely, go to bccycling.ca and find the Bike Sense tab. If you do transport by bike, remember to follow traffic laws. Be safe. Stay active. Have fun. We hope to see you out there. Chris Moorwood is a family doctor and member of qathet Regional Cycling Association.
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or pain, seek help; we can usually modify activities rather than stop altogether when we get hurt; Try increasing your frequency of exercise (how often) before you increase your duration (how long). Increasing intensity comes last; Be consistent and build routines: most days, most weeks, year-round; Do it with a friend or family member, so that you are benefitting someone else, too. In addition to helping you feel better, walking or biking for transportation (active transpiration) has other benefits. They reduce gas costs and carbon, while also completing a necessary task like getting to work or doing errands. Additionally, walking and biking increase our time outside, which is also known to improve health. It does take some skill and fitness to ride,
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9 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
CROSSWORD
Texada grizzly could be translocated to Mamalilikulla territory, says chief PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
Mamalilikulla First Nation has offered to have the Texada Island grizzly bear translocated to its traditional territory, but the province wants the bear to remain on Texada. Mamalilikulla chief John Powell said he has agreed that the bear could be moved to the Hoeya Sound area in Knight Inlet. “I’m not the one who would be translocating the bear to our territory,” said Powell. “I understand there are people on Texada who are willing to pay for the translocation of the bear.” Powell said there is a female grizzly about the same age as the Texada bear living in the proposed area. He said there was a mother with two cubs about four years ago. Last year, she drove off the male cub, and this year, she drove off the female cub, which is about four years old as well, so it’s the same age as the bear in question on
DERBY DRIVERS: James Thomson Elementary School held a soapbox derby in Wildwood on June 13. Students started on a ramp at the top of the hill on Lois Street, near the entrance to Sunset Park, then raced past Seton Avenue on their way to the finish line. SHANE CARLSON PHOTO
Texada, he added. Powell said the planned drop-off point is in Lull Bay, which is about an hour and a half away by boat ride from the Port McNeill area. “It’s within an Indigenous and conserved area that we declared in 2020, so the area is protected,” said Powell. “We have been doing work to restore the river systems there so the bears can survive well. It’s an area where the land, the sea and the sky are protected under our ancient law. Under that law, we’re responsible to protect, nourish and conserve all the animals in the land, all animals in the sky and all animals in the waters. “That’s exactly what we’re doing when we’re accepting this bear. We consider them our brothers and sisters. It’s akin to finding your brother or sister on Hastings Street in Vancouver. You would do everything in your power to try to help them. That’s what we are doing with this bear.” Powell said the difficulty is that there are provincial regulations that govern whether the bear will be translocated. Powell said he’s had conversations with Randene Neill, minister of water, land and resource stewardship, and Tamara Davidson, the minister of environment, who expressed their stance that they want to leave the
NEW LOCATION: Mamalilikulla First Nation has offered to accept the Texada Island grizzly bear into its traditional territory in Knight Inlet. Provincial ministers have stated, however, that there are no plans to move the bear because two previous attempts were unsuccessful. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
bear on Texada. “They say there is enough land there for the bear to flourish and that it will have enough food,” said Powell. “They were planning to leave it until it leaves the island on its own, either when it needs to hibernate or when it wants to mate next season. The problem is that it's nearly a year if it doesn’t leave until next spring, and it’s unlikely that it’s not going to have interaction with a human being. Hopefully, if it does have interaction with a human being, the interaction is not a negative one, because that will get the bear shot. “You wouldn’t shoot your brother down on Hastings Street because he stayed there and did something bad. That’s exactly how we feel about this bear.” Powell said moving the bear would be a valuable addition to the Mamalilikulla
territory. He said if the bear is translocated, it might move somewhere else, but the bear needs to be given a chance. “My offer is open. I did listen to what Randene and Tamara said, and they are following the rules they need to follow, but I’m not sure those regulations are things that the bear is aware of,” said Powell. “It’s going to follow its nose, and if it finds something that smells good, and if it happens to be livestock, that bear could get shot for doing what it naturally does.” Mamalilikulla’s territory is around Port McNeill, up Knight Inlet and through the Broughton Archipelago. The First Nation’s office is in Campbell River, but the main village is on Village Island in the Broughton Archipelago. The actual name of the village is ‘Mimkwa̱mlis’, and the name means village with rocks and island out front.
ACROSS 1. Dangerous curve 4. Send a letter 8. Silly 12. Gab 13. Hand-cream ingredient 14. Peer 15. Living 17. Verb’s counterpart 18. “____ Me No Questions” 19. Matured 20. Catch 23. Emit 27. Sultan’s wives 29. By this time 33. Picnic invader 34. Granny Smith, e.g. 36. Pigeon’s cry 37. Lash enhancer 39. Be anxious 41. Amid 43. Audition tape 44. Politician Gingrich 47. Highest card 49. Yoked animals 50. Detoured around 55. Prima donna 56. Marsh plant 57. Building vine 58. Dance part 59. Ifs, ____, or buts 60. Good grade DOWN 1. Peeper 2. Jazz instrument 3. Use snow runners 4. Gym pads 5. Identical
6. Electrified particle 7. Shake a ____ 8. Give away 9. Full of excitement 10. Chimney part 11. See (to) 16. Wise man 20. Counterfeit 21. Mom’s mom 22. Martial ____ 24. Tokyo’s site 25. House extension 26. Ship’s men 28. Form of address 30. Land unit 31. College residence 32. Stringed toy: hyph. 35. Authority 38. Brief snooze 40. Works by Keats 42. Stared 44. Dozes 45. Leave 46. “____ Got Tonight” 48. Creeps 50. Bathing-suit top 51. Yearning 52. Bro or sis 53. First female 54. Coloring agent LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION:
First Nation wants bear
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10 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
CULTURE »
Official opening Tla’amin Nation held an opening ceremony for the new Ɂəms ʔayɛ (Our House) Cultural Centre on June 21. The ceremony coincided with National Indigenous Peoples Day. Tla’amin elder Elsie Paul cut the ribbon to officially open the building, which has a feast hall, language lab, museum, traditional food processing facility, gardens, a smokehouse and a carving shed. ANDREW BRADLEY PHOTOS
11 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
12 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
COMMUNITY »
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Society offers recovery solutions Efforts being made to help people with substance use or alcohol problems get better in their home community PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
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Efforts are being made to ensure people in the Powell River area with substance use or alcohol problems can receive the help they require. Steven Hall, public relations manager for Together We Can Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Society, said he monitors local message boards and has noticed a lot of people referring to the homelessness problem and addictions. “One of the main things I realized is a lot of people are saying there are no solutions,” said Hall. “I don’t know if they realize that Miklat Recovery is here and that there are solutions in the community.” Hall said the society operates McGuffie House. Primary care there involves abstinence-based treatment for 60 to 90 days. Hall said the hope is that residents there are going to return to the community, living sober, going back to their homes and reconnecting with their families. Hall said for the duration of primary care, residents live in McGuffie House and start accessing the daily program right away. “You start counselling immediately,” said Hall. “You start attending Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. “There’s a lot of success in Powell River,” said Hall. “In all the communities we operate in, Powell River has probably been the best community for collaboration between government, community service providers and things like that. The people who are making decisions are helping the community get healthy.” Hall said men who are looking for recovery options can contact qathet Mental Health and Substance Use Services at 604.485.3354. He said an intake assessment is performed. “They are going to try to keep people
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE: Miklat Recovery is helping local men with recovery from substance or alcohol use. The Arbutus Street location will soon be turned into more beds to help in the primary stages of recovery. PEAK ARCHIVE PHOTO
local where possible,” said Hall. “Right now, we have 12 beds at McGuffie House and they are all funded by Canadian Mental Health Association, the provincial government and Vancouver Coastal Health. So, people seeking recovery would call, get on the intake wait list, and depending on availability, they would be brought directly into Miklat. “If necessary, they may need to go into detox first. So, that’s the starting point.” After concluding the primary care, those seeking recovery can then move into a sober living house in the community. Hall said that is not funded by the government, but that sober living is the “secret sauce.” “Some people are finishing treatment and then go back to an encampment, which doesn’t really breed success,” said Hall. He said Together We Can has 425 beds now and about half of those are sober living establishments, which include food, utilities, laundry, WiFi and other basic needs. “The point is for you to go back to school, or to volunteer, or work, and integrate back into the community while you have a safe, sober place to live,” said Hall. “It’s just a regular house and it’s not a facility.” Hall said similar to the recovery house, sober living is abstinence-based. “There’s no alcohol, or marijuana or any illicit substances,” said Hall. “There’s a house manager who lives on site. They make sure there’s accountability. It’s a successful system.” Hall said if the individual in recovery can remain in their home community, it’s advantageous.
“You’re not isolated and not completely moved out of what you know,” said Hall. While Together We Can is currently only serving men in the qathet region, Hall said they would like to open a female treatment centre in this community. “Right now, we’re serving just men,” said Hall. “There’s a lot of women who need help, too, so one of our plans for 2026 is to expand our program for women. All our treatment for women is in Vancouver right now. There’s a huge wait list. There’s a huge gap for women in the rehab sector.” Hall said Together We Can taking over Miklat Recovery has largely kept the recovery organization intact. “What we did when we came in is we kept all the staff, and added some staff and some counsellors, but basically, everything is running the way it was,” said Hall. “We financially stabilized the organization, and since then, we’ve been able to almost finish the Arbutus building. We’re expanding it out more for local recovery.” Hall said it’s important to let the community know that Together We Can is working on recovery in this community through Miklat. “If we all come together and support this and drop some of the stigma, we’re going to see the community get better,” said Hall. “We’re listening. It’s important to listen to the people in the community as well as the people using the service. People are welcome to reach out to me if they have any questions or want to learn more.” Hall’s telephone number is 778.900.5554.
13 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
Community volunteer honoured Kim Barton-Bridges receives Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellow award
One of the last duties for Rotary Club of Powell River president Kelly Keil before her 2024/2025 term ended July 1 was presenting a Paul Harris Fellow award. “Today, it is our great honour to recognize someone whose quiet leadership and deep dedication have made a lasting impact across many corners of our community,” Keil told the assembled club members and guests at the June 18 meeting. Kim Barton-Bridges has been a steadfast advocate, volunteer, and visionary. For over a decade, she served on the Ferry Advisory Committee—more than 10 years of that as chair—ensuring Powell WORTHY RECOGNITION: Outgoing Rotary Club of Powell River River’s voice was heard when it came president Kelly Keil presented a Paul Harris Fellow award to Kim to vital ferry services. Although the Barton Bridges. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO committee has since disbanded,
Barton-Bridges continues to explore new ways to advocate for our community’s transportation needs. In 2014, she helped establish Four Tides Hospice Society and served her full six-year term on the founding board. She returned to the board in 2023 and currently serves as vice president, continuing her compassionate commitment to end-of-life care. Barton-Bridges has also been involved with PRISMA since 2015 and currently serves as its board president, championing the arts and cultural vibrancy of qathet region. “Among her more whimsical—but no less impactful—contributions was helping get the very first ORCA Bus on the road,” explained Keil. “Her family even hid the giant blue school bus among the trees on their property during its early retrofitting days—proving that community spirit and creativity sometimes requires a bit of stealth.” Barton-Bridges has also given her time over the years to education committees, PACs, rep soccer and dance, dry grad events, political
campaigns and countless community causes. One of her most cherished contributions was helping organize PRIAX, Powell River’s own cardboard box wars, making a dying young boy’s bucket list dream come true. “Kim, your passion for service, your tireless energy and your ability to quietly get things done make you the very embodiment of Rotary values,” said Keil. “It’s with immense gratitude that we present you with a Paul Harris Fellow today. Thank you for everything you do.” Rotary International is a service club with 1.4 million members in 49,000 clubs in more than 200 countries. It was founded by Paul Harris in 1905 and 52 years later the Paul Harris Fellow was set up. It is one of the highest honours in Rotary, signifying a commitment to service above self and recognizing significant contributions to communities and beyond. When a club contributes $1,000 US to The Rotary Foundation, a request can be made for an individual to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Dolphin pod puts on show at Willingdon Regional waters seeing an uptick in cetacean activity TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com
qathet resident Debra Dunham was walking in the Willingdon Beach area in the early morning on June 25, when she spotted a pod of dolphins swimming and diving for about an hour in the bay close to the shore.
While capturing a video of the pod, Dunham asked out loud, "did anyone else see them?" Dunham told the Peak she watched them for about an hour and said there was no one else around. "This is another thing that makes this place special," said Dunham. "They were either feeding or mating; not sure which." The video, which can be watched on the Peak’s YouTube page at youtube. com/shorts/T-FTl6VDs4w, shows a number of dol-
phins swimming and possibly feeding quite close to the shoreline at Willingdon Beach. At this time of year in qathet and other coastal regions, there is usually an uptick of dolphin, humpback and orca sightings. "Humpback whale breaching and a number of humpbacks have been observed breaching over the past few weeks," reported Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs) volunteer Ivan Ng on the WOWs website. "Other species that breach
are orca and some dolphins. There were many sightings of transient orca; some were observed in Burrard Inlet in Vancouver and many others were seen in upper Georgia Strait and adjacent waterways." Ng reported that there have been sightings of Pacific white-sided dolphins as well. "Some of the dolphins were in small pods of 10 individuals while other dolphins travelled in larger pods with up to 50 to 70 individuals," reported Ng.
Boats and other watercraft, such as kayaks must remain at least 400-metres away from orca and at least 100-metres away from other species. See the full government regulation in the paragraph below. Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued the following statement about watching orca in the wild: "Vessels must stay 400 metres away and may not position a vessel in the path of killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just
north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2026." For all other areas of BC outside of the area indicated above, a minimum distance of 200 metres must be maintained when viewing orca or while viewing any cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, a minimum distance of 100 metres must be kept. A great resource for up-todate Canadian regulations is online at bewhalewise.org.
Police Patrol: RCMP report Powell River RCMP responded to 107 total calls for service from June 11 to 17, including seven thefts, two break and enters, two for impaired driving, six about assaults, six cases of mischief and two related to mental health. JUNE 17
Powell River RCMP received a report of a social media fraud that is targeting potential vendors for the Powell River Blackberry Festival. The scammer is claiming to be
the Blackberry Festival coordinator and is asking for vendor payment using the email address adebisi2902@gmail. com. Powell River RCMP is advising that the blackberry festival coordinators will not ask for payment via social media, private message, gift cards or a direct transfer to an unofficial email address. All vendors will be sent an official invoice from Powell River Chamber of Commerce and the only legitimate email address for the festival is
prblackberryfestival@gmail.com. Police also advise everyone to be cautious when sending any payment or personal information and, if concerned, please call the local detachment. Anyone with information about any 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.
14 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
SPORTS »
Kings add goalie to roster
Erik Powers joins former teammate in the crease
Brewers Cup Sponsored by
Saturday, July 5 • 1 pm Timberlane Park
Admission $5 Advertise in the Blackberry Festival Edition! The qathet Blackberry Festival is back this August! This beloved annual street party draws thousands of locals and tourists, eager for live music, art, and delicious blackberry treats. It’s the perfect chance to connect with new customers. Why Advertise With Us? 1. Reach a Captive Audience: Festival-goers are actively seeking local experiences and are in a positive mood, ready to discover what your business offers. 2. Boost Your Brand: Align with a popular community tradition. Our special edition ensures high visibility for your brand among locals and visitors. 3. Drive Sales: Promote offers or simply remind t h e c o m m u n i t y o f y o u r p re s e n c e . Directly encourage attendees to visit your location or explore your services. Don’t miss out! Contact us today to secure your spot in this highly anticipated edition.
Call Kirk at 604 414 5388
Another goaltender from the Kootenay region of BC will be in the crease for Powell River Kings next season. Erik Powers, who is stands at sixfeet, five-inches tall, will form a tandem with returning goalie Ryan Tamelin, who is also from Invermere. “I’m really excited to be coming out to Powell River; it seems like a great community and a beautiful place to be,” stated Powers, who signed with the Kings for the 2025/2026 BC Hockey League season. “I’m looking forward to joining the team and getting involved both on and off the ice.” Powers suited up for two Ontario Junior Hockey League teams last season: King Rebellion and Aurora Tigers. Over 23 games he compiled a 3.85 goals against average and .913 save percentage, to go along with two shutouts. “Erik is a southpaw goalie with a big frame,” stated Kings head coach and general manager Stephan Seeger Jr. “He never gives up on second and third opportunities and will make a save by any means necessary. He is a fighter between the pipes.” Powers and Tamelin have known each other for many years. “I’m truly excited to reunite with Ryan,” stated Powers, who was born in 2006. “We’ve been teammates since the start of our goaltending careers, and while our paths separated after our U15 days, we’ve always maintained contact and a strong friendship. I’m excited to play and grow together with
Ryan this upcoming season.” Kings also signed forward Max Bennett, an 18-year-old from Eagan, Minnesota. Bennett was fourth in scoring on his team at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, Minnesota, with 21 goals and 12 assists in 28 games last season. He also finished second in scoring for Team Wisconsin in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League with 13 goals and 18 assists in 21 games. “I’m super-excited to be a part of the Kings next year and I can’t wait to get started,” stated Bennett. “Coach [Stephan] Seeger and I had a great conversation. I feel very comfortable and confident making the transition to Powell River for the upcoming season.”
At 6-feet, two-inches tall, he will bring more than just his above a point per game offence to the lineup, according to Seeger. “Max is a confident shooter, and he finds ways to get under the opposing team’s skin either by scoring goals or by creating frustration on forechecks for defenders,” stated Seeger. “He will be a nice power forward addition to our lineup.” As he prepares to make the leap to junior hockey and move away from home to the west coast, Bennett has goals that go beyond the rink. “Some expectations for me is to become more independent and grow into the young adult that I want to be,” he said. “Powell River presents a great opportunity to accomplish that.”
Soccer clubs vie for cup Villa hosts Campbell River in game two of off-season series
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KOOTENAY CONNECTION: Newly signed Powell River Kings goaltender Erik Powers [above] will form a tandem with Ryan Tamelin next season. Both netminders are from Invermere. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Powell River Villa Soccer Club returned to action on Saturday, June 21, for the
first of a two-game Brewers Cup competition versus Campbell River SC. In game one, hosted by Beach Fire Brewing in Campbell River, Villa overcame a 1-0 deficit in the first half courtesy of a pair of goals by Tylor Cramb. There was no scoring in the second half, resulting
in a 2-1 win for visiting Villa. Game two is scheduled for Saturday, July 5, at Timberlane Park, with Townsite Brewing hosting. Kickoff will be at 1 pm. The last time local fans saw Villa on the pitch at home was in late March, when the club hosted and lost 5-3 to
Vic West in the final game of the Vancouver Island Soccer League season. Vic West finished at the top of the table in Division 1, while Villa finished in the relegation zone and will compete in Division 2 next season. VISL’s regular season play for 2025/2026 gets underway in September.
15 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
BUSINESS »
Composting company receives recognition Salish Soils founder nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year award SANDRA THOMAS Coast Reporter
Aaron Joe, founder and chief operating officer at Salish Soils, might not consider himself an “awards person,” but the accolades keep coming regardless. Last month, Joe was named a regional finalist for EY Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 award, recognizing the achievements of more than 130 entrepreneurs. “I found out that somebody nominated me about a month ago and I certainly don't feel like an awards kind of person,” said Joe. "I guess my hope would be that it sets an example of inspiration for our young people.
When I look at Indigenous people in business, we're probably 100 years behind the rest of the country, so I think these kinds of things set an example for us as innovators and collaborators and people who work in reconciliation, to be able to inspire our young people to do the same.” Salish Soils was first created in 2010 in the shíshálh Nation swiya. Since then, the Sechelt-based company has become known for composting and recycling waste that otherwise would have ended up in the region’s landfill — diverting about 50 per cent of those waste streams. The company collects and processes materials including fish waste, food scraps and biosolids residuals within the territories of shíshálh Nation, Sḵ w x̱ w ú7mesh Úxwumixw and Tla'amin Nation. By taking organic waste and turning it into high-quality compost, topsoil and other landscaping
products, the company has been recognized as a model for Indigenous-owned green enterprises. Joe also helped launch Salish Seas Regenerative Farm, which is expanding with a goal to create a sixacre “model urban farm utilizing organic compost and the principles of regenerative agriculture to restore local ecosystems and cultivate local healthy food on the Sunshine Coast.” A big part of what Joe does is provide employment for locals, including young Indigenous men and women. He considers it a training ground for them to move onto larger businesses. “We want to see our people get the training they need to be able to get the jobs they want. So, if that's what they want, then that's okay, too,” said Joe. The inspiration for Salish Soils came while he was working in the mining industry and witnessing firsthand the amount of organic
waste they were producing by clearing off hundreds of acres of land. He said he felt the same way while working in the forestry industry. “To me, back then, I didn't feel the responsible thing was just to light it all on fire and burn it all up into the atmosphere,” said Joe. “And so, we were hoping to try some different innovative techniques on how to manage that. But I think it wasn't cost-effective to the people we were working for. And then I got into that.” He was also inspired by a news article he read, which stated that the local landfill was reaching capacity, so he began looking at ways to minimize the amount of waste that was being buried. “And so, it kind of piqued an idea for me. And I thought, well, you know, 44 per cent of the materials going into the landfill were organic waste,” said Joe. “I've always wanted to build some kind of circular economy within the nation, and as
RESOURCE REGENERATION: Aaron Joe of Salish Soils has been nominated for EY Canada’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. KEILI BARTLETT PHOTO
an example of what could happen. “It's an interesting time for us as Indigenous entrepreneurs. There's a lot of opportunity in resource extraction, but not a lot of opportunities presenting themselves in resource regeneration so, hence, we created a solution.” According to an EY media release, the individuals nominated for the award not only drive innovation, “they also play a crucial role in strengthening the Canadian business landscape.” Finalists were selected by an independent judging
panel for their entrepreneurial spirit, leadership, community impact and purpose. An independent panel of judges will select regional award winners and an overall winner from each Canadian region, who will be announced in October. Regional winners will then compete at the national level in November for the title of Canada’s EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025. The overall Canadian winner will then go on to compete in Monaco for the title of EY World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2026.
Final project puts skills to the test Students' iced tea made with herbs they grew a hit with thirsty customers TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com
WORK SKILLS: Running an iced tea and popcorn stand called Homegrown Iced Tea is part of the students’ final project in the Workplace Essential Skills and Training program at VIU’s tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus. Program student Esteban LaPointe [left] and Evan Ashopenace ran the money side of the operation on June 24. TANYA HILL PHOTO
Students in the Workplace Essential Skills and Training, or WEST program, at Vancouver Island University’s tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus, put their skills to the test today, Tuesday, June 24, by running an iced tea stand called Homegrown Iced Tea, as part of the students' fi-
nal project. "The tea is made from lemon balm and chamomile," said program student Jacob Neath. The lemon balm and chamomile were grown by the students in a garden on campus. "As part of our end of year project,we are running an iced tea stand using herbs from our garden," said program student Esteban LaPointe. “We have been learning retail math, computer skills, FoodSafe, food systems and gardening skills." All proceeds from sales are going to BC SPCA qathet. "Our themes for this module were retail math, food systems and FoodSafe, and
advanced Word," said WEST program instructor Kate Arnell. "So, we put all those things together. We have garden beds out back and grew herbs for the tea. We did our FoodSafe course; they did all the marketing, poster making and email outreach themselves." According to the program’s description, the courses are specifically designed for neurodiverse students with developmental and cognitive disabilities, and is designed to assist student development with the personal, interpersonal and employment skills required to obtain and maintain employment.
16 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
Dance academy undergoes change Artistic director passes leadership role to longtime instructor TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com
Paige Anderson took on the role as artistic director for Laszlo Dance Tamasik Academy (LTDA) a decade ago. After years of building and expanding the company, she is ready to pass the reins to a new leader. "I think the original company had 20 or 25 dancers," said Anderson. “When I took it over, I said to [Laszlo Tamasik], 'I'm going to change it.'” The company grew into something a lot different and much bigger than anticipated, added Anderson.
"We had one studio for our first year, then the second year we needed two studios," she said. "But eventually, we needed three studios, and now, four spaces and over 76 classes a week." LTDA lyrical and contemporary dance instructor Kindree Melrose has stepped up as the new artistic director of the company. "It was kind of an obvious choice for me," said Melrose. "[Owning a dance studio] was something I've always thought I would do at some point." Melrose has taught at LTDA for five years and believes stepping into the role is a little less jarring for everyone, rather than having someone completely unfamiliar take over. "My daughters danced here for nine of the 10 years that Paige has been here," said Melrose. "Paige has done an incredible job building Laszlo to what it is, and
I'm thankful that I'm starting from where she's left off and not the ground up." LTDA trains dancers in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop and musical theatre. Some are competitive dancers, and many go on to train or study to be professionals. But the company also offers classes for those just wanting to try it out. "Training technical dancers is obviously a big part of this role, but for me, it's also building them up and encouraging them, supporting them, so they can reach their potential as dancers," said Melrose. "We want students to have the confidence to pursue the things they want to pursue, once they leave Laszlo, whether that be dance or other things." The competitive season is over for now, but will start up again after the summer. However, students continually train throughout the year.
"We're really fortunate because Paige is bringing a competition to town," said Melrose. Although Anderson is stepping away from LTDA, she wants to create a bridge program for dancers who are serious and want to take their skills to the next level. "It's only a one day a week thing and they have to be part of Laszlo to be in this program," said Anderson. "We're running it out of the Beach Gardens, because we want to take them into a different kind of inspirational environment." Anderson said auditions have started, with the goal to start the program in September. "I loved putting on a show; that was my favourite part of working with LTDA," said Anderson. "I loved getting to know the dancers, from the time they're little right up until they're going off on
TRANSITION TIME: After 10 years as artistic director of Laszlo Tamasik Dance Academy, Paige Anderson [right] is passing on the reins to the academy’s new director, Kindree Melrose. KELLY KEIL PHOTO
their own." Anderson said she is happy with how the academy has grown and branched out into the community. "I'm pretty proud of the fact that our program has really grown with the males in town, because I didn't want that to be a stigma, because a lot of small towns can be
like that," said Anderson. "Why can't boys dance? They like to dance, too, and some of them don't want to play hockey or softball." Both Anderson and Melrose believe giving children a chance to perform is an opportunity to gain confidence, and many of them love being on stage.
North Island Dental Dr Cyrus Bachus General Dentist
Register for the Community Notification System The Community Notification System can rapidly circulate critical safety information to help our community stay up-to-date in the event of an emergency. The system allows the Regional Emergency Operations Centre to send voice messages to phones as well as text messages and emails. The service is free of charge, however, residents must register for the system in order to receive emergency notifications. Even if people have previously enrolled, a new registration is required. To register for the Community Notification System, visit qathet.ca/emergency-preparedness, and click the “Enroll in the Community Notification System Here” button. You will be directed to fill out a registration form online. The Coast Salish name qathet, pronounced ‘KAW-thet’, means working together.
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17 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
AROUNDTOWN
PRISMA on the Beach
Symphony-goers converged on the lawns of Willingdon Beach for the annual PRISMA (Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy) on the Beach event on June 28. The all-ages crowd was treated to a free, familyfriendly feast of classical music from the PRISMA Festival orchestra, featuring students from around the world and singers and drummers from Tla’amin Nation. MADELINE BURT PHOTOS
Teacher led camps featuring video gaming, board games, arts and crafts, sword play, junior D&D, playground time and more CAMPS RUN WEEKLY UNTIL AUGUST 29, 2025 Four or five days per week • Full or half day camp
Call 604.208.6169 for more information HIGH TIDE GAMES: #1-7030 Glacier Street • Wednesday to Sunday • 12 to 6 pm OCEANSIDE ENTERTAINMENT: 4721 Marine Avenue • Open seven days a week, 10 am to 5:30 pm
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Richard (“Rick”) Walter Cepella June 13, 1955 - June 13, 2025
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Richard (Rick) Cepella on Friday, June 13, 2025, on his 70th birthday. He was in hospital surrounded by family. Beloved son of the late Otto Mario Cepella and the late Adele Cepella (nee Huslak). Dear brother of Otto Joseph, Susan, Robert and Mark. Uncle to Gabrielle, Saskia, Zoe, Fraser, Connor, Xavier and Maxine. Nephew to Daisy (nee Cepela) and George Kovacs and to Val (nee Huslak) and Holly Betaudier. Loving friend to so many. He will be lovingly remembered by many friends in his outdoors and artist community groups. Born in Toronto, Rick was a high-caliber athlete and recognized public speaker. He was a painter, art instructor and cartoonist/illustrator living in Powell River, British Columbia. Always a brilliant and engaging conversationalist, Rick is noted for the great interest he always took in others. His paintings are expressive reactions to the wild landscape as well as the human form. Decades of outdoor activities, twelve years of work as a biological surveyor and countless hours of field drawing and painting in the rugged backcountry of Western Canada continue to shape his work. He actively showed, taught and lectured at public art institutions across British Columbia. His cartoons and graphic art have been in more than 20 single and group exhibitions across Canada, including faculty shows for the Kootenay School of Art, Victoria College of Art, Red Deer College of Art, The Association of Canadian Editorial Cartoonists and others. Rick has taught art to thousands of students for over 35 years at numerous art schools, public art galleries and in the public school system. He has taught at the Okanagan School of the Arts, Selkirk College and the Kootenay School of Art, among others. Rick was an award-winning cartoonist/illustrator published in many major Canadian newspapers and magazines. His cartoon and illustration work garnered several national and international awards and is in the permanent collection of the National Archives of Canada. He studied visual art and design at the University of British Columbia, The University of Ottawa, and Emily Carr College of Art and Design and has attended and been an artist in residence at a number of artist residencies in British Columbia. Friends may attend an art exhibit featuring Rick’s work at the Qathet Art Centre, Powell River. A celebration of life at one of Rick’s favourite fishing holes in Powell River at a date to be confirmed in September 2025. The family would like to extend our deepest appreciation for the care provided by Qathet General Hospital, with special appreciation for Dr. Gambling. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Canadian Lyme Disease Research Network, The Canadian Cancer Society, the Qathet Art Centre or the Qathet General Hospital are appreciated.
Alcoholics Anonymous • 604-485-6994 • 604-223-1270 • 604-414-5232 (Texada)
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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 Avenue A donation of $5 towards the food bank would be appreciated.
Powell River Hospital Foundation is working to provide better health care for the citizens of Powell River. Please donate “In Memory” prhospitalfoundation.com
3560 Pets SPCA - Adopt a Pet SOPHIE - quiet, pretty, snuggling Guinea Pig seeking matching humans! BOO-BOO - Green eyed, mature, pretty, friendly, black cat-welcomes visitors! DAISY - Gorgeous, pretty white & gray, super senior seeking her matching super senior human! FRANK SINATRA, & ELVIS Sweet n playful, cute overload! Corso/Mastiff mix puppies MAVIS - Stunning, sweet, kidloving, 4 yr old Mastiff mix. SPCA 604-485-9252
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604.483.8200 6965 Suites for Rent 2 BDRM, pets ok units. NS/ND. westcoastend.com 604-414-4645
19 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com
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Canadian Navigable Waters Act Notice of application for Approval of Aquaculture Facility Stevenson Road, Powell River, BC
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Proposed Woodlot Licence Plan for Woodlot Licence W2058
Andre Comeau hereby gives notice that an application has been made to the Minister of Transport, pursuant to the Canadian Navigable Waters Act for approval of the work described herein and its site and plans. Pursuant to paragraph 7(2) of the said Act, Andre Comeau has deposited with the Minister of Transport, on the on-line Common Project Search Registry (https://cps.canada.ca/), Registry No. 4590 and under the NPP File Number 2021-505039. The application for approval includes an aquaculture facility with existing anchors, anchor lines, rafts, boat moorage floats and lines and work raft for the production of shellfish in, on, over, under, through or across Okeover Inlet at Cannery Road in front of District Lot number 3889. Comments regarding the effect of this work on marine navigation can be sent through the Common Project Search site mentioned above under the Comment section (search by the above refer‐ enced number) or if you do not have access to the internet, by sending your comments directly to: Navigation Protection Program – Transport Canada, Suite 820800 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2J8. Transport Canada (TC) will not make your comments on a pro‐ ject available to the public on the online public registry. However, any information related to a work is considered as unclassified public record and could be accessible upon legal request. As such, the information and records provided should not contain confidential or sensitive information. If you want to provide confi‐ dential or sensitive information that you think should not be made public, please contact TC before submitting it. However, comments will be considered only if they are in writing (electronic means preferable) and are received not later than 30 days after the publication of the last notice. Although all com‐ ments conforming to the above will be considered, no individual response will be sent. Posted at Powell River, BC this 19th day of June, 2025 Name of Signing Representive: Andre Comeau
Totally rebuilt 16’ Hourston Aluminum pod New 60HP Suzuki and 6HP kicker Trailer, sounder, vhf Surveyed and registered Full top Built in tank Perfect run-a-bout $30,000 604 223 9243
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Notice is hereby given that Widdle Woodlot Ltd, licensee for Woodlot Licence W2058, will make a proposed Woodlot Licence Plan (WLP) available for public viewing and comment. This WLP has been developed under the Forest and Range Practices Act and Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation. Woodlot Licence W2058 is located on Texada Island, approximately 2.5km northeast of Gillies Bay, along the High Road. A WLP sets the legal requirements for how activities in the woodlot will be carried out. The WLP shows the areas where timber harvesting will be avoided, modified or allowed and also includes information on results and strategies designed for the maintenance and protection of non-timber resources in the tenure area. A WLP plan also includes designated Wildlife Tree Retention Areas where harvesting will not occur. All harvesting activities will be subject to the WLP and Annual Allowable Cut and associated Cut Control Regulation. The term of the WLP is ten years. The plan is available for review prior to the determination of the District Manager of the Ministry of Forests, Sunshine Coast Natural Resources District and can be made available to interested parties. The plan will be made available during regular business hours from July3 to August 4, 2025. To request a copy of the WLP please call Brian Smart at Econ Consulting Ltd. 250-337-5588 or email to brian@econ.ca. Additional information related to the woodlot may be provided upon request. Comments upon the plan must be received in writing by August 8, 2025 at the following address: Econ Consulting, 2-8268 Island Hwy, Black Creek, BC, V9J 1H6, attn: Brian Smart, RPF, or by email to brian@econ. ca. Please note that comments that do not directly bear upon the plans themselves will be forwarded to the District Manager, but may be outside of the jurisdiction of the licensee to address. .
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20 Thursday, July 3.2025 | Peak » prpeak.com GREAT LOCATION!
SAVARY ISLAND
NEW LISTING
KATIE: 604 344 0055
BILL: 604 223 0811
DUSTIN: 604 358 2473
This is your opportunity to build your dream vacation home on one of the most beautiful islands in the Salish Sea. This 0.34 acre Savary Island lot has tons of potential. 1908 VANCOUVER BOULEVARD $145,000 MLS®18559
Affordable living in a well-maintained condo on the bus route and a short walk to the Townsite Market, theatre and restaurants 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1,004 sq ft 301-5701 WILLOW AVENUE $351,000 MLS®18720
Ocean view condo in historic Townsite. Well-maintained 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom condo nestled on a quiet street. 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 921 sq ft 307-5700 WILLOW AVENUE $349,900 MLS®19088
CENTRAL LOCATION
HALF ACRE
MARIAH: 604 223 9287
Very central investment or family home on half an acre, and walking distance from all the downtown amenities. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1,771 sq ft 7153 ALBERNI STREET $529,900 MLS®19047
Situated on nearly half an acre, this house features a large deck overlooking a fully fenced private backyard adorned with tall trees. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,930 sq ft 5395 YUKON AVENUE $549,900 MLS®18867 SAVARY CRAFTSMAN
OCEAN VIEW
amackinnon@460realty.com
NEW PRICE
BILL: 604.223.0811
Austyn Mackinnon REALTOR® 778 986 1691
austynprhomes.com
DUSTIN: 604 358 2473
Two bedrooom plus den Amazing gardens and spectacular ocean view! 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom 4467 OMENICA AVENUE $524,900 MLS®19043 NEW LISTING
Nancy Hamilton REALTOR® 604 849 5777
nancy@nancyhamilton.ca
nancyhamiltonlifestyle.com
Dustin Villeneuve REALTOR® 604 358 2473
dvilleneuve@460realty.com
dustinvilleneuve.com
DEAN: 604 786 2977 DUSTIN: 604 358 2473
NANCY: 604 849 5777
DUSTIN: 604 358 2473
Enjoy the views of the ocean, mountains, and year-round sunsets from this main-level entry home conveniently located in central Westview. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 2,400 sq ft 3847 JOYCE AVENUE $589,900 MLS®18809
Quality custom-built home offering year-round comfort for Savary Island living. Craftsman details throughout. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,350 sq ft 1223 VANCOUVER BOULEVARD $685,000 MLS®18688
Located on a corner lot in a sought-after neighbourhood, this level-entry ocean view home blends elegance and functionality 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2,846 sq ft 3890 ONTARIO AVENUE $929,900 MLS®19053
WATERFRONT
LEGAL SUITE
SAVARY OCEANFRONT
AUSTYN:: 778 986 1691 AUSTYN
AUSTYN:: 778 986 1691 AUSTYN
NANCY: 604 849 5777
Great value for waterfront home with suite. Quiet neighbourhood, this home is ideal for those seeking both tranquillity and fine craftsmanship. 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 3,197 sq ft 4810 SANDERSON ROAD $945,000 MLS®18993
Gorgeous home set on a fenced .8 acres with a quiet creek running through the property. 20x24 shop with furnished 500 sq ft legal suite 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,864 sq ft 7111 BAKER STREET $1,099,900 MLS®18820
Private year-round oceanfront retreat on 1.7 serene acres on Savary Island, bordering 350 acres of trust lands with 180° views of the strait. 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,718 sq ft 1900 VANCOUVER BOULEVARD $1,100,000 MLS®18687
WALK TO OCEAN
FOR RENT
INVESTMENT!
Mariah Fedosov REALTOR® 604 223 9287
mfedosov@460realty.com
Bill Bailey REALTOR® 604 223 0811
bbailey@460realty.com
billbailey.ca
Katie Indrebo REALTOR® 604 344 0055
kindrebo@460realty.com
katieindrebo.com
NANCY: 604 849 5777
Natural yet sophisticated, this stunning south-facing home is designed with low maintenance and sustainability in mind. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 3,271 sq ft 8116 EMMONDS ROAD $1,289,000 MLS®18812
BILL: 604 223 0811
KATHY: 604 208 9722
Two fully refurbished mobile homes and two newly built homes overlooking Gillies Bay and right across the street from beach access. 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 938 sq ft 3465 OAK STREET, TEXADA ISLAND $1,890,000 MLS®18578
Updated 2-bedroom energy-efficient townhouses located in the central Westview. Pets considered, subject to agreement and deposit. No smoking or vaping on the property. $1,850/MONTH (plus utilities) www.prpm.ca
Dean Macdonald REALTOR® 604 786 2977
dmacdonald@460realty.com
realtorontherock.com
236.328.0236 460REALTYPR.COM