Tod Inlet Still Has a Host Boat Program

Good news: The Tod Inlet host program is still active.

Recently, Parks Canada closed its marine host program at various locations in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. The two locations now permanently closed are the marine park’s at Portland Island (formerly hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club) and the Beaumont Island site (formerly hosted by the Sidney North

Saanich Yacht Club).

Roger Hind, president of the council of BC Yacht Clubs (CBCYC) informed PY readers of the closures in a letter in the April 2023 issue. Hind expressed his disappointment with Parks Canada’s decision as the host program provided excellent services at little cost to the government and the program was popular with the volunteer hosts and visitors alike.

According to Hind, the feds explained the host program was closed during the pandemic, that the staff member responsible for the program had retired and that they didn’t want to hire and train another employee. “The only tasks were to reprint a small brochure [now easily available on a smart phone] and organize occasional maintenance of the small dock,” he said. “The volunteers provided the real value.”

The closures have led to some confusion. A PY reader wrote to the editor noting the Tod Inlet host program— one of the former Parks Canada locations—is still functioning.

Indeed it is.

A couple of years ago the Marine Parks Forever Society offered to split the cost of a replacement host dock with BC Parks. “The old dock was really dilapidated and unsafe,” said George Creek, former MPFS president. “We found some used docks in excellent condition with new flotation and installed them.” And in 2023, volunteers from the Capital City Yacht Club provided host services under the aegis of BC Parks.

Katy Fulton, BC Parks’ Cowichan area supervisor, told me that the Tod Inlet hosts are busy and responsive. “A volunteer group hosts a week at the time,” she said. “They greet boaters and inform them about hiking trails, how to get to Butchart Gardens and so on. And they report to me frequently. They keep an eye out for illegal camping, forbidden fires and speeding boats. It’s a really helpful program. Just like the former federal hosting, it’s a valuable volunteer contribution.”

—Marianne Scott

Pacific Yachting Take Your Best Shot Photo Contest

Pacific Yachting’s annual photo contest is back! Don’t forget to get behind the lens this cruising season, and start submitting your best boating photos from 2023 for a chance to be featured in Pacific Yachting. Prizes will be announced in the next issue of Pacific Yachting!

For contest rules and to enter, visit pacificyachting.com/photo-contest.

Deadline: December 15

POLYESTER MESH BAGS & HAMMOCKS

Fine mesh allows air to flow through and still holds small items

17 Stern Ties Added to Jedediah Island Marine Park

British Columbia

ANCHOR MARINE

Victoria, BC 250-386-8375

COMAR ELECTRIC SERVICES LTD Port Coquitlam, BC 604-941-7646

ELMAR MARINE ELECTRONICS

North Vancouver, BC 604-986-5582

GLOBAL MARINE EQUIPMENT Richmond, BC 604-718-2722

MACKAY MARINE

Burnaby, BC 604-435-1455

OCEAN PACIFIC MARINE SUPPLY

Campbell River, BC 250-286-1011

PRIME YACHT SYSTEMS INC

Victoria, BC 250-896-2971

RADIO HOLLAND

Vancouver, BC 604-293-2900

REEDEL MARINE SERVICES

Parksville, BC 250-248-2555

ROTON INDUSTRIES

Boaters will see improved stern ties when visiting Jedediah Marine Provincial Park this fall. The stern tie pins and chains in Deep Bay have been upgraded with the replacement of several pins and all of the chains with galvanised materials. In addition, a high-visibility marker has been added to make each of the 17 stern ties visible along the shoreline. This project was initiated by the BC Marine Parks Forever Society (MPFS) and completed by the park operator, Innovative Aquaculture Products Ltd. of Lasqueti Island. MPFS supplied all materials and shared the installation costs with BC Parks.

Boaters will find that using stern ties has many advantages over swinging on their anchor. Safety is enhanced as clambering over slippery rocks is eliminated. Trees will no longer suffer abrasions and the seabed will enjoy less scouring from anchor chains being dragged around. Go to bcmpfs.ca for more information on the BC Marine Parks Forever Society. Information on Jedediah Island can be found at: bcparks.ca/ jedediah-island-marine-park

Vancouver, BC 604-688-2325

SEACOAST MARINE ELECTRONICS LTD

Vancouver, BC 604-323-0623

STRYKER ELECTRONICS

Port Hardy, BC 250-949-8022

WESTERN MARINE CO

Vancouver, BC 604-253-3322

ZULU ELECTRIC Richmond, BC 604-285-5466