The Local Weekly October 8, 2020

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Volume 19, Issue 40

Sunshine Coast, British Columbia • www.thelocalweekly.ca • Thursday, October 8, 2020 COVID Style Thanksgiving Pages 8 and 9

Candidate Bios Page 2

Housing Affordability

Bonnie & Henry

Page 3

Fuel Review Page 5

Raise The Roof Page 5

Gimme Shelter Page 6

COVID Update Page 10

Daughter Scam Page 12

Coast Transit Changes Page 13

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Meet Bonnie and Henry, who will soon begin their training to become guide dogs. BC Guide Dogs announced last week the birth of 10 little Labrador puppies, two of whom have been named “Bonnie” and “Henry” to honour BC’s Provincial Health Officer. “Thank you for the incredible work that BC Guide Dogs does, supporting so many people in British Columbia,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry. “It is an honour to have two such adorable namesakes. I would like to extend my warmest wishes for the continued success of your organization during what has been a difficult time for all of us. Taking a moment to appreciate the joy of two little puppies is so welcome.” BC GUIDE DOGS PHOTO

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The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

2020 BC ELECTION • CANDIDATE BIOS BC NDP Nicholas Simons (Incumbent) Nicholas Simons grew up in Montreal before moving to Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and finally settling in BC. He has been on the Sunshine Coast for 28 years, the last nine of which he has lived in the historic townsite of Powell River.

Simons has an undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa, and a master’s in criminology from Simon Fraser University. He has taught both criminology and child protection to social workers based in First Na-

PHOTO SUBMITTED

tions communities.

Before Simons entered politics, he worked as the crime prevention coordinator for the Northwest Territories, as a financial assistance worker, and as a child protection social worker for the Ministry for Children and Family Development in Sechelt and North Vancouver.

Simons has been a consultant for the Federal, Northwest Territories, and First Nations governments in areas of law reform, crime prevention, and child welfare. He served

as the director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation from 1997 until his election to the provincial legislature in 2005. He was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017.

As MLA, Simons has served as the chair of the Caucus Social Policy Committee, on the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, and the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth. He has also served as the Opposition critic for tourism, sport and

the arts; human rights, immigration, and multiculturalism; the Ministry for Children and Family Development; and Community Living BC. Simons has been active in the arts community as a cello teacher, performer, and session musician. He is a former president of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council and the founder and editor of the Lower Langdale Tattler, a limited-circulation satirical newspaper.

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she managed the Boundary Bay Airport’s operation and development. In the last 25 years, Stoddart-Hansen has worked as a consultant and lobbyist on projects mainly related to aviation and human resources. Her company is The Ballantree Consulting Group Ltd. Stoddart-Hansen was appointed to the BC Ferry Authority Board in 2014, chairing the board for the last year of her term.

As a volunteer, Stoddart-Hansen has served as

chair of Dress for Success Vancouver, been a board member on Leadership Vancouver, and canvasser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

She has also been chair of a strata council and a boating and pilotage instructor with the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons. Stoddart-Hansen was very involved in organizing the first Coast Open Tennis Tournament to support hospice and served on the Sechelt Airport Advisory Committee.

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medicines.

In 2013, Darwin became president of the Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce, a position she held for four years. She also cochaired a Community Futures Loans and Investment Committee, adjudicating loans for social enterprise organizations. Shortly after joining the BC Green Party in 2014, Darwin was elected as provincial council secretary and then as vice-chair in 2019. In February of this year, she stepped down to run for

the party leadership. In addition, Darwin co-founded and chairs the Workforce Affordable Housing Society.

In 2017, Darwin ran as the BC Green MLA candidate for the Powell River – Sunshine Coast riding, where her team doubled the party’s 2013 vote share, finishing a close third with 6,505 votes. After the 2017 election, she co-founded and became president of the Powell River Sunshine Coast Riding Association.

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BC Liberal Party Sandra Stoddart-Hansen Sandra Stoddart-Hansen was born and raised in Victoria. For many years she lived in Ottawa before moving back to BC, taking residence in Halfmoon Bay in 1996.

Stoddart-Hansen attended first the University of British Columbia and then Carleton University, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics.

Following her degree, Stoddart-Hansen began working for the federal government in Ottawa. She worked for the Department

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of National Defense and the Public Service Commission.

Stoddart-Hansen spent 12 years with Transport Canada, primarily working in the aviation sector. She also served as director general of human resources for the Department of Justice. After 19 years with the federal government, Stoddart-Hansen moved back to BC and worked as vice president of human resources at Women’s and Children’s hospitals in Vancouver.

She also served as president of Alpha Aviation, where

BC Green Party Kim Darwin Kim Darwin has lived on the Sunshine Coast for most of her life. She was born on Lasqueti Island, but her family moved to Davis Bay when she was two years old. She raised three children on the Coast and currently lives in Sechelt.

Darwin graduated from Chatelech Secondary School and earned her mortgage broker real estate property management qualifications from the Sauder School of Business at UBC. She also studied western herbal med-

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icine, traditional Chinese, and Ayurvedic medicine in the US. Darwin was a legal assistant for 16 years in Sechelt, specializing in property law, corporate/commercial law, contracts, and wills/ estates. After going back to school in 2003, she started her own mortgage consulting business in Sechelt. For four years, she held a hobby job working for a herbal medicine company where she grew and wild-crafted herbs to make natural

Local and provincial debate dates set To help voters in the Oct. 24 provincial election gain insight into candidate and party platforms, a number of public debates are scheduled.

VoiceLab Sunshine Coast has slated an online debate for candidates in our riding Thursday, Oct. 15 from 7 to 9pm. This event will stream live on YouTube and Facebook. Candidates will be asked to share their plans for action. They will also be responding to questions about the environment, housing, transportation, employment support, and other concerns

most pressing to young adults. Sechelt Councillor and VoiceLab Executive Member Matt McLean will moderate.

To register to attend or to submit a written question, visit www.voicelab.ca The Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce will host a riding all-candidates’ debate on Monday, Oct. 19, from 7 to 9 pm. This event will focus on issues of relevance to the Coast. It will be live-streamed on the Chamber’s website – www.sechelt chamber.bc.ca – from the restaurant at Blue Ocean Golf

Course in Sechelt. A limited on-site audience will be allowed. Those guests need to register in advance with the Chamber and follow protocols to protect the health of all.

NDP Leader John Horgan, Liberal Party Leader Andrew Wilkinson and Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau will debate key election issues in a live event which will be televised and streamed on social media Tuesday, Oct. 13. This 90-minute debate is scheduled to begin at 6:30pm.

Connie Jordison

A photo of Donley’s Landing on Beaver Island – now Francis Peninsula. The painted building in the centre was the first store built by Robert Donley in 1913. It became the first school in Pender Harbour in 1915 and the first voting place. A year later, BC would become the fourth province to extend voting rights to women, and the only to do so as the result of a referendum. Male voters – the only people eligible in 1916 – voted 70 percent in favour of giving women in the province the right to vote. By 1917, women were allowed to vote on the same basis as men, but BC excluded both sexes of certain ethnic groups. It wasn’t until the late 1940s that Indigenous people, Japanese, Chinese and South AsianCanadians were allowed to vote. SUNSHINE COAST MUSEUM & ARCHIVES PHOTO

Housing affordability on the Coast The greatest challenge related to housing on the Coast is affordability, according to a recently completed Housing Needs Report for the Sunshine Coast.

The report states that since 2005, housing prices for single-family dwellings in the area have increased by 80 percent. Within Sechelt, they have more than doubled.

Such homes are the most common type of housing available in the region. With prices currently starting in the $600,000 range, purchasing one is unaffordable for median income-earning households in almost all areas of the Coast.

The rental market does not fare much better in terms of affordability. In the last five years, the cost of rentals nearly doubled. The report sites that as early as 2016, over 40 percent of all Coast renters were living in unaffordable housing.

The report is on the agenda for the Town of Gibsons Oct. 6 Planning Committee and Council meetings. Gibsons, Sechelt and the SCRD partnered on the project. Town staff managed the process, which was launched in January with $110,000 in provincial funding. Consulting firm Urban Matters prepared the report, which was commissioned to give local governments an understanding of the areas current and future housing needs. The report looks at the supply and state of the existing housing stock.

In addition, it projects future housing demands.

The assessment goes on to identify issues and trends to consider when drafting housing-related policies and programs. To do this, the report looks at housing through the lens of a “Housing Wheelhouse.” This approach recognizes that people’s accommodation needs change throughout their lives. As the population across the Coast continues to grow and age, the study

All Candidates Meeting Meet the Provincial Election Candidates - Hosted by VoiceLab

Sunshine Sunshine Coast & An evening toCoast present& and promote the needs and ideas of young people Powell Powell River River Schedules Schedules September September 5, 5,2017 201715th --January January 1, 1,2018 2018 October 7:00-9:00pm Join us live on YouTube and Facebook

FALL/WINTER FALL/WINTER Housing Wheelhouse. PHOTO SUBMITTED says it is important that more diverse and affordable housing options be developed. It also notes that sustainability concerns, such as water, public transportation, and energy efficiency, should be strong components of such developments.

The document is intended to be the foundation of a possible regional growth strategy and the updating of official community plans. It identifies ways that local governments can encourage the development of accommodations that are in demand.

These include investing in or providing incentives for projects. Drafting policies and regulations that support appropriate developments, promoting partnerships that address housing challenges and raising awareness of housing needs are other suggested actions.

The impacts of short-term rentals on housing availability are commented on in the report. A scan of the rental properties listed on Airbnb was conducted on April 13.

That revealed there were 854 units in the Airbnb inventory on the Coast, which accounted for roughly six percent of all private dwellings in the area. It also showed that the

average per night price paid was $195.

Community consultation was part of the development of the report. During these events, stakeholders reported that there is a lack of housing for workers across the Coast. Views were expressed that this is impacting employers’ abilities to hire qualified staff. Another concern was the long waitlists for housing support for individuals with physical and mental health challenges.

Gibsons Director of Planning Lesley-Anne Staats explained that the role of the report is to identify the “who” and the “what” related to housing needs, but not the “how” of meeting those needs. She said the next step is for Urban Matters to complete a further report expanding on options and best practices for local governments to encourage the development of housing types as recommended.

Along with making report results public, Staats, on behalf of the staff of all Coast governments involved in the project, recommends that a stakeholder forum be held to launch the policy options report.

Connie Jordison

Sunshine Coast fares poorly in report A new comparative report released by five community foundations in the Howe Sound/Sea-to-Sky region has the Sunshine Coast faring the worst of these communities in a number of indicators.

Community foundations in the Sunshine Coast, Bowen Island, West Vancouver/ North Shore, Whistler, and Squamish have published a report – A Vital Exploration 2020 – that compares the latest information from Vital Signs reports, census data, and other community sources.

According to the report, Sunshine Coast residents scored lowest in median to-

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 3

tal household income and the number of residents with incomes of more than $100,000. On the issue of substance abuse, Coast students scored highest for the use of alcohol, cannabis, and vaping with nicotine.

Coast residents also had a higher than average number of seniors living alone – 27 percent out of 8,690 seniors.

Both Sunshine Coast and West Vancouver are challenged to attract sufficient numbers of caregivers for their aging populations when wages cannot keep up with living costs.

Coastal residents were the most likely to get to work by

active transportation than people in other parts of the province. Thirteen percent on the Sunshine Coast either walk or cycle to work, compared to the BC average of 10 percent.

The report also demonstrated the many similarities in challenges faced by the respective communities – rapid growth, aging populations, a lack of affordable housing, poor transportation options, limited employment options, and pressing challenges posed by climate change, including emergency preparedness.

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Learn the candidate's platform positions Do your part in the democratic process Vancouver Vancouver -Langdale Langdale Shape the -future of your province (Horseshoe (Horseshoe Bay) Bay) (Gibsons) (Gibsons) Make your voice heard

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All are welcome to join this conversation.

Crossing CrossingTime: Time:40 40Minutes Minutes September September 55--October October9,9,2017 2017 VoiceLab.ca LEAVE LEAVE HORSESHOE HORSESHOEBAY BAY LEAVE LEAVELANGDALE LANGDALE @voicesunshinecoast facebook.com/voicesunshinecoast 7:25 7:25am am 6:20am am 6:20 9:40 9:40am am 8:30am am 8:30 12:00 12:00pm pm 10:50am am 10:50 w w w . t h e l o c a l w e e k l y. c a 1:30 1:30pm pm Sun 1:05pm pm 1:05 Sunexcept exceptOctOct88 2:40pm pm Sun 2:40 2:15 2:15pm pm Sunexcept exceptOctOct88 3:55 3:55 pm pm Oct Oct 9 9 3:25 3:25 pm pm September 6, 2016 - January 2, 2017 SUNSHINE COAST 5:00 5:00pm pm OctOct99 4:30 4:30pm pm FERRY SCHEDULE 5:50 5:50pm pm Mon-Fri, Mon-Fri,except exceptOctOct99 5:30 5:30pm pm FALL/WINTER 7:00 7:00pm pm Mon-Fri, 6:35 6:35 pm pm Mon-Fri,except exceptOctOct99 For schedules, fare info or to reserve 1-888-223-3779 or www.bcferries.com 8:40 8:40pm pm 7:35 7:35pm pm Schedule in Effect: September 8 pm to 10:35 10:35pm pm 9:40 9:40 pm October 12, 2020 Crossing Time: 40 minutes Langdale - Vancouver Distance: 10.5 nautical miles (Gibsons) - 2017 (Horseshoe Bay) 1, October October 10, 10,2017 --January January 1,2018 2018

Sunshine Coast & Powell River Schedules

Please Note: At Langdale, ticketing will end five minutes before the scheduled sailing time for vehicles

(Sunshine Coast) LEAVE HORSESHOE BAY LEAVE HORSESHOE BAYBay (Vancouver) LEAVE LEAVE LANGDALE LANGDALE and walk-on passengers. At Horseshoe only, ticket sales for vehicles and walk-on passengers will end ten minutes before the scheduled sailing time.

DailyDec Daily 7:30 6:20 7:20 7:20am am am-Except 6:20 6:20am am am- Except Except Dec2525&&Jan Jan11 ExceptDec Dec2525&&Jan Jan11 Langdale/Vancouver and Powell River/Sechelt Peninsula are not guaranteed to connect. Please plan Daily Daily 9:25 9:25 am am 8:25 8:25 am am 9:50 am 8:40 am your travels accordingly.

11:30 11:30 am am- Time: 10:25 10:25am am am- Daily Daily 40 Minutes 12:05 pm 10:55 Crossing 1:35 1:35pm pm 12:35 12:35pm pm 2:20September pm - Daily 1:10 pm - Daily 3:50 3:50pm pm 6 - October 10, 2016 2:45 2:45pm pm LEAVE LANGDALE LEAVE HORSESHOE BAY - Daily Friday, Sunday & October 12 only, 3:20 pm 3:30 pm 5:50 5:506:20 pm pmam 4:50 4:50pm pm 7:20 am 7:50 7:508:25 pm pmam except October 11 6:50 6:50pm pm pm- Friday, Sunday & October 12 only, 9:25 am 4:45 11:30 am 10:25 am Daily 4:40 pm 9:45 9:45 pm pm 8:45 8:45pm pm except October 11 1:35 pm 12:35 pm

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The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

Editorial Opinion

Weekly Cartoon

Blame game hurts wildlife Most of us can remember a time in childhood when we were caught doing something wrong and pointed the finger at someone else for the misdeed. We might even still feel guilty about it.

Blame culture is rampant in wildlife “management.”

Throughout Canada, governments are implementing culling programs, blaming predators for declining wildlife populations, even though humans are at the root of the problem.

Nature is complex. It’s difficult to determine whether culling even works, and some studies show tampering with nature by isolating and killing one species can do more harm than good.

Along the Pacific Coast, seals and sea lions are often blamed for declining salmon populations. The US recently granted permission for hundreds of sea lions to be killed. According to a spokesperson, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is considering similar actions here. But sea lions and seals eat dozens of other fish, including some that prey on salmon.

More than 100 marine predators eat salmon, and sometimes predators become prey, depending on size. According to David Suzuki Foundation senior scientist Scott Wallace, “There are about 140 different species in the ocean that eat salmon, and we’ve chosen to highlight seals and sea lions.

There’s a long history of villainizing and scapegoating seals and sea lions, but I think it’s quite short-sighted to think that we can manipulate an ecosystem to enhance a single species.”

In Alberta and BC, governments have sanctioned and paid to kill wolves, bears and cougars in efforts to keep imperilled caribou herds alive. Research shows these culls are having “no detectable effect” on recovering caribou. It’s true that wolves and other predators are affecting struggling caribou populations, but it’s mainly because roads and other industrial disturbances increase overall predator success by providing sightlines and travel corridors.

Industrial activity is the primary cause of boreal woodland caribou decline, but wolves and other predators are taking the hit. In Alberta, strychnine is often used to poison wolves, with impacts cascading throughout the food web.

The role of any animal within its ecological niche is far more complicated than the single predator-prey interaction that culling purportedly tries to control.

Humans need to recognize when we’re failing to effectively “manage” the natural world that supports us — when our actions are harming or destroying ecosystems and need to be rethought. We must grow up, take responsibility and stop scapegoating other species for our mistakes.

Wildlife has co-existed for thousands of years, predators and prey each playing their part in a complex, symbiotic dance. It’s our actions that are out of step. David Suzuki

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BCs Economic Recovery Plan is aimed at building resilient communities through a variety of approaches. The emphasis is on promoting a sense of safety (economic, health, etc.) and includes providing funding for start-up projects for infrastructure, roads, bridges, etc. At this time, it would seem that the Sunshine Coast is facing a tremendous opportunity to continue with the building of a highway from Gibson’s to Earl’s Cove that would finally move logging trucks, eight-wheeler trucks, dump trucks, and other trucks as well as through-traffic out of the centres of our small communities, such as Gibsons, Wilson Creek, Davis Bay, and Sechelt. It would also provide an alternate route to the existing low road whenever emergencies occur, for emergency vehicles, as well as others.

The exponential growth of traffic and large vehicles on the existing highway will likely not decrease as people continue to discover this

beautiful place.

Will our local government take hold of this great opportunity? Will this finally become a reality for Coasters, bringing peace and safety to the many affected neighbourhoods?

Sonia Koehler, West Sechelt

Poster threat I am horrified and frightened by a poster threatening Dr. Bonnie Henry taped to a post in Sechelt. The poster accused Dr. Henry of making up the international pandemic to inconvenience the people of BC. The illogic of a lone BC doctor creating an international problem makes me wonder if the hostility is coming from an anti-feminist movement.

It reminds me of the “lock her up” chants of Trump’s campaign rallies. Threatening an intelligent, accomplished (and kindly) woman should alert the RCMP to find out who is behind this threat.

Joan Payne, Sechelt

Thank you Now that the summer season for the Sechelt Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market is over, there are a number of people we need to thank for helping make this a safe and successful summer: • The District of Sechelt for their ongoing support of the market.

• Vancouver Coastal Health and local Environmental Health Officers for guidance on operating safely.

• The volunteers who made the market possible: Sheena MacDonald, Cheryl Mills, Lauri Paul – Sechelt Fish Market, Ruth McLarty, Mike McLarty, Linda McMahon, Chris McLaughlin, Ben Shapland - Kate McLaughlin – Site Manager for the market who met all the challenges that COVID-19 presented to running the market.

• And finally, the customers who attended the market each week.

This year was a challenge.

As we know, most of the annual events that we as a community look forward to were either cancelled,

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scaled back or postponed due to COVID-19. Through designation as an essential service and guidelines issued by the Provincial Health Office, farmers’ markets had a unique opportunity to quickly adapt and continue to operate. As a whole, farmers’ markets were acknowledged as a safe environment to provide communities with local food and a social experience that is so critical to whole health.

We look forward to continuing to provide the community with access to local food and artisanal products going forward through the winter season. Please check with us at www.face book.com/secheltmarket or www.secheltmarket.com for details in the coming weeks.

We would also like to hear about your experiences at, or concerns about, the market this year to help our planning for next spring.

Send comments or questions to secheltmarket@ gmail.com.

Thank you for your support. Be Safe and Be Kind.

John Byrnes, President, Sechelt Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market

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Letters to the Editor – Opinions

The Sunshine Coast Community Forest has freshly graded the Mason Carlson Forest Service Road, providing moderate two-wheel drive access to Wormy Lake, the Wormy 150 Trail, and other excellent outdoor recreational opportunities. The Wormy 150 is an easy 3.5km loop trail around Phare Lake built by the Sunshine Coast Trails Society with the support of the Community Forest, Rotary Club of Sechelt, and the Government of Canada. Explore this area of our community’s forest while you can, as the road surface will again deteriorate with weather and wear over the coming season. For more information and maps, visit sctrails.ca. SUBMITTED

BY SUNSHINE COAST COMMUNITY FOREST

Letters to the Editor should be sent by e-mail to editor@thelocalweekly.ca. The deadline is Monday at 10am for that week’s paper. 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.

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 5

Halfmoon Bay raises $250,000 for hall A “Raise the Roof” barometer at the north entrance to Redrooffs Road off Highway 101 shows that over $250,000 has been gathered to replace Coopers Green Hall. These funds have been raised by the Halfmoon Bay Community Association (HBCoA). They will be added to the over $2 million in grant funding secured by the SCRD for the project from the Federal and Provincial Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

The siting for the community hall replacement has not been finalized. The SCRD Board has stated concerns with locating the new infrastructure close to the existing hall’s site, given its proximity to the ocean. Following the announcement of the grant award in early July, members of the SCRD board

questioned the wisdom of reusing the existing location, given that it could be negatively impacted by sea-level changes.

In a statement released in August, HBCoA President Terry Knight said that the group had met with its SCRD Area B Director Lori Pratt.

The group is continuing this dialogue. Knight said that the concerns and issues discussed were not insurmountable and that his group continues to work with SCRD staff to get the project underway.

In applying for the grant, the SCRD relied on a “Class B” estimate, which put the project’s cost in the $3 million range, if construction was started in the first quarter of 2021. The grant would cover up to 73 percent of project costs, up to a ceiling of about

$2 million. There will likely also be a need for a contribution from the SCRD tax base, depending on the fundraising efforts’ results.

The SCRD has noted that the estimate did not include the costs of adding parking or a larger septic system for the new hall.

Hall replacement has been on the radar of the HBCoA since 2013. Over the past three years, the group and a task force of local residents have worked with the SCRD and an architect to plan and design the facility which would meet the needs of the community into the future.

Individuals interested in contributing to the HBCoA’s fundraising campaign can contact Don Cunliffe at 604740-0833 or Terry Knight at 604-885-5034 for details.

Connie Jordison

Vehicle fuel price reporting survey BC residents have until Oct. 15 to provide written comments to the province on retail vehicle fuel price reporting. The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) has established a public hearing process regarding fuel price reporting data under the Fuel Price Transparency Act (FPTA).

The BCUC is responsible for collecting fuel data in accordance with the FPTA. It is encouraging the public to participate in a review of that system. Full details on how to comment or take part in the review are available on www. gaspricesbc.ca.

The Act became law in November of last year. It requires companies to report information and data on their activities in the gasoline and diesel fuel market in the province. As a first step in providing the public with more information about how gasoline and diesel prices are set in BC, the BCUC launched its website in April. The website displays publicly available data, which visitors can

customize to view information based on geography or price components. Pricing data for seven major BC markets is displayed, but nothing for retailers on the Sunshine Coast. It does contain a link to a private website maintained

by The Kent Group Ltd., a consulting firm, which posts pricing for over 60 BC communities, including Powell River.

Another fuel price monitoring site, Gasbuddy.com, lists most Coast communities with retail vehicle fuel outlets. It relies on public input to report retail fuel prices.

As of Oct. 3, only included current fuel price comparisons for Gibsons and Powell River were available on that site.

In August, the BC government required retail vehicle fuel dealers to submit fuel data to the BCUC in a retail data collection pilot project.

Beginning next month, the Commission is set to start full public reporting of that information.

The Act provides that the

vincial wildlife health staff to investigate the possible emergence of AHD since deer were discovered dead on Galiano Island in September.

Samples from these animals were sent to Canadian and United States laboratories to confirm the cause of the disease.

Since its initial discovery in California, AHD cases are recorded in the western United States annually with outbreaks in some locations.

With improved diagnostic tools, wildlife health experts recognize the disease more often. There are outbreaks underway in California and Oregon. However, BC has never documented the disease.

Cervids (mule deer, whitetailed deer, elk, moose and caribou) are all susceptible to

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w w w. t h e l o c a l w e e k l y. c a Gas pump at the Mobil Gas Bar in Tsain-Ko Village Shopping Centre. CONNIE JORDISON

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BCUC may publish other information related to fuel pricing if it is satisfied that protected information regarding individual companies or their practices will not be disclosed. It can also release those details if it believes the public interest outweighs any potential harm of releasing it.

Connie Jordison

New deer disease suspected in BC The Province is tracking the outbreak of a possible new disease in deer on the Gulf Islands.

Adenovirus hemorrhagic disease (AHD) is suspected as the cause of death of over 60 deer on at least two Gulf Islands. However, further testing is needed to confirm a definitive diagnosis.

While there is no known human health risk from the virus, and there is no evidence that it can be transmitted to humans, hunters in the area are being advised not to consume meat from animals found dead, obviously ill or acting abnormally prior to death. As well, research indicates that it is not transmissible to livestock and pets.

A network of wildlife professionals has assisted pro-

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the disease. Members of the black-tailed deer family (including mule deer) appear to be most severely affected. In addition, fawns are far more susceptible than adults and suffer much higher rates of death. The disease course is usually rapid and fatal as the virus damages small blood vessels in the lungs and intestines.

Acute signs of the disease include difficulty breathing, foaming or drooling from the mouth, diarrhea (sometimes bloody) and seizures. More chronic symptoms include ulcers and abscesses in the mouth and throat. Anyone observing deer displaying these signs should report it to the Wildlife Health Laboratory at 250-751-7246.

Submitted

October 2020 Regular Council Meetings 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.

Council meetings can be viewed in person in the Community Room beside the library. Participants must maintain a 2-meter distance from staff and other participants and masks are required by all participants.

Chairs can not be moved.

• Committee of the Whole: October 14 at 3:00pm • Regular Council Meeting: October 21 at 7:00pm • Committee of the Whole: October 28 at 3:00pm

Join the Zoom Meeting Citizens are encouraged to watch meetings on YouTube or participate in them via Zoom. At the end of each Council meeting there is an opportunity to ask Council questions about items on the agenda. Simply click the Zoom link on the Meeting Calendar at Sechelt.ca to join. You can join with audio only.

The meeting host will ensure your microphone is muted until you raise your hand (by pressing *9) and then you will be unmuted by the host to ask your question. Meeting hosts will help you to be heard.

If you have questions about how to join call 604-885-1986.

If you have questions for Council but don’t want to join the meeting, you can email council@sechelt.ca.

Municipal Hall Hours The municipal hall continues to be open 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday. To meet with staff for any reason an appointment MUST be made. The appointment can be arranged by telephone, web conferencing or in person at a safe distance. www.sechelt.ca | info @ sechelt.ca | 604-885-1986

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The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

ZONING BYLAW COM M U N I T Y CON S U LTAT I ON HOME BUSINESS

HOME BUSINESS

Fundraising for dog park amenities The Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast wants to team up with the District of Sechelt to add a shelter for the new off-leash dog park on Ebbtide Street. The Club hopes to raise at least $4,000 to build a shelter for dog owners in the park by exchanging “doggie bags” loaded with useful samples and coupons for cash donations. Club Director of Public Relations David Connors was outside Trail Bay Centre on Oct. 3, operating the donation table and providing information on the project that Club has named “Gimme Shelter.”

Rotary plans to have the “doggie bag” fundraising table at that location again on Oct. 10, weather permitting.

The bags, donated by local merchants, contain a wide

variety of canine treats, toys, and food samples. Also, there are discount coupons for local dog-related services, like wash stations and photography services. There is a chance to win a prize draw by guessing the number of treat bones displayed in a jar at the information table. In addition, the Club is seeking sponsorships for the project in exchange for donations of $250 or more.

Connors said that the details on the sheltered seating area’s location within the park and its design are yet to be finalized with the District. He feels that having a spot to access cover from inclement weather will benefit the park users, especially seniors.

The opening date for the

off-leash park, near the intersection of Ebbtide Street and Trail Avenue, is yet to be determined. In the District’s second-quarter financial report, staff projected the opening would happen in early 2021.

Sechelt’s Communications Manager Julie Rogers said that the new park was completed last spring. Archaeological work on the District’s adjacent Trail Avenue realignment project made it necessary to keep the area closed to the public. Those efforts require excavated soil to be relocated for screening, and that is blocking access to the park area. “We don’t know how much longer that process will take,” said Rogers.

Connie Jordison

Rotary Club of the Sunshine Coast Director of Public Relations David Connors outside Trail Bay Centre fundraising to build a shelter for dog owners at the new off-leash dog park on Ebbtide Street in Sechelt. CONNIE JORDISON PHOTO

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 7

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Our team at Heather’s Independent Grocers would like to wish you & your families a happy and healthy Thanksgiving and from the bottom of hearts.

We want to thank you all for your support and kind words over the past few months as we all faced very challenging times both from a health & supply perspective.

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Local

the

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hosting Thanksgiving during pandemic Much like the holidays that preceded it in 2020, Thanksgiving figures to be different this year. An ongoing pandemic has changed the way much of the world lives their lives, including how holidays are celebrated.

As the novel coronavirus COVID-19 spread across the globe beginning in the winter of 2019-20, the World Health Organization recommended a host of behaviors designed to prevent the spread of the virus and protect those who are most vulnerable to it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also noted the importance of keeping distance from others, especially for those who are most likely to get seriously ill if they’re exposed to COVID-19, such as the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions.

The WHO and the CDC continue to recommend social distancing, which means Thanksgiving in 2020 will be unlike any other. Families must make their own decisions about getting together this holiday season, but hosts who intend to welcome guests into their homes this Thanksgiving can take certain steps to keep everyone as safe as possible.

• Scale back the guest list.

Families accustomed to large Thanksgiving gatherings can scale the festivities back this

year in an effort to keep everyone safe. Consider hosting a meal for immediate family members only, as the Environmental Protection Agency notes that COVID-19 may spread more easily in indoor environments via airborne particles. Extended family members can visit each other over the long holiday weekend to ensure everyone still sees each other, but keep such visits outdoors when possible.

• Consider eating Thanksgiving dinner outside. If the weather permits, consider eating Thanksgiving dinner outside this year. Doing so may limit everyone’s exposure to the respiratory droplets that researchers say can spread the virus when inhaled. If necessary, serve the meal earlier than you normally would so everyone can eat at midday when it’s still warm outside. Hosts also can consider serving something more convenient than turkey, which takes a long time to cook, and limiting side dishes to one or two items.

• Assign seats. If the meal will be served indoors, then hosts can assign seats to protect those most vulnerable to serious illness from COVID-19. Instead of cramming everyone in at one table, set up temporary tables and have guests sit in every other seat rather than next to one

METRO CREATIVE PHOTO

another. Isolate the vulnerable as much as possible while still ensuring they can engage in conversation.

• Discourage guests from attending if they feel sick. A list of COVID-19 symptoms can be found at www.cdc.gov.

In the days prior to Thanksgiving, hosts can share that list with guests via email or social media and discourage guests who are feeling ill on or around the holiday from attending the festivities. If necessary, make a to-go plate for ill relatives and drop it off at their homes so they can still enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.

• Stock up on hand soap and hand sanitizer. Hosts should make sure hand soap and sanitizer are readily available throughout their homes.

When guests arrive, make sure everyone washes their hands immediately, and encourage guests to continue doing so throughout the day.

Thanksgiving will be different in 2020. Hosts need to adjust their normal Thanksgiving routines to ensure the safety of their guests. Submitted

Local

the

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 9

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving wishes from the Local With the Thanksgiving weekend upon us, it is a time to think about how lucky Coast residents are to live where we do. Over what has been a challenging six months, our community has remained strong and safer than many others. This result is not an accident. It

comes from focused efforts by those on the front lines of keeping our community liveable and secure as we battle COVID-19. As our community has shown with 7pm sound salutes, car rallies, and warming displays of messages of gratitude, those efforts are appreciated. To those in

Thanks in large part to a global pandemic, Thanksgiving figures to be celebrated a little differently this year than in years past. Family gatherings may not be as large. In addition to smaller gatherings, many families may opt to host Thanksgiving dinner outdoors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 virus spreads very easily through person-to-person contact, and the risk of spreading the virus is even greater when spending time indoors with other people.

As a result, some families are planning to host Thanksgiving dinner outdoors on their patios or decks this year. That decision has prompted some to consider different ways of cooking their Thanksgiving turkeys, including smoking.

Smoking has long been associated with cooking foods like brisket at home, but smokers also can be used to make delicious Thanksgiving turkeys. Thanksgiving hosts who want to smoke their turkeys outdoors this year are urged to take a few trial runs and watch some online tutorials before trying their hand at smoking. Smoking relies heavily on controlling temperatures, which can fluctuate dramatically and quickly inside a smoker. As a result, smoking a turkey may require simple but frequent adjustments to dampers so the temperature inside can remain steady at around 107 C/225 F. Hosts who suspect they will be busy hosting or preparing side dishes on Thanksgiving may want to cook their turkeys in more traditional ways, such as baking the bird in the oven. Those who can devote the time to controlling the temperature on their smokers also should

know that the turkey will take much longer to cook in a smoker than in an oven. According to the online grilling resource Heygrillhey.com, cooks should plan to smoke their turkeys at 107 C/225 F for approximately 30 minutes per pound. That means smoking a 15-pound turkey will require at least 7.5 hours cooking time. That’s a significant factor to consider for people who want to host Thanksgiving dinner outdoors this year. In order to avoid serving smoked turkey after the sun has gone

health care, policing, emergency response, essential retail and commercial services, education, transportation, and community supports, Coasters have and continue to say, thank you. So, we say thank you to all of you – from our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving. The Local

Smoked turkey this Thanksgiving

Sechelt Hospital Foundation is proud to support the amazing individuals and teams who act as the front line in health care delivery.

From Sechelt Hospital and Home & Community Care, to our Public & Mental Health teams and health units across the Sunshine Coast, Thanks to you, the best medicine is local.

METRO CREATIVE PHOTO

down and temperatures have dipped, Thanksgiving hosts may need to wake up especially early and fire up their smokers around the break of dawn if not earlier.

Submitted

Honouring grateful patients and donor wishes since 1995.

Please consider Sechelt Hospital Foundation when planning your will or annual charitable contributions: www.sechelthospitalfoundation.org

The best medicine is local.

w w w. t h e l o c a l w e e k l y. c a

Sechelt Sechelt With COVID-19 still impacting our community economy, local businesses are stepping up to help launch the annual Thanksgiving Food Bank Drive, running Oct. 1-31. Local businessman Klaus Fuerniss was first out of the gate with a donation of $1,500 from his Wendy’s/Tim Hortons franchise. Presenting the cheque to Food Drive representatives Susan Kimm-Jones (St. Bart’s Food Bank) and Darrell Pilgrim (Ministry Director for the Salvation Army programs). Donations to the Food Bank Drive may be made through the website at www.sunshinecoast foodbankdrive.ca, or by cheque payable to Sunshine Coast Community Services with “Food Bank Drive” noted on the memo line. PHOTO SUBMITTED

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ARTWALK Sept26 to to Oct26 Oct26 Sept26 Explore the the ARTS ARTS in in Sechelt.

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10

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

Sunshine Coast COVID Physician Task Force Community Update #36 Dear Fellow Sunshine Coast Residents: Over the last month, we have seen the number of new COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Canada and around the globe. Here in BC, the number of new cases has remained fairly stable over the last few weeks, though we are still seeing far more new cases than we did earlier in the summer. We are also seeing an increased number of hospitalizations across the province as people in higher-risk categories are infected.

Locally, the latest public Health Authority data indicates that we had seven new COVID-19 cases on the Sunshine Coast during the month of August, for a total of 14 cases since the beginning of the year. This is yet another reminder that COVID-19 is present in our local community and that we need to keep working to minimize infections, especially with our

population demographics and limited health resources.

Diving into the end of August numbers a little deeper, we are encouraged that overall infection rates as a percentage of total population in our community have remained quite low and much lower than our provincial infection rate. This speaks to our overall success in minimizing COVID-19 infection in our community. Similarly, our local rate of test positivity (the number of positive tests as a percentage of total tests) remains low at 1.5 percent.

This is comparable to the provincial rate of test positivity of 1.7 percent. Together, these numbers indicate that, as of August, our community has done a good job.

That being said, the Respiratory Assessment Clinic remains extremely busy as we approach the fall flu season, and we are in the process of expanding our capacity

once again. We are currently testing more than 40 people per day, including children.

This number is anticipated to rise further as we get into flu season.

As noted in our previous update, we are providing testing for people of all ages, including children. For those children ages 4 to 18 who will not tolerate a nasopharyngeal swab, the saline gargle test is now available. If your child develops COVID-19 symptoms and needs to be tested, please make sure that you review the online video and instructions from the BCCDC prior to getting tested. Your child must not eat, drink, chew gum, or brush their teeth for at least an hour prior to testing. We would recommend your child practices gargling with salt water at home to make sure that s/he feels comfortable with the test and knows what to expect.

There has been some confusion recently regarding when children should be tested and when children should be kept home from school. The current guidance from the BCCDC recommends testing for any child with one COVID-19 symptom that lasts more than 24 hours, any child with a fever, and any child with two or more COVID-19 symptoms. If you are not sure whether your child should be tested, please contact the Respiratory Assessment Clinic for a virtual assessment or use the provincial online self-assessment tool.

As a reminder, the list of potential COVID-19 symptoms remains quite long. As per the BCCDC website, these symptoms include: fever, chills, a new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of sense of smell or taste, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and

vomiting, and muscle aches. It is also possible for COVID-19 to present with nasal congestion, pink eye, dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain, new skin rashes or discolouration of fingers and toes.

Please keep these symptoms in mind when trying to determine whether you or a loved one should be tested for COVID-19.

In terms of when to keep your child home from school, daycare, or other activities outside the home, it is always good policy to keep your child home if they develop any potentially infectious symptoms.

In the setting of COVID-19, it is especially important to keep your child home and self-isolating if s/he meets criteria for COVID-19 testing or is awaiting COVID-19 test results. Your child can return to school if s/he tests negative, and his/her symptoms have resolved (unless advised otherwise by Public Health).

As before, we encourage everyone to continue with the basic measures that will help keep infection rates low and limit the impact on our hospital and healthcare providers. Please keep your bubbles as small as possible and keep at least two metres between yourself and anyone outside of your bubble whenever possible. Please wear a mask in situations where it is impossible to maintain social distancing. Wash your hands frequently, and especially after touching any high contact surface. Always wash your hands before and after eating, drinking, or touching your face or mask.

If you develop cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, please contact the Respiratory Assessment Clinic by phone or text at 604-740-1252 or by email at coastrespclinic@gmail.com. The clinic is open seven days a week from 8:30am to 4:30pm. We would request that you leave a single message, text or email when contacting the clinic; we will contact you as soon as we are able and leaving multiple messages makes it more difficult for our staff to respond in a timely manner.

As we continue to test

everyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms, please do not hesitate to call if you become even mildly ill. Please make sure to self-isolate if you have symptoms and are awaiting testing, or if you are waiting for test results. This means staying home from work and avoiding all other activities outside your home until you have tested negative and your symptoms have resolved.

If you have more severe symptoms and believe you may need to be admitted to hospital, please go to the Sechelt Hospital Emergency Department. If you need an ambulance, please call 911. Please remember that the Emergency Department remains open and safe for anyone with a medical emergency.

If you are worried that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 after hearing about an outbreak in an area you have visited recently, the dates and locations of COVID-19 public exposures are online for each Health Region (Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Interior Health, Vancouver Island Health, Northern Health). School exposures in our area will also posted on the Vancouver Coastal Health website.

In the next couple of weeks, flu shots will be available and are recommended for everyone over six months old. Flu shots will be available through a number of local pharmacies, and there will also be flu clinics at the Gibsons, Sechelt and Madeira Park Royal Canadian Legions. For families with children up to 18 years of age, the Gibsons Health Unit, Sechelt Health Unit and Pender Harbour Health Centre will also be offering flu vaccines for the entire family.

Keep well, wash your hands, keep your distance or wear a mask, stay local if you can, and please keep doing everything you can to keep our community safe!

The Sunshine Coast COVID Physician Task Force Dr Jennifer Baxter Dr Ted Krickan Dr Herman Mentz Dr Brian Nelson Dr Daren Spithoff

Full driver doors on buses Passengers in Powell River and the Sunshine Coast will soon see buses equipped with full driver doors designed to protect the health and safety of BC Transit operators.

Retrofits on conventional fleet buses in the Powell River Regional Transit System will get underway in the coming days, followed by retrofits to the Sunshine Coast Transit System. Kodiak Mobile Video Installations will complete installations of the protective doors, produced by AROW Global Corporation. While the installation process is taking place, passengers will experience no impact to service levels.

The full driver door is a movable barrier situated to the right of the driver’s seat near the fare box and is designed to increase protection for our

drivers.

The full driver door installations will be carried out over a roughly two day period, with the new doors replacing the current vinyl panels installed as protective barriers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Community and handyDART buses in both the conventional and custom systems will continue to be equipped with vinyl panels.

Kodiak Mobile Video Installations will return to the Sunshine Coast in mid-October to complete retrofits on 27.5 foot Vicinity buses that require an alternate door design.

BC Transit has accelerated their installation schedule, and 633 buses will be retrofitted with full driver doors across 34 transit systems in the province by mid-October.

Submitted by BC Transit

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 11

Talk of The Town

Bill Beamish Mayor, Town of Gibsons

Each September, representatives from municipal governments across BC come together for several days to attend the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention.

The gathering provides an opportunity for local governments of all sizes and from all areas of the province to meet, share their experiences and take a united position on various policies, which are then carried to other orders of government and organizations involved in local affairs.

In the world of local politics, the UBCM convention is one of the most important events of the year – which is why Gibsons’ Council and staff were honoured when the Town of Gibsons won the Excellence in Asset Management category of the 2020 UBCM “Community Excellence” Awards.

The award was related to our ‘eco-asset strategy’, which dictates that we manage and protect our natural assets (like the stormwater ponds in White Tower Park, the Gibsons Aquifer, and our urban forest) in exactly the same way we manage our engineered assets (like our water and sewer pipes, and roads).

It’s an approach that has garnered the Town international attention and positioned us to win multiple awards from numerous well-respected organizations.

While the recognition is

certainly gratifying, I believe the awards bestow value that go beyond the short-term thrill, as they set a standard (both internally and externally) that Town Council and staff strive to uphold in our day-to-day work and decision-making.

As a team, we are well aware that Gibsons is a global role model for its progressive and innovative approach to natural assets. Accordingly, we are highly motivated to keep implementing the policies and supporting the initiatives that will enable us to maintain (and advance) our excellent reputation.

It’s a similar feeling with regard to winning Small Business BC’s “Open for Business” Award and being named one of BC’s “Age-Friendly Communities.” Yes, we implemented a host of strategies to earn the titles – but what more can we do to ensure we remain worthy of the honour?

For the audience, awards represent a brief opportunity to acknowledge an individual’s or an organization’s hard work and resulting achievements.

But to the winner, awards can be far more valuable, providing a moment of pride, a buffer against the naysayers, and the longer-term confidence and motivation to keep moving forward with work that’s been deemed to be worthy by our peers.

For information on our natural asset strategy and the UBCM award, please visit gibsons.ca/natural-assets.

To contact me, please email: mayor@gibsons.ca or phone: 604-989-2364.

Horoscope Michael O’Connor Astrologer

Aries (Mar. 21 – Apr. 19) A process of review and reconsideration of prior steps and actions is in the spotlight. Your ruling planet Mars, retrograde, is the main player. This attitude will become increasingly apparent this week. You may have to unravel and redo decisions and actions made this summer. This naturally implies more attention to the details so you will be investigating them.

Taurus (Apr. 20 – May 20) It is likely that you have entered a cycle that is leading you to do some inner work. This may manifest as a soul-searching process. The goal is to increase your sense of courage to be true to what your instincts are telling you. Others may react skeptically, however. If so, be willing to engage them in a dialogue to both hear them out and to be heard. See the creative middle ground.

Gemini (May 21 – June 21) Getting your affairs in order is a central focus now. Positively, this is already activating a creative focus. A rebellious mood all the while is percolating.

Yet, you are being guided to carefully consider your perspectives and interpretations, especially those you have deemed to be final. If

engaged sincerely, a steady process of reinterpretation will guide you to see anew.

Cancer (June 22 – July 22) The urge to huddle close to home continues. Yet, from this place, you yearn to be comfortable, safe, and secure. However, there are some disruptive and possibly disturbing influences that are also at play. These may have to do with how you feel at home. Both inner feelings and outer circumstances are leading you to reconsider where how is and/or how it is arranged and organized.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 23) A steady stream of creative thoughts and ideas are flowing through your mind.

As willing as you are to give, you also feel determined to get returns on your investments. Meanwhile, you feel compelled to follow rabbit holes leading you down to much deeper perspectives.

Freedom is among your prime objectives but outer circumstances are requiring consistent effort.

Virgo (Aug. 24 – Sept. 22) The process of completing projects continues.

These are leading you to review and refine previous efforts. Positively, doing so is proving to empower and energizing, despite the additional efforts required.

As well, the process is giving you the opportunity to express a more exact and, thereby, satisfying result.

Fine-tuning your perspec-

tives is the reward for your efforts.

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) Venus in Virgo continues to lead you into some measure of retreat mode. Mars in Aries, however, does indicate a combative mood.

At worst, others may deem you belligerent. Ironically, that is what you perceive them to be. So, you are challenged to find the middle ground. Mercury in Scorpio, meanwhile, is leading you to dig deeper to see a bigger picture.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) Laying low works for you too these days. At worst, you feel scattered and stretched. However, you also feel compelled to share your views and to be heard and heeded. Sharing intellectual exchanges with others is a source of pleasure all the while. Yet, you are wise to listen and be willing to learn, as well. Otherwise, you may feel energetically depleted due to intellectual resistance.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) The Sun in Libra is bringing all your beliefs and principles to the fore. Yet, challenges from others are either leading you to escape into the security of your existing convictions or to do your own research and investigations. Either way, themes of truth are a central theme.

Practical concerns and considerations are also featured and obtaining new tools and skills are appealing.

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Circumstances of late have ushered you back onto the stage. Positively, you are enjoying the cultural exchange and others are impressed by your ability to reveal subtle truths and emotional intelligence. However, you remain challenged to keep an open mind and this will prove increasingly true over the coming weeks. What are the sources of your perspectives?

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 19) With each new day, you yearn to see a bigger picture and more clearly. Previously help values and priorities are undergoing a steady purification process. More important than being right, you want to feel secure. Cultivation of your skills and resources plays a key role in this regard. Directing your time, energy, and focus to your sphere of influence will strengthen your confidence.

Pisces (Feb. 20 – Mar. 20) Libra time is ever one of change and transformation for you. Striking a balance between what you need to do to feel healthy and how you can still feel creatively inspired is a common theme. Currently, as the pendulum swings, the focus is on creative expressions.

Positively, the process of engagement is also serving to open you to deeper levels of awareness and insight. michael@sunstarastrology.com

CAMPAIGNING IN A PANDEMIC – Open letter to Powell River Sunshine Coast voters

Hello, my name is Sandra Stoddart-Hansen and I am the BC Liberal candidate in your riding.

This snap election called in the midst of a pandemic is making us re-think how we campaign while keeping our volunteers and community members safe. I wanted to share with you a few of the tough decisions I’ve made about my campaign: As COVID seems to be entering a “second wave”, in an abundance of caution I have decided not to open a campaign office in either the North or the South part of our riding;

Our campaign team will reach out with our platform using the phone, social media, zoom meetings and newspaper pieces like this one, and of course we want to hear from you through social media or via e-mail sandra.stoddart-hansen@bcliberals.com; I am limiting the number of signs that will go up along our highways; I will not be putting up any lawn signs – in my view they are not environmentally friendly and I believe that people cast their vote for the person who they feel can do most for their riding – not the candidate who wins “the sign war”;

And, finally, my campaign team will not be doing any door knocking, but I will be driving throughout the riding in the campaign-mobile and stopping to meet and talk to people in an appropriately socially distanced way.

I hope to meet and talk to as many people as possible in the days leading up to the election and I hope that everyone, from those who work at Elections BC, to the candidates and their volunteers and to you the citizens of our riding remain safe and healthy.

AUTHORIZED BY DAVID GOLDSMITH, FINANCIAL AGENT FOR THE BC LIBERAL PARTY | 1-800-567-2257

12

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

High-risk locations identified for Coast cyclists and pedestrians The results of an active transportation improvement survey are in, and most respondents indicated that much of the cycling and walking infrastructure on Sunshine Coast roadways is unsafe or not enjoyable.

The survey, conducted in

June by the cycling advocacy group Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC), identified 12 locations of concern and asked 196 respondents to indicate which ones posed the highest risk to cyclists and pedestrians.

Responses varied depending

on where people lived, but Highway 101 in Wilson Creek and Marine Drive between Gibsons and the Langdale ferry terminal were indicated as the areas in most need of improvement.

“People drive far too fast on this section of road,” said

TONY BROWTON

one survey respondent about Marine Drive. “At this point, you basically have to leap into the ditch or hope you’re close to a driveway to pull into if there are cars coming in both directions.”

Another problem area is the busy intersection of Highway 101 and Wharf Street westbound. “Very bad intersection for pedestrians for years,” said another respon-

dent. “I’ve almost been hit three times while crossing with my right of way. I know people who have been hit there and one fatality. I suggest an observation study of traffic and pedestrian activity for that intersection. Cars aim to turn right even on a red light, without noticing pedestrians just stepping out. It is very scary.”

TraC said it is urging the

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and local government to complete bikeable shoulders along Highway 101, provide regular ongoing maintenance of these shoulders, and commit to the creation of a continuous coast-wide non-highway route using secondary roads.

The full consultation results are posted on TRaC’s website. The Local

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Twelve priority locations mapped out by TraC in need of cycling infrastructure improvements.

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Mother, daughter, lawyer scam On Oct. 5, a Coast resident reported falling for a possible scam after receiving a call from a woman purporting to be the resident’s daughter. The crying woman told the resident she had been arrested. The woman then hung up and the resident received another call, this time from a male purporting to be the “daughter’s” lawyer. The “lawyer” told the resident her “daughter” was in custody for impaired driving and that the resident needed to wire transfer a large sum of

money to bail the “daughter” out. The “lawyer” told the resident she was now under a gag order and was not to discuss the file with anyone. The “lawyer” coached the resident to tell the bank she needed the money “for personal reasons” if she was questioned about the transaction request. All of these things are red flags that the resident initially ignored, and proceeded with the wire transfer. Fortunately, shortly after leaving the bank, the resident grew suspicious

and spoke with police who advised her to cancel the transaction before the funds were accepted by the scammers. To learn more about this type of scam, a variation on the common “grandparents scam,” as well as other popular scams, and how to recognize them, please visit sites such as the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at www. antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

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The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 13

Local SERVICES, RESTAURANTS, RESORTS, SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, MUSIC

the

Local

the

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE SUNSHINE COAST... in Gibsons, Sechelt & Pender Harbour!

Thursday, October 8

Synergy

Kitchens & Baths

• 2020 Vision – Sechelt Arts Festival, premiere productions of dance, live music, film, curated art exhibition, locally-inspired heritage exhibit, and multiple workshops. October 8-25 at various Sechelt venues, for details go to secheltartsfestival.com

Friday, October 9

Synergy Kitchens & Baths Buy Direct from the Manufacturer

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High End Cabinets at Wholesale Prices • Commercial New Home • Residential Renovations Residential • Commercial New Home • Renovations • DIY

High End Cabinets at Wholesale Prices

1877 Field Road, Unit 2, Wilson Creek (Sechelt) 604.740.3137 • www.synergykitchens.com

• Live Music: Sofa Kings, Roberts Creek Legion, 5-8:30pm, tickets at www.rclegionevents.com

• Sunshine Coast Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada present Dr. Arif Babul – The Large-Scale Structure of the Universe, 7pm, online on Zoom, go to www.coastastronomy.ca for the link • Joël Fafard Live at the Heritage Playhouse Theatre, Gibsons, 8pm, advanced tickets at Share-There.com

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Cheque book theft On Oct. 5, a Coast resident who’d had a cheque book stolen several years ago and thought the bank had cancelled the missing cheques, was surprised to find that two of the stolen cheques

resurfaced and had been cashed locally by two unknown persons. The bank reimbursed the resident, but police are continuing to investigate the fraudulent cheques. Submitted by RCMP

Early on Oct. 2, a suspect was caught on security video entering a business property in the 5600 block of Cowrie Street, Sechelt, and stealing a number of corrugated roofing panels. The suspect, who was using a

bike with an attached trailer to transport the items, was identified by police. Police located and recovered the stolen panels and are looking for the suspect. The file is still under investigation.

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Break and enter

Service changes head to the Sunshine Coast BC Transit and the Sunshine Coast Regional District are informing customers of a seasonal service change effective Oct. 13 in the Sunshine Coast Regional Transit System.

Starting Tuesday, Oct. 13, transit users in the Sunshine

Coast will see adjusted service schedules on all routes to align with BC Ferries seasonal schedule changes.

Specific route schedules are available on their website at www.bctransit.com/ Sunshine-Coast.

Submitted by BC Transit

Doors: 6:30pm Show: 7:00pm

• Thanksgiving Pie Sale: St. Hilda’s 12th Annual Thanksgiving Pie Fundraiser, St Hilda’s Anglican Church, Sechelt, 10am-12:30pm

• Shady Hazel Farm Pumpkin Patch, 805 Payne Rd, Gibsons, open every weekend in October, 10am-4pm • Sechelt Artwalk – take a stroll in downtown Sechelt and Trail Bay Centre visiting the shops and cafes to view art by over 70 local artists, pick up an Artwalk map at Artworks Gallery & Framing, 10am-5pm

• Fall Harvest Market, Masonic Hall, Roberts Creek, 11am-3pm

• Live music in the Atrium: Donald Glenn a.k.a.

Glenn Millar, Gibsons Public Market, 2:30-4:30pm • Live Music Saturdays @ Backeddy Pub, Egmont, 4-7pm, 604-883-2298 • Live Music: Drip Drop it like Hip Hop, Roberts Creek Legion, 4-9pm, tickets at www.rclegionevents.com

• Lounge Night with Shine: local duo, piano and vocals (Ken and Nancy), High Beam Dreams, Gibsons, 7pm, tickets at Eventbrite.ca

Sunday, October 11

• Sundays at the Mill, Macgee Cloth Textile Mill open for tours, Roberts Creek, 1-4pm, to book a visit call Laurie at 604-885-8450 • Live Music: Eddy Edrik, on the patio at The Clubhouse Restaurant – Pender Harbour Golf Club, 2-5pm

• Live Music: Tetrahedron, Roberts Creek Legion, 2-6pm, tickets at www.rclegionevents.com Includes listings compiled by the Coast Cultural Alliance. More details & more listings – including virtual events – at suncoastarts.com

Solo: $35 Couple: $65 Household of 4: $120 Household of 6: $175

Tickets Available Online at: Eventbrite.ca @highbeamdreams

(Price includes 1 Beverage or Local Kombucha) Charcuterie Board: $35 each *Limited seating concert.

Physical distancing and all safety measures applicable.

350 Glassford Rd, Gibsons • info@highbeamdreams.ca

ARE YOU NEW TO THE COMMUNITY? The Neighbourhood Welcome is a program that provides new residents with information, gift certificates and more to familiarize yourself and family with the local community.

As your Neighbourhood Representative, I will provide you with a package and great information to learn all about our amazing services and activities.

CONTACT ME TODAY TO SIGN UP! Stephanie Taylor 604-992-6261 welcometothecoast2020@gmail.com Do you have a Business and would like to be Partner with our Awesome Program?

Home-based, Single Owner/Operator, Non-Profit or Employee Based. Call me for more info and how it works! 604-992-6261

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14

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

admin@thelocalweekly.ca WORK WANTED

FOR SALE

FOR HIRE - PROFESSIONAL GARDENER / certified horticulturalist. Offering landscape consultation, maintenance, renovation, small construction projects, & design plans. Hard working & reliable. Serving Roberts Creek & Gibsons.

Limited availability. Ryan 604-886-3552

FOR SALE – 14ft fiberglass boat – open design- $400, Rust-free boat trailer, good condition, $900. Two halfdoors for a T.J. Jeep. Call for info. 604-399-8320

ANNOUNCEMENTS PURE ROMANCE with Jennifer

Your Pure Romance consultant on the Sunshine Coast!

Specializing in bath, body and intimate products.

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WANTED

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Motorhomes Travel Trailers Camper Vans

604-886-7341 Get $ CASH $ today and I’ll take it away.

SERVICE DIRECTORY

PRO PAINTER CUSTOM HOMES & RENOVATIONS Interior ~ Exterior Professional Painter

604.886.1804

Windows • Gutters Hand Siding Scrub & Pressure Wash

Old Weapons, Hunting & Military Items In Any Condition.

Ph: 604-740-6474 Top Cash Paid!

EMPLOYMENT

OBITUARIES

ROBINSON, Marguerite March 22, 1925 – September 26, 2020

SUNSHINE COAST ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING

Marguerite (my mother) passed peacefully at Sechelt hospital on the evening of September 26.

NOW HIRING:

Residential, Community and Youth Worker

Marguerite is survived by her son Wayne, three grandsons, Jason (Tess), Matthew (Laura), Shane (Jo) and seven great grandchildren, Samara, Kye, Nico, Amy, Owen, Zack, and Bree. She was predeceased by her husband Bill, and all eight of her siblings.

DAYS & HOURS: Various shifts (weekdays, weekends, overnights, days and nights) WAGE: Starting wage $20.52 LOCATION: Sechelt, (Numerous locations) WE OFFER: Extensive hands-On Training, Supportive Unionized Work Environment. Opportunities for Advancement. Variety of Shift Options. Employee and Family Assistance Program. MSP, Dental and Extended Health and Municipal Pension Plan

Mom was born and grew up in Vancouver, the second youngest of a large family. She had a “feisty” side and I have heard many stories from her childhood to suggest her life unfolded pretty much as she thought it should.

She met my father Bill at the age of 17. He was ten years older and of course her father objected. History has it that her father finally conceded after he learned she was climbing out her bedroom, sliding down the second floor roof to the ground to see him. She knew what she wanted.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Assist clients to live successfully in the community and in SCACL residential settings. Ensures that client’s physical, emotional, social, educational, and medical needs are met. Assist clients to enhance quality of life with activities of daily living and the development of life skills.

Provide Personal care to individuals.

QUALIFICATIONS: Class 5 driver’s license (permanent staff must be willing to obtain Class 4), First Aid and CPR Certificate, Clear criminal record, Clean driver’s abstract, Community care worker certificate, HCA certificate or related certificate or a diploma in the related human social services preferred, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training, Knowledge of Person Centered Active Supports

She married Bill on VE day, May 7th, 1945. They remained married till he passed 60 years later. Their relationship was special. Love is very subtle and theirs was a rare love that words cannot describe.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send resume to Human Resource Manager, Laurie Maguire - Lmagu@scacl.ca or in person at Suite #105 - 5711 Mermaid Street, Sechelt, BC

I think most people would describe Marguerite as outgoing, friendly and generally an optimistic person.

She made friends easily. She was determined to live independently on her own till the end. She did not want any help from her family, meals on wheels, or any kind of home support, but somehow it was ok if her friends took her shopping, or bought her food when Covid hit, helped her with her laundry or even cooked her dinner.

I want to thank all of her friends at Marina Place for helping her live life “independently” till the end. I also want to thank Dr Spithoff for his kind care of my mother and supporting me.

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Sechelt Hospital is a fine facility. But what really matters is what happens within the walls. I think everyone who is a part of that hospital should feel particularly proud. You are doing a great job.

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At Marguerite’s request there will be no service. The family requests no flowers, cards or anything really.

Just be kind to someone!

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Progress Group is launching a brand new Professional Cleaning Division. We are looking to add career minded and environmentally conscious employees to our team!

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The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020 15

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ACROSS 1. Begin 6. Health resort near a spring 9. Luminescence 13. Mischievous fairy 14. Assistance 15. Solitary 16. Arrange to be parallel or straight 17. Hawaiian garland 18. Kind of puzzle 19. Remainder 21. Sincere 23. Lair 24. Muffle 25. Condensation 28. Mature 30. Break out 35. Submerged coral ridge 37. Compressed matted fabric 39. Symbolic emblem 40. Relating to the mouth 41. Languish 43. Smack 44. Exists 46. Leg joint 47. Small open pie 48. Permissible difference 50. Microbe 52. Wily 53. Income or profit 55. Vitality 57. Mild powdered seasoning 61. Spray can 65. Mistake 66. Buddy 68. Proverb 69. Strainer 70. Nocturnal bird 71. Writing style 72. Finishing line for a foot race

73. Tonality 74. Church officer DOWN 1. Pole used to support rigging 2. Thin slab of fired clay 3. Center around which something rotates 4. Inflexible 5. Formal bid 6. Exchange of property for money 7. Pastry item 8. Farewell remark 9. Narrow secluded valley 10. Part of the ear 11. Burden 12. Direction

15. Take into custody 20. Become one 22. Consumed 24. Motley assortment of things 25. Oddly comical 26. Spooky 27. Fabric pattern or structure 29. A secret look 31. Monetary value 32. Book of maps 33. Smooth lustrous jewel 34. Vacant 36. Moved through the air 38. Large woody plant 42. The courage to carry on

45. Sarcasm 49. Large ox 51. Optical illusion 54. Tropical tree 56. Good example 57. Nuisance 58. Song for solo voice 59. Homework, in short 60. Wander 61. Friendly nation 62. Grains of rock 63. Fiend 64. Facial expression of contempt or scorn 67. Wonderment

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A

It was a busy September that capped off a strong finish to the quarter on BCs Sunshine Coast.

September year-over-year comparison is as follows: September 2019 saw 66 total sales – 35 of them were single-family detached, and the average price of those homes was $728,500. The average time on market was 90 days, and the total dollar volume of sales was $42,949,000.

September 2020 had 145 total sales – 73 of them were single-family detached houses with the average price of those homes being $845,000.

The average time on market has been 46 days, and the total dollar volume of sales was $103,792,000 Q3 (July, August and September) year-over-year comparison is as follows: Q3 2019 saw 215 total sales – 129 of them were single-family detached, and the average price of those homes was $686,500. The average time on market was 57 days, and the total dollar volume of sales was $140,787,000.

Q3 2020 had 447 total sales – 241 of them were single-family detached houses with the average price of those homes being $843,000.

The average time on market has been 38 days, and the to-

group here has been 55+ retirees looking to downsize or who are attracted to the slower pace and lack of crime. The retiree group is still here but are finding themselves competing with the new buyers.

The properties that are appealing to both groups are the ones we are seeing lots of action on at the moment.

The combination of these factors has resulted in multiple offers over asking price sales and has left us currently with low inventory. This is especially true in Gibsons, where single-family homes are in high demand, specifically, those with suites that buyers can use as mortgage helpers to have a family member live in.

I expect that starting in mid-October and by the start of November, the market will have slowed. It is anticipated that next spring the Sunshine Coast market will be busy again, especially if there is another COVID lockdown or increased restrictions between now and then.

Tony Browton is an award-winning Realtor who lives and works on BC’s Sunshine Coast.

His weekly blog can be found here http://www.true bluerealty.ca/blog

YEARS

of service

E

D

Tony Browton

tal dollar volume of sales was $315,271,000 Year to date year-over-year comparison is as follows: From January 1 to the end of September 2019, we had seen 553 total sales – 302 of them were single-family detached, and the average price of those homes was $692,000. The average time on market was 47 days, and the total dollar volume of sales was $354,287,000.

From January 1 this year up until the end of September, we have seen 762 total sales – 429 of them being single-family detached houses with the average price of those homes being $796,000.

The average time on market has been 42 days, and the total dollar volume of sales so far has been $519,695,000.

Note – the total number of sales for 2019 was 741, and the total value was $471,716,000, so 2020 has already surpassed that with three months left in the year.

Currently, the real estate market is hot because there are lots of buyers looking to buy here that historically we have not seen – or not seen in the same volume.

These buyers are those who are still employed postCOVID that no longer need to commute every day. Prior to this change, they would not consider the Sunshine Coast as a viable option as they would have had to catch the ferry/commute every day.

Historically, our leading and most affluent buyer

100%

Real Estate Market Minute

O P E R AT

16

The Local - Thursday, October 8, 2020

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