Local Weekly February 11, 2021

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Volume 19, Issue 06

Sunshine Coast, British Columbia • www.thelocalweekly.ca • Thursday, February 11, 2021 Throwback Thursday Page 13

SCRD Budget Page 5

Stop Bullying

Bucket List

Page 8

Sechelt Ops Centre Page 11

Body Recovered Page 11

COVID-19 Info Page 12

Mayor Talks Art Page 13

Pet Calendar Contest Page 14

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 3

New fire truck arrives in Sechelt

Municipal February 2021 Regular Council Meetings

CHIEF TREVOR PIKE PHOTO

Sechelt is home to the province’s first 100 foot 2020 Pierce ‘Ascendant’ mid-mount aerial ladder fire truck. The tandem axle vehicle, weighing in at 43,605 kilograms, arrived at the Sechelt Fire Hall Feb. 5.

Commercial Emergency Equipment supplied the truck at the cost of $1.5 million. That price reflects over $225,000 in discounts obtained by the Sechelt Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD). They received a price break by allowing the supplier to tour the truck around the Lower Mainland and other areas as a sales tool before delivery. The department’s order was also timed to avoid upcoming supplier price increases related to annual manufacturing cost adjustments.

Funding for this truck will come from the department’s capital reserves. That reserve will see money returned when the department sells and says goodbye to its existing 75 foot ‘Quint’ ladder truck.

Department Chief Trevor Pike said that this vehicle has

key public and firefighter safety advantages over the existing trucks in their fleet. “This truck is state of the art for firefighting apparatus,” said Pike. “It gives us 100 feet of total vertical reach and 95 feet of horizontal reach, both very important when fighting fires in larger structures. One of the biggest advantages relates to the safety of our firefighters and the people being rescued from buildings.”

The aerial bucket is designed with a level entry. This reduces the chances of injury to individuals that need to get into and out of the bucket. The bucket is weight rated to accommodate four firefighters in full gear. That weight capacity also means that the bucket can serve as a ‘standpipe’ for water distribution to hoses operating at elevated levels.

The pumping capacity of the new truck is 2,000 gallons per minute.

Drivers for the new unit will require Class 3 licences due to the weight of the vehicle. Additional training of department

volunteers is being planned.

A win for the public with the new truck is that it allows the department to maintain its fire fighting grade. That rating is taken into account when insurance agencies calculate policy pricing for homes within a fire department’s jurisdiction.

The new truck has a 25year life span. As the SVFD is rated as a rural department, it is allowed to apply for an extension of five years to that period, pending an inspection of the unit.

Pike is thrilled with the level of support the department’s board and community have demonstrated by enabling this purchase. He also sends out thanks to members of the committee that helped coordinate acquisition of the truck, including Wayne Mowat, Dagan Benner, Adam Bramham, Mike Wainwright, Gera Gilroy, Dylan Chow and Craig Coombe.

Anyone with questions about the new acquisition or the department, can reach out to Chief Pike by calling 604885-7017. Connie Jordison

All meetings are held on-line via Zoom and live-streamed to YouTube.

The meeting link and the agendas are available online at sechelt.ca.

There are no in-person council or committee meetings • Committee of the Whole: February 10 at 3:00pm • Regular Council Meeting: February 17 at 7:00pm • Committee of the Whole: February 24 at 3:00pm

Budget Planning 2021 Information on the proposed 2021 budget and surveys are posted on the District website. Through February and March at the Committee of the Whole meetings Council will be discussing various parts of the budget in detail. Learn more by watching those meetings or visiting the District website for summary information.

Public participation meetings via Zoom to learn more and ask questions are scheduled for: • February 22 at 7:30pm • March 1 at noon • March 15 at noon Details are at Sechelt.ca/budget www.sechelt.ca | info @ sechelt.ca | 604-885-1986

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021

Letters to the Editor – Opinions Thought police

New ops building

(Re: “Post propaganda,” letters, the Local, Feb. 4) It is true that there is much misinformation and propaganda coming to us from social media, random emails or printed material.

Just as Mr. Maser, I often feel offended by some of it; when that happens, the recycle bin is only a few steps away…

Having grown up under a totalitarian communist regime, I have firsthand appreciation of how repressive government censorship is and, in contrast, how precious is the freedom of expression that we still enjoy in the West. Especially in Canada, its well-educated society should be able to analyze, on a personal level, the veracity/importance of received news; the last thing I would wish for is having Canada Post or the postal workers union decide on what I can receive.

The freedom of expression under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or under the First Constitutional Amendment for our southern neighbours are both sufficiently balanced to exclude explicit hate or offensive material. Any attempts to introduce new controls, however sincere, are likely to backfire – we already have: identity politics, lost free speech at most of our universities, cancel culture, etc. I can see a Thought Police on the horizon!

Zbigniew Twardowski, Sechelt

District of Sechelt council is seeking electoral approval through the Alternative Approval Process (APP) to borrow $3 million to build a new operations building, which is to be repaid through MORE personal taxation.

Response forms for those who oppose the loan must be received no later than Feb. 26 at 4pm.

Council needs to realize that the taxpayers are carrying too much burden already. Response forms for those in opposition to the $3 million loan should be made more available and advertised so that everyone knows how to have their voice heard.

The Chamber of Commerce has offered a way to avoid the $3 million loan.

By selling the existing location, Municipal Hall could be relocated along Dusty Road, joining with the rebuilt Public Works building.

The sale could allow for much-needed housing, and this would make city business more consolidated and offer a building that would be more user friendly to the public. But our current mayor does not see it this way. Mayor Siegers cites the lack of convenience and bus route. Infrastructure such as sidewalks and bus service should and would be a part of this much more affordable plan.

Looking to the future, this area of Sechelt is already developing and beautifying

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with water walkways, street lighting, sidewalks and landscaping, and business services.

I’ve submitted my opposition form and fully support the Chamber of Commerce initiative. A sound and sensible solution that also helps avoid paying MORE taxes.

R.Ritchey, West Sechelt

Reasonable expectation of privacy (Re: Open letter to SCRD board) Members of the public living in both the SCRD and Sechelt that receive SCRD billed garbage collection services brought the recent article “Ban on food waste in garbage proposed” in the Local paper to my attention.

They also brought to my attention the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and a reasonable expectation of privacy as it relates to garbage collection, which is something the SCRD needs to consider seriously.

Clear plastic garbage bags could be considered a violation of the publics’ reasonable expectations of privacy as the products used and disposed of in clear bags would be visible. For example, sanitary products and other personal care items. Also, having SCRD staff and/or subcontractors examining and sorting items in the garbage at the curbside could pose a seri-

ous health risk and further delay or hinder the garbage collection process. The process would also be subject to tampering and resulting unfounded allegations and charges.

If the SCRD intends to proceed and, in doing so, violates the publics’ reasonable expectation of privacy, the SCRD should also provide the public with the right to opt-out (no billing or fees) of the SCRD waste management program.

Jeri Patterson, West Sechelt

Hwy 101 corridor study Staff of the Provincial Ministry of Transportation (MoTI) finally presented their long-awaited “High-

way 101 Corridor Study – Sechelt to Gibsons” to the SCRD Transportation Advisory Committee on Jan. 21.

Dated August 2020, the review was clearly a theoretical desktop exercise carried out without any real knowledge of our area and the pressing needs we face.

Among the review’s failings – the traffic and accident data used for the study were only up to 2017, which in no way reflects the most recent tragic accidents and fatalities or the overall growth in traffic volumes.

Further, the authors of the study propose three timelines – short (up to 2025), medium (2026 to 2035) and long (beyond 2035). The issues and congestion we face are real now! Waiting up to 15 years for solutions is

simply unacceptable.

The study’s proposals are primarily cosmetic in nature, and no cost estimates were provided. Many are simply not practical. For example, suggestions to create left-turn lanes, sidewalks and bike paths in certain areas would require the expropriation of private property, which is never going to be practical.

In short, the study shows just how little concern the Ministry has for our situation. We agree with one member of the SCRD committee, who pointed out that there has been a serious lack of engagement by MoTI with local governments and other interested parties.

What is needed is for the

Continued page 5...

Weekly Cartoon

Coast Forum To mulch or not to mulch – herring spawn season here

The Sunshine Coast Friends of Forage Fish volunteer group would like to remind the public – especially all those gardeners – that herring spawn season is upon us, and herring are one of the many important forage fish species.

What are forage fish, you ask? Forage fish are abundant, schooling fishes, and include herring, anchovies, smelt, sand lance, and many more. They are an essential component of marine ecosystems, providing critical food sources for many birds and for larger fish such as salmon and lingcod, which in turn are eaten by marine mammals such as sea lions and orca whales.

Surf smelt and sand lance use the intertidal zone of the beach to spawn during high tides. Herring are nearshore spawners, coming close to the shore looking for places to lay their eggs on wood, rocks, or seaweeds, causing a feeding frenzy amongst the seals, sea lions, otters, gulls, diving ducks, and other shorebirds. These seaweeds sometimes form great piles

in the high tide zone of the beach and are favoured by people for mulch for their gardens.

As a practice, mulching is great, but when one chooses seaweed as mulch, a series of thoughtful decisions should be made beforehand.

First, what is the time of year? February, March, and April are herring spawning months here on the Coast, and herring will often choose seaweeds as the “anchor” for their eggs. Even when the egg-laden seaweed gets broken off and washed up on the beach, those eggs can quite happily survive until the next high tide. By taking seaweeds during the spawning season, there is the potential to destroy thousands of herring eggs. NONE should be collected at this time.

How much will I take, and how often? There are a lot of us in the world now, including the Sunshine Coast, and our cumulative impact is significant. That seaweed line is home to many small sea creatures and provides shelter, shade, and moisture between the tidal periods.

Herring eggs attached to seaweed on the shoreline at Roberts Creek. SUBMITTED PHOTO Do you really need seaweed for mulch?

Is there something with less impact that I can use to mulch? Many of us throw out great mulch materials like grass clippings, leaves, or sawdust. Why not use them?

If you must collect seaweed as mulch for your garden, take only small amounts and over a large area to minimize the impact on this special area of our world, and NOT during the months of February, March, and April. Always take a quick look to ensure there are no eggs attached to your

mulch collection.

The Sunshine Coast Friends of Forage Fish is a local volunteer group that has been diligently sampling Sunshine Coast beaches for the presence of forage fish eggs. We have had findings of sand lance and surf smelt eggs at several of our local beaches.

Dianne Sanford, Coordinator, SC Friends of Forage Fish For more info or to volunteer, call me at 604-741-1029 or email diannesanford@gmail. com. For more information about our group, visit www. friendsofforagefish.com.

The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 5

Letters to the Editor – Opinions ...letters continued Ministry to recognize that band-aid solutions are not going to address the real issue – that the real solution is the construction of a new innovative “state of the art” highway. This will improve the quality of life for all on the Coast and allow our “Goat Trail” to exist as a parkway route for local traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and public transit.

Robin Merriott, Sunshine Coast Highway Society

Win, Win, Win (Open letter to Sechelt Mayor & Councillors) Our board is pleased to offer the following additional comments regarding our “Win, Win, Win” recommendations as outlined in our letter of January to redevelop portions of Block 7 in

downtown Sechelt: 1. The driving force behind our recommendation is the desperate shortage of workforce housing. This is the #1 issue facing our members and most employers on the Coast. The hospital, retailers, contractors and more – all have serious problems locating housing for their employees. Without employees, the services we rely on for our quality of life will suffer. We strongly encourage you to make this your top priority in 2021.

2. The Chamber is fully supportive of improving the working conditions for the District parks and public works staff. And we believe this can be achieved as part of a bigger vision that benefits everyone – including taxpayers.

3. Our suggestion to relocate the municipal hall is based on the maxim of using land for its highest and best

use. We assert that workforce housing for perhaps 200 people located close to community amenities is a particularly good choice compared with the current use as a five day per week office for about 35 District employees. Please advise what work the District has done to assess this matter?

4. The current opportunity to create a “Win” for many stakeholders is not one to be ignored. New workforce housing, a dramatically improved municipal hall facility, a modern library, increased tax revenues for the District and a reduction of District debt are all “wins” that come from what we are proposing.

5. During the council meeting on Feb. 3, there was a two-minute discussion about our recommendation.

Some comments related to whether the District should sell land, ever. We agree that

such a decision is complex and warrants careful consideration. For example, there may be partnership structures that would enable the District to retain an ownership interest while creating the much-needed workforce housing and delivering the many other wins for the community.

6. We appreciate the comments from some Councillors that they value creative and innovative ideas. We offer these in the spirit of starting a constructive conversation to develop even better solutions.

7. We note that transit is, in fact, coming to East Porpoise Bay. BC Transit and the District have been discussing this for some time – it seems reasonable to assume that such will happen sooner if plans to relocate the municipal hall are announced. Further, this area of Sechelt is in-

Round one debate on 2021 SCRD budget complete A focus on ground sources for water supply, landfill issues and staffing and benefits for volunteer fire departments appeared as high-impact items in the first round of the 2021 SCRD budget debate. These discussions were completed on Feb. 8, after five hour plus meetings that day and on Feb. 1 and 2.

Area E Director Donna McMahon stated she was “delighted to cancel the development of the ferry bathtub” as the committee endorsed moving the next steps in planning for a potential regional raw water reservoir to 2022. The ”bathtub” reference relates to a visual presented to the SCRD in 2019, showing the scale of the proposed 1.2 million cubic meter reservoir and a BC Ferries vessel.

Planning for construction of such a reservoir, which had rough cost estimates in the $50 million range, is being delayed as groundwater sources show potential to address the region’s potable water supply deficit.

Sechelt Area Director Mayor Darnelda Siegers cautioned the committee against shelving the reservoir initiative. She noted that funds have been invest-

ed to bring project planning to the existing point. Siegers said that those would be wasted if the plan was abandoned. She pointed to multiple opportunities that local governments have to secure grant funding to construct infrastructure projects as long as they can be brought quickly to the “shovel ready” stage.

The SCRD is looking to invest over $3 million in groundwater supply projects in 2021, pending consideration of those proposals by its Water Supply Advisory Committee. Projects include a million-dollar spend to produce on-demand chlorine supplies at its Chapman Creek water treatment plant. This upgrade will eliminate the need to store large supplies of the potentially dangerous gas at the site, which is close to residential areas.

Continued groundwater investigations, focusing on the potential for wells in the Gray Creek and Maryanne West Park areas, valued at $1.377 million, is being proposed. A $225,000 feasibility study of other longterm surface water supply sources and a $350,000 well drilling project for the Eastbourne water system

on Keats Island received endorsement in the 2021 budget’s first-round debate.

Projects related to solid waste that progressed to the next round of the 2021 budget considerations include preparations for the closure of the Sechelt landfill. In discussions, Manager of Infrastructure Services Remko Rosenboom said that the $2.5 million budget figure for this work remains an estimate and includes a 20 percent contingency.

He said the costs and the spending timeframe will be updated when the report on the state of the landfill as of the end of 2020 and its remaining lifespan comes forward in the coming months.

The most recent estimates indicate the landfill will be full in 2026.

Gibsons Area Director Mayor Bill Beamish stated that in other communities, the Province had allowed landfill closure work and the costs related to it to be spread out over a longer period of time. Rosenboom noted that the SCRD had not approached the Province regarding timing for the landfill closure work at this point.

In addition to landfill closure planning, the SCRD

plans to survey at its landfill to ensure as much capacity as possible is being utilized.

Studies on future garbage disposal and waste composition, as well as a solid waste plan update, costing $350,000, also received round one approval.

In 2021, benefits for volunteer firefighters in the

tended to be developed as a new business centre, with the potential for commercial and tourist activities nearby. Would it not show leadership by developing a new facility that is close to the ocean, accessible to new amenities and enhances the liveability of our community?

8. Finally, the example of the SCRD relocating from the village of Sechelt to the top of Field Road some years ago shows that being “downtown” (wherever that is in the District of Sechelt!) is unnecessary. Keeping the current offices (which, we understand, are already undersized) in the village means any additional facilities will need to go elsewhere. Building everything in one area now is efficient, and in a location like Lot L provides the opportunity for expansion.

In closing, we very much

appreciate the hard work that each of you do for the benefit of our community.

We continue to believe that there are better options than building a standalone Operations Centre on Lot L. Undoubtedly, there are solutions even better than our proposal, and we stand ready to work with you to deliver an even bigger “win” for our community.

Ed Pednaud, Executive Director, Sechelt & District Chamber of Commerce

four regionally funded volunteer fire departments on the Coast is to be funded by the SCRD. It will cost about $186,000 per year to provide extended medical, dental and other insurance benefits to those who volunteer with the Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay and Egmont departments. In addition, funding for paid staffing is to be in-

creased by the equivalent of about one-half of a full-time position in each area.

Almost every proposal that came forward from staff and SCRD program partners at round one budget debate received referral to the second round slated to begin March 4. The SCRD anticipates finalizing its 2021 budget by mid-April.

Connie Jordison

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Generally, letters should not exceed 300 words. And all letters must be signed, include the writer’s community of residence and (not for publication) telephone number. Letters may be edited for a variety of reasons.

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WE ARE DOUBLE STOCKING OUR NEWSPAPER BOXES! Consulting firm Integrated Sustainability’s representation of a BC Ferry afloat in the proposed SCRD Chapman Creek Raw Water Reservoir, as presented to the board in November 2019, shows the scale of the proposed reservoir. In the 2021 budget debate, further planning for this project was put on hold until 2022, given the SCRDs recent success in locating groundwater to offset the region’s potable water supply issues. INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANTS PHOTO

Keep well and follow the advice of our local health authorities.

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021

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Identify & stop cyberbullying Today’s students have many new things to contend with as they navigate the school year. As a greater number of schools transition to providing lessons, homework and tests on digital devices, students spend much more time online. This connectivity can have many positive results. However, the same availability also opens up students of all ages to various dangers.

One of these dangers is a more invasive form of bullying called “cyberbullying.”

The global organization DoSomething.org says nearly half of kids have been bullied online, with one in four saying it has happened more than once.

Cyberbullying has grown as access to computers and devices that offer an online connection has grown. Bullying is now just as likely to occur online as it is on the playground. Cyberbullies may bully classmates through email, social media, instant messaging, and other social applications. Since cyberbullying tends to target emotions and mental well-being and reaches beyond the school campus into a student’s home, its impact can be even more serious.

Cyberbullying occurs in many different forms. Here are some types of cyberbullying educators and parents can look for if they suspect their students or children are being bullied.

• Flaming: This is a type of bullying that occurs in an online forum or group conversation. It’s achieved by sending angry or insulting messages directly to the

person. Flaming is similar to harassment, but harassment usually involves privately sent messages.

• Outing: This type of bullying is a sharing of personal and private information about a person publicly.

When information has been disseminated throughout the internet, one has been “outed.”

• Fraping: Fraping occurs when someone logs into another’s social media account and impersonates him or her. This could be a child or an adult impersonating the person and posting inappropriate content in his or her name. Sometimes this type of bullying is also called “posing” or “catfishing.”

• Masquerading: Masquerading occurs when bullies create fake profiles so they can harass someone anonymously. The bully is likely someone the person being targeted knows well.

• Exclusion: Sometimes, direct targeting is not necessary. Students can be bullied simply by being deliberately left out, such as not being invited to parties or encouraged to participate in online conversations.

Securing privacy online is one way to prevent cyberbullying attacks. Students also can be selective about who they share personal information with or whose social media friendships they accept.

Thinking before posting and paying attention to language and tone can help curb cyberbullying as well. Students should stick together and report instances of cyberbullying if it becomes an issue.

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Children, adolescents and young adults can be the victims of a pervasive type of abuse called cyberbullying. METRO CREATIVE PHOTO

Cyberbullying facts • The Adolescent Health Survey, 2018, shows that 14 percent of BC students had been cyberbullied (including 23 percent of non-binary youth) in 2018, and 54 percent of BC’s gay and lesbian high school students report experiencing discrimination because of their sexual orientation.

• Bullying/cyberbullying is the top issue reported via the Erase online reporting tool in 2019-20 – 30 percent of reports.

• According to Stats Can,

girls are more likely to be bullied on the Internet than boys.

• The most common form of cyber-bullying involved receiving threatening or aggressive e-mails or instant messages, reported by 73 percent of victims (Statistics Canada).

• GetCyberSafe.ca is a national public awareness campaign created to inform Canadians about cybersecurity and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online.

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Flowers and their various meanings Flowers can represent var- • Amaryllis: This flower is ious emotions. Flowers play a symbolic of splendid beauty prominent role in many and and can be used to indicate holidays, perhaps none more worth. than Valentine’s Day. • Aster: The aster symbolValentine’s Day is a busy izes patience, elegance and day for florists. ProFlowers daintiness.

THEsays it accounts for most of • Calla lily: This bloom symthe industry’s fresh flower bolizes magnificence and sales. Around 78 percent of beauty, as well as purity and the flowers purchased for innocence. That is why Calla Valentine’s Day are cut flow- lilies are often the flower of ers, and men are the top con- choice in wedding bouquets. sumers.

• Carnations: These are one Roses are the go-to flow- of the most popular flowers er on Valentine’s Day, but in the world and are generalshoppers can look to var- ly symbolic of love and fasciious blooms to send the nation. right message to that special • Daffodil: Daffodils symin their lives. In fact, bolize regard and chivalry.

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 9

wide assortment of vibrant colours, gerbera daisies are a favourite flower for cheerful sentiments.

• Gladioluses: These tall, striking flowers are eye-catching and make great gifts for significant others.

The gladiolus symbolizes honour, infatuation and strength.

• Iris: Irises represent faith, hope and wisdom and are cherished for their big, beautiful blooms.

• Peony: This flower, which resembles a rose, symbolizes a happy life, happy marriage, prosperity, and good health.

• Rose: Roses symbolize love in its various forms, and different colours of roses symbolize different things.

For example, yellow roses represent care and friendship, while pink roses are given as a token of admiration.

Flowers are popular

Flowers are popular gifts come Valentine’s Day. Choosing a flower that best represents the feelings gift-givers want to convey can incorporate even more meaning into a bouquet or basket. METRO CREATIVE PHOTO gifts come Valentine’s Day. Choosing a flower that best represents the feelings gift-givers want to convey can incorporate even more meaning into a bouquet or basket. Metro Creative

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021

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Incidents of theft Between Jan. 28 and 29, a suspect attempted to steal a catalytic converter off a vehicle parked in the 12900 block of Madeira Park Road, Madeira Park. The suspect fled the scene before fully removing the part but did manage to remove and steal the roof racks and damage a door handle and lock.

••• On Jan. 4, while investigating an unrelated incident, police were alerted

to a theft from a business in the 5700 block of Teredo Street after staff came out and pointed out the fleeing suspect. Police gave chase and apprehended the suspect, recovering the stolen items as well. The suspect was arrested and released on an Undertaking for court on a charge of Theft Under $5,000.

The file is still under investigation.

Submitted by RCMP

Due to current BC health orders, please contact local event coordinators to confirm events.

Thursday, February 11 • 20th Annual Powell River Film Festival (online to Feb. 16), 12 feature films/12 shorts, details at www.prfilmfestival.ca/films/ • Victoria Film Festival (online to Feb. 14), includes 50 feature films/23 shorts, details at www.victoriafilmfestival.com • French Conversation Group, 10:30am-noon, details at gibsons.bc.libraries.coop/explore/calendar/ • Card Making Class (via Zoom) with Ruth Moore, 11am, call 604-885-3260 or visit Sechelt Library to register and pick-up a free materials package (you will need your own glue, tape & scissors) • Art Exhibition: Black History Month – Denise Brown ‘The Fabric of Freedom’ (to Feb. 28), 11am-4pm, Gibsons Public Art Gallery, 431 Marine Drive, Gibsons, 604-886-0531 · info@gpag.ca · https://gpag.ca/ • Art Exhibitions at Gibsons Public Art Gallery: Yeonmi Kim – Plasticity in the Main Gallery & Zac Harding – Insert Title in the Eve Smart Gallery, 11am-4pm, free, 431 Marine Drive, Gibsons, https://gpag.ca/ • Karen’s Paint Day/Night – Inlet Views, $45, 1-3pm, CREATE, 6538 Sunshine Coast Hwy, Sechelt, 604-989-3345 · Createsechelt@telus.net · http://facebook.com/createbykaren • Thursday Night Live with Joe Stanton: A virtual house concert on Facebook, 6pm @joestantonmusic

Friday, February 12

• St. Bart’s Valentine’s bake & craft sale fundraiser (Friday and Saturday), 10am-4pm, Sunnycrest Mall, Gibsons • Art Exhibition: 2021 Life Drawing Group Exhibition (to March 14), 12-4pm, free, Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, 5714 Medusa St, Sechelt, 604-885-5412 · sunshinecoastartscouncil.com/life-drawing-exhibition-4/ • Ukulele via Zoom: Weekly play along on Fridays at 12:30pm, free, sign up in Sechelt library or by phone 604-885-3260 · https://sechelt.bc.libraries.coop/ event/ukelele-via-zoom/?instance_id=17420 • Friday night mixology meetup: Rotary FUNdraiser – $50 per Zoom hookup which incl. access to all seven mixology sessions, 6pm, details at www.rotarysunshinecoast.org • SC Astronomy Speaker Series: Simran Nerval: Simran on the cosmic microwave background (CMB), 7pm, link to join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/87694478721?pwd=TkxSTkxrQmxLcjFaQ0FpVm8x Qkg4UT09 • SC Natural History Society: ‘Birds of New Zealand’ by Russ Cannings, 7:30pm, Zoom, registration details will be sent to members or contact by email at info.scnhs@gmail.com • Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb 12-15) provides a snapshot of where birds are around the world, count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days and enter your sightings at birdcount.org, 8:30pm

Sunday, February 14

• Old Jimmy Wilson’s Valentines Day Spectacular (online): A Captain Fantasy love stream doling out a sensual collection of WEEN’s top love songs, 4-6:15pm, www.facebook.com/ events/1343826589287798/

Tuesday, February 16

• MedTalks – Beyond Burnout: The Healing Power of Hope, an online interactive discussion with Vikki Reynolds (PhD, RCC) & Joanne Piros (Sechelt Hospital Foundation), 2pm, details at www.sechelthospitalfoundation.org

Includes listings compiled by the Coast Cultural Alliance. More details & more listings – including virtual events – at suncoastarts.com

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Views vary on Sechelt’s ops centre project With two weeks left for Sechelt voters to register opposition to municipal borrowing of up to $2.77 million for a new operations (ops) centre, a range of opinions on the project and the loan are being expressed.

Sechelt has ramped up communications in support of moving forward with both initiatives. As the alternative approval process (AAP) deadline to oppose the borrowing approaches, it is focusing on explaining the benefits of the new $3.6 million structure. It is using social media posts, radio announcements featuring Mayor Siegers, ads in local newspapers. Feb. 4, staff hosted a Facebook live site tour of existing facilities and the site for the proposed centre.

The live tour attracted 43 viewers. Video of the event, along with other details on the project and the AAP process, are available on Sechelt. ca.

Voters who wish to state their opposition to the borrowing need to file AAP responses by Feb. 26. If 860 voters, ten percent of Sechelt’s eligible electors, file notices of opposition, the proposal fails.

In that case, the loan could

not be secured unless the District obtains voter approval through another route, such as a referendum.

The new centre’s proposed location, a District-owned lot off Sechelt Inlet Road between Dusty and Allan roads, has housed most of Sechelt’s parks and public works operations since 2013. Currently, workstations are in a hodgepodge of temporary structures, including trailers, fabric walled lock block buildings with dirt floors, and smaller storage units. These serve as office spaces, staff lunch and change rooms, assembly points for a range of supplies, and mechanical and construction shops. There is only outdoor parking at the site for municipal operations vehicles.

While the site is the central base for Sechelt’s parks and public works teams, John Devison, manager of public works, noted during the tour that there are other sites used by team staff throughout the community. With the new initiative, offices, equipment and supply storage, as well as areas built for woodwork, painting and vehicle maintenance, would be centralized

Sechelt’s Public Works Manager John Devison conducted part of the Feb. 4 Facebook live tour of the existing works yard and proposed site of the new operations centre on Dusty Road. Behind him is the municipal supply of road salt.

In a typical year, Sechelt uses 200 tons of road salt. SCREENSHOT

Dodge SC

at a single site. Devison said that this will improve operational efficiencies.

Also speaking during the tour event was Sechelt’s Director of Engineering and Operations, Kirn Dhillon. He said the “modest” proposal for the new centre is “a good thing for the community.” At the Feb. 3 council meeting, Councillor Matt McLean indicated the District’s approach to design and funding of the project was “proven” and “the way forward that the community needs.”

Several community members view portions of these municipal initiatives differently. Marc Nixon, host of the Facebook group Sechelt City Hall Monitor, believes an improved worksite for District staff is warranted but questions the level of spending planned for. Nixon, who is trained in chemical technology and engineering and has work experience in world-class technical facilities around the globe, is concerned with District plans to provide sewer service to the facility. With a septic system already on the site, he believes an upgrade to that system is a viable and less costly option than what Sechelt is proposing.

Dhillon notes that the District aims to provide sewer service to the centre to avoid environmental damage risks associated with onsite wastewater treatment. The District is considering two sewer service options for the site. One would be to construct a dedicated collector pipe to the lot from the Sechelt Inlet Road sewer main. This is estimated to cost $600,000. The second option would be to tie into an existing older main that runs from the municipality’s Dusty Road septage receiving facility to the Water Resource Centre. Detailed costs for that option have not been disclosed,

The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 11

but Dhillon anticipates they would be lower than with the first option.

Building any new sewer services for the ops centre does not sit well with owners of some properties located in sewer parcel fee areas that cannot access that service due to a lack of connector lines. Parts of West Sechelt have been designated and paying to be part of sewer service areas since the 1990s yet have no collector lines.

Some, like Jeri Patterson, have stated that it is unfair for the new project “to queue jump the other areas waiting in line for their promised

sewer connections.”

Also questioning the financial impact of the potential local government borrowing is the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce. That group wrote to council on Jan. 25 asking for a review of its building and borrowing plans. Chamber Executive Director Ed Pednaud wrote, “We believe now is not an appropriate time to be borrowing money for such a standalone facility.” The group suggested the District sell the downtown location of its central offices as a high-density housing site. They felt sale proceeds would cover the

costs of building municipal offices in conjunction with a new ops centre at Dusty Road and eliminate the need for debt financing. Mayor Siegers responded to the letter defending the District’s approach, stating her firm belief that municipal offices need to be in a location that is accessible to all. The letter was published in a January edition of the Local.

Councillors Toth, Rowe and McLean also provided statements in support of the AAP and rejections of the Chamber’s suggestion at the Feb. 3 council meeting.

Connie Jordison

A local man presumed drowned was found deceased after an extensive search by air and ground this past Monday.

It appears that 63-yearold Peter William Koch drowned after his capsized dingy was located in the Sechelt Inlet.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched

a cormorant from the 442 Squadron in Comox and a volunteer vessel from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue from the Sunshine Coast to assist in the search for the missing man. Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue also assisted in the ground search of the shoreline at the south end of the Sechelt Inlet.

At approximately 3pm on

Feb. 8, Koch’s body was located by the cormorant helicopter on the east side of the Inlet near Porpoise Bay Park.

Sunshine Coast RCMP have located the next of kin. The RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance and all the kind words forwarded in memory of the victim. The Local

Body recovered from Sechelt Inlet

COVID-19 COMMUNITY GRANTS Applications now being accepted

If your non-profit organization provides services to vulnerable people in our community, and has been negatively affected by COVID-19, we encourage you to submit a grant application for funding of up to $1000.

» Learn more at gibsons.ca/safe-restart-grant visit gibsons.ca

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VCH reminds residents to plan ahead before visiting COVID-19 test collection sites Since Nov. 16, all residents in the Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) region are offered two options for COVID-19 test collection: either saline gargle or nasopharyngeal swab when they visit certain COVID-19 test collection sites. However, test collectors are reporting some recipients arrive unprepared for the saline gargle test col-

lection, excluding this as a viable testing option.

VCH advises members of the public who wish to use the COVID-19 saline gargle device to avoid eating, drinking, vaping or smoking, brushing their teeth or chewing gum for at least one hour prior to taking this test.

Research has shown this is necessary to ensure the test

provides an accurate and reliable result.

To properly complete the gargle test collection, recipients must swish and gargle saline water in their mouth for 30 seconds under the supervision of a test administrator.

Saline gargle collection is currently available at 14 test collection sites across urban

and rural VCH communities, including Sechelt Assessment Centre, and accounts for just over 30 percent of all COVID-19 tests performed in the region.

The Public Health Laboratory at the BC Centre for Disease Control, BC Children’s Hospital and Provincial Lab Medicine services – all programs of PHSA – worked

together to develop the gargle test at the start of the pandemic to relieve supply chain demand for swabs for nasopharyngeal sample collection. During the test’s pilot program, laboratory and medical staff found the test was also an easier and more comfortable option for children and their parents and caregivers. The saline

gargle devices were first offered to school-aged children in the VCH region on Sept. 17, before it was later extended to all residents in November.

BC was the first province in Canada to offer this test collection option to its residents as part of its COVID-19 test collection protocol.

Submitted by VCH

Enhanced safety measures and $121.2 million in federal funding are on the way, as the Province continues to strengthen health and safety plans in K-12 schools to keep students, teachers, and staff safe during the pandemic.

All middle and secondary students and K-12 staff will now be required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including when they are with their learning groups. The only exceptions are when: • sitting or standing at their seat or workstation in a classroom; • there is a barrier in place;

• or they’re eating or drinking.

Prior to these changes, masks were required for middle and secondary students and all K-12 staff in high-traffic areas, like hallways and outside of classrooms or learning groups when they could not safely distance from others.

For elementary students, wearing masks indoors remain a personal choice.

These updates are part of ongoing work of the provincial education steering committee and are in alignment with provincial health updates.

Updated guidelines for the childcare sector will be made

available in the coming week.

“To make sure schools continue to be as safe as possible for students and staff as the pandemic evolves, we have worked with provincial health and our partners on a continuous review of the guidelines, adapting and responding when needed,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education. “We want students, their families and staff to feel confident with the safety measures in place.

That’s why we’re making these updates.”

Guidelines have also been strengthened for physical education and music classes.

High-intensity physical activities are to be held outside

as much as possible. Shared equipment or items, such as weight machines, treadmills or musical instruments, can be used only if they are cleaned between use, according to strict school sanitization guidelines. Students using equipment or playing instruments should also be spaced at least two metres apart and masks are to be used when singing.

Since September 2020, more than $5.7 million of the K-12 Education Restart Plan for school districts has been used to purchase 3.9 million masks for students and staff.

“Educators, administrators and staff have done a great job of adapting our schools to make them safe and ensure important in-class learning continues,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial health officer. “Since the start of the school year, we have paid close attention to our schools and learned much, including the importance of having robust safety plans and using the layers of protection.

Masks are one important layer, and these updated guidelines will strengthen how and where they should be used to protect everyone.”

To support BC’s COVID-19 response for K-12 education, the federal government announced $242.4 million in one-time funding for the 2020-21 school year, with the first half of the invest-

ment allocated in September. The second instalment of this funding arrived on Jan. 29, 2021. The Ministry of Education is allocating $101.1 million to school districts and $7.5 million to independent schools and is providing school districts an additional $3.5 million to manage COVID-19 exposures in schools.

To support Indigenous learners, $8.2 million will go towards addressing learning loss and student health, technology for remote learning, education and mental health support, adapting classroom spaces and enhanced cleaning.

There will also be $900,000 allocated for six regional rapid response teams, one for each health authority and one dedicated to support independent schools, with representatives from both school and provincial health staff. These teams, announced by the provincial health officer, will continue to improve the speed of school exposure investigations, so health authorities can inform school districts and families more quickly.

Rapid response teams will conduct physical or virtual site inspections to ensure K-12 COVID-19 health and safety guidelines are being followed consistently. If there has been a significant exposure event or an in-school

transmission, rapid response teams will be deployed to conduct a review and make recommendations, if needed.

School principals and vice-principals at each public and independent school are being provided with updated COVID-19 health and safety checklists to ensure they consistently follow provincial guidelines. Additionally, families in their local communities are reminded of the personal measures they can take to help keep schools safe.

School districts and independent school authorities will be required to confirm every school has completed the checklist and safety plans have been updated to reflect the updated guidelines by Feb. 26. All schools will also post updated plans publicly.

One of the most important factors to keeping schools safe is a daily screening for any COVID-19 symptoms, which is why daily health checks continue to be required. To support daily screening, a new K-12 health-checker app has been developed for students and their families and can be found at: https://www. k12dailycheck.gov.bc.ca The app will allow people to answer simple questions every day. It will inform them if they can attend school or if they need to self-isolate and contact 811 to be screened for COVID-19. Submitted

Local non-profit groups will be able to apply for funding for events or projects that continue for three years or more, with changes to SCRD rural grant in aid rules. While support for projects that benefit the community will continue, the SCRD has clarified that it will not provide money for an organization’s ongoing staff or operational expenses.

Those adjustments were part of a revamp of the SCRDs rural grant in aid rules discussed at the Corporate and Administrative Services Committee meeting on Jan. 28. During that debate, staff were asked to split board policy and staff procedures into separate documents. In those, a reference to a limit of three years’ funding for a particular project will be removed. That change will legitimize the potential for provision of SCRD grant funds to long-standing events such as CreekDaze, May Day and Sea

Cavalcade. The documentation will also make it clear that determination of funding levels for the granting program remains with the board.

The program revamp will come forward for consideration by the SCRD board on Feb. 11.

Area F Director Mark Hiltz championed a committee ask that staff simplify the wording in all documentation relating to the regional district’s grants process. In his view, having clear SCRD program information available to groups considering applying for a grant is essential to “managing user expectations on what we will do and how.”

Another idea supported during committee discussion was hosting an information-sharing event for non-profit groups about local grant programs. It was suggested that a joint session involving staff from all Coast

local governments and other agencies that provide project funding could update community groups on opportunities to partner with others to help meet community needs.

SCRD Chairperson and Area B Director Lori Pratt noted that local non-profits are often “picking up the slack” created by downloading of services and programs by senior governments. SCRD Director of Finance Tina Perreault noted that these sessions, which have been hosted in previous years, are also helpful in sharing with group representatives’ tips on how to prepare the best project applications possible.

She also noted that with turnover in non-profit groups’ directors and key volunteers, keeping information current with these organizations is another important consideration.

Connie Jordison

Enhanced COVID-19 health and safety measures for K-12 schools

Funding projects, not organizations The BC Centre for Disease Control local COVID-19 numbers for Jan. 24-30 show four confirmed cases on the Lower Sunshine Coast. BCCDC MAP

BC tops over 70,000 COVID-19 cases BC reported another 1,236 new cases of COVID-19 over the past weekend, bringing the provincial total to 70,952.

There are 3,976 active cases of COVID-19 in the province right now, with 234 individuals hospitalized, 69 of whom are in intensive care.

The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.

Currently, 6,923 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and a further 65,605 people who tested positive have recovered.

“Every day, we are closely monitoring our progress in the COVID-19 pandemic so we can ease restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so,” said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry at a coronavirus briefing on Monday.

“We want to have the confidence so as we open up more, and we will not have to step back again. Fewer cases, outbreaks or unchecked transmission in our community are the pieces we need to have in place. Our focus right now is to clear our path of any hurdles, so we can ease restrictions that much faster.”

Henry went on to say, “We are watching closely for the further spread of the variants of concern. With each day we stop transmission of the virus – no matter what the variant – we are buying time to get our immunization program back on track and giving ourselves the protective buffer we need.”

To date, 154,496 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the province, 12,111 of which are second doses. Immunization data is available on the COVID-19 dashboard at www.bccdc.ca. The Local

The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 13

Developing A Public Art Policy (Part 1) “Our public spaces are critical to a civic life that honours and celebrates our humanity and history and responds to cultural and political change…public art continues to enrich our environment, promotes us to ask questions and feeds our imaginations.”

(Smith McNally and Hsu, ‘Conservation of Contemporary Public Art,’ The Getty

Conservation Institute, Fall 2012.)

In 2006, the Gibsons Public Art Advisory Committee (GPAAC) was first appointed by council to respond to interest expressed by the community in acquiring and displaying art that culturally enriches public spaces in the community, including those in new developments.

At that time, there was an initiative to paint utility boxes in strategic locations and to support plans for public murals. As well, art was being incorporated in new construction projects, and several businesses showed interested in displaying lo-

cally produced art that recognized the overall importance of art and artists in our community and region.

While the initial GPAAC was disbanded after a few years of relative inactivity and lack of budget or financial support from council, an inventory conducted in 2020 recorded over 30 paintings, murals and carvings that are present in Gibsons and which, because of their location and visibility, can be considered as ‘public art’ (even though they may be privately commissioned and owned).

The increasingly popular annual Sunshine Coast Art

Local THROWBACK THURSDAY

the

A young couple chalking hearts onto a tree, Valentine’s Day, 1944. He was a member of the Canadian Air Force, and she was with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. GALT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES ON THE COMMONS PHOTO #P19891053006

Town of Gibsons seeks members for advisory design panel The Town of Gibsons is currently seeking members for its newly-established advisory design panel (ADP).

The ADP will advise council on the design quality of development applications and make recommendations to council on the approval process.

The ADP will comprise six regular members, including two architects (members of the Architectural Institute of British Columbia), one landscape architect (member of the BC Society of Landscape architects) or landscape specialist from a related background, and three residents and/or property owners of the Town of Gibsons, with a combination of backgrounds in engineering, urban plan-

ning, accessibility, community heritage, real estate, industry, construction, affordable housing, building design, arboriculture, crime prevention, and other fields of specific interest to development form and character.

Whenever possible, positions on the ADP are to be filled by residents and/or property owners of the Town of Gibsons.

The ADP will also include a member of council (or designate), the director of planning (or designate), and the director of infrastructure services (or designate). These non-voting panel members will act as liaisons between the design panel and council.

Meetings will generally be held once a month and not

more than twice a month, as determined by the director of planning.

A comprehensive description of the ADPs purpose and scope, as well as details about membership appointment, meeting and attendance, authority, and voting procedures, may be found at gibsons.ca/advisory-design-panel or by reviewing Bylaw 1288, 2021.

Qualified persons who would like to be considered for the design panel are invited to submit a cover letter and resume by email to lstaats@gibsons.ca by noon on Monday, Feb. 22. Successful applicants will be informed and appointed to the ADP shortly thereafter.

Submitted

@TheLocalWeekly

Crawl also demonstrates the importance of art and artists to our community and our need to engage with local artists to find opportunities to acquire and incorporate examples of their work in our buildings and public spaces.

However, it is evident that there is no overarching theme or vision for what public art could be, where it

should be located, and how it should be acquired, paid for and maintained. Additionally, there is a need to maintain and or replace some art, such as the mural in Winegarden Park, which has deteriorated beyond our ability to repair it. In 2020, the Town of Gibsons’ council appointed a new GPAAC. The committee met several times and soon

discovered that developing a plan to acquire public art has many challenges.

Next time, I’ll tell you about those challenges and how we intend to address them.

In the meantime, if you have ideas you’d like to share about public art, please email me at mayor@gibsons.ca or give me a call at 604-9892364.

Tip of the Week: This powerful New Moon in Aquarius hosts a rare six planet alignment. Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form this Aquarius stellium. The last time this occurred was in February 2009 which hosted 6 planets + the North Node in Aquarius and the time prior to that was 1962 which hosted 7 planets + the South Node in Aquarius!

Some of those born in 1962 were born in the year of the Metal Ox, while others were born in the year of the Water Tiger. The Aquarius New Moon (= Chinese New Year) that occurred on February 5th that year was also a Total Solar Eclipse at the potent 15th degree of Aquarius. Interestingly, those Aquarian souls who incarnated at that time recently experienced their second Saturn Return on January 18, 19 and 20th, 2021… Saturn return always marks a significant turning point in one’s life, a whole new chapter and theme of destiny. When was your Saturn Return and what does it say about your destiny?

P.S. Happy New Year Metal Ox and Happy Valentine’s Day! Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) You are in a bold, visionary and revolutionary mood, thanks to this historic Aquarius New Moon!

Somehow, circumstances are guiding you to ‘bring it down to earth’. This could be a call to find your voice, to get real or perhaps to follow through on realizations or ideas that have been percolating for a long time... Expect this impulse to really kick in on the 14th.

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20) If the changes predicted for you in your public and professional life over the past weeks and months have not become apparent yet, they are likely to very soon. This New Moon seed in your solar career house will activate your dreams, as well. Hopefully these will not be experienced as nightmares. This is a call to advance and do not look back.

Build for the future!

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Learning to assert your

sense of individuality has been extra strong this past year. Now, this impulse is getting another big activation. Yet, Mars and Uranus in Taurus may be contributing to resistance, procrastinations, denials and/or the fuller realization submerged in the basement of your subconscious mind.

Accept this reminder as the light switch to acknowledge this destiny theme.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Some cycles have deeper implications than others and this is indeed such a time. In fact, several deep theme cycles have been activated over the past couple of months and this New Moon is the next one. In fact, it may prove to be the final fuse that ignites all of the others into their full process and expression. A wise question to ask is: How can I participate cooperatively and consciously?

Leo (July 23-Aug. 23) Are you ready for a renewed sense of commitment to build your dreams?

If so, you are in luck because that is the theme that this New Moon stellium is germinating. The gestation process will require you to pay your dues. This probably includes a process of making key investments.

Doing so will, in turn, require a learning process and paying closer attention to the details.

Virgo (Aug. 24-Sept. 22) It is likely that you have been increasingly aware and committed to creating a healthy lifestyle. Changes in your diet, taking more vitamin and mineral supplements, improving your attitude, getting more organized and clearing the clutter are all examples. The impulse to take this commitment to the next level has been activated by this New Moon. Tune-in and engage consciously.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) A creative impulse has been growing steadily these past weeks. You may find yourself buying art supplies and outlining designs and plans for creative projects or perhaps the time has come to write that book…

This Aquarian influence will support you to take this inspiration to a whole new level. You may even be surprised how open and enthusiastic you are to starting a new hobby.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Saturn in your solar 4th

house all on its own can prove lonely, burdensome and intimidating. Yet, you are fortunate to have five friends with you currently.

Do express your appreciation and do not lean on them, though, as they will leave one by one over the coming weeks and months.

Make the most of this fellowship by receiving the gifts they each have to offer.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Aquarius is the sign of illumination and awakening and with this stellium occurring in your 3rd solar house of perceptions and interpretations; you may already be noticing a whole new level of awareness. This New Moon will contribute to a steady flow of such epiphanies and realizations. You may even learn to see yourself and the world and in the world in a whole new way.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Change is the law and sometimes it comes in quickly, like now. For you, the implications are closely associated with themes of power. Financial themes and considerations are likely. Investments, purchases, acquisitions, inheritances, taxes and insurance policies are all likely items on the list. On the other hand, the focus could be on friends and allies with influence and leverage.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) You have probably noticed over the past several weeks that you have begun new projects and initiated a new round of self-expression. Somehow, what is unfolding is serving to shake things up close to home. While it is quite possible that you yourself feel shaken and stressed out by circumstances, it is quite possible that it is having a positive influence as well.

Look for the silver linings.

Pisces (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Many new realizations are entering your consciousness. Despite the fact that this Aquarius stellium is occurring in your solar 12th house which is symbolic of the subconscious mind, for you it will likely prove very conscious because Pisces ‘owns’ this house. Yet, it is probably best that you avoid starting large new projects and redirect your attention to any started in the past yet not yet completed. michael@sunstarastrology.com

14

The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021

Enter your pet in the BC SPCAs Calendar Contest, Feb 11–28 Is there a special animal who always puts a smile on your face? Celebrate them by winning them a spot in the BC SPCA’s 2022 Calendar. For many animal-lovers, their pets have gotten them through some tough times during the past year, and the Calendar Contest, presented

by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, offers a great way to celebrate all the pets of BC. “With the events of the last year, many of us have been able to spend more time than ever with our pets,” says Tess Repenning, senior manager of digital giving for the BC SPCA. “We know there are lots of animal-lovers out there with a camera roll full of pictures of their pets, and our annual Calendar Contest is the perfect way to share them while raising urgently needed funds for homeless, abused and injured animals.”

Last year, the BC SPCA helped more than 97,000 domestic, farm and wild ani-

METRO CREATIVE PHOTOS

mals in need through cruelty investigations, sheltering and adoption, emergency veterinary care and rehabilitation and a wide range of outreach, advocacy and education services.

Participants are invited to upload their pet’s photo and story to the Calendar Contest website and then invite friends and family to donate in support of their furry friend. The 13 animals (12 months and one cover) with the most votes at midnight on Feb. 28, 2021, will win a spot in the 2022 BC SPCA Calendar.

This year’s contest also has some exciting new features thanks to the addition of presenting sponsor Hill’s Pet Nutrition. If you enter a super cute image but don’t make it into the top 13, you’ll still be in the running to be the Hill’s Honourable Mention, which will also be printed in this year’s calendar. Hill’s will also be giving 25 bonus votes to anyone signing up with a do-

nation of $25 or more on the contest’s Feb. 11 launch day – a great incentive to register early and start sharing your perfect pet pic with family and friends.

Hill’s generously provides all the food for the cats and dogs in BC SPCA care and is excited to expand their relationship into sponsoring the Calendar Contest fundraiser.

“We are delighted to be supporting this fun and very important fundraiser. We could all use a smile these days, and what better way to do that

than sharing our cute animal shots for a good cause,” says Frances Cheslo, engagement specialist, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada. “We are so excited to see all the pictures that are shared and look forward to crowning one lucky pet as the Hill’s Honourable Mention.”

To register and learn more, visit spca.bc.ca/calendar or contact the BC SPCA at events@spca.bc.ca or Generosity Services at 1-855-6227722.

Submitted by BCSPCA

Road rage in Sechelt On Feb. 6, police attended a road rage incident that occurred near the intersection of Trail Avenue and Cowrie Street in Sechelt after a pedestrian reported almost being struck by a vehicle.

The vehicle driver and the pedestrian got into a ver-

bal exchange, which ended when the driver smacked the pedestrian’s phone out of his hand. Police took statements from the pedestrian and a witness, and the file is still under investigation.

Submitted by RCMP

Nominate BC’s champions of multiculturalism, anti-racism The province is seeking nominations to honour individuals and organizations that are strengthening multiculturalism and taking a stand against racism and discrimination throughout BC. British Columbians can now submit nominations for the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards for individuals, organizations, and

youth whose work has enhanced inclusion and cultural diversity and reduced racism and discrimination in their communities.

The call for nominations closes at 5pm, Feb. 22, 2021.

There are three categories, with five awards in total: • Intercultural Trust Awards (two awards): Provided to an outstanding organization or individu-

al for their work in building intercultural trust and understanding and/or reducing racism and hate between communities.

• Breaking Barriers Award (two awards): Provided to an outstanding organization or individual for their work in tackling systemic or institutional racism and reducing barriers for marginalized communities.

• Emerging Leader Award (one award): Provided to an outstanding youth/young adult, aged 15 to 30, for their work in building intercultural trust, tackling racism or reducing barriers for marginalized communities.

All nominees will receive a certificate of recognition.

Award winners will receive plaques. The youth award

recipient will receive $5,000 to donate to a not-for-profit organization of their choice to further promote multiculturalism and antiracism.

Nominations will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges made up of members of the provincial Multicultural Advisory Council and a former award recipient.

BC’s Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards ceremony will take place virtually in late March to coincide with the annual International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

For more information and to submit a nomination, go to www2.gov.bc.ca and search BC Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Awards.

Submitted

admin@thelocalweekly.ca WORK WANTED

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HOW TO APPLY: Please send resume to Human Resource Manager, Laurie Maguire - Lmagu@scacl.ca or by phone 604-305-2068

• Private: 10 words 2 weeks $14.99 +GST • Business: 10 words 1 week $14.99+GST +GST

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The Local - Thursday, February 11, 2021 15

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On Feb. 5, a Coast resident reported a fraud after meeting someone online who, after several months of communicating, expressed a desire to come visit the complainant. The scammer convinced the resident that she could not afford the travel costs, so the resident agreed to send her money in Google Play Cards to help cover the trip expenses. On the date of expected arrival, the scammer was a no-show, and the resident’s messages and phone calls to the scammer were ignored.

Likely, the person the resident thought he was communicating with doesn’t exist, and he will not be able to recover the money spent on the gift cards. This type of romance scam is widespread and comes in many forms. To learn more about the warning signs to watch for and other popular scams, visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www.antifraud centre-centreantifraude. ca. Submitted by RCMP

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