Something Good Magazine - South Delta April 2016

VOL 01 ISSUE 04

APRIL 2016

South Delta

A friend for OWL Birthday money's for the birds p2

inside Earthwise Gardens p 6

Bring your gum boots and umbrella to the second annual Rain Day event SOMETHINGGOODMAGAZINE.CA

Find a Career p 8

Something else p 15

Jump into an exciting new Ladner man working with job at the 2016 Delta Trades Delta to build beginner and Technical Career Fair in LadnerGood APRILskatepark 2016 | Something

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What is Something Good?

on the cover: When Olive was inviting friends to her eighth birthday party she did what few children her age would do.

Rather than ask for presents, she asked for money, but not to spend it on flights of fancy. Olive wanted to spend it on a place that helps birds take flight.

One of the first things I celebrated when moving to South Delta was the fact I would no longer be forced to sit in a car, crawling along the inside of the George Massey Tunnel, breathing in the exhaust of thousands of others just like me.

Then there were the sudden repair bills. The catalytic converters needed replacing. The synthetic oil changes. It seemed like any extra money I made the car sucked it away.

Living close to work was a huge improvement in the quality of my life, just as it was an improvement in the air quality of everybody else, by removing my one car from the road.

Not only is an electric car cheaper to run and operate and maintain, it doesn't contribute to particulate matter pollution or put greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere contributing to climate change.

Despite seldom leaving South Delta, I still needed to feed my car. I felt anxiety rise every time the price did at the corner gas station.

In this month in which we celebrate Earth Day, it's feels nice to know we're doing something to help. It's something small, but it's something good.

Which is why it made sense, when choosing a company car, to go fully electric.

She decided she wanted to donate half of her birthday money to South Delta's OWL (Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society).

"It's very heartwarming because these kids who are so interested in wildlife are the ones that are going to be looking after the birds after we're gone," says Mindy Dick, bird care staff at OWL.

Interested in birds? You can find information about everything OWL does by visiting their Facebook page or by visiting owlcanada.org.

—Adrian MacNair, Editor

inside

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Some good things to do

There’s always something interesting cropping up in South Delta. Check them out.

A playground for everybody

South Park Elementary retrofits its playground to make it accessible for people with disabilities.

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Something Social

Birdwatching with Delta Nats Casual Birders.

Driving compassion

Organization seeks drivers to take cancer patients to their appointments.

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april 2016

Sarah Kelloway Publisher/Designer

Adrian MacNair Editor/Photographer

For story ideas contact Adrian MacNair editor@somethinggoodmagazine.ca For advertising opportunities contact Sarah Kelloway publisher@somethinggoodmagazine.ca Published by Something Good Media.

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Some good things to do April 1 – April 30, 2016 Beginnings Come and see the collective works of the tabulaRASA artists in an exhibition called "beginnings"at the Gallery in the Tsawwassen Library. The exhibition is a photographic journey of works from silver to digital, B&W to colour and from local to afar. There will be about 30 prints showcasing photos from each of the group's nine members of TabulaRasa who are: Francois Cleroux, John Ostaf, Sharon Wright, Karoline Cullen, Kerri-Jo Stewart, Larry Leslie, Matt King, Richard Knotts and Francis Doresmaine.

saturday april 23 - 24 10am - 3pm owl open house Come and get a behind-the-scenes look at their medical facility and various rehabilitation enclosures. This is one of the few times a year the public has an opportunity to see most of the facilities. The gift area and garage sale are the perfect places to find a bargain and there will be a raffle with awesome prizes! There will also be refreshments for sale by Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Club and children’s activities in the pool cage. The highlight of the Open House will be the release of a rehabilitated bird on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.

One hundred percent of proceeds of the event are put towards food, medical supplies, cage upkeep and facility growth. This is a great opportunity to help O.W.L and their dedication to the well being of our Birds of Prey, and getting them back to the wild. Located at 3800 72nd St, Delta.

Saturday, April 23, 5pm – 11pm.

Reach for the Stars: The RED Gala Enjoy a Red Gala event with music and entertainment while helping Reach Foundation fundraise toward building a new child development centre in the heart of Ladner for children with special needs. Mingle at the reception with tasty appetizers and your complimentary welcome cocktail. Become inspired by the Benning family’s video story and the incredible journey of their son Bryce. Enjoy the gourmet plated 3-course dinner sponsored by Century Group. Find exciting prizes at the silent and live auctions and get a chance to win a bundle with the 50/50 draw.

Reach Foundation's goal this year is to raise $100,000 towards the final $1 million remaining of its $5 million goal. Registration is $125 visit reachforthestarsevent.org.

Thursday, May 5 - 8 Best of the West A spectacular gymnastics event at the beautiful Richmond Olympic Oval. Delta Gymnastics and Gymnastics BC will work together to host over 1,800 athletes and 5,000+ in house audience with live streaming across the western provinces and beyond for one of the biggest and best gymnastics events ever held in British Columbia! This unique event brings together three of the best gymnastics events under one roof: The Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships (Westerns), the 32nd Delta Invitational and Cash & Carry Cup, and BC Gymnaestrada. For more information visit deltagymnastics. com/best-of-the-west.

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Fields of learning W

alking through a grocery store or farmers market, it's evident agriculture is a big part of our local economy.

Local potatoes can be readily purchased. Delta peas, carrots and beans are stocked in the freezer aisle. Blueberries are plentiful in the summer; cranberries in the fall. Local dairy production, and to a large extent greenhouse vegetables, can be found on shelves year ‘round.

PHOTO: JASON LUSSIER, A UBC MASTERS STUDENT IN THE SOIL, WATER AND SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM, TAKES A SOIL SAMPLE AT A GRASSLAND SET-ASIDE IN DELTA

These goods are a tangible reminder of the local farmland that shapes the character and business climate of our community. However, there are some aspects of farming outside the public eye. Some may be surprised to learn that Delta farmers, in addition to producing local food, also are at the cutting edge of research in agricultural production.

For instance, farmers are currently collaborating with researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC), and a local non-profit organization, the Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust (DF&WT), to refine best management practices for soil conservation. A management tool used by Delta farmers for over two decades is DF&WT’s Grassland Setaside (GLSA) Stewardship Program.

Through this program, vegetable farmers sign up to sow a grass-legume seed mix into their fields and allow them to fallow for up to four years.

Fallowing a field gives the grasslegume mix an opportunity to help re-build soil structure and fertility. In addition to taking care of the health of the soil, these fields also provide highquality nesting and feeding habitat for numerous wildlife species. At the end

SUPPORT + VOLUNTEER + ATTEND

May 5 - 8th • RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL This unique event brings together 3 of

the best gymnastics events under one roof: The Western Canadian Gymnastics Championships (Westerns), the 32nd Delta Invitational and Cash & Carry Cup, and BC Gymnaestrada.

Delta Gymnastics and Gymnastics BC are working together to host over 1,800 athletes and 5,000+ in house audience+ live streaming audience across the western provinces and beyond for the best gymnastics event ever held in British Columbia!

For more information on how you can support, volunteer or attend contact:

604.943.0460 | DELTAGYMNASTICS.COM/BEST-OF-THE-WEST | #BOTW2016

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of the four year period, farmers return the field to vegetable production.

Despite the successful implementation of GLSAs for over 20 years, some questions remain for farmers. Specifically, farmers wanted to know how quickly soil benefits build within a set-aside, how long soil benefits remain after a GLSA returns to production, and what effect GLSAs have on subsequent crop yields.

To address these knowledge gaps, Delta farmers agreed to allow DF&WT and two Masters students within the UBC Soil, Water and Sustainability program to study their GLSAs in Delta for the next five years.

The study will evaluate soil productivity under GLSA management by monitoring over 25 local fields.

One of the students grew up in Tsawwassen and feels a strong connection to the project. “Studies have shown that seeding fields in GLSA can eliminate soil degradation,” remarks

Jason Lussier. “However, uncertainties persist surrounding the full extent of GLSA benefits to soils. We hope that our research will bring clarity to these uncertainties and provide farmers in Delta with some useful information on how to best utilize the program.”

to their business. It’s a commitment to land stewardship for future generations. ” Written by CHRISTINE TERPSMA

This project was funded in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture through programs delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of B.C.

Khalil Walji, another Masters student working on this project, agrees. “We are hoping to show that incorporating a GLSA into a farmer’s rotation can be beneficial for both soil health and crop yields,” explains Khalil.

The ultimate goal of the project is to provide farmers with the information they need to maximize long-term soil benefits. “When people pick up their produce, they often aren’t aware of what farmers are doing behind the scenes to ensure the health and productivity of local farmland,” remarks DF&WT Program Coordinator, Christine Terpsma. “The commitment of Delta farmers to facilitate research goes beyond benefits

PHOTO: (FROM LEFT) JASON LUSSIER, CHRISTINE TERPSMA AND KHALIL WALJI

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Earthwise Gardens Story by ADRIAN MACNAIR

“Though April showers may come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May.” As it was in the 1921 song April Showers by Al Jolson, so it is today. Rain brings life.

ing the water that falls in winter instead of using culverts and ditches and flushing it into storm sewers.

That's because on Saturday, April 23, Earthwise will be holding its second annual Rain Day event, a family and community oriented celebration of rain and its connection to the Earth.

If you don't have a garden plot, fear not.

Earthwise will be planting another rain garden in the summer to provide a hands-on learning experience for participants.

While it's true many people can't wait for the sun-soaked rays of summer, the folks down at Earthwise Gardens in Boundary Bay are hoping for rain when Earth Day weekend rolls around this April.

“Last year we had this incredibly dry summer and it really got people thinking about the sustainability of water supplies,” says Patricia Fleming, executive director of Earthwise. “Many people weren't able to water their gardens. They hadn't really planned ahead for that.”

The irony is that the rest of the year, people living in the Lower Mainland can feel as though they live under a veritable deluge of rain. Rain Day aims to “connect the dots” for people so that communities can make choices that help protect and sustain the water supply over the long term.

“Certainly with climate change that's going to be an issue more and more in people's minds,” says Patricia, who will be one of those hoping for rain.

Rain Day will feature a “gumboot parade” where people can tour the site in their rain gear, carrying flashy and colourful umbrellas, splashing in every puddle they can find.

Regardless of rain or shine, other activities will include looking for earthworms, exploring the pond for organisms under a magnifying glass, and taking part in art activities that are nature themed.

Later in the summer, Patricia says they'll hold workshops on how people can learn to conserve water on their own property with rain gardens.

These special gardens act as ecosystems by retain-

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“That's something really important that people can do for the long-term sustainability of our water supply because that recharges and purifies the water, it reduces pollution and ultimately it's really important for salmon and organisms that live in the water and are dependent on it,” says Patricia.

Patricia says the site also aims to educate on the importance of farming in wildlife conservation and protection. With our busy lives we sometimes get removed from our connection to the Earth, so Earthwise is a place people can come and reexperience that connection, either by wandering through the garden and seeing the flowers and listening to the birds, or by getting down and dirty in the soil itself.

“Suddenly you realize that there's a connection, that the farm thrives because there's so much biodiversity around that it's not separate, the farm is part of nature, too.”

Due to the mild winter, Earthwise's beloved Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes are starting in mid-April this year, offering 8 weeks of locally grown organic produce for just $125.

Normally their CSA program starts in June with a 20-week subscription for $500 to receive weekly CSA boxes, with the option to donate that food to families in need.

“That really helps us because that money helps support the programs we deliver,” says Patricia.

“And there's a benefit for people, too, because they're eating really delicious organic produce.”

For more information about Earthwise Gardens visit earthwisesociety.bc.ca.

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A playground for everybody For most children at South Park Elementary in Tsawwassen, the playground's jungle gym is a place to jump and swing around and relieve that pent up energy. But for Grade 5 student Nicola Schmidt, who makes use of a wheelchair, she could only sit and watch other children play.

“My wheelchair would get stuck in the woodchips surrounding the playground and there weren’t the proper grips to allow me to pull myself up onto the play structures,” she explains.

in several locations enabling Nicola to pull herself from her wheelchair and up onto the playground equipment.

“What they did was they incorporated her into that process, which is really unique,” says Kim. “They didn't just plan something for her that wasn't going to work or there's a chance it couldn't work. They actually said, 'what do you need?'”

According to the school district, the additional parts for the playground were paid for by the special programs department and the installation costs were provided in-kind by the maintenance department.

Her mom, Kim Klewchuk, says Nicola loves recess time and the chance to play games and explore the school grounds with her friends, but the playground was one area she couldn't go.

“This is her community so I don't think kids recognize, sometimes, that she's in a wheelchair and she can't go along wherever they go,” says Kim. “And they don't do it deliberately but they run off and play and they forget.”

So, Nicola decided to talk to her school principal, Elaine Greenhalgh, about her concerns regarding the playground.

The principal spoke with John Vantol, the school district's manager of maintenance services, and he came out to the school to personally meet with Nicola to see what possible solutions there might be.

The plan included creating a paved pathway for her to access the playground, a bar at the slide and adding handles WINDOW COVERINGS AND

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The end result is a playground that Nicola can play on with her friends.

“It was funny because the day it was done it wasn't our time to play on the playground. So I was kind of sad because I couldn't play,” says Nicola, laughing. “But then the next day I got to play and it was really fun. It felt really good.”

Kim says it's a huge first step toward making the rest of the playground accessible, not just for her child but for all the children with similar challenges who come after her.

“This is a playground for the community, not just for the school, so other people come here to play and now we have one more accessible playground in Tsawwassen and it makes it a much more livable community.”

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de lta t r a des a nd techn i c a l c a r ee r fa i r 2 0 1 6

Fast track your dreams. Find a career.

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omebody is out there earning lots of money doing what they love. the delta trades & technical career fair returns to sungod recreation centre on april 28 to help you be that somebody.

Let’s not kid ourselves. The world turns because the baristas, servers, gas station attendants, sandwich artists, and retail salespeople allow it to. These people are salt-ofthe-Earth, doing thankless jobs that permit the start-up CEO to pound back an artisan coffee while they code on their laptop or the construction worker to fill up their truck on route to their work site.

Chances are you are or know one of these people.

Collectively, our society thanks you.

However, as of right now, the next opportunity of your life is knocking at your door and it’s time to answer. Yes, tips are great, and sure, some jobs are low-stress, and who doesn’t love that? But at the end of the day, you need to be honest with yourself and ask “is this the work I want to do for the rest of my life?”

Perhaps it is. In which case, continue forward; you are needed and important.

But imagine this for a moment: instead of getting paid in spite of who you are, get paid because of who you are.

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Start cultivating a career you love. Wake up every morning and say “I can’t believe I get to work here”. Frankly, there’s a career that can match virtually any of your passions. And it can be found at the Delta Trades and Technical Career Fair.

On April 28, the Delta Career Fair returns to Sungod Recreation Centre. From 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., dozens of exhibitors take over the arena, gymnasium, and some of the parking lot to let you know there is life beyond your current job. Industry professionals will tell you how to make your hobby into something bigger than you ever expected. How you can go from being an Instagram foodie to serving up culinary masterpieces. How to go from carpentry classes in high school, to building dream houses for people. They can take you from rolling your eyes at the latest superhero film, to pushing you to start making your own summer blockbusters. Somebody is doing it, why isn’t that somebody you?

The hardest part about our dreams is figuring out what they are. Sometimes that’s enough to stall us. The #DeltaCareerFair is here to help.

Something Good Magazine has highlighted three organizations in Delta who are looking for the right people. Read on and see if they'd be right for you!

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a career in demand

W

hen high school field trips meander through Ocean Trailer's huge facility in Tilbury Industrial Park most students mainly look and nod quietly.

But a select few see a golden career opportunity.

“It's not too often that you get students that come through that interject themselves and ask questions and have some real interest in what's happening the shop,” says Ocean Trailer's president Sid Keay, who has 35 years experience in the tractor trailer industry. “So when you get that you know you've got somebody who'll probably go far in the trade.”

That somebody might be 18-year-old Jake Howatt, of Delta, who visited Ocean Trailer in the Spring of 2014 and began apprenticing as a trailer technician shortly after.

“I wanted to get into something like this,” says Jake. “I always used to help my dad out working on cars and trucks so I wanted to get into transportation or automotive.”

Despite his age, this young man is on the fast track to success. With just 4,500 hours required to write the exam, he could become a red seal certified trailer technician by the age of 20 or 21, making upwards of $35 an hour.

Similar to a heavy duty technician, trailer technicians learn a variety of skills such as fabricating, repairs and welding, among other lifelong skills.

everything about the doors now so I can't really teach him more about that.”

So, what does it take to succeed in this job? Sam says it's for people who love to get hands on and don't mind getting a bit dirty.

“Somebody who doesn't want to sit somewhere and push buttons. Because this work is quite physical.”

Sid agrees, adding he's a believer that if you start young and put in the hours your skills will always be in demand by employers.

“It takes motivation and drive, something we see in Jake.

We want someone who has interest and really wants to be here and make a career for themselves."

“This skill is huge. If you listen on the news everybody is talking about trades and construction. We're experiencing a total lack of ticketed people in this field as well. There's just not enough people.”

With the “graying” population in Canada and many longterm Ocean Trailer employees with 20 plus years experience soon retiring, the industry needs some young blood.

“It's been difficult,” admits Jake, with an enthusiastic smile.

“But you learn something every day. My parents were happy for me. I wanted to get in early, get my foot in the door as soon as possible.”

“That's why we're focusing on telling young people this is a viable trade and you can be working and make good money in a short period of time,” says Jackie Grant, Human Resources. “And a lot of people aren't aware you can be a trailer technician.”

“He's got a lot of guys to choose from,” says Sam. “As long as he doesn't mind getting tossed around because now he's learning how to do body work. He's pretty much learned

Ocean Trailer is one of several companies offering exciting career opportunities at the Delta Trades and Technical Career Fair on April 28.

Jake has some great examples to look up to. His journeyman, Les “Sam” Mattison, has 25 years experience with Ocean Trailer, and is one of 80 trailer technicians who is teaching Jake the ropes.

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Trailer Technician:

OCEAN TRAILER

LES "SAM" MATTISON (RIGHT) HAS BEEN A CERTIFIED TRAILER TECHNICIAN WITH OCEAN TRAILER FOR 25 YEARS. HE'S ONE OF SEVERAL VETERANS HELPING JAKE HOWATT THROUGH HIS APPRENTICESHIP.

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D E LTA P O L I C E

Police Constable:

D E LTA T R A D E S A N D T E C H N I C A L C A R E E R FA I R 2 0 1 6

Pride in community THIS JOB IS REALLY GEARED FOR SOMEBODY WHO WANTS SOME ADVENTURE, WHO WANTS TO HAVE A WHOLE VARIETY OF CAREERS IN THEIR LIFETIME.”

S

ometimes picking a job you're going to do for the rest of your life can be difficult. The fear of becoming a mundane and routine worker bee isn't exactly enticing. In fact, experts recommend you change your job every three to five years to keep your brain sharp and your spirits up.

“If you were to narrow it down to a word: conscientiousness,” says Simone.

“This job is really geared for somebody who wants some adventure, who wants to have a whole variety of careers in their lifetime,” says Kim Campbell, recruiting manager for DPD. “They don't want to sit at a desk and punch a clock.”

“Not every day is the same and you need to be able to react and respond to things that are thrown your way,” says Sernoski. “We talk about emotional intelligence. You need to be able to communicate to people who are in crisis and deal with them at their lowest.”

Fortunately, in the Delta Police Department (DPD) you can change your job every few years but stay with the organization.

Typically, a new constable will start as a patrol officer for a few years, and then apply to different special sections within the DPD. There's a drug section, street crime unit, major crimes section, sexual offence section, mental health and domestic violence unit, youth unit, school liaison officer, etc. The variety of jobs is as diverse as the people who apply.

“So if you can imagine that you're looking at a career and every couple of years you get a brand new job, so that in itself is really exciting,” says Campbell.

It's important to note that one doesn't simply sign up and start policing right away. The DPD has a very successful Reserve Constable Program, hiring 58 percent of candidates who sign up. The intensive volunteer course is composed of classes and ridealongs with “use of force” training that gives applicants a chance to see if police work is for them.

And vice versa. Cst. Danny Simone, recruiting officer, says the DPD is looking for candidates who can play with a team but also take on responsibility independently.

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That means people who have a personality trait of being thorough, careful, vigilant and possess a desire to work in an efficient and organized manner.

Do you like talking to and meeting new people? People skills are huge for a police officer, according to Cst. Sandy Sernoski, the lead recruiting officer who runs the Reserve Constable Program.

And while officers might not realize it at the time, their kindness makes a big difference in the community by helping make people feel safe, protected and valued.

That's perhaps one of the best traits to have, says Campbell. The DPD want people who are committed not just to the job, but to making things better in the communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta, each with different neighbourhoods and different needs.

But Campbell stresses “you don't need to be perfect to become a cop.” Being able to overcome adversity and demonstrate resiliency is a treasured asset in this line of work.

And then of course there's just the “cool factor” of police work.

“It never ceases to make me feel pride when I'm driving and I catch sight of myself in store windows in a police car in uniform,” says Sgt. Sarah Swallow, a graduate of the Reserve Constable Program 10 years ago. “Silly as it sounds it never grows old for me, that feeling of belonging in something, a feeling of helping. It's exciting!”

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“Our students can see the trend in the industry and they want to get out there as quickly as possible,” says Pat.

Commercial Pilot: A career in the skies “There are people who will wake up in the morning and they don't think it's a good day unless they're flying,” says Pat Kennedy, COO of Pacific Flying Club (PFC) at Boundary Bay Airport in Delta. “They're passionate and those are typically the people that are going to do pretty well in the industry.”

If you're looking for a career, it's a great time to spread your wings and fly. Demand for commercial airline pilots is soaring because of the retiring “Boomer Generation” pilots even as airlines are increasing their fleet sizes.

James is working on his instructor certification so he can teach other students how to fly while earning hours of experience toward working with a larger airline. He says the future is bright for pilots with many opportunities all over the country and abroad.

“During the program, me and my partner took a Cessna down to San Diego, for example,” he recalls. “So just the freedom to go wherever you like is really incredible.”

Pat says the industry is also welcoming to women, with four female instructors on staff at PFC.

Not sure if flying is for you? PFC offers a “test drive” for a 35 minute flight at a cost of $65.

Visit pacificflying.com or call 604-946-0011 for more information or visit their information booth at the Delta Trades and Technical Career Fair.

Jumpstart your Flying Career

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ew human desires are more universal than the dream to spread your wings and soar through the sky like a bird. For some, that dream has become a reality by becoming a commercial pilot.

The course is challenging, with classes from Monday to Friday and flights on the weekend, but ultimately rewarding according to James Hackney, a 22-year-old graduate from PFC and BCIT who works at Air North.

PA C I F I C F LY I N G C L U B

Canada also has a great reputation for training pilots for international airlines, which means as a pilot you can get out and see the world. Literally.

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#Yoga Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual discipline with origins in Hinduism and Buddhism, but despite its ancient traditions many practitioners are using modern technology to connect.

Which is entirely appropriate, as explained by Shanti Yoga's founder and teacher Chantal O'Sullivan.

“The word yoga means connection, so for me social media is a nice way of connecting with people near and far,” says Chantal, who posts photos on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook of her students and teachers doing yoga.

At first, Chantal used social media as a simple means of sharing events and classes. But she soon observed that the most popular posts were photos of yoga poses, which generated interest in her business, the community and yoga itself.

“I use social media to make people

feel good about themselves,” says Chantal. “And it's continued to be about that. So I use Facebook to highlight students, to highlight our teachers.”

spot in Tsawwassen.”

Recently, she's taken to photographing her subjects outside, highlighting not just her love of yoga but the landscape of South Delta.

“I love where we live. Tsawwassen is so beautiful so it became obvious that people like pictures of teachers or students doing yoga poses in a beautiful

Chantal also noticed that she will receive comments from people who love yoga and follow the social media account but live in other parts of the world.

“That's what's so great about social media. It can be inspiring but it's also a conversation.”

You can find Shanti Yoga on Facebook and Instagram (shantibc), or Twitter (@shantiyogabc).

IN OUR COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION TO “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead

“enhance and promote the unique assets of the community by implementing and executing programs that encourage consumers to shop locally: and local businesses to take pride in their business.”

2017 FOCUS 

• COMMUNICATION Continue to drive Visit sunnytsawwassen.ca for more information on our local businesses.

VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATE GET INVOLVED!

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awareness and traffic to our businesses • COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENTS Street beautification, seasonal lights • PROMOTIONS Street teams; summer students and DCLS workers

...and much more!

info@sunnytsawwassen

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Something Social T

he first thing I realize as I reach the windswept shores of Centennial Beach on Boundary Bay is that I've made the classic mistake of not dressing for the weather.

A relentlessly cold wind whips across my face and hands as I snap photographs of birds, to the point where Angelika Hedley takes pity and gives me her leopard-patterned gloves to wear.

Angelika is one of 29 other people silly enough to be on a beach in March, a group which calls itself the Delta Nats Casual Birding, dedicated to seeking out and identifying migratory birds.

Their president Tom Bearss, who tends to make deadpan jokes which make everybody laugh despite their suffering, has been doing this, or something very nearly like it, since 1989 back in Ottawa.

Today is called “Birds on The Bay”, a quarterly outing consisting of 2.5 hours of “ambling” along Boundary Bay to look at the mallards and sparrows and blackbirds and dozens of other species.

Although one can bird watch anywhere, few places are better for a birdwatcher than Delta. The Fraser River Delta is recognized as a Ramsar Site and by the United Nations as a “Wetland of

International Importance.”

Indeed, much of the fun comes when a rare bird is seen, or heard, and the group begins buzzing about the feathery delight. Even the eagles, which are a common sight for any local, get folks smiling and snapping photos.

The short answer: There's an insane number of birds around here.

Tom says 80,000 Dunlin winter in Boundary Bay eating the “snot” (as he puts it), or algae that grows on the rocks here. Then there are the famous Wrangel Island snow geese that arrive in the hundreds of thousands on their Arctic migration. And if you're really lucky, you can even see some Snowy owls.

The best part of this group is that it seems to attract people from all walks of life, both sexes and a diversity of age groups. Birds just have that universal appeal. Local bird author Anne Murray has even brought her little granddaughter, Emma, to have a gander at the geese.

The Big Year film (2011) with Owen Wilson, Jack Black and Steve Martin was even shot here in Delta for that very reason. If you're going to have a “Big Year” in birding (which means spotting the most species you can in one calendar year) you'd do well to come here.

When it's all over, the hungry birders return to Cammidge House for snacks.

“It is a social outing for sure. And then sometimes on our regular outings, every Tuesday, we often go for lunch afterward and chat some more, solve the problems of the world.”

But for Tom and most of the birders here, the outings are just as the name implies. Casual.

For more info about the Delta Nats Casual Birders visit dncb.wordpress. com.

“We can talk, we can get chatting, but we learn a lot, we see a lot, and we enjoy it a lot,” he says.

ADDRESS CHANGE Please note the new office address of your Delta MP, Carla Qualtrough, effective May 1 st.

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#104 - 7511 120th Street Delta, BC V4C 0C1 Tel (778) 591-0549

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Driving compassion Back in 1999 when Sylvia Bishop was still working as a schoolteacher in Delta, her father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer which required treatments at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) and Surrey Memorial.

Because her mother had stopped driving and Sylvia was working, she relied on the Canadian Cancer Society's volunteer driver program, which was a godsend. In South Delta there was a local farmer who would pick up her father and take him to his cancer treatments.

“I think that as a working person, as much as you want to be there for your family member or friend to drive them, you can't always,” says Sylvia. “Because work is not always going to let you take all the time off.”

Cancer treatments happen on the hospital's schedule, not at the convenience of family and friends.

Which is why when in October of 2015 the Canadian Cancer Society discontinued the service, several current and former volunteers of the program hurried to fill in the gaps.

George Garrett, vice-president of the Volunteer Cancer Drivers Society (VCDS), says there are many cancer patients who have been left stranded by

daughter couldn't drive her that day so she took a taxi. Cost her $100. And that was only one way.”

The VCDS launched service in in the South Fraser region, TriCities and Abbotsford on Feb. 29 and have been busy ever since.

Like so many who volunteer, George was personally touched by cancer in 2001 when his daughter Linda was diagnosed with melanoma.

She received interferon treatments for a year and George says he saw how hard it was on her body before she went into remission.

Years later, George began volunteer driving for the Canadian Cancer Society, developing some deep connections with cancer patients.

One patient he can't forget is 8-yearold Samantha, whom he drove to the cancer clinic in Vancouver while his wife Joan read books to her in the backseat. He let her push the remote button to open the van door and pick the radio stations.

One day she gave him a homemade card with a drawing of flowers and a balloon on it. It read, “To George. My favourite cancer driver. Thank you for being so nice.”

south of the river.

“You can't afford the taxi, transit is inadequate and not only that but you can be very sick after cancer treatment,”says Sylvia, who is now a municipal councillor in Delta. “I wouldn't trust anybody to get on a bus after their treatment and make their way back home.”

In early March, Delta council voted in unanimous support of a $5,000 grant to support VCDS and has since urged other South Fraser municipalities to match those funds. Surrey has since followed suit.

The VCDS is looking for drivers with a clean abstract updated every six months and who carry $3 million of personal liability insurance. Drivers are expected to pick up patients, wait for their treatment regardless of length, and return them home. They are compensated 41 cents per kilometre travelled.

I think that as a working person, as much as you want to be there for your family member or friend to drive them, you can't always." the cuts.

“There's a lady who lives in Cloverdale named Myra Ford and she told a story of having gone from Cloverdale to the cancer clinic at Vancouver General Hospital,” recalls George. “Her

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“Unfortunately she died a short time after that but I still have the card.”

Although a free volunteer drivers program exists north of the Fraser River provided by the Freemasons, the VCDS is trying to help people living

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If you'd like to support VCDS (who have applied for charitable status) you can donate at any CIBC branch (Transit #00720, Account #3048810). Call 604-515-5400 or volunteercancerdrivers.ca.

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Something Else..

Approaching the rim that looks down into Ladner Skatepark's steep bowl isn't overly intimidating.

But then again, I'm standing in shoes and not on rolling wheels.

My perspective would likely change if somebody handed me a skateboard and told me to jump in.

It's a view shared by 22-year-old Ladner resident Hayden Stebeck, who works at the nearby Delta Gymnastics.

“Unless you're by yourself and you could walk into the bowl and skate around in the flat part on the bottom, if you're brand new to skateboarding you're going to hurt yourself, guaranteed,” he says.

Although bumps and bruises are part of learning to skate, the Ladner skatepark is not the safest place to learn.

In terms of bowls it might not be too challenging, but in terms of difficulty Hayden says it's somewhat like a beginner skier starting on a mountain with only black diamond routes and no bunny hills.

Hayden started learning to skate two years ago in Tsawwassen's “street style” skatepark where skaters can perform flat ground tricks and what Hayden calls “manualing.” It's relatively forgiving to newcomers due to the terrain.

Unfortunately, it's not convenient for many Ladner teens or young adults to make their way south.

“Let's say I'm a 13-year-old in Ladner and I just got off school and it's nice out

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one day in the winter. I want to go to the skatepark but I have only between about 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to get to Tsawwassen and skate before it's too dark and too cold.”

Not that Ladner's bowl doesn't receive traffic. On a sunny day Ladner's skate bowl can have a few skaters, a BMX biker and some kids on scooters.

If you're brand new to skateboarding you're going to hurt yourself, guaranteed.”

Suddenly you're waiting at least five minutes for your turn, explains Hayden.

The bowl is actually the style which made the activity popular in extreme sports with Tony Hawk and the Bones Brigade in Santa Monica, California.

It's anything but practical, however.

“It's very difficult to have a good group of people skateboarding in one small bowl,” says Hayden.

He says he's concerned some kids will try the Ladner bowl, get hurt, and never want to try skateboarding again because they're discouraged.

To change all that, Hayden presented his vision of building a more accessible

Ladner skatepark to Delta's Parks, Recreation & Culture Commission, who were receptive to his idea.

“Hayden did an excellent job of providing perspective that the site is used by those on skateboards, but also those on bicycles, for example,” says Ken Kentz, Delta's director of Parks, Recreation & Culture. “Our role as Delta staff has been primarily to coach Hayden on the steps he needs to undertake in order to progress the concept to another, more detailed proposal to Commission.”

Those steps include consideration of underground utilities on the current site, strategies and sources of funding under a community cost-sharing model (Delta would match 50% of the project funding), detailed design considerations, and the support of neighbouring community organizations like Delta Gymnastics and Delta Hospice Society.

“Hayden has been doing a great job of thinking through the project and progressing it when he has the time and opportunity, and our staff here are really pleased to be working with him,” says Ken. “He seems to be a great role model for others in the community.”

To learn more visit ladnerskatepark. com.

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Inspiring and creating wellbeing and good health in South Delta. #7 1363 56th Street, Delta | 778.434.3072 | thevillageclinic.com SOMETHINGGOODMAGAZINE.CA

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