Travelling for procedures costly for couple PAGE 15
Perfect Fit for Brides & Grads has opened a street-front boutique at 4706 Marine Avenue, giving brides, grads and holiday shoppers more choices without having to leave Powell River.
Owner Guadalupe Dufour moved from her home studio into the new space in August and says the change has transformed the experience. The boutique features spacious displays and a comfortable lounge where friends and family can sit while a client tries on gowns.
Dufour aims to deliver the polish of a big-city salon with the attention of a local business. The larger footprint has also allowed her to increase inventory and add European bridal labels, including Angela Bianca, Daniela di Marino and Monica Loretti. She’s also working on adding a wool “capsule” of bridal-level pantsuits and jackets designed for women who prefer a modern alternative to a dress.
“The tailored pieces, offered with or without lace, give brides a practical and elegant option that still feels special,” says Dufour.
The shop now carries sizes from double-zero to 36, with the reminder that shopping early is still best.
“The wedding dress often sets the tone for the day, and production timelines can range from three
to nine months depending on size and colour availability,” she adds.
Wedding planners typically recommend securing a dress six to 12 months in advance. If a customer’s size is in stock, same-day purchases are possible. For short timelines, Dufour says she will sell a sample when it is the right dress, noting that flexibility is part of serving the community.
Appointments are preferred so clients receive focused attention; drop-in shoppers are welcome to browse.
“My one-on-one approach includes exploring silhouettes, fabrics and tones until the right look emerges.”
She cautions that buying for-
mal wear online can be costly and wasteful if dresses arrive with poor fit or uncomfortable fabrics.
For the season ahead, Dufour has
also expanded what she calls her Indian capsule, an eco-conscious selection of silks and cottons that includes tunics, jackets, blouses and colourful textiles that can be worn as scarves or displayed as décor. Gift ideas include gold- and silver-plated bracelets and silk scarves.
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“My goal is to bring the best mix of timeless and on-trend styles to Marine Avenue, across a range of budgets, and save clients the extra time and expense of travelling.”
As the boutique grows, she hopes to train an apprentice and eventually pass the business on.
stocked elegant party dresses suitable for dinners and New Year’s Eve parties, with many styles available to take home the same day. She has
For more information, go to perfectfitforbridesandgrads.com, call or text 604.483.1800, or call 604.413.4330.
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Accident leads to recovery
Life-changing event precipitated movement away from drug and alcohol addiction
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
It was two or three in the morning and Eli Leyland, fighting drug and alcohol addiction, had been on a bender. Stumbling home in Edmonton in February of 2020, Eli woke up about 100 metres from his apartment.
“I was completely mangled,” said Eli. “My left foot wasn’t attached to my leg anymore. The bones were sticking out of both of my legs and feet. I was missing my front teeth and my jaw was kind of hanging off.
“The only thing that made sense to me is I had been involved in a hit and run. Somebody must have hit me early in the morning.”
He has no recollection of the incident.
Eli said it took about 10 minutes to fully grasp what had happened. He was calm, but in shock. The first thing he did was remove his belt and tie a tourniquet around his leg. He managed to find his phone, about 15 feet away, which he crawled to get.
“I called 911 and they asked whether I needed police, ambulance or the fire department,” said Eli. “I said I needed an ambulance. They said, ‘okay, sir, do you know what happened?’ I said I didn’t know what happened. I was very calm and I was not freaking out.”
Eli said it took 15 or 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. One of the paramedics covered him in a blanket. Eli told him he was not cold.
“He said: ‘it’s not for you, man,’ and injected me with fentanyl, as-
suming I was in pain. The problem was, it took me out of shock, so by the time I got to the hospital, I could feel everything, and I was screaming and screaming, and passed out from the pain.”
Eli said he woke up much later in hospital and was hooked up to machines. He does not know how long he was out, but it was into March when he came to. He said he was yelling, and a nurse finally came to his room in a hazmat suit, telling him to calm down. She advised that the hospital was in the middle of a pandemic.
“I had watched every zombie apocalypse movie, and it always starts with someone waking up in a hospital bed, alone,” said Eli.
His medical treatment for his injuries was intense. Eli had three back-to-back operations, and several more after that. When he was finally discharged from hospital, he had to deal with his physical recovery, but also, his recovery from drugs and alcohol.
“It was just horrible,” said Eli. “Very few people were able to help me. I lived on the 10th floor of a building. I’m in a wheelchair with multiple broken bones. It was as bad as possible. I was very lucky to be alive.”
Eli’s addiction, which led to the life-changing accident, had become all-consuming in Edmonton. He had moved there from Vancouver and started working in the bar industry.
“I helped run nightclubs, I bartended, and that kind of stuff,” said Eli. “I was kind of introduced to alcohol and drugs. It wasn’t until I left the bar industry when I lost my meaning and purpose.
“I didn’t have a job. I had no reason to wake up in the morning, but the thing I knew how to do best was party and use drugs. I was getting to the point where I was drinking 40 to 60 ounces of vodka a day on top of any drug that was put in front of me.”
Eli said he ended up being hospitalized more than 200 times for either overdosing or for withdrawal. He was visiting the hospital three or four times a week, and medical staff knew him by his first and last name.
“It was an absolute mess,” said Eli.
He came from a caring family that had some measure of affluence. They were able to afford to send him to treatment, where he went more than a dozen times.
“I went to 11 different treatment centres, some of them multiple times,” said Eli. “All these excursions cost $20,000 or $30,000 a month. It was extremely expensive to keep me alive.
“I went in and out of treatment centres and I would have 30, 60 and sometimes 90 days of sobriety under my belt, but I’d be constantly relapsing.
Eli moved around, having lived in Montreal for a bit, as well as Vancouver and Edmonton, where he finally had what he termed as the best day and worst day of his life – the day of his accident.
“The thing that almost killed me saved my life,” said Eli.
Given the difficulties he was having in Edmonton, his father Loy went to pick him up. The family had a place in Powell River that had been purchased several years earlier. Eli said he had been to Powell River as a kid and had many nostalgic memories of the community.
“My father had just had enough,” said Eli. “My family tried to save me hundreds of times, and I can’t even express how indebted and grateful I am for the love and support. I wouldn’t be alive today without that.
“My father essentially dropped me off at this house. We arrived in Powell River, and my father had a full-time job to go to and a life to live, so I was here alone.”
Eli said he was “pretty disabled” at that point, so care was set up.
NEW LIFE: Eli Leyland, with his sister Hannah Leyland, attended the opening ceremony for the Miklat Recovery-Arbutus Centre, which Hannah, an architect, designed. Hannah had written a story featured on the front of a section of the Globe and Mail newspaper, headlined My Brother the Addict, outlining Eli’s battles with drugs and alcohol. Eli has since found longstanding recovery in Powell River, through affiliation with Miklat, meetings and many people here in recovery.
People here looked after him, getting him to appointments, cooking food and helping him with essential tasks.
“All these wonderful people started to come into my life,” said Eli.
He said he’d lived in cities his whole life and didn’t have a sense of community, or friendliness from random strangers.
“I soon realized this was a community that really cared and loved one another,” said Eli.
He was also determined to remain clean and sober after his lifechanging accident, so he connected with the recovery community here, which was difficult because of the pandemic, but again, he found great care. He said he was able to connect with Rob Fitzpatrick from Miklat Recovery Society (now Together We Can Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Education Society).
“I was very fortunate that Miklat
PAUL GALINSKI
was open and available, and just for the sheer fact that I could connect with other individuals who understood my plight,” said Eli. “I connected with Miklat and would do some of the day program. I never went to Miklat as a client, but I would show up there, I’d hang out with the guys and attend some of the groups that they would have. I connected with Rob. I connected with other people through meetings. I went to five, six and sometimes seven meetings a week.
“I couldn’t have done any of this on my own. I began to take my recovery seriously. Slowly, but surely, I got back on my feet. I got ingrained in this community and I love this place. This is going to be my forever home.”
One where he can slip the bonds of addiction and lead a clean, sober and productive life.
National Addictions Awareness Week is November 16 to 22.
PHOTO
Designations draw discussion
Regional hospital district
to review having two organizations designated as health-care facilities
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
qathet Regional Hospital District will convene a special meeting to deal with two funding requests.
At the October 21 qathet Regional Hospital District board meeting, directors reviewed correspondence from BC Ministry of Health regarding designating Together We Can’s Miklat Recovery – Arbutus House and Foundry qathet as health facilities under section 49 of the Hospital
District Act. The two organizations must be designated health facilities before they can receive funds from the hospital district for capital purposes.
City of Powell River director Cindy Elliott said the correspondence outlines how a facility can become designated because the hospital board has asked about Miklat and Foundry.
“There are some clear instructions that we, the hospital district, are to write a letter with a list of required information, and we would solicit a letter, also from Vancouver Coastal Health,” said Elliott. “As part of that, it says we need to know what we are willing to spend as part of our submission.
“I want to ask our corporate officer, if we are interested in getting this letter written and getting the Foundry designated as a facility, what process might we
REGIONAL BRIEFS
Transit expansion
qathet Regional District (qRD) board has authorized Electoral Area C director and chair Clay Brander, and acting chief administrative officer Michelle Jones, to sign the three-year transit expansion plan letter with BC Transit.
At the October 22 regional board meeting, directors also directed staff to include the funding for the expansion in the 2026 to 2030 financial plan.
According to a staff report, the expansion consists
of two improvements. The first is the introduction of Thursday service on Route 12 Stillwater run starting in May of 2026. The second improvement is the addition of two additional round trips on weekdays all year long on Route 14 Lund. These expansions will provide the public with bus service on these routes Monday to Friday.
The staff report stated these expansions fill gaps in the service that have been the most requested additions from the public over the years. These additions were
use to do that?”
Electoral Area B director and hospital board chair Mark Gisborne said in June, the board passed a motion that the hospital district board support the applications from Miklat and Foundry to be health-care facilities.
“The big question now is how to proceed?” asked Gisborne.
Corporate office Michelle Jones said there is a requirement for the hospital district to do the work to undertake the application.
“We’ve had this two times before in our organization,” said Jones. “The ministry is asking for the amount of funding, so that would be the first step. I’m not sure everybody here came prepared to talk about funding. It might be better to accept a notice of motion for a future meeting.”
Gisborne said the hospital board had the funding requests sent to
identified in the process and confirmed in engagement during the BC Transit 2025 Powell River Transit Future Service Review.
The planned transit expansion costs are $18,652 per annum for the Route 12 Stillwater starting in 2026, and $12,946 per annum for the Route 14 Lund starting in 2027.
Grant sought
There will be an application for provincial funding for the community wood smoke reduction program for 2026. According to a staff report, since 2019, the regional district has provided rebates for a total of 172 wood stove removals and replacements using program
funding.
the regional district, which were then were forwarded to the hospital district.
“It’s been a bit of a challenge because we don’t get a lot of applications for organizations to be designated health-care facilities,” said Gisborne. “It’s not like there’s a policy, and even the ministry letter says it hasn’t received the application from Miklat or Foundry. The other part is it says the regional hospital district has to submit information.”
Gisborne said he was wondering if the applications were to be from the organizations or the hospital district. He said the ministry letter does not really clarify the matter.
“Our intention is to provide funding, but they need to be health-care facilities for us to do so,” said Gisborne. “The letter from the ministry outlines how that can be done from our end, so we could actually do that.”
Rebates have been offered annually to all qRD residents on a first-come, first-served basis with pre-qualifying conditions.
The program aims to reduce wood smoke exposure and improve air quality in BC communities by promoting the replacement of old, smoky wood stoves with low emission heating options.
New replacements
The regional board has accepted for its information a report titled Disposal of Northside and Savary Island Fire Engines.
According to a staff report, the retiring Northside and Savary Island fire engines will be advertised for public
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MYSTERIES OF THE KEYHOLE HOUSE
Renowned Canadian illusionists Ted and Marion Outerbridge celebrate the stories and secrets of a nineteenth century heritage home in Smith Falls, Ontario. The event starts at 7 pm in Powell River Public Library. For more information, email Mark at mmerlino@prpl.ca.
Elliott said Foundry qathet is under a time crunch to get funding so it can pay for the renovations to its planned facility. She asked if it was appropriate to schedule a special meeting for this topic that would be more timely than bumping the matter to the next hospital board meeting.
Gisborne said he was inclined to agree because the next hospital district meeting is not until December. Jones said the chair can call a special meeting.
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said both organizations are worthy and she would like to see the hospital district do whatever it takes to enable them to be successful.
“It’s really good work that needs to be done,” said McCormick. Gisborne said he would call a special meeting to deal with the designation of the two organizations.
offering once the new fire engines are in service. Any costs recuperated through the sales will be entered as revenue for the respective fire service.
Northside and Savary Island fire protection services have purchased new fire engines, which were due for final delivery in October and November, respectively. These fire engines will replace older engines that have reached their end of service life.
Firefighter funds
The regional board has endorsed an application to Union of British Columbia Municipalities for the volunteer and composite fire departments equipment
and training fund stream of the community preparedness fund for the Northside Volunteer Fire Department, Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department, Malaspina Volunteer Fire Department and Lasqueti Island Volunteer Fire Department. According to a staff report, the current version of the grant can provide a maximum $30,000 funding per fire department, so cumulatively, qRD is eligible to apply for $120,000 for firefighting training and equipment support for its four local fire services. The previous version of this same grant provided up to $40,000 per fire department, so this year’s version is a decrease in the maximum amount by $10,000 per fire department.
MP critical of budget
Aaron Gunn says government needs to cut wasteful spending
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
Canada’s 2025 budget, introduced November 4 in the House of Commons, is very disappointing, according to North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn.
“I got my start in politics, my first job out of university, working for an organization called the Canadian Taxpayers Federation,” said Gunn. “As part of my role there, I travelled to university campuses across the country, mainly talking about how much debt the government was racking
up, and how they were leaving future generations with the bill. On that metric, this budget is about as bad as it could be.
“[Prime minister] Mark Carney is planning to add $321 billion to the federal debt over the next five years. That’s more than twice what Justin Trudeau was planning. We are already paying more than $50 billion every year on debt interest.”
Gunn said that is more than the federal government collects in GST or spends on health care. He said that is money not going toward men and women in uniform, or toward education.
“It is going to pay bondholders and banks on Bay Street,” said Gunn “This is on top of the fact that over the past 10 years, the Liberal government doubled Canada’s national debt, and now they want to borrow
$321 billion more.
“It is completely unsustainable. It includes $90 billion in new inflationary spending. It does nothing for the cost of living, which is the number one issue in this country, and it is just leaving future generations with even more debt to pay.”
Gunn said every bill comes due, and the money that is being borrowed by the federal government has to be paid back, whether it is through higher taxes or dramatic spending cuts in the future.
“There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” said Gunn. “This year’s $78 billion is the largest deficit outside of COVID-19 in Canada’s history.
“We have to stop all this reckless spending. There are so many billions of dollars that are wasted by the fed-
eral government each and every year. We need to cut wasteful spending, and we have to get government out of the way, so businesses and entrepreneurs can get back to work and create more jobs.”
Gunn said that involves removing destructive regulations, such as the industrial carbon tax. Other measures include the bureaucracy that prevents the building of affordable homes, he added.
“Just let Canadians take control of their future,” said Gunn. “I’m a big believer that what is needed is not for government to step up in any particular way, but for government to get out of the way and give this country back to those who built it.”
Regarding the initiative to downsize the federal workforce, Gunn said that government definitely needs to cut the size of the bureau-
cracy. He said, however, that with the increases to the deficit, and the $90 billion in new spending, it more than cancels out savings from the cuts.
“You can’t live beyond your means in perpetuity,” said Gunn. “Canadians are already over-taxed. We have to
speak the truth now, which is, there is a spending addiction for this Liberal government. They have already doubled the national debt and it’s just not sustainable. It’s not fair or ethical to the future generations that are going to be stuck with that bill.”
FEDERAL DEBT: North Island-Powell River MP Aaron Gunn has indicated that the federal budget is leaving a huge bill for future generations, and that the government expenditures are completely unsustainable. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Structures being demolished at mill site
Cranberry Business
Park getting the Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat land ready for new tenants
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
Demolition of structures at the former Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill site, now Cranberry Business Park, is progressing rapidly.
Cranberry Business Park chief executive officer Craig Austin, whose company owns the former paper mill site along with Tla’amin Nation, said the first phase of the mill’s restructuring is taking place along the waterfront at the tip, where a large percentage of the buildings are gone. Work is being carried out by Clearview Demolition from the Chilliwack area, which has also demolished various aspects of the Port Alice pulp mill on Vancouver Island.
“They are working their way to power oiler 19 right now,” said Austin. “That’s going to be after the precipitator, which will be taken down next. They’ve taken out a lot of the infrastructure and the tanks around the site.”
Austin said a hazmat crew has also come in and has remediated asbestos in the area. Also on the schedule is to have some consultants go to the site and make sure the buildings that housed the paper machines are structurally sound enough to be left standing so they can be occupied.
“The nice part is that you’ve got water access, dock access and rail access,” said Austin “There’s about 40 acres here on the tip of the land that is going to become available for some lucky tenant.”
While the decommissioning of structures is ongoing, all the power to the whole section that is being
renovated has been cut off.
“It’s safe for the demolition crew to go in and take everything apart without the risk of any kind of power being left on site,” said Austin. “We want safety to be the gold standard. We have daily meetings and weekly meetings and monthly meetings just on safety alone.”
Austin said for the demolition, Clearview was the only company for the job as far as he was concerned. He said he interviewed three different demolition groups, two being from BC and one being out of the United States.
“It was Clearview by far,” said Austin “They are right on as far as their timing estimates go and as far as their safety protocol goes. Everything they said they were going to do, they have been doing.”
One of the tasks Clearview is undertaking is the separation of metal from the buildings and structures that are being demolished.
The metal, such as aluminum, copper, steel and stainless steel, is being sorted. All the non-ferrous products are going by truckload to Surrey and the steel is going onto a large barge that has been docked down on the point. It will be barged to the United States for sale.
Austin said that fortunately, there has not been any tariff attached to the project.
“That was one of our big concerns,” said Austin. “If, all of a sudden, Mr. Trump decided that they needed a tariff on scrap steel, it would not have been good.”
Austin anticipates there will be eight or nine barges heavily loaded with steel that will be coming out of the mill. The mill project has been divided into three phases, with the first phase being the area around paper machines nine, 10 and 11. Phase two will be more central on the mill site, around the thermo-mechanical pulp facility.
“That is very heavy in steel, stain-
less steel and copper,” said Austin. “So, in taking that apart, that is going to generate enough funds to take apart the big silos and the buildings around paper machines one and two, which are just foundations now and some walls. I think that sits on about 20 acres.”
Phase three will be dealing with the two big, old paper machine buildings that are still there on the left-hand side when entering the mill. Austin said the mill stores building will be kept.
He said the work on phase one is going to take about 12 months, but the way Clearview is going, that timeline might be shortened. Austin said buildings left standing in phase one could house multiple different types of business infrastructure. He said there is upward of 180 megawatts of power available for industrial users.
“It’s going to be plenty for the people who are coming to our door,” said Austin, adding that there has already been corporate interest shown for tenancy at the mill site.
“We are just kind of going through the vetting stage with a couple of very good potentials,” said Austin. “We are collaborating with Tla’amin Nation on a couple of those as well. So yes, there are people coming to our door. It’s happening daily.”
Zoning of the mill site allows for many different uses. Austin said industrial use could be part of what Cranberry Business Park attracts.
“We are retaining section 21 of City of Powell River’s charter, which allows for heavy industrial use,” said Austin. “That’s the way it sits right now and we are going to keep that on our property. It’s good for our business. That was
FUTURE PREPARATION: An aerial photo of phase one of the Cranberry Business Park demolition reveals that several buildings have been removed from the mill site, making way for commercial use in the future.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
one of the prerequisites for closing on the mill site. It does attract more business when we have that in place.
“We met with city council about it, quite a while ago, but from my recollection, everyone seemed to be on board.”
Austin believes the development will be good for Powell River and will equal good jobs.
“We’re funded well enough with our Cranberry group to attract the right people, for what is going to be best for Powell River,
and what’s going to be best for the Tla’amin Nation,” said Austin. “It’s a good way to lead from a business perspective.
“Hopefully, the taxation will be just a blip, with the businesses that we attract. We have run some numbers and it would be huge for the city. It’s not going to be the pulp and paper industry, but with the multiple businesses that will be coming in, you don’t have to rely on a single industry. It’s not a good time to be in the pulp and paper business.”
REMOVING METAL: Clearview Demolition has been contracted to demolish buildings at Cranberry Business Park, the former Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat mill site. Heavy equipment is in, removing metal from the buildings, which is being sold in the Lower Mainland and the United States. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO
RECEIVING TRUCKLOADS: A barge is receiving steady truckloads of steel from the mill demolitions that are currently taking place. It is anticipated that there will be eight or nine such barges removing valuable metal from the mill site. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO
Community forest update provided
City councillors receive report on grant allocations to the city and community groups
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
City of Powell River councillors were provided a status update on city and community projects funded in whole or in part by Powell River Community Forest.
At the November 4 committee of the whole meeting, acting director of infrastructure Rod Fraser said a snapshot of projects the city is undertaking was included in a staff report to council. Projects completed, in progress, deferred, and one that has been cancelled, were all part of the report. Fraser said staff had provided a snapshot for 2025 and 2026.
According to the staff report,
Powell River Community Forest has contributed approximately $31 million in dividends to support community and capital projects since its inception in 2006, with more than $10 million currently committed to city and community projects.
“There is a projected balance of just under $8 million in the reserve,” said Fraser.
Councillor and committee chair Earl Almeida said he was curious about the cancelled project, which was the Powell River Public Library roof solar array. He said the report was referencing staff’s ability to maintain the array. He asked if that would be for maintenance and upkeep of the solar panels.
“If that was the case, let’s say a future council decided to add solar as a strategic priority to city buildings, what would staff need to be able to facilitate something like that down the road?” asked Almeida.
Fraser said the inhibitor was mostly staff capabilities. He said
should there be desire to explore that in the future, it is easy enough to put into a capital plan.
Councillor Trina Isakson said one of the identified expenditures was a contract manager for community forest projects. She said there is some funding that will be remaining at the end of 2025.
“How long do we perceive to be able to engage that contracted project manager?” asked Isakson.
Fraser said that was a contracted position for two years, and that it will end in May or June of 2027. A total of $200,000 has been committed to the position.
Isakson said transit bus shelters at the Powell River Town Centre mall are on the list of items that are in progress. She said the plans are to complete the shelters in 2026. She asked if Fraser had a sense of when.
Fraser said it is hopeful that they will be complete in the first quarter of 2026.
“We are actively working with the mall owner to be able to put those
CULTURE DAYS: qathet School District students gathered for a multi-day event during the last week of October. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Students gather for Cross Culture Day
Tla’amin stories and traditions highlighted through interactive learning
TANYA HILL
thill@prpeak.com
Nearly 300 grade three students from across the qathet region gathered for the 29th annual Cross Culture Day, which took place during the last week of October. The event was hosted at the Salish Centre and facilitated by qathet School District’s (qSD)
Indigenous education team in collaboration with Tla’amin Nation community members.
For three days, grade three students had opportunities to learn and engage with Tla’amin culture, stories and traditions through a series of muli-sensory and interactive learning stations.
"One thing we all share, living in this region, is that we are on Tla'amin land," qSD principal of Indigenous education Jessica Johnson told the Peak. "Grade three students from across the region had the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of what that means through a rich, multi-sensory experience, taking in the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of t̓ɩšosəm."
shelters in place,” said Fraser.
Councillor Rob Southcott asked if washroom facilities for bus drivers were part of the grant. Fraser said they are.
According to the staff report, 19 of the total community forest projects are completed, 35 are in progress, six have been deferred and one was cancelled.
Completed city projects include the mid-level connector trail from Powell River Recreation Complex to Brooks Secondary School, the Maple and Sycamore safe streets project, a generator for city hall, recreation complex poolside air conditioning, and the procurement of three new electric vehicles.
There are 13 city projects in progress, six city projects have been deferred, and one has been cancelled.
Fall 2025 city projects submitted to the community forest include the Evergreen Theatre curtain motor replacement, pool lane ropes and reel, logger sports climbing poles, and the sea walk restoration project.
Three projects for 2026 are to be submitted for input by the community forest, including extended Evergreen Theatre seating, replacement of the underwater pool lights and the Powell River Kings coaching room upgrades.
There were 14 community projects completed in 2025.
Trina Isakson
Evidence of addiction in the past tense
Awareness around the addiction epidemic in BC has risen steadily in the decade in which I have been on my personal recovery road: from a self-medicating and anxiety-ridden alcoholic to the still somewhat uncertain, but profoundly healthier person currently occupying a calmer place.
Paradoxically, and tragically, there have been more than 14,000 overdose deaths since BC declared a public health emergency with drug addiction in 2016 and that number is still rising.
There is a disconnect between the awareness campaign around addiction and the increasing number of drug deaths on the streets and in homes. Why is addiction still at epidemic levels even with a growing societal consciousness around the deadly situation?
My theory, which I have heard from others, is that chronic addiction can sometimes be a proportional reaction to a society which, if it was an individual, would be classified as pathologically unwell and even psychopathic. We are a cog in a human-constructed value system, which often rewards narcissists and bully behaviour at the top of the social pyramid. Of course, as an adult, I am responsible for my actions and make choices which have positive, or very negative effects on everything around me, even if this world can seem like it runs on greed and madness.
When I was drinking nightly to an oblivious state, it was like there was a hole in the middle of my life that I thought I could fill with any immediate pleasure or distraction from a life that was cloaked in terrible loneliness. The truth is, you eventually find out the hole in the centre of everything is a bottomless pit.
There is an emptiness with drugs, alcohol or any seriously self-defeating be-
HEALTHY LIVING
By Robert Skender
haviour that, I think, eventually breeds resentment which evolves into anger. The emptiness cannot be satiated with terminally problematic actions.
In my case, violence was directed inward and manifested as an disturbed selfloathing. The emptiness in the middle of life swallows all your energy and gives nothing but a fleeting sense of euphoria. Substance abuse is a bad deal. There is a pathetic return for the all-encompassing investment in addiction.
At that point the tragic story becomes a deadly loop of toxic cause and effect. Healthy friends will either drift away or you give them a rude push. The more you isolate yourself, the worse the addictive actions become. The loop of addiction has fully taken hold and the catastrophic cause and effect is almost impossible to stop.
To exit the often fatal addiction loop is not a solitary act. Psychiatrists, counsellors, friends and group meetings such as cognitive behavioural therapybased SMART meetings, or Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous, play the essential role of community; the literal and metaphorical hands that pull from the toxic spiral.
The reward is an opportunity for an authentic life with love and loss, and ups and downs ready to be met with clarity and newfound strength.
Today I am drug and alcohol free, and the emptiness of addiction is happily absent. At 55, I am the evidence that anyone can experience a full life restart in the bright light of clarity and health.
Robert Skender is a qathet region freelance writer and health commentator.
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VIEWPOINT Shared commitment to members drives potential merger
By Linda Bowyer and Wellington Holbrook
In many BC communities, especially smaller, more remote ones, local banking is vital. It’s where small businesses secure loans, people discuss homeownership and individuals find support. In a local branch, you connect with someone who knows you and trusts your word. This people-focused approach is at the heart of strong, resilient local economies. However, community banking faces signifi-
We aim to combine FCU’s understanding of its unique communities and member service with Vancity’s broader scale.
cant risks. Many BC communities have lost national bank branches because it’s often more efficient to serve remote clients online. Smaller, local alternatives, many of which are credit unions, often find it challenging to achieve the necessary scale to compete.
Seamless digital services are a baseline expectation, while complex regulations and significant technology in- »9
EARL ALMEIDA circulation director
TANYA HILL reporter
KELLY KEIL publisher/owner
SHANE CARLSON editor
PAUL GALINSKI reporter
SANDY
Students honour veterans on Texada
Legion members and First Nations elder host National Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony
TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com
Texada Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 sergeant-at-arms and island resident David Colussi and his friend Rikki Kooy, who is also a First Nations elder, hosted a National
Indigenous Veterans Day (November 8) ceremony on Friday, November 7, at Woodland Cemetery in Van Anda.
Texada Elementary School students were first invited to place solar-powered candles and Canadian flags around the graves of soldiers laid to rest at the cemetery.
Kooy then gathered the students in a circle and blessed them with cedar, while speaking to them about the importance of honouring all soldiers, and the importance of remembering that Indigenous soldiers fought side-by-side with non-Indigenous soldiers.
“We honour all veterans,” said Kooy.
“I brought cedar because it’s our medicine.”
Colussi said this is the second year they have hosted a ceremony in honour of Indigenous veterans and plans are to continue the tradition next year. He, along with Kooy, spearheaded what he calls, “a dedicated Indigenous veterans wreath project.”
“We started the project in 2022,” said Colussi. “We developed a wreath that reflects Indigenous traditions with the hope of it being used as an education tool for the public.”
Colussi said he has been campaigning to have Indigenous-style wreaths displayed at Legion’s across Canada.
vestment are unavoidable realities. As costs are rising and margins are tightening, mid-sized institutions struggle to keep pace, and smaller, local ones find it increasingly challenging.
These trends have troubled both Vancity and First Credit Union. FCU, BC’s first credit union, serves rural and island communities, while Vancity is rooted in urban areas. What unites us is a shared commitment to our members' communities.
Credit unions contribute to prosperity and positive change, and to continue this legacy, we must meet these challenges directly.
This shared understand-
ing led us to the same conclusion: local community banking must not only survive but thrive. Our goal is to ensure people and local businesses continue to benefit from their community-focused credit union, with access to services they need.
This is the driving force behind our proposed merger. We aim to combine FCU’s understanding of its unique communities and member service with Vancity’s broader scale. FCU will maintain its local presence and respected role, while its members and employees gain access to expanded products and services, and evolving digital technology.
Our model ensures FCU’s
local expertise and relationships continue to thrive, bolstered by Vancity’s resources. FCU employees will also find professional development opportunities within the combined organization. Together, the proposed organization will serve over 585,000 members and over 2,400 employees across 60 branches in BC. This scale will enable us to keep pace with technology, foster innovation, invest in communities, and navigate future economic uncertainties with greater resilience.
This is driven not by shortterm cost savings, but by a shared belief in community banking’s value and a desire for greater capacity. We are creating a scalable, made-in-
BC blueprint for cooperative banking’s future, aiming to preserve and enhance community banking by prioritizing communities, resilience and member value.
With BCFSA’s consent, we now look forward to a vote by FCU members – a crucial step reflecting the peoplefocused, cooperative principles fundamental to both Vancity and FCU. These values underpin our commitment to banking that serves people and communities, and our conviction that together, we can build a stronger future.
Linda Bowyer is CEO of First Credit Union; Wellington Holbrook is president and CEO of Vancity.
PUPILS’ PRESENCE: First Nations elder Rikki Kooy [middle, right] and Texada Island Royal Canadian Legion Branch 232 member David Colussi [middle, left] hosted a National Indigenous Veterans Day ceremony with qathet School District students, staff and Texada Island community members on Friday, November 7, at Woodland Cemetery in Van Anda. TANYA HILL PHOTO
HOCKEY AT THE HAP
Regals close gap on league leaders
SHANE CARLSON editor@prpeak.com
Powell River Regals entered their WCSHL game versus Lake Cowichan Appollos with one win and two losses, and five points behind the league leaders in the standings.
“We came out with a very strong first period, sending 15 shots at the Appollos netminder,” said Regals’ coach Tod English. “Brett Kinley connected on a point shot from Gabe Shipley, giving us a 1-0 lead.”
After Lake Cowichan tied the score early in period two at Hap Parker Arena, Shipley gave the Regals a 2-1 lead, assisted by Cohen Mastrodonato and Travis Granbois. The rest of the period featured a parade of trips to the penalty box for both teams.
Powell River took control of the November 8 game on an early third period power play.
“Kinley sniped a highlight reel goal, assisted by Bekkam Willis and Chad Niddery, who scored to make it 4-1 two minutes later from Granbois and Willis,” said English.
added English. “We outshot them 42-23, which showed how relentless we were going to the net and putting pressure on their defense.”
The win moves Powell River into a tie with Hope for second place in league standings, setting up a pair of critical games in Hope later this month.
Regals’ games are now available on YouTube at Powell River Regals Hockey.
“It was great to have the voice of the Regals, Dean Merrick, back in the booth,” said English.
Point producer
The flurry of goals continued 50 seconds later when Mason Windsor converted a set-up by Ethan Schmunk into the fifth goal of the game for the home team. Niddery (from Bryson Cecconi) later notched his second of the game while the Regals were shorthanded to make the final 6-1.
“Dieter McIntosh played a very sound game, giving up just one goal on a power play,”
Powell River Kings’ forward Marek Beaudoin was recently named the BC Hockey League’s first star of the month for October.
The second year forward collected points in all eight games played, including five multi-point performances. He scored 10 goals and helped set up seven others.
Beaudoin capped off the month with a four-point performance that included his first BCHL hat-trick in an 8-5 win over Langley
Rivermen on October 31. With 17 points, the 19-year-old is on pace to surpass his season totals from last year. He is currently two goals and five assists away from matching his numbers during his first campaign in Powell River.
Beaudoin was held off the scoresheet in a pair of losses last weekend. Victoria Grizzlies downed the Kings at 8-3 at home on November 7, then posted a 9-0 shutout two days later at Hap Parker Arena.
Soccer Saturday
Powell River Villa’s unbeaten streak is now at three games following a scoreless tie with Saanich Fusion on November 7 at Timberlane Park. Goalkeeper Matt Liknes was heroic for the home team, making several key saves, including a penalty kick late in the second half.
Villa hosts Nanaimo United on Saturday, November 14. The teams are separated by one point in Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 2 standings.
SOLID SAVE: Powell River Regals’ goaltender Dieter McIntosh makes one of his 22 saves during a West Coast Senior Hockey League game at Hap Parker Arena on November 8. ALICIA BAAS PHOTO
Understanding addiction means seeing the whole system
BY CYNTHIA LEIGHTON
Addiction is a widespread social condition, and our everyday habits — compulsive scrolling, overwork, shopping, caffeine, sugar — can meet the same criteria used to diagnose addiction: craving, loss of control, continued use despite harm. The difference is that these behaviours are socially acceptable and less visibly destructive.
Substance use disorder, on the other hand, is heavily stigmatized. It is often framed as a personal weakness; a matter of an individual’s poor choices or moral failing. But substance use disorder does not exist in a vacuum and cannot be separated from the systems and social policies that impact all of us; housing, health care, economic and justice policies all have profound impacts on an individual’s quality of life.
Substance use continues to be criminalized and completely unregulated, with no oversight of supply, leading to high risk of poor health outcomes, including death. Policy reforms like decriminalization and safe (government regulated and legal-
ized) supply are possible and could go a long way to address the social harms and health risks often associated with substance use. And if those were paired with more affordable housing, a higher minimum wage, trauma-informed justice systems and increased health care supports, we could all benefit.
In the absence of progressive, comprehensive policy reforms, service providers are working within a constrained system. Of late, there’s a growing narrative that harm reduction doesn’t do anything to support people, instead keeping individuals trapped in problematic substance use. It’s disheartening – and an insult to those using substances, their loved ones and people supporting them – to speak out against this pillar of support for people who use substances, and one of the few resources available in a system that is stacked against them. We need both: more and more readily available treatment and recovery options that include secondstage housing, and immediate, urgent, harm reduction supports that keep people alive and connect them with recovery-ori-
ented services.
Despite years of “drug awareness” education and the ongoing toxic drug crisis, which has taken thousands of lives across the province in the past 10 years, substance use disorder is still highly stigmatized, and still framed as personal weakness rather than a symptom of social structures and conditions like poverty, trauma and discrimination. How might we respond to substance use disorder if we shifted the question of: “Why are people choosing to do this to themselves?” to “What are substance users enduring?” To end the harms associated with substance use, we must look upstream and address the systems that surround us while supporting those directly impacted. If we truly want to support people with substance use disorder then we need to continue to advance harm reduction and recovery services in our community while challenging systems of inequity.
Cynthia Leighton is the community health services manager at Lift Community Services.
By Daniel Jordan, MA, Director
New research offers a new way of making sense of mental illness. This is welcome and potentially hope-inspiring news that the staff at Sunshine Coast Health Centre and Georgia Strait Women’s Clinic would like to share with the residents of qathet.
Mental Health is Not the Absence of Mental Illness
In the past, experts assumed that mental health is the same as the absence of mental illness. New research suggests otherwise. You can have good mental health even while experiencing mental illness. How is that possible? The answer lies in the distinction between a) reducing symptoms associated with mental illness and b) experiencing mental health, or a sense of psychological and social well-being. Credit for this distinction goes to sociologist Dr. Corey Keyes and his mental health continuum model.
Well-being starts today
you have an addiction, you might experience a craving for alcohol. This is normal.
Model
The Mental Health Continuum
The mental health continuum model proposes that mental health and mental illness coexist rather than exist as opposites.
A term researchers in positive psychology use to represent good mental health is “flourishing,” while poor mental health is “languishing.” Flourishing involves emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing, whereas "languishing" refers to a state of low well-being that is not accompanied by clinical mental illness.
Clients at our inpatient mental health facilities learn that they can start working on their mental health—with the goal of having a flourishing life— even while struggling with mental illness. We tell them it is unrealistic to think they will have no symptoms associated with their mental illness after only a month or two of treatment. It takes time for the body and mind to heal from mental illness.
Symptom Reduction
Traditionally, psychiatry and psychology have focused on reducing symptoms associated with conditions like depression, trauma, and addiction. So, for example, if you’re depressed, you might struggle with a feeling of hopelessness. If
While with us, our clients learn that maintaining good mental health requires having something to look forward to each day, identifying what they care about (i.e., their values), experiencing meaningful connections with others, and more. That is why we adopted a meaningcentred treatment model in 2008.
With meaning and purpose, clients have a far higher likelihood of achieving a flourishing life.
Flourishing Mental Health and Well-Being
The mental health continuum model characterizes mental health, not in terms of symptom reduction, but as a sense of well-being. Well-
being typically arises when we have a sense of connection with family and friends. It can also occur when we engage in a meaningful activity, such as going for a walk in nature, playing team sports, or volunteering. Sources of well-being are endless. Each one of us must learn, often by trial and error, which activities are meaningful to us and what increases our well-being.
Start Today
Put another way, what this research tells us is that we don’t have to wait until painful emotions and sensations in the body go away before the journey toward mental health can begin. By taking small, positive steps each day, we can experience a sense of well-being, even while experiencing mental illness.
How Foundry supports and fills gaps in substance use
BY DELYTH HARPER
In our community, there is an urgent need for substance use services and supports for youth.
Toxic illicit drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among British Columbians aged 10 to 19, and over 80 per cent of problematic substance use begins before age 20. Yet, fewer than 25 per cent of youth access the care they need. Fortunately, a Foundry centre is coming to our community. With Foundry qathet, we can move toward positive change.
Foundry qathet will offer young people aged 12 to 24, and their caregivers, a safe place to find the right help when they need it. Foundry provides free, confidential supports in mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual healthcare, youth and family peer support, and social services.
Across BC, the substance use system is a patchwork of disconnected resources that can be difficult for youth to navigate. Foundry’s goal is to link and coordinate these services, so no young person or caregiver falls through
the cracks.
Foundry provides a range of mental health and substance use services, ensuring youth and caregivers have options that best meet their needs. Each Foundry centre brings together an integrated team of service providers who communicate and collaborate to deliver a seamless experience for youth and families.
While young people can seek support for their substance use concerns via Foundry’s same-day services or as part of general health and wellness services, the goal is to have a full continuum of services available within each community, from health promotion and prevention to intensive intervention.
Below are the core substance use interventions that Foundry qathet will have available for youth and caregivers in our community to access.
Health promotion: Activities that support overall well-being, focusing on social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence and physical wellness.
Prevention: A range of in-
terventions aimed at reducing risks to health, such as wellness or social groups, walk-in counselling, education sessions or relapse support groups.
Screening: Routine substance use screening takes place during a youth’s initial visit, annual follow-up or as clinically indicated. Foundry also provides online selfassessments at foundrybc. ca to help youth and caregivers better understand their relationship with substances. These tools promote self-awareness, healthy coping strategies and early help-seeking.
Harm reduction: Lifesaving interventions that help young people engage in care, reduce risk and build trusting connections with service providers.
Relapse support and aftercare: Youth may be referred to Foundry qathet following treatment, hospitalization or another facility stay. Relapse prevention and follow-up supports may include peer support, walk-in counselling, referrals to social services and groups. Integrated stepped-care substance use services:
Foundry offers a range of flexible services. This stepped-care model provides both low- and highintensity options, ensuring that support evolves alongside a young person’s needs and goals.
At Foundry, a young person can feel confident that their needs can be met in their community, no matter what relationship they have with substance use. Their connection to Foundry means they will have someone to help facilitate and support them on their care journey.
Foundry Virtual BC is an option for youth needing or looking for support before Foundry qathet is open.
Delyth Harper is Foundry qathet’s project manager.
Theft, employee safety addressed
Shoplifting, threats, open drug use and vandalism a common occurrence for retail workers
TANYA HILL thill@prpeak.com
Retail store owners and managers were invited to a retail loss prevention and employee safety seminar at Town Centre Hotel last month.
The seminar was put on in partnership with Powell River Town Centre and Powell River RCMP; a first step in tackling in a more cohesive way the ongoing and prolific number of shoplifting incidences and employee safety concerns plaguing retail businesses in the city.
Shannon Taylor stepped into the role as general manager of Powell River Town Centre in late June, bringing more than 20 years of shopping centre management experience from various malls in Richmond and Delta.
"As I’ve become familiar with our 40 shops and services, their staff, our customers, and the community, it has become clear that Powell River faces heightened security concerns and incidents within our businesses," said Taylor addressing the audience at the seminar.
"The security reports that I receive are over five times what they were compared to just two years ago, and higher in number than all of my 20-plus years combined."
Taylor said these issues include, but are not limited to: shoplifting, vandalism, threats to staff, open drug use and interactions with intoxicated customers, drug paraphernalia found throughout mall properties, and individuals sleeping in doorways, back alleys and dumpsters.
"I've reviewed our security reports and in 2023 we had just over 300 incidents," said Taylor in a conversation with the Peak. "An incident is anything from shoplifting, open drug use and paraphernalia, or found to be intoxicated."
Taylor explained that in 2024 there were more than 1,500 incidents.
"I did bring this information to constable Blair Gobel's attention and he said he wanted to talk further because he wasn't seeing the same thing," said Taylor.
The discrepancy is most likely because the incidents are not being reported to the RCMP, indicated Taylor.
"I'm hoping, by partnering with other businesses and the RCMP, we can start changing that graph to go down again, but it takes people showing up, people working together; it's better than doing nothing."
Gobel, constable Paula Perry and staff sergeant Lee Dyson addressed the audience at the semi-
nar, outlining the RCMP's role and how retailers can respond to incidents at their businesses.
Gobel emphasized that retail workers/owners/managers should always call the RCMP at the nonemergency number, or call 911, to report an incident, even if the person shoplifting, for example, has left the store. However, he recommended avoiding physical engagement to prevent liability.
"If you perceive that someone is carrying a weapon, and you think that weapon might be for a dangerous purpose, please call us," said Gobel. "Police typically identify suspects through community knowledge and follow up with statements and evidence collection."
Gobel said that MP4 video evidence is crucial for prosecution, and staff training on video retrieval is needed.
"Arrests are followed by policeenforceable no-go conditions, which escalate with repeated offenses and help reduce repeat shoplifting incidents," said Gobel.
Dyson explained the triage system assigns priorities on threat level, with violent crimes receiving fastest response and property crimes lower priority.
"Currently, the detachment has about 20 active members, limiting available officers for immediate response," said Dyson. "Businesses must understand the delay and continue to report incidents even when police cannot arrive
Real estate sales stable
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
Real estate sales in October 2025 were marginally higher than local sale figures for October 2024.
Powell River Sunshine Coast Real Estate Board president Curtis Yungen said October 2025 was slower than September 2025, with 25 total sales in October and 42 total sales in September, but sales were similar to October 2024, with 26 total sales that month.
“We didn’t have any va-
cant lot sales in October, but there were four last month and five in October 2024,” said Yungen. “For singlefamily homes sold, both the average and median prices went down compared to the previous month, and to October of last year, but we are still up year-to-date compared to last year’s year-to-date.”
Yungen said for reference, in September 2025, there were six single-family homes that sold for more than $1 million, and five single-family homes that sold for less
immediately."
Gobel said that the more people report to the RCMP, the better outcomes will be for the community.
"I have one story of somebody shopping for clothes with a hatchet, and they're in a store," said Gobel. "Although people thought that was weird, nobody called the police after the person left."
But, he said, maybe that person is hearing voices in his head and is wanting to hurt somebody, so that is a definite 911 call.
Powell River RCMP, on average, documents well over 100 incidents reported per week in the region, including mischief, assault, theft, break and enter, drunk driving and mental health.
Owners and operators of the Snack Attack Shack Julia Huczel and Laurie Robertson attended the seminar and said they felt they took away some important tips,
such as calling the non-emergency line to report incidents.
"Now we know to call the police attachment line, " said Julia. "It can get pretty bad here, with the students running around and swearing and throwing stuff into the [Snack Attack] shack here."
They said mall security is also limited to what actions they can take, so shop owners are often feeling frustrated because they feel like they have no one to turn to for help.
"We didn't know what to do anymore; I'm frustrated and my sister's frustrated," said Julia. "Sometimes we see [what looks like] drug dealing, sometimes people walking around with knives, and we wonder if that is legal?"
Taylor said she hopes that by collaborating with the RCMP, the business community can start addressing these challenges and exploring potential solutions.
than $500,000, out of 32 single-family home sales. In October 2025, there were two single-family homes that sold for more than $1 million and eight single-family homes that sold for less than $500,000, out of 17 single-family home sales, added Yungen.
In the single-family homes category, in October 2025, there were 17 sales, totalling $10,529,700, compared to 16 sales, totalling $10,254,000 in October 2024.
Mobile and manufactured
home sales indicate one sale in October 2025, valued at $205,000, compared to two sales in October 2024, valued at $299,500.
There were five sales in the condos, apartments and duplexes category in October 2025, totalling $1,549,000, compared to three sales in October 2024, valued at $1,028,400.
Totals in the residential category show 23 sales in October 2025, valued at $13,283,700, compared to 21 sales in October 2024, valued at $11,581,900.
In the nonresidential category, there were no sales of vacant land in October 2025, but there were five sales in October 2024, totalling $1,191,000.
Grand totals for real estate sales show 25 in October 2025, valued at $13,283,714, compared to 26 sales, valued at $12,772,900 in October 2025.
Average selling price for a single-family home in October 2025 was $619,394, with an average of 73 days on the market, compared to $640,875 in October 2024,
with an average of 66 days on the market.
Median selling price for a single-family home in October 2025 was $510,000, compared to $620,000 in October 2024.
There were 50 new residential listings and 11 new nonresidential listings in October 2025, for a total of 61 new listings.
At the end of October 2025, there were 207 active residential listings and 91 active nonresidential listings, for a total of 298 active listings.
SAFETY CONCERNS: A retail loss prevention and employee safety forum was held by the Powell River RCMP and hosted by Powell River Town Centre on Wednesday, October 15. TANYA HILL PHOTO
COMMUNITY »
Patient wants injections in town
Ronnie Uhlmann must travel for procedure that could be performed here, but at significant cost
PAUL GALINSKI reporter@prpeak.com
A qathet region couple in their 80s has been forced to spend hours commuting for a sight-saving eye procedure because of health ministry policy.
Ronnie Uhlmann is afflicted with branch retinal vein occlusion, which, her husband Peter, a retired physician said, means the retinal vein in her eye is blocked and leaking.
“She needs medication injected into her eye to deal with that,” said Peter.
Ronnie said the condition was diagnosed about two years ago.
“I went for reading glasses and the optometrist noticed it and pointed it out,” said Ronnie. “She immediately got me into the ophthalmologist here. He tried to treat it with what he had available and it didn’t work. So, I began to have to go to Vancouver every four weeks.
“It can’t be cured, so this is like, forever. If I don’t do it, I’ll actually go blind in that eye, so there is a lot of incentive to keep going.”
Ronnie said she received a referral to a retinal specialist in Vancouver to receive injections of the drug that is helping her keep her sight. She said when the program for the injections was originally rolled out, there was one reti-
nal specialist in Vancouver and another in Victoria who could get the medication for patients, who would not have to pay for their injections.
“That was only supposed to be for three years; we’re well past that,” said Ronnie. “We found out from the retinal specialist in Vancouver, at the eye clinic, that it doesn’t have to be a retinal specialist who provides treatment. It could be an ophthalmologist.”
Ronnie was eventually referred to a retinal specialist in Nanaimo, which meant she and Peter did not have to travel as far. There is also a retinal specialist in Courtenay, which would be better, but Ronnie is not sure the doctor will accept her.
“I have to go there for a two-hour interview, at which time, she will ascertain whether she’s taking me or not,” said Ronnie.
There is the expertise locally to give her the monthly injections, but the province won’t pay for the medication if it is not done in an approved location. The cost of the medication is about $12,000 per year, which is beyond the means of the Uhlmanns, who are well into retirement.
“It doesn’t make sense at this point,” said Ronnie.
Driving to the appointments, both in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, is problematic, according to the couple. Because of the injections, Ronnie cannot share in the driving. In Vancouver, they would have to travel down the night before so they could make the appointment, then come back home after she had seen the doctor.
“It’s not a pleasant procedure,” said
Ronnie.
She would prefer to head home to Lund after an injection here in Powell River.
Peter said he is going to be 85 next month and Ronnie is 83, and driving to Vancouver or Nanaimo is less than optimal. Trying to get reservations on the ferries can be bothersome. Inclement weather conditions can make driving on Highway 101 or the Inland Island Highway hazardous, whereas driving from Lund to Westview is “not a big deal.”
“If Ronnie could get treatment locally, the drive is 25 minutes, the procedure would take an hour or whatever and then it is 25 minutes home,” said Peter. “If it ends up that we can go to Courtenay, at least we can do that in a day. However, the injection is not something that only a retina specialist can do.”
The Uhlmanns have been in touch with Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Randene Neill. Peter said the MLA’s office had been attentive to their plight. He added that he and Ronnie are hoping the province can make a decision that allows them to have the injections done locally.
“I think we can condense it down to simple logic,” said Peter. “Sending us out of town doesn’t save money. It provides much more aggravation, unnecessary aggravation. A general ophthalmologist is trained to give eye injections. He gave Ronnie the initial injection.”
Neill, in a text message to the Peak, stated that currently, there is no update.
SUDOKU
Anyone interested in assisting with the calf’s feeding routine is invited to contact Emily at emily@truenorthfarm.ca.
FERRY CUSTOMERS: Peter and Ronnie Uhlmann have spent a lot of time on BC Ferries, and on driving provincial highways, to get eye treatment out of town that the couple says could be done here in Powell River. PAUL GALINSKI PHOTO
CUTE CALF: Last month, a cow named Amber gave birth to a new calf during a stormy, windy and rainy night, in a field next to a blueberry patch at Blueberry Commons Farm Cooperative. His name is Clancy in honour of the Clancy family, who started the farm, according to farm manager Ron Berezan. The breed is Jersey Guernsey mix. Berezan said the little calf is doing well and voraciously fed from the first milk its mother provided.
SCENE AROUNDTOWN
Wellness journeys
Visitors to the Health and Wellness Fair held at Powell River Recreation Complex last weekend were able to explore the services of a variety of vendors, as well as watch live demonstrations and presentations by members of the health and wellness community. ANDREW BRADLEY PHOTOS
In loving memory of Gerald (“Gerry”) Mitchinson 1932–2025
Gerald Mitchinson — pilot, pastor, teacher, storyteller and beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather — passed away peacefully Sunday morning, November 2, with family at his side.
Born on February 12, 1932, in Hardisty, Alberta, Gerry grew up in Sutherland (now part of Saskatoon), Saskatchewan, where his father worked as a railroad fireman. Older brother Harold flew in the RAF during WWII, and later taught young Gerald to fly. At just 13, he soloed his first flight — at the time, the youngest in Canada to do so.
After high school, Gerry joined the RCAF, earned his pilot’s wings at RCAF Station Centralia, and served with the 406 Auxiliary Squadron in Saskatoon, flying everything from Tiger Moths to T-33 jets. He later turned his sights toward teaching and theology, earning a master’s degree in economics and political science, a diploma in education, and finally a call to ministry.
In 1957, he married his life partner, Doreen Greve, in Lanigan, Saskatchewan. Together they raised four children — Don, Karen, Marty and Paul. He spent many summers bush piloting in northern Saskatchewan as a young father, writing long and detailed letters to each of his young children.
Gerry’s calling as a Lutheran pastor led him across Canada, from St. Catharines, Ontario, where he oversaw construction of a church, to far northern Alberta with the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots (LAMP), serving communities surrounding High Level in the 1970s and 1980s. Later, he and Doreen ventured even further north to Yellowknife, where Gerald pastored the flock of Holy Family Lutheran Church, and Doreen continued her medical practice in farflung areas of the Northwest Territories.
In 1992, they retired to Victoria, where Gerry continued to serve part-time as a pastor in Port Alberni for a few years. They treasured their years in BC, spending time with Harold and his family, and welcoming a constant stream of family and wellwishers. But the focus of their social and spiritual life was the Lutheran Church of the Cross, where they formed many close friendships that lasted the rest of their lives. Both faced health challenges. As Doreen’s mobility declined, Gerry made daily visits through rain and snow to sit by her side after she moved into long-term care. In 2018, she was welcomed into heaven.
He delighted in his grandchildren — Jaclyn, Shane, Dylan, Megan, Clara and Thomas — and in recent years, found joy in becoming a great-grandfather to Rhett and Sloane.
In 2023, Gerry made one last big move — to Powell River — to live closer to Don, Marty and Coco. Cared for by all his children and their partners, he shared endless memories of aviation derring-do and (a particular favourite) church politics.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Doreen and his three siblings, Harold, George and Reenee. He is survived by his children Don (Maggie Mondey), Karen (George Greer), Martin (Coco Hess) and Paul (Michelle Wiart), and remembered with love and gratitude by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family and all those whose lives he touched with his warmth, wit and faith.
A funeral service will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Victoria on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 1 pm Pacific Time, and livestreamed at http://lutheranvictoria.ca/live. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Anglican Parish of St David and St Paul in Powell River.
Brent Charles Christopher Gooding
Februay 19, 1958October 3,2025
Brent, aka Julio, was born at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver and passed away peacefully, on the morning of October 3, at the hospital in Powell River.
Brent was predeceased by his brother Aaron, father Christopher and good friends Mike and Randy. He is survived and missed by his loving mother Lenora Arenson, partner Christine Dixon, many friends and his brothers the Stick Boys.
A celebration of life will be held at Lang Bay Hall, November 15, from 1 to 4 pm. All are welcome. Please come and share your memories.
Sandra Cacis
Sandra Inese Cacis was born August 31, 1956, in Toronto, Ontario. Her parents had emigrated from Latvia to Canada and Sandra remained fluent in English and Latvian throughout her life.
Sandra was diagnosed in 2002 with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS), a rare and severe form of MS where decline is tragically steady, and not punctuated by remissions. She moved to Powell River in 2013, seeking more affordable living, warmer and shorter winters and more temperate summers.
Despite regular exercising, first in the hospital hydrotherapy pool, then in her home, as administered by caregivers, and regular massage therapy treatments, the MS progress cruelly continued. Always proactive and optimistic, Sandra paid close attention to eating nutritionally and researching the latest advancements in treating MS.
A smart and fiercely independent human being, Sandra maintained her independence, living on her own in a new trailer custom built to accommodate her growing disabilities and wheelchair dependence, with the assistance of a team of amazing caregivers. Her home and garden were always beautiful and meticulously cared for.
Sandra had childhood friendships and developed new ones since moving to Powell River. She was a gentle person with old-fashioned gracious sensibilities, and possessed a dry sense of humour. She enjoyed art, music, flowers, chocolates and interior design. Running a B&B in Ontario was a high point in her life, as she had repeat international visitors she enjoyed hosting.
Sandra left behind one sister, Inta, who lives in Toronto, and a group of devoted friends and neighbours. Sandra serenely departed on October 26.
River Hospital Foundation is working to improve your health care. Donations are thankfully accepted.
604.485.3211 ext 4349
River Community First Aid Team Society ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
November 17, 2025 • 6 pm Powell River First Aid Training School above Rona store
third floor SUNDAYS, 8 to 9 pm Union Hall, 5814 Ash Ave
Thomas (Tom) Mark Gottselig
Thomas (Tom) Mark Gottselig passed away peacefully on Friday, October 31, 2025, in Powell River.
Tom, you were a total blast, the life of the party, making us all laugh while always letting us be exactly who we are. What a wild ride it was. You lit up our lives with your sensitivity, deep compassion, and you were someone we could always turn to without fear of judgment. We’ll miss your stories, your witty one-liners, and that deadpan humour that made us lose our breath from laughing. You were truly a one-of-akind, who taught us to keep our shoulders back and head up no matter what life threw our way.
You’re free now, Tom. Save us a spot wherever you are; we know you’ll be right in the middle of it all, lighting up the room.
Tom is survived by his daughters Nicole Gottselig and Kristine (Germano) Cornacchia, his granddaughter Vienna Cornacchia, his siblings Marie Sharpe, George Gottselig, Molly Arial and David Gottselig, his niece Michelle Arial and his great-nephews Morgan Hatt and Jordyn Hatt.
A celebration of life will be held in Powell River on August 22, 2026.
Margaret Joan Greenwood (née Stafford)
Survivor of the London Blitz, secretary to Vogue and BOAC in the post-war period. After marrying Frank, they lived together in Alexandria, Windsor and then Düsseldorf.
Drawn to adventure by Beautiful BC Magazine, together with three young boys they picked up sticks for a new life in Powell River. She determined at once that this was indeed home and set about establishing roots with no looking back or reservation.
An expert seamstress, she once made kilts for an entire pipe band. She was a wonderful homemaker, proud wife and loving mother of three naval officers. A keen gardener, traveller, camper, photographer, domestic economist and family archivist. A tireless and prolific letter-writer. Above all, an enduring example of an image of love, style, grace and strength. Lovingly remembered by sons Nigel (Deborah), Richard (Monika) and Kevin (Kim), and her expanding family of seven grandchildren (and spouses) and three great-grandchildren. Forever in our memories as she was in her best days.
Many thanks to staff at Birch Cottage of VIHA’s Priory for their loving care of Mum over the last couple years.
A celebration of life will take place at the HMCS Venture Gunroom, Victoria View Road, Victoria, from 1300 to 1500 on January 2, 2026.
Cheers to 80 Years, Scully!
Guess who’s turning 80 and still refusing to act his age?
Beloved husband, dad, uncle, friend, and certified great guy (just ask him). He’s mastered the art of a good story, a helpful hand, and a punchline that lands ... eventually.
Eight decades of laughs, lessons, and legendary moments, and he’s only getting better. Here’s to many more good times, tall tales, and reasons to raise a glass.
HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY, JIM!
Don’t worry, 80 is just 40 with twice the wisdom and way better snacks.
Happy 16th birthday, Liam pinch
You have grown to be such as remarkable young man. We are so proud of you, Love, Papa and Nana
All applications must be submitted online through the Employment Opportunities page at www.powellriver.ca
Join TPID Ex teriors, aleaderinexteriorenvelope work,and become avaluedpar tofour team
We areactivelyhiringexperienced carpenters,roofers, and labourersfor consistent year-round work.Our focusonroofing andsidingprojectsensures asteadyworkload. We arededicated to our employees’professionalgrowth, offeringcompetitive, merit-basedwages anda suppor tive environmentwhere youcan build your sk ills andadvance your career.Ifyou are amotivated andskilled professionalseek inga stable and rewardingopportunity,weinviteyou to apply. If interested,pleaseemail taras@tpiandd.com or call Taras 604.208.4025
AGTHA, AMELIE, MYSTIQUE, MOONPIE, MERLIN, DIZZY, MORTY, AND MORTICIA
Take one, take two, hard to choose
BOO
Black and white
sweetheart, calm, loving young, female cat
LUNA
Sweet, petite pretty, female feline
SAILOR
Pretty, young, female cat with super silky fur
SIREN
Super sweet senior lady, Formosan Mountain dog mix
HARVIE
Handsome, male feline, also the king of loafing
SASHIMI
Super sweet kitten, this boy is a super star
BECKIE
Young black and white cat, female feline royalty
JELLYBEAN AND JUNIOR MINT
Check out our super cute kittens, best deal in town
Green eyed, mature, pretty, friendly, black cat-welcomes visitors
LENORA
Gorgeous, lucky black feline, super senior seeking her matching super senior human
FRANK SINATRA, AND ELVIS
Celebrating Baby’s First Year
Classified advertising is accepted on a prepaid basis only. VISA and MasterCard welcome. Peak Publishing reserves the right to classify ads under appropriate headings, set rates therefore and determine page location. Full, complete and sole copyright in any advertising produced by Peak Publishing is vested in and belongs to Peak Publishing. No copyright material may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Peak Publishing. Any errors in advertisements must be brought to the attention of the publisher within 30 days of the first publication. It is agreed by any display or classified advertiser that the liability of the newspaper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement or in the event that errors occur in the publishing of any advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. Peak Publishing cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors in the first week should immediately be called to the attention of the advertising department to be corrected for the following edition. All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher.
Sweet n playful, cute overload, Corso/Mastiff mix puppies
Tell the world about the newest addition, while at the same time creating a permanent record and keepsake of baby’s first year.
For only $27 (including tax), we’ll publish the baby’s picture, name, birthday and parents’ name in our special “Celebrating Baby’s First Year” feature.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, AT 4 PM Powell River Peak, Unit-F 4493 Marine Avenue, or by email at admin@prpeak.com
OPEN HOUSE TOUR
HOSTED BY
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