— Published Date: June 17, 2013 (Issue 41-24) —
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| Gabriolan Burtt Fidler holds up a demonstration sign at a Mayne Island anti-tanker protest. ~ Photo by Victor Anthony |
Gabriolans join Mayne Island pipeline protest
Three Gabriolans answered an invitation to go to Mayne Island Wednesday to join Mayne Islanders in a demonstration against Kinder Morgan’s (KM) proposed pipeline.
Trust, public should pay for fish protection: planning commission
The Gabriola Advisory Planning Commission (APC) Tuesday recommended that the Islands Trust pay permitting and professional costs for landowners with properties subject to the riparian areas regulation (RAR) – perhaps by adding the costs to Gabriola’s property taxes.
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| Island Futures members Fay Weller and Bob McKechnie give GERTIE 2 a drink of veggie oil and diesel fuel. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
GERTIE gets formally launched
A formal launch of Gabriola’s new community bus system described as “brief but intense” by organiser Judith Roux was held at the Folklife Village parking lot June 8.
No final decision yet on meter refusals says Olynyk
“There have been no final decisions made for customers who continue to refuse a new meter after we’ve had the chance to talk to them,” BC Hydro (BCH) Community Relations Manager Ted Olynyk told the Flying Shingle by email Thursday.
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| Oceans Day organiser Deborah Ferens poses with the Oceans Day clown. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Oceans Day Gabriola getting bigger, better every year
“We started off small,” Oceans Day organiser Deborah Ferens said June 9, pausing briefly in distributing equipment and information to volunteers at Gabriola’s fifth annual Oceans Day celebration in Descanso Bay park to talk to the Flying Shingle, “and every year Oceans Day is getting bigger and better.”
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| Flattened BMW waits to be towed from accident scene. ~ Photo by Trevor MacKay |
Driver of rolled vehicle survives with few injuries
“Police are continuing to investigate (a) single vehicle accident on Berry Point Road”, from which “(m)iraculously, the driver survived with little injuries,” Corporal Trevor MacKay reported by email Thursday.
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| Left to right: Maireid Reid, Kenda Chang-Swanson, Kayte Higgins, Isabella Dominelli, Isabella Tang-Graham – all are Gabriola players who were members of NDSS’s bronze-medal team at the AA BC Schools Soccer Championship. ~ Photo by Davina Kazanowski |
Gabe girls rock at soccer
Gabriola high school students played a major role in the Nanaimo District Secondary School’s (NDSS) bronze medal victory in the Provincial final for AA Senior Girls.
— Published Date: June 10, 2013 (Issue 41-23) —
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| Dr. Jim Mackenzie (centre) is backed by a number of relieved patients who gathered at Mackenzie’s medical offices at the Gabriola Professional Centre after hearing a rumour that Mackenzie was being asked to retire. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Rumours of retirement highly exaggerated: Mackenzie
Dr. Jim Mackenzie, who practices out of the medical offices at the Gabriola Professional Centre on North Road, is not retiring now, nor is he planning to retire at any time in the near future.
Mudge water access meeting ‘productive’, says Houle
A Mudge Island Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) consultation with Mudge Islanders about water accesses was “productive” and went “very well” Regional Director Howard Houle told the The Shingle on May 28.
Beach fires could be expensive: Jackson
People who start beach fires should be aware that they may be required to cover the costs of extinguishing those fires, Fire Chief Rick Jackson noted at Tuesday’s Gabriola Fire Protection Improvement District (GFPID) board meeting at Fire Hall #1.
GMO-free zone on LTC farm plan recommendations list
An advocacy policy that Gabriola should be a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) free zone was among a number of recommendations made by the Agricultural Advisory Commission (AAC) that was accepted by trustees at their May 16 meeting at the WI Hall.
— Published Date: June 3, 2013 (Issue 41-22) —
Gabriolans discuss community-owned electricity
A meeting to discuss creating an on-island electric utility company – possibly operated as a co-operative – drew a range of Gabriolans to the Commons on Wednesday.
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| Denizens of the truffula forest celebrate the return of the truffula trees at a Thursday dress rehearsal at Gabriola Elementary School. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Gabriola Dance and Pilates performs “The Lorax”
Gabriola Dance and Pilates students performed “The Lorax” at the Haven Saturday and Sunday, with proceeds from the “by donation” entrance fee going to People for a Healthy Community.
GERTIE quietly leaves the depot
With no fanfare whatsoever, at their regular meeting at the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) offices in Nanaimo the RDN board gave final approval Tuesday to funding for a community bus system pilot project on Gabriola.
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| Food Banks BC Executive Director Laura Lansink (left) and PHC Executive Director Kathryn Molloy each thanked volunteers for the work they do. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Volunteers honoured at PHC tea
People for a Healthy Community (PHC) simply couldn’t do what they do without the help of the 150 volunteers involved in every aspect of the organisation.
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| Village Foods co-owner Gary McCollum gets a hug and a pat on the back from PHC Executive Director Kathryn Molloy for all the help the market gives the food depot. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Village Foods honoured by food bank staff
Most food banks across Canada have a plethora of grocery stores to which they can turn for support.
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| PHC Executive Director Kathryn Molloy wears the Diamond Jubilee medal she was awarded for her work at People for a Healthy Community ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Molloy re-awarded with medal
What do Kathryn Molloy,” executive director of People for a Healthy Community (PHC), “and Justin Bieber have in common?”
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| Caffyn Kelly: ‘GLOSSI has claimed space where queer folk can be themselves |
Non-profit aims to increase safety, freedom for queer folk
For 15 years GLOSSI (Gays and Lesbians of Salt Spring Island) has worked to increase the safety of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (GLBTQ) people on Salt Spring Island (SSI).
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| Erik Lees (left), Yette Lees Strasdine’s son, presents a cheque to Robbie Huston, who accepts it on behalf of the Commons. ~ Photo by Jinny Hayes |
Commons honours Lees Strasdine
Commons members met with family members of Yette Lees Strasdine May 25 to honour Lees Strasdine for a legacy donation of just under $22,000.
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| Left to right: Teacher Glen Murphy, Parents Advisory Council President Iyeshka Farmer, Principal Eileen Jubinville, and Lion President Graham Miller get ready to make the donation of new picnic tables official. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
GES gets new picnic tables
Gabriola Elementary School students and teachers held the last part of their Monday morning assembly in the school yard May 27, to show their appreciation for the donation of four picnic tables to the school.
— Published Date: May 27, 2013 (Issue 41-21) —
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| Arrayed from head to toe in hippy regalia, some of Gabriola’s former hippies show their colours. Left to right: Gerry Stephanson, Doug Long, Sharon Robert, Tom Cameron, Larry Robert, Lynn Stephanson, Tsiporah Grignon, Leita McIntaggart, Rick Cranston. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Museum’s ‘hippy exhibit’ a hit
Old hippies, young hippies, and hippies at heart were among the many Gabriolans who came to the May 19 grand opening of the Gabriola museum’s new exhibit: Free Spirits, Changing Times Gabriola Hippies in the 1970s.
Gabriolans hold ‘courageous conversation’
Gabriolans were given an opportunity to have a “courageous conversation” about colonial attitudes towards First Nations at a May 11 workshop at the Island Studies Conference at the Haven.
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| Help the kelp organiser Michael Mehta holds up a piece of bull kelp that has washed ashore. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Help the Kelp returns
There is some evidence of increased growth of bull kelp off the shores of Gabriola, but kelp helpers who attempted to reseed kelp beds in the fall of 2009 don’t know whether it was due to their efforts.
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| David Stewart, President of the British Columbia Choral Federation (left) holds up the plaque commemorating Gabriolan Gail Lund’s reward for her years of musical service. ~ Photo by Don Butt |
Lund honoured for years of musical service
Gabriola pianist and choirmaster Gail Lund was honoured with the Herbert Kent award May 18 for her “long-term” and “out-standing” commitment to choral music.
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| Sheila Malcolmson, Gabriola Island Trustee, cuts broom on Wednesday on Lochinvar Lane as part of the Garden Club initiative to Cut Broom in Bloom. ~ Photo by Burtt Fidler |
Garden club deals with the blooming broom
Garden Club members took to the streets, or at least the roadsides Wednesday to deal with broom that has been growing around the Village core.
District staff to review septic bylaw use
Regional Director Howard Houle has asked staff to look into whether a ‘pump and haul’ bylaw that gives landowners a break on sewage fees is being used inappropriately on Gabriola.
District moves on trail creation
The Regional District of Nanaimo has allotted $65,000 from the Community Works Fund to establish a trail from Tin Can Alley to the intersection of North and South Roads.
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| Crystal McMillan: ‘Eliminating attractants is the best way to protect yourself from neighbourhood bears’ |
Prevention best bear safety tool says McMillan
The best way to protect both bears and humans if they are living in close proximity is to eliminate the bears’ access to “attractants” – i.e.
Tabled climate change report to be tweaked
The scope of a consultant’s report that was meant to make recommendations on how to implement climate change policies made last term, into the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) is too broad and doesn’t address the issues the Local Trust Committee (LTC) were hoping it would cover, say trustees.
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| Constable Ed de Jong (left) and teacher Glen Murphy will shave their heads in support of cancer research if Gabriola Elementary School students raise enough cash. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
De Jong does de Rock with Cops for Cancer
Gabriola’s RCMP Constable Ed de Jong has been accepted as a rider in this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock – an annual police bicycle tour to raise funds for cancer.
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| Constable Ed de Jong (left) and teacher Glen Murphy will shave their heads in support of cancer research if Gabriola Elementary School students raise enough cash. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
De Jong does de Rock with Cops for Cancer
Gabriola’s RCMP Constable Ed de Jong has been accepted as a rider in this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock – an annual police bicycle tour to raise funds for cancer.
Huxley Park drop-in garners lots of input
Turn out at a Thursday “open park” drop-in at Huxley Park elicited a “huge pile of comments” on what Gabriolans would like to see in the park, Regional Director Howard Houle told The Shingle by phone Thursday evening.
Bus proposal gets nod from district
A Gabriola community bus system pilot project took its penultimate step towards hitting the road when the Regional District of Nanaimo board Committee of the Whole (COW) agreed to grant the project $30,000 in funding.
GMO-free zone petition presented to Trust
Farming advocate and Agricultural Advisory Commissioner (AAC) Eric Veale presented a petition Thursday calling for an advocacy statement from the Local Trust Committee (LTC) to make Gabriola a genetically modified organism (GMO) free zone.
Rudischer urges more speed in plan review
Trustee Gisele Rudischer expressed frustration Thursday, at the length of time it is taking to work through items on the Official Community Plan review at the Local Trust Committee (LTC) meeting at the WI Hall.
— Published Date: June 17, 2013 (Issue 41-24) —
Editorial
Another week another gripe
Every week brings with it another reason (or more) to be mad at the brainiac decision-makers at NDP Party Central for losing the election.
Iconoclast
Imperialism and Neocolonialism
It is near impossible to understand international warfare, the meddlesome interventionism and crippling economic sanctions imposed on the world by a dominant superpower … unless you use the word ‘imperialism.’
— Published Date: June 3, 2013 (Issue 41-22) —
Editorial
Good news
People often complain about the lack of good news in the world, but they’d find a great deal of consolation about that unfortunate reality after reading this edition of the Flying Shingle.
Bafflegab
n ongoing conversation between “Gabe” a seasoned islander and a political junkie, and “Youth” a young, hesitant newcomer to the weird, wacky and often disturbing world of Canadian politics. Gabe attempts to explain the current situation with the federal government and other political disorders.
— Published Date: May 27, 2013 (Issue 41-21) —
Editorial
The never-ending plan review
Trust islands in the middle of an Official Community Plan (OCP) review need a planner who is familiar with their specific island and with rural planning.
— Published Date: May 20, 2013 (Issue 41-20) —
Editorial
Four more years
It’s tempting to sum up Tuesday’s election by repeating former Socred MLA and radio host Rafe Mair’s comment that “nice guys finish last,” note that the Liberals did a better job of getting out their vote, and leave it at that.
Kids’ Corner
The Summer Adventure
I was driving along the winding road to Grandma’s, I thought about all the fun things we would do this summer, I always enjoyed our visits, especially since she lives close to the water.
Where are the grownups?
I’m sure members of any community organisation are convinced they take responsibility for their involvement in it.
— Published Date: June 17, 2013 (Issue 41-24) —
Dear Gabby
Why do people complain so much?
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| Left to right: Sebastian, Gavin, and Maren hold up this week’s recipe chosen by Chef Robert Stutzman in the Recipes for Robert’s contest. Missing from the photo are Natasha and Finlea. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Robert’s features the Decker de la Jumbo
“Who doesn’t like a pizza sandwich?”
Cancellation:
Shelagh Rogers’ June 23 presentation of Northwords scheduled to take place at the Haven is postponed until further notice.
Iconoclast
Imperialism and Neocolonialism
It is near impossible to understand international warfare, the meddlesome interventionism and crippling economic sanctions imposed on the world by a dominant superpower … unless you use the word ‘imperialism.’
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| Entrance Island. ~ Photo submitted by Ivan Bulic |
Museum News
Entrance Island
This is another in the Gabriola Historical and Museum Society’s Series on place names of Gabriola.
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| Left to right: Gabriola Elementary School students Kaelen and Ian created the Dream Sundae that will be whipped up this week by Chef Robert Stutzman (right) and others at Robert’s Place. ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Robert’s features the Dream Sundae
Gabriola Elementary School (GES) students Ian and Kaelen will have their “Dream Sundae” featured in this week’s best GES chef student recipe at Robert’s Place.
Dear Gabby
See, I gave my boyfriend a cheque to go and buy me some gold at the bank and he went and spent it on a motorcycle.
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| Baby River Otter. ~ Photo by Liz Ciocea |
GROWLS' Prowls
River Otters
The River Otter (lontra canadensis) is an aquatic member of the mustelid (weasel) family, and is often seen on the shorelines of Gabriola.
Bafflegab
n ongoing conversation between “Gabe” a seasoned islander and a political junkie, and “Youth” a young, hesitant newcomer to the weird, wacky and often disturbing world of Canadian politics. Gabe attempts to explain the current situation with the federal government and other political disorders.
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| Amy Herdis Schweitzer (nee Iverson) 1921 – 2013 |
Obituary: Schweitzer, Amy Herdis
It is with very sad hearts that we announce Amy’s passing on May 25 after a brief illness while residing at Malaspina Gardens Seniors Facility.
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| Maria Rudischer: Sept. 19, 1924 – May 23, 2013 |
Obituary: Rudischer, Maria
Maria Rudischer, age 88, passed away peacefully on May 23.
Dear Gabby
The summer people with the house next to me arrived last weekend.
— Published Date: May 20, 2013 (Issue 41-20) —
Kids’ Corner
The Summer Adventure
I was driving along the winding road to Grandma’s, I thought about all the fun things we would do this summer, I always enjoyed our visits, especially since she lives close to the water.
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| Caleb (left) is REALLY looking forward to tasting the Man’s Meal sandwich he concocted for the Recipes for Robert’s project! ~ Photo by Chris Bowers |
Recipes for Robert’s
Roberts puts ‘A Man’s Meal’ on the menu
Next up on the Gabriola Elementary School (GES) students’ Recipes for Robert’s menu is Caleb’s “Man’s Meal”: a toasted sourdough pulled-pork sandwich with applewood smoked cheddar, bacon and caramelised onions.
Where are the grownups?
I’m sure members of any community organisation are convinced they take responsibility for their involvement in it.
Rudischer Reports
May 2013
On March 23 I attended a Shoreline Mapping Project workshop where I, along with a good turnout of interested islanders, learned how important it is to protect our shorelines, and how these areas are being mapped and protected elsewhere.
Dear Gabby
There are several reasons why I have to write to you incognito.
— Published Date: June 17, 2013 (Issue 41-24) —
Defeating lymphoma
Dear Editor, I’d like to thank all of our friends and neighbours on Gabriola Island, for all their good wishes and prayers over the last year since my son Stephen Symington was first diagnosed with cancer.
Apology is the way forward
Dear Editor, Through the money-raising campaign for the urgent treatment room, many of us have noted, with indignation, the censorship of unwanted feedback exercised by clinic “supporters” – a “message control” which unfortunately the clinic’s organisers did nothing to eradicate, while at the same time draping themselves in benevolence.
Time to end the acrimony
Dear Editor, Further to your recent article in connection with the clinic, Dr. Jim Mackenzie, and related matters:
What do you count first?
Dear Editor, I was quite tickled to read that one of our trustees thought it would be “awkward’ for a bylaw officer to count chickens.
— Published Date: June 10, 2013 (Issue 41-23) —
Spill records not reassuring despite new technology
Dear Editor, Mr. Cavill’s June 3 letter argues that “Vancouver Harbour can handle additional tanker traffic providing the additional risk, if any, is identified by the shipping and harbour authorities and appropriate steps are taken”.
Dilbit not worth the risks
Dear Editor, Doug Cavill’s recent letter touting the safety of shipping diluted bitumen in tankers through Vancouver Harbour and our local waters simply ignores the facts and repeats the oil industry spin on tanker safety.
— Published Date: June 3, 2013 (Issue 41-22) —
New technology, safety routines reduce danger of dilbit spills
Dear Editor, Bob Bossin in his May 13 letter notes that a platform plank in the recent election campaign was “Oil tankers have been sailing out of Vancouver for 30 years without incident, so a major increase in tanker traffic is nothing to be concerned about”.
— Published Date: May 27, 2013 (Issue 41-21) —
Walking on both feet
Dear Editor, Re: What Will it Take?
Mike muses on moving on
Dear Editor, Sleepy Hollow I’d been working up in the interior for a little over a year for EBA, an engineering consultant, banking most of my paycheques, living in the woods in an abandoned homestead on $5 a day – a trick left over from student days, where you need to earn enough during the summer to pay for the whole school year.
— Published Date: May 20, 2013 (Issue 41-20) —
What will it take?
Dear Editor, Maybe this is what grief feels like.
GERTIE noir too sexy to paint!
Dear Editor, The two busses that have been diligently acquired for our island proto-transportation system were both recently on display at the Spring Fair.
