qathet Living August 2021 by Sean Percy

AUGUST 2021

Wi th S ty le

T h at ’ s H ow q at h e t R e c ov e r s f r o m a t o x i c e r a 100% LOCALLY OWNED • FIERCELY INDEPENDENT • ALWAYS FREE

AUGUST RESIDENTIAL CURBSIDE COLLECTION Sign up for your free curbside reminder by phone, email or text at powellriver.ca KNOW WHERE IT GOES

City of Powell River 2020 • YEAR AT A GLANCE •

Use the Waste Wizard to know what can and can’t be recycled. City of Powell River 2020 • YEAR AT A GLANCE • powellriver.ca

Garbage & Recycling Curbside Collection Calendar Garbage & Recycling Curbside Collection Calendar

City of Powell River 2020

Find a map of collection routes at www.powellriver.ca. For all enquiries, Find a map call of Public collection Worksroutes 604.485.8657. at www.powellriver.ca. For all enquiries, call Public Works 604.485.8657. Please note that your collection day will advance following a statutory Pleaseor note Citythat holiday. your collection day will advance following a statutory or City holiday.

• YEAR AT A GLANCE •

Put waste in it’s place!

WE’RE GOING DIGITAL! This will be the last annual&printed WE’RE and mailed GOINGPowell DIGITAL! River This will be the last annual printed and mailed Powell River Garbage Recycling Curbside Collection Calendar Waste Wise Guide. VisitFind us online atcollection www.powellriver.ca to Waste get your Wisedigital Guide. guide. Visit us online at www.powellriver.ca a map of routes at www.powellriver.ca. For all enquiries, call Public Works 604.485.8657.to get your digital guide. Please note that your collection day will advance following a statutory or City holiday.

WE’RE GOING DIGITAL! This will be the last annual printed and mailed Powell River Waste Wise Guide. Visit us online at www.powellriver.ca to get your digital guide. FEBRUARY 2020 MARCH 2020 FEBRUARY 2020 JANUARY 2020

JANUARY 2020

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Powell River's on-demand transit bus pilot!

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

CONTENTS AUGUST 2021 Rising from the ashes

Old incinerator site gets a new life

How to reduce conflict

With Maynard Harry and Stewart Alsgard

Hunt Fish Maniac

Local sportsman gets a TV show

Salmon like it wet & cool

Not like the weather we’ve been having

It’s raining larvae

Looper moths may destroy the woods

Meet Abby

qathet Living’s new LJI reporter

Got Guests?

Locavore recipes for your loved ones

qathet Pride Festival

Meet those who have “come out” here

qathet Studio Tour

Plan your road trip and shopping spree

6 10 17 19 20 34 40 45 48

REGULAR FEATURES Blast from the Past The Other Bottom Line I Made the Move A Growing Concern What’s Up Business Affairs Events Take a Break Last Word

13 35 36 37 38 42 43 52 54

“Dump” visit wasn’t a waste

It was a surreal experience to photograph the cover shot for this month’s issue. I hadn’t laid eyes on the old incinerator at the former garbage dump in decades. As a kid, I had helped my Dad unload bags of garbage and yard waste at “the dump,” and watched the loader push the mounds into the fiery flames. The last time I remember being at the incinerator site was while I was working as a reporter and photographer for the Powell River News. The RCMP had made a massive marijuana bust, and a mountain of pot was being pushed into the burning pit, along with whatever detritus had accumulated in the drop-off area that afternoon. There were the obligatory jokes about living downwind. By today’s standards that incinerator (or, as I was regularly reminded by critics of the municipal operation, it should be described as a pit burner) was a monstrosity – tossing toxin-laden smoke into the air and leaving behind toxic ash to be buried. Even by the standards of the day, it was a problem, which is why it was shuttered and we resorted to shipping our waste to Washington. Of course, in burning our waste or in shipping it out, we accomplished the same thing: we made it go “away.”

In the broader sense, there is no “away,” and most of us recognize that. So the way the qathet Regional District and the team behind the soon-to-be Resource Recovery Centre have repurposed the old dump site will go a long way to rectifying the mess we made. It won’t be perfect, but it will be a sight (and site) better than what used to be. It will be a showcase of how to handle trash. You can read more about this in Pieta Woolley’s article on Page 6. As usual, the diversity SEAN PERCY of articles in this magazine is a remarkable comment on the diversity of our community and the challenges we face – and overcome. From a looper-moth invasion of epic proportions threatening our forests (Page 20) to drought threatening our salmon (Page 19) to sky-high grocery prices (Page 33) there’s plenty to worry about. But there’s also lots to celebrate, from precedent-setting co-operation between governments (Page 10) to the return of in-person art appreciation (Page 48) to the heartwarming story of someone literally giving the shirt off his back (Page 33). With a community like this, we’ll make it through, probably.

IN THIS ISSUE

Publisher & Managing Editor

Isabelle Southcott isabelle@prliving.ca

Associate Publisher & Sales Manager

Sean Percy

Volume 16, Number 8

ISSN 1718-8601

sean@prliving.ca

Editor & Graphics

Pieta Woolley

pieta@prliving.ca

qathet Living is 100% locally owned and operated by Southcott Communications

Sales & Marketing

Suzi Wiebe

suzi@prliving.ca

ON THE COVER: qathet Regional District’s Mike Wall with the Let’s Talk Trash team of Tai Uhlmann, Ingalisa Burns and Abby McLennan at the old incinerator, which will, at least temporarily, serve as an education piece in the new Resource Recovery Centre. Photo by Sean Percy.

Accounts Receivable

Alena Devlin

office@prliving.ca

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Abby Francis

abby@prliving.ca

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

7053E Glacier Street, Powell River, BC V8A 5J7 Tel 604-485-0003 No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. © 2021 Southcott Communications. We reserve the right to refuse any submission or advertisement. Complete issues are available online at: qathetliving.ca

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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“

My partner and I moved out here for the welcoming and accepting community. After visiting a few times we knew that we could come out here and be our true selves.

”

- Clayton McCrea, CPA Page 46

A FEW OF AUGUST’S CONTRIBUTORS

Pitch us an article or a photo spread. Email pieta@prliving.ca

Advertise with us

Contact sean@prliving.ca 604-485-0003 or suzi@prliving.ca 604-344-0208

ERIN OSBORNE is a

personal trainer who lives in Langley, BC. She has a love for the outdoors and enjoys spending time in Powell River where her family has deep roots.. See Erin’s award-winning summer photo on Page 25.

JOHN HEWSON is a

vision enabler, a stand for authentic self expression, both for individuals and organizations. When we work together in alignment change can be fun and easy. . See John’s story, Queer in qathet, on Page 45.

JORDAN MITCHELL

was born and raised in Tla’amin by way of Powell River. A father of three, he enjoys many team sports and outdoor activities of all kinds. S ee Jordan’s story, What’s in a name, on Page 14.

CE’NEDRA DUBE

graduated from Brooks in 2020 and took the Culinary dual credit program for her goal to open a bakery. She works at the Seasider, draws and talks with friends. See Ce’Nedra’s grilled fruit recipe on Page 40.

ABBY MCLENNAN is

a founding member of the Let’s Talk Trash team who is passionate about re-envisioning waste as a resource and coordinates large scale beach cleanups in the region. S ee Abby’s story, Help tidy our tidal zones, on Page 8.

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THE FUTURE SINGS: Top, Maestro Arthur Arnold surveys the natural amphitheatre at the Resource Recovery Centre – not too long ago a swamp of toxic runoff – alongside Tai Uhlmann and Ingalisa Burns from the Let’s Talk Trash team, and Mike Wall, qathet’s now-retired Manager of Asset Management. Above, planners used materials found on-site and natural assets as much as possible to build infrastructure. Right, during a tour, Tai shows off images of future RRC buildings, and Ingalisa models her necklace, crafted from the site’s salvaged materials by local jeweller Teresa Harwood-Lynn. The outdoor classroom is a comfortable wetland. Far right, the infamous old incinerator. Photos by Local Journalism Initiative reporter Abby Francis

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Rising from the

ashes

Couch • RCMP Marijuana Bust • Battery • Drywall Tin Can • Clothes Paper • Electronics

BY PIETA WOOLLEY

arely do small town bureaucrats, engineers, machine operators, artists, musicians, foresters and politicians work together to create something so one-of-a-kind, so visionary and so practical that it becomes a global model for the future of the world, in a very WALL-E way. In fact, that probably never happens. It is happening here. Drive through ‘the cut’ up from Willingdon Beach and it’s hidden behind the trees on your right side. Locals will remember it as the old incinerator (pit burner) and landfill site. Here, until 1995, you could take your old mattress and throw it into the incinerator, then watch the toxic smoke billow out of the grate at the top. This was the graveyard for the remains of the old Safeway building, which burned down in 1972 and was unceremoniously dumped on a hillside. Until very recently, it’s where the region’s garbage trucks came to get washed out, the wastewater running through years of contaminated, buried ash, and ultimately into the salmon streams at Willingdon Beach.

No more. The blandly-named Resource Recovery Centre will open in 2022. The site has been fully remediated now, and the third and final phase entered: the building of the buildings and installation of the art. When it’s done, this is where you can bring your “trash.” But instead of incinerating it or landfilling it, this site and its staff have other plans. For example, say you’re tearing down a shed. If the wood is in good shape, it may go to the on-site social enterprise re-sale store as is. Or, some of the metal might be recyclable. Or you can compost smaller wood bits. In short, it gets treated as the resource it is. You can’t just burn it here anymore. The site will take your organics for composting (elsewhere), all of your recycling, and is a transfer station for last-resort garbage. Even greater than a remediated old dump, though, the site features an outdoor classroom in a shady, wet, cattail-filled oasis, where education about trash can happen. A sloping grassy amphitheatre invites musical performances. A workshop offers artists and makers the chance to transform materials. Forested

trails connect Townsite and Cranberry to Westview through these 16 acres. And Canada’s first ocean plastics depot will be relocated here, adding serious green cred. Overlooking it all is the remains of the old incinerator, with – ironically – one ratty grey couch still in the fire chamber. The incinerator is a hulking monolith of corrugated metal, cement, and iron. A monument to the toxic era we’re pushing to emerge from. It will stay partly as an education piece: this is where we used to burn our unwanted things. And partially, because no modern landfill will take it. The project’s coordinator, Mike Wall, retired at the end of July. His last act as qathet’s Manager of Asset Management and Strategic Initiatives was to tour a handful of artsy, touristy folks through the site (which you can read much more about at qathet.ca, and in later issues of this magazine.) Dozens of professionals transformed this site when most of qathet was hibernating during COVID. Eureka. What a remarkable era to wake up in.

| pieta@prliving.ca

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

qathet Shoreline Cleanup

QUICK FACTS POSEIDON IS NOT AMUSED: More than 56 tonnes of ocean trash have been collected from qathet shores. Total debris collected in the qRD region: 56,920kg / 56.92 tonnes

Help tidy our tidal zones BY ABBY MCLENNAN

Total debris diverted for reuse: 1,398kg

Total debris diverted for recycling: 31,625kg

Total number of beverage containers collected: 526 464(plastic), 43(aluminum) & 19 (glass)

Total number of temporary jobs created: 92

To use the Ocean Plastic Recycling depot contact info@letstalktrash.ca 604.485.2260

his past spring a historic announcement was made by the Province of BC that directly affected coastal communities – the Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund. As part of the Pandemic Response and Economic Recovery initiative, the funding comes through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, which issued $9.5 million dollars for shoreline clean ups and derelict vessel removal. This clean up initiative also supports BC’s work to address marine debris, as recommended in the 2020 “What We Heard on Marine Debris in BC” report and the 2019 “CleanBC Plastics Action Plan”. The qathet region was highly involved with this funding opportunity. Under the umbrella of the Ocean Legacy Foundation, Let’s Talk Trash submitted five different shoreline cleanup project proposals. All were approved. Selected project areas focused on catchment zones of higher marine debris concentration and included: Thunder Bay (south of town), ahgykson (Harwood) Island, ayhos (Savary) Island, Desolation Sound, and Malaspina, Okeover and Theodosia Inlets. The Ocean Legacy Foundation completed an expedition cleaning the east coast of Texada Island and the Lasqueti Shoreline Debris Initiative joined this collective force and focused on Jedediah Island Marine Park, Lasqueti Island, and surrounding

islands to round out and fully encompass the qathet Regional District. Integral project partners for the region included Tla’amin Nation, Tla’amin Guardian Watchmen, Klahoose First Nation and shíshálh Nation along with BC Marine Parks and the qathet Regional District. Then there were more than 90 individuals and local businesses who were a part of this massive clean up effort! The funding provided paid positions for shoreline clean up crews that have mostly been volunteer efforts in the past and allowed for the employment of vessels to target remote and hard-to-reach areas. A total of 34 days were spent on the ground cleaning these shorelines, nooks and crannies for Let’s Talk Trash’s specific projects. Ocean Legacy Foundation put 20 days in scouring the east coast of Texada and the Lasqueti cohort completed 37 gruelling days of hunting run away polystyrene (Styrofoam) and nurdles (plastic pellets). Overall, more than 70,000kg (70 tonnes!) of debris was removed from 300kms of shoreline in the čɛʔ/ Central Salish Sea area. Although this is a significant number, there is still debris out there! If you would like to get involved, collect debris when you see it and make a difference. You can contact Let’s Talk Trash to receive an orientation to access the qathet Regional District’s Ocean Plastic Recycling Depot.

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Completely made-up things we call news By Colin White, Portfolio Manager, WLWP Wealth Planners/ iA Private Wealth

ecently there was a completely made-up news story that circulated through most major news outlets. It had everything you could want. The star was none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star. He also happens to hold the world record with over 500 million followers on social media. Madeup news? World’s most prominent social media star? It goes like this. Ronaldo was recently playing in The European Football Championship, which is among the most watched sporting events globally, with an estimated two billion people tuning in for the 2016 tournament. One of the sponsors of the event was Coca Cola. At a recent press conference, two Coca Cola bottles were placed on a conference table; seated at the microphone was Ronaldo, preparing to answer questions from the international press. Ronaldo noticed the bottles, reached out, and moved them away, said people should drink water and took a swig from an unlabeled water bottle. Now I did see a video that seems to

show he did this with a bit of a playful smirk, but those details will not help this story; you have all the details you need to draw conclusions and run with them. The intrepid newshounds of the world immediately researched to see what effect this monumental gesture would undoubtedly have on the fortunes of Coca Cola. It was not hard to find out that on the day in question, shares in Coke dropped about 1.6%, roughly in line with the market that day. Well, that is not news. That is not the conclusion that we need. What can be done? Coca Cola is a very large company, depending on the day, worth over $240 billion dollars based on publicly traded shares. What is 1.6% of that number? Call it $4 billion. There is the headline, Ronaldo moved a bottle of Coke and wiped out $4 billion of value for Coca Cola.

The media ran with it. That is a great headline with a huge audience. Ronaldo fans will read it because of how influential Ronaldo is. Fans of the European Football Championship will read it because it is about the tournament. Businesspeople will read about it because it is talking about a star athlete’s effect on share prices. There were even follow up pieces discussing how brands can protect themselves from this kind of disaster and questioning the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements. The truth is that the Ronaldo apocalypse occurred at 9:43 am, and the $4 billion market drop was recorded at 9:40 am. Absent time travel Ronaldo did not cause what he is alleged to have caused. Is it plausible that his actions did hurt Coke? Absolutely. Is it possible that the coverage of this event exacerbated the effect? Sure. The problem is that nuanced thoughtful reflection is not as impactful as sensational headlines and would not be as successful in gathering eyeballs. Why are we taking the time to share this story? Maybe we are trying to hitch our wagon to the star power of Ronaldo and European Football? The truth is that we feel the best way to serve our clients and make a posi-

tive impact in the world is to stand up and educate everyone on how things work. The assumption is that if people are better at critical thinking, they will be less influenced by the constant stream of headlines they are bombarded with. Maybe, just maybe, this leads to better outcomes for everyone. We can hope. The lesson here is that headlines are never the whole story; in fact they may be outright wrong. If people used the original headline to sell their stock in Coke based on the premise that the snub by the world’s most popular person has wiped out billions of dollars in value, they would have been making a decision based on a false narrative. Critical decisions, like those about your finances and investments, deserve more attention than that. As always, call us if you have questions, 604-485-6160.

This information has been prepared by White LeBlanc Wealth Planners who is a Portfolio Manager for iA Private Wealth. Opinions expressed in this article are those of the Portfolio Manager only and do not necessarily reflect those of iA Private Wealth Inc. iA Private Wealth Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. iA Private Wealth is a trademark and business name under which iA Private Wealth Inc. operates. ~ Advertising feature

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How to resolve conflict A breakthrough 20-year-old process between Tla’amin Nation and the City of Powell River has become a model for local governments across Canada. It’s still crucial here, today.

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

BY ABBY FRANCIS, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

and update o f the

ack in 2001, when Stewart Alsgard was mayor of Powell River, he kicked off a project to redevelop the downtown waterfront area around the Westview Ferry Terminal. City planners had imagined an attractive Seawalk, a pier, a park and more. Watching the construction one day, things took a swift turn. “We were in the process of building the Seawalk, and had been bulldozing the area to start developing it,” recalls Stewart. “I remember I felt a firm grasp on my shoulder. [Then-Tla’amin Chief] Qwastånayå (L. Maynard Harry) said ‘Stop it’. “I had a lot of thoughts going through my mind, but the biggest one was: What have I done?” says Stewart. “I had not even thought to consult Tla’amin about the development; we also hadn’t noticed the petroglyphs that had been destroyed.” That’s the moment Stewart realized things would have to proceed differently in what’s now known as qathet – and he and Maynard began work on the 2003 Community Accord. “We got together, me and my city council, and Maynard with his council, along with an elder, and over time, came to an agreement.” That initial agreement was for Powell River’s Council to offer Tla’amin the contract for finishing the Seawalk, and to make sure the Nation had protection over the historical land. But much more than that, the Community Accord laid out a first-in-Canada roadmap for how two local governments would work together in the future to resolve conflicts as they emerge. Both Stewart and Maynard acknowledge that 2021 is a tense time for the two communities; not only is the Tla’amin Nation Treaty newly in effect, but the Nation’s government has asked the City to change its name and drop the reference to Dr. Israel Powell.

Over the past two decades, Maynard has travelled across Canada many times sharing with other communities the wisdom contained in the Accord.

THEY DON’T LOOK A DAY OLDER: Left to right, Maynard Harry and Stewart Alsgard revisiting the seawalk in 2021; then-Mayor Stewart and then-Chief Maynard on the seawalk in 2001; Stewart and Maynard signing the Community Accord in 2003. Photo on the far left by Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Abby Francis “I am very proud of it,” Maynard states. Of all the places he has visited, the relationship between the two governments here is the best, he says. Maynard also says that he respects Stewart and his council because they learned, and wanted to learn from Tla’amin Nation. He is pleased that the initial agreements and respect the Accord laid out are being followed by today’s Mayor and council. “I think they are doing a fine job,” says Maynard. “The communities and leaders are very good at demonstrating respect. They continue to have many meetings each year, which are held in both government’s buildings. The aim of the Accord was to keep communities connected, it is good for the kids and for others within those communities.” Regarding the name change, Stewart notes that, “Everything needed for this situation is right there within the Accord. And it is being followed; both governments are having meetings about this topic currently in order to come to an agreement. So I think they will find a way to work this out.” Since the initial signing in 2003, Sliammon First Nation has become the self-governing Tla’amin Nation, and Powell River incorporated into a City. These changes prompted a new signing

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20 years ahead of our time: City’s proudest document The Community Accord is a landmark living document. The District of Powell River and Sliammon First Nation signed this on May 10, 2003. The Accord contains six different articles stating guidelines for the two communities in order to cooperate with each other in an understanding and respectful way. • Article one is about mutual recognition, that each area recognizes the other’s inhabitants, governance, and interests. • Article two is principles of cooperation, which explains mutual respect and considering common grounds when communities are discussing things. • Article three explains maintenance of relationships. Community Accord. This happened July 20, 2018, between Mayor Dave Formosa, City Council, Hegus Clint Williams, Legislators, as well as elders, meaning many more signatures were included. The Accord was updated to reflect the new governing institutions: • Acknowledging each community

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• Article four is inclusion and information on the community at large. • Article five explains dispute resolutions. • Article six is the last, and states that the accord is a living document, meaning it is subject to change according to the relationship between communities, and that these changes must be agreed upon mutually. The Protocol Agreement on Culture, Heritage, and Economic Development grew out the Accord, and was signed in 2004. This again, is a landmark document for both the City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation, as it works to protect and promote the culture and heritage of this area, while also allowing joint efforts for economic development. has different beliefs, cultures, and values. • Developing recognition, understanding, reconciliation, and respect. • Appreciation of each community’s diverse background. Alsgard said that the most important part of the document is the last article,

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the living document, “Because it is living, it is here forever, and hopefully, forever it will be used. It is subject to change, so that it reflects the parties’ relationship. Those changes have to be mutually agreed upon.” He says that everyone is allowed to use and follow the Community Accord. “Others need to be more like us. They have to get to know each other. It is important for the kids of future generations to be learning and understanding, and losing that sense of fear and suspicion. The Accord brought the community together and it showed great leadership, it really was groundbreaking work.” “I am proud of the work both communities have done, the leaders are doing very good jobs,” said Maynard.

| abby@prliving.ca

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The Powell River Town Centre is hosting a BACK-TO-SCHOOL Fundraising Event with the Powell River & District United Way. • Tons of prizes to WIN, including a $1,000 SHOPPING SPREE! • Talent Contest - all ages welcome • HUGE Sidewalk SALE! • Fun Games and Craft Stations • Food & Refreshments 100% of event proceeds go to United Way’s Healthy Families Program, supporting free school meals in School District #47. Stay tuned for more event details!

@ PowellRiverTownCentre

604.485.4681 • prtowncentre.com

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

A few of the 1955 changes Recently at the museum, Doug Mobley has digitized the original pamphlet distributed by the Municipality of Powell River in 1959, which lists the old street names and their new counterparts. This map is available for viewing on our website: www.powellrivermuseum.ca under qathet history: communities. Thanks Doug!

FOUR NEIGHBOURHOODS, ONE CITY: Aerial view of Wildwood, Powell River (Townsite), part of Cranberry Lake and Westview in the background, taken in 1958. P hoto courtesy of the Powell River Historical Museum & Archives

The great 1955 street name make-over

any visitors or newcomers to Powell River sometimes wonder why the city is so spread out over a vast portion of land, or why different neighborhoods seem like their own communities and entities. The answer goes back to the year 1955, when the different communities in the immediate region – Wildwood, Townsite, Cranberry, and Westview – amalgamated to eventually become the municipality of Powell River. Prior to the merge, each village had its own council and infrastructure, including village employees. There was a fierce pride found in every independent village –a pride that remains today. One of the main reasons for amalgamating was the need for a unified tax base, which would allow the communities to continue to grow. A committee was formed and hosted many meetings: there was not much debate, the only concern was for the village employees who wished to retain their jobs as municipal workers in the new municipality. As a result of the amalgamation, in 1959, many street names were changed because of overlaps. Duplicated street names were not only confusing, but a safety concern in regards to emergency calls, as well as an issue for mail delivery. With new street names, also came new house numbers. This can make search-

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BLAST FROM THE PAST JOËLLE SÉVIGNY ing for information on old homes slightly difficult! Townsite retained many of its original street names, named after trees in honour of the paper mill and its dependence on timber. New names in Wildwood were given names of well-known lakes and waterways to reflect its rural character. In Cranberry, names of mountains were adopted for the streets needing changes. Names of battles were also considered because of the Veterans Housing Development in that area. Extensive name changes occurred in Westview, where streets were arranged in alphabetical order. North-South roads were given Provincial or District names. East-West roads were given names of cities and towns in British-Columbia. Blast from the Past is written monthly by Powell River Historical Museum and Archives public engagement coordinator Joëlle Sévigny.

| jysevigny@powellrivermuseum.ca

1st St. (PR) 1st St. (WV) 2nd St. (PR) 2nd St. (WV) 3rd St. (PR) 3rd St. (WV) 3rd Ave. (WW) 4th St. (PR) 4th St. (WV) 4th Ave. (WW) 5th St. (PR) 5th St. (WV) 5th Ave. (WW) 6th St. (PR) 6th St. (WV) 6th Ave. (WW) 7th St. (PR) 7th St. (WV) 7th Ave. (WW) 8th St. (PR) 8th St. (WV) 9th St. (PR) 9th St. (WV) 9th Ave. (WW) 10th St. (PR) 10th St. (WV) 11th St. (PR) 11th St. (WV) 12th St. (PR) 12th St. (WV) 13th St. (WV ) 14th St. (WV ) 15th St. (WV ) 16th St. (WV ) 17th S. (WV)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Arbutus Ave. Alberni St. Ash Ave. Burnaby St. Aspen Ave. Courtenay St. Columbia St. Birch St. Duncan St. Fraser St. Chestnut St. Egmont St. Lois St. Dogwood St. Fairmont St. Nass St. Elm St. Gerrard St. Skeena St. Fir St. Hammond St. Hawthorn St. Jasper Taku St. Hazel St. Kamloops Hemlock St. Lytton St. Laurel St. Massett St. Nootka St. Oliver St. Penticton St. Quesnel St. Surrey St.

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BY JORDAN THII AYEE MITCHELL

When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate or understand the importance and significance of learning my traditional language. I didn’t spend the time I should have with my elders trying actively to learn the language that they were raised on – ay a juthem.

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

name?

I was, however, extremely fortunate to have had it built into my education from preschool on up through high school. Body parts, numbers, animals, family members, and place names. I still have a binder of old schoolwork and can see the beginning of the implementation of the orthographic alphabet. A great deal of work was done in order for us to be able to write our language down in a form that makes more sense than using the English alphabet. An alphabet that initially did not want to include ay a juthem as a part of its world. It is impossible to separate the topic of my traditional language from the experiences that my ancestors lived through: colonization, the establishment of reserves, residential schools, and the 60’s Scoop. The stripping away of the only life, the only culture and the only language that they had ever known. In the name of the Queen, this newly forming country, or whomever, felt that this new world was theirs to mold, to claim and to take from as they pleased. This land was so rich and bursting with life and beauty that it’s almost impossible to imagine it as it was pre-contact. Tuth jeh jeh – my cousin – put it beautifully, “When’s the last time you stood under a cedar tree that looked big enough to carve a canoe from?” I couldn’t say. Saving those remaining forests seems almost as important to me as saving my language from extinction. Every significant place around the qathet area has a name in ay a juthem that still lives on to this day. Klah ah men – Lund, qayeqwan – Savary, ahgayksen – Harwood, sha aysten – Emmonds Beach, sa yayiin – Texada, tatlaxwnach – Blubber Bay, ah ahwum – Vivian Rock, tees kwat – Townsite/Powell River, xakwum – Grief Point and the list goes on and on.

The Name Matters to these folks

Tla’amin member Jordan Thii Ayee MItchell is helping to coordinate The Name Matters, a group of qathet residents “advocating for respectful and inclusive place names (region-wide) that reflect both the oral history of these lands and the present-day communities residing on them.” Find them at thenamematters.org, and on Facebook. That collection of words is tough to decipher. Tougher to pronounce. ay a juthem does not lend itself to all of us English first speakers. A language, like most Indigenous languages around the province, that was not written, but passed on through living in the traditional ways. Across BC, there were at one time 34 Indigenous languages and within those there were over 60 distinct dialects. This diversity represented 60 percent of the Indigenous languages across all of Canada. Credit, no doubt, to the geographic challenges and uniqueness of the coast. The Tla’amin people share much of the ay a juthem language with its sister Nations to the South in sishatl (Sechelt), to the north the toq’ (Klahoose) and op’ (Homalco) Nations and to the West, the komoks (Comox) Nation. Our language is the heart of our culture. Songs, stories, legends and history were all passed on through it. Archaeological estimation puts the pre-contact population of the qathet area at 30,000 to 60,000 people. Needless to say, a thriving population with a deep and rich traditional history. What I would do to be able to see it as it was. But here we are in 2021. Reconciliation is a popular word but a difficult task. It strikes up colourful conversations of every single sort. There is a lot of educating and healing that needs to be done. I would love to see the traditional names used since time immemorial be reinstated in numerous ways around this area. Coming to an agreement or consensus of any sort on which name fits our town best will be a monumental challenge. It is a challenge I am taking on. I believe in my heart that there are many people in this town willing to take it on as well.

New City streets may get ayajuthem names BY ABBY FRANCIS LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

ave you ever noticed that different neighbourhoods have certain types of road names? For example, roads in Westview often are called by Canadian, provincial, and district names, such as Ontario Avenue or Egmont Street. North of Cranberry Lake, roads are named after mountains, such as Tanner Avenue or Warner Street. Most noticeable would be Townsite, with roads named after trees: Maple Avenue and Poplar Street. There are also some roads that end in “Avenue” and some in “Street”; why are they named this way? The City of Powell River’s Chief Administrative Officer Russell Brewer explains, “Powell River has a bylaw system that is followed when naming roads. It depends on how old they are, but the bylaw is a bit dated. Traditionally what would happen is regional or local government areas would be named after place names in BC. Although they can also be named after

I LIVE ON SUN/MOON STREET: Tla’amin Nation is proposing “Sun/Moon” or “t̓ əgəm” as the name of a future street in the City. Photo of the July 23 full moon rise, by Carl Anderson of SeaForest photography. Copies can be purchased on his website at seaforestphotography.myportfolio.com

The proposed street names ʔahʔǰumɩχʷ • ah-joo-moo • Willingdon Beach xakʷum • ka-qu-om • Grief Point ʔɛywus • ay-woo-se • Top of the Hill piχay • pay-aye • Alder ̓təgəm • ta-gum • Sun/Moon t̓ ɛnɛqʷ • tan-ow-kuh • Salmon Berries

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cities, counties, provinces, regional districts, that kind of thing.” What is going on with this process of naming roads currently? “Five years ago the City endorsed the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. One of the calls to action spoke to revising bylaws that may have their basis in old colonial history, which our road naming bylaw does. “It has a small provision in it, with respect to street

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

“One of the calls to action spoke to revising bylaws that may have their basis on old colonial history.” - City CAO Russell Brewer

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naming related to Tla’amin in the bylaw. But only where it’s close to Tla’amin, or significant areas adjacent to it. The bylaw needs to be changed, so that it can speak to the Truth and Reconciliation call to action, which is where it is at right now,” Russell explains. Russell has reached out to Tla’amin’s culture coordinator Drew Blaney on some new names (see previous page’s sidebar). Within about six months, Russell said, he will write a report on adopting a new bylaw. “So the process itself is going to take a while, depending on what other issues come up, and some other discussions are probably going to come up and take precedence for sure, like the city name change discussion that’s going to take place.” Other jurisdictions are going through the same process, Russell noted. Some of them have included a list of ‘pre-ap-

proved names’. Soon, Russell noted, the City will have a list of suggested names that have been discussed by Tla’amin and are acceptable to Tla’amin, and that will be included in the bylaw. Then those can be drawn upon when needed, which would help speed up the process of naming new roads. Road naming by-laws are prescriptive and don’t leave much wiggle room. For example, Russell mentions that roads are determined to be a Street, Avenue, Place, Court, Way, and Crescent depending on which way they are placed. North-South directed roads are “Avenues,” while cul-de-sacs less than 75m long are known as “Ways,” east-west laying roads are “Streets,” north-south cul-de-sacs are “Places,” east-west cul-de-sacs are “Court,” and roads that form a U-shape/loop/circle are called “Crescent.”

| abby@prliving.ca

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LIKE EAT PRAY LOVE, BUT DIFFERENT: The Sportsman Channel’s Hunt Fish Maniac stars local angler Paul Marier, and qathet’s remarkable hunting and fishing scene. Photo by Andy Berthiaume

BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT

f you love fishing and hunting you might want to head on over to Youtube, then like and subscribe to Paul Marier’s Hunt Fish Maniac channel. This way, you’ll be among the first to know when his new outdoor adventure videos are posted. Paul, a fishing and hunting enthusiast for more than 30 years, just signed a deal with the Sportsman Channel for a hunting/fishing TV series scheduled to air in April of next year. Paul grew up in Windsor, Ontario and spent the first part of his life hunting and fishing on the Detroit River. He’d never seen mountains or the ocean before visiting a childhood friend in Powell River 16 years ago. “I’ve been totally obsessed with hunting and fishing my whole life,” he explained. “And when I visited Powell River, it was a game-changer. I packed every-

thing I owned into a trailer and moved here.” Paul, an electrician now, had a fishing and guiding service for a while and then fished halibut and salmon commercially in Haida Gwaii for five years. “I just want to keep on hunting and fishing, and the content I am creating will hopefully create a community of other hunt fish maniacs,” he told qathet Living. Paul’s passion, combined with his extensive knowledge of hunting and fishing, convinced cameraman, editor and friend Andy Berthiaume to join Paul on the West Coast in April of this year to work with him on the YouTube channel and upcoming TV series. “We’re still feeling our way as we want to make sure that the videos have the right mix of entertainment and educational content,” says Andy, but so far, the team is excited with what they’ve produced. “And we are improving our content and production values at a rapid rate.”

Local “Hunt-Fish Maniac” gets his own TV show

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

“I’ve been totally obsessed with hunting and fishing my whole life. And when I visited Powell River, it was a game-changer. I packed everything I owned into a trailer and moved here.” Paul Marier “Paul’s a real character,” says Andy, “and he’s great on camera. I think we have the recipe to produce great content.” And it isn’t posed; it’s just what Paul does naturally when he’s fishing – something he’s super passionate about. “All I want to do is enjoy the beautiful outdoors as much as I can and share these adventures with fellow hunt fish maniacs. I want to be able to educate and inspire,” says Paul. To date, they have posted 16 videos that range from helicopter fishing along the coast to salmon fishing with a local named Hippy D to a down-rigging tutorial to moose calling to bear hunting. With more than 400,000 views, many of these videos are shot in the qathet area and help market this region to the rest of the world. But to reach more people, they’re asking locals to

NOT JUST FISH: Paul Marier is also a singer. If you’re more interested in country music than salmon, check out his new music video, Up Side Down, filmed at the Wildwood Pub. Photo by Andy Berthiaume help them grow. “This is a passion project. We are currently not making any money creating these videos, and we’re not expecting to make a lot of money. That being said, the more subscribers we get on YouTube, the better, and the more sustainable our channel can be,” says Andy. “Subscribe to our channel, like our videos and help us grow.” On top of the launch of Hunt Fish Maniac, Paul also just released his first country music EP on June 21 of this year. His first music video for the song “Upside Down” was filmed at the Wildwood Pub. The music video was shot by local videographer Bryce Adams

EXPLORE

(of ONE5 Films). The song was one of the top five most downloaded country music songs in Canada for two weeks in a row and several radio stations in Ontario and Alberta have been blasting his music all over the airwaves. Despite all the recent attention he’s received for both his fishing and hunting videos and his music, Paul is ready for another adventure and is constantly looking for the next one. “So, you’re a diver?” he asked qathet Living’s associate publisher Sean Percy. “Yeah,” confirmed Sean. “Okay then,” said Paul with a grin. “Tell me, where are all the big lings?” | isabelle@prliving.ca

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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Salmon like it wet & cool

BY ABBY FRANCIS LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

wo years ago qathet had a poor year for salmon, but Tla’amin salmon hatchery manager, Lee George is worried 2021 will be even worse. Since 1977, the Tla’amin Salmon Hatchery has helped produce and release over 70 million fish, including Chum, Coho, Chinook, and Pink throughout Okeover, Theodosia, as well as Tla’amin waters. It’s a project that depends on fish-friendly weather. “The low water due to the heatwave will have a major impact on the stream habitat,” said Lee. “The warmer water will create health problems for the overwintering Coho in the system as the warmer water will dilute the oxygen content in the stream. It will also dry up off-channel habitat for fingerlings. That will create mortality when the water in side channels disappears.” Lee explains that he has been working at the hatchery for 31 years along with about six others who work throughout the whole year. “When the hatchery has no salmon, rebuilding, repairs, meetings, in-stream

repairs, and assessments on vegetation/habitats are being done. Meaning it’s report time,” Lee says. When the salmon are in spawn season, the workers monitor the species, taking and fertilizing the fish eggs so that they can be cared for throughout winter. In the spring, the eggs hatch and the workers then feed and care for the fry until they can be released and tagged. What were the best and worst years for salmon numbers? “The best numbers were about 10 years ago, there were about 60 thousand fish overflowing the stream! The worst year I’d say was in 2019, the Chum had the lowest numbers we had ever seen,” Lee notes. The Tla’amin Salmon Hatchery has been donating fish to Klahoose Nation, so that in a few years they will be able to catch salmon in their own streams, with an end goal of being able to build a smokehouse for its community, like the one in Tla’amin. “Something really cool is the DNA testing done on the salmon, with it we are able to find out exactly which hatchery they came from, when they

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HE KNOWS HIS FISH: After 31 years, Lee George (left) knows when to worry. Right now, he’s worried about this year’s fry (above). In the BC interior and Cascadia’s Columbia River Basin, the higher-than-normal water temperature is halting migration and causing death in wild salmon. Photos by Abby Francis were born, and where they have been!” says Lee. Currently there are three summer students from the Tla’amin community working at the hatchery through a program the Nation is running, called Nviats. They will learn about what the hatchery worker job is like throughout the summer. Lee says that currently they are trying to obtain a Fish Hatchery fund so that they can expand and improve the hatchery to be able to care for more fish. The Nation is also putting out a job posting for a new food fish manager, as currently there isn’t one. What animal is the most annoying to deal with through spawn season? “Sea lions and seals I would say are the most annoying. It is because they wait at the bottom of the stream, one will chase the fish out of the river into

“We could use a shot of rain right about now. - Lee George the ocean and the others will be waiting, keeping a lot of salmon out of the river! I would also say fishermen, because they end up catching the fish that are slower at making it to the river,” he replies. “We could use a shot of rain right about now. I was out on the boat yesterday and noticed that I didn’t see any snow left in the mountains out behind our little city. We are presently on water restrictions in our community. So a little rain will go a long ways for mother nature.” | abby@prliving.ca

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“We’re worried, obviously. Visually, you see it right now. But how much of [the forest] is going to die? That’s the million-dollar question.” Greg Hemphill, Community Forest president

BABY MOTHS: Above, two looper moth larvae caterpillars eat a bunch of hemlock needles in Townsite. Right, more looper larvae south of town, along with their poop (bottom right). These are Phantom Hemlock Loopers, but the similar Western Hemlock Looper is also ravaging local coniferous trees. Remember the moth swarm last October? It was these two species. Photos by Sean Percy

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

It’s raining

larvae

Sadly, that’s not the kind of rain qathet needs. Instead, looper moths are infesting the forests in the qathet area, reports associate publisher Sean Percy.

AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 5

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CONTINUING EVENTS

What the Plus (+) Festival

They may kill our trees. And they may not.

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Combined with this summer’s extreme weather conditions, they’re not good news.

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eorge Moore doesn’t get anxious easily. He’s been climbing and falling dangerous trees for a living for over 30 years. As a certified utility arborist, he’s the guy that BC Hydro calls when they need a tree removed near one of their power lines. He doesn’t think twice about swinging from one tree to another, 25 metres off the ground. But when he looks at the trees around the qathet region right now, “it freaks me out,” says George, who co-owns Powell River Tree Service with his brother Geoff. As George looks from his home in Edgehill to the hills above Cranberry Lake, he sees swaths of red, where the needles on the hemlock and Douglas fir trees have died. Most of them are suffering from an infestation of Western Hemlock Looper Moths and Phantom Hemlock Looper Moths. When George comes down from a tree these days, the larvae, green inch-worm-like “loopers,” cover his clothing, are tangled in his hair and are crawling under his shirt. While the moth infestation is particularly bad this year, there’s more affecting the trees than a cyclical pest. “We’ve been seeing this coming. For at least five years, there has been a serious decline in the canopies.” In his own yard, he lost three big trees in the last five years “for no reason.” Or at least not a reason that he can be sure about. Tree mortality is usually attributable to changes in the water table, George says. And with climate change, the stress on the trees is getting worse. The heat wave

SOON

SPOT THE BROWN: A flight over the city in late July revealed the latest summer plague: evidence of looper moth larvae – the brown on the treetops here at Willingdon Beach and Millennium Park.

Photo by Russell Brewer

in late June that broke temperature records put even more stress on the trees. Then the looper moth eggs hatched and the munching began. The long drought is also having an untold effect. George’s phone buzzes many times a day with people worried about their trees. He and Geoff and their team have more work lined up than they can handle. A lot of trees are going to die and need to be removed in the next few years. “The ones around houses, you don’t have forever to deal with it. A couple of years after they die, and they have to come down.” City officials are also concerned about the fate of trees in Townsite, the Millennium Park forests, Larry

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Meet the looper moth

“It looks terrible in the short term, but the mortality is not too, too concerning. Just because a tree loses its needles doesn’t mean it’s doomed. - Jeanne Robert, entomologist

Gouthro Park, and elsewhere. When Community Forest staff flew over the local forests in mid-July to survey the damage, City senior administrative officer Russell Brewer, also a forester, went along. What he saw made him concerned. Large areas of forested lands in Townsite and around Valentine Mountain have been hit hard by the loopers. The operators of Powell River’s Community Forest are similarly concerned about the health of trees in their forest. “It’s pretty extensive,” says Greg Hemphill, Community Forest president. Last year, the Community Forest adjusted their logging plans, and harvested a hemlock stand that was particularly hard-hit by last season’s looper moth infestation. He expects they may have to do the same this year. Fortunately, the price for hemlock, the species hit hardest, is relatively high, making the logging of trees that succumb to the loopers somewhat more palatable. “We’re worried, obviously,” says Greg. “Visually, you see it right now. But how much of it is going to die? That’s the million-dollar question.” In the Tree Farm Licence operated by Western Forest Products, the infestation that damaged trees in the northern part of their tenure seems to have abated, but they’re seeing trees being attacked heavily in the Deer Creek and Conchie areas close to the Community Forest. Hikers and bikers in the Duck Lake area are also dodging looper larvae dangling from the trees – many trees in the park look sickly. Despite the falling needles and the heightened risk of forest fire, there may be some reason to be hopeful. Local forester, Eliot King of the Ministry of Forests, says that the energy exchange that happens with looper moths living and dying is a natural cycle. Looper moth poop, which is covering forest floors, is good fertilizer. Moths and larvae are food for birds and hosts for parasitic wasps that protect the forest. Jeanne Robert, the provincial entomologist with

Two species of looper moth (or rather, their larval caterpillars) are attacking trees in the qathet region: Western Hemlock Looper (Lambdina fiscellaria lugubrosa) which have a darker green, heavily patterned larva, and Phantom Hemlock Looper (Nepytia phantasmaria) which have a brighter green larva as pictured on Page 20. Young larvae emerge from late May to mid-June and crawl to the tops of the trees where they start feeding. They’ll form pupa later this month for 10-14 days before transforming into adult moths. The flying moths will swarm around town from late September to early October, when they lay eggs, mostly on hemlock and Douglas-fir trees, before dying off. According to Natural Resources Canada, outbreaks usually last about three years, after which they are mainly controlled by predators, disease and some of the 47 parasites that may attack the eggs and larvae. the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, says the looper moth infestation is a natural disturbance that can have a positive effect on forests. Trees that do succumb make way for more diversity in the forest stands. “It looks terrible in the short term, but the mortality is not too, too concerning. Just because a tree loses its needles doesn’t mean it’s doomed. You’ll see them come back over the next few months,” she predicts. Biologists say this natural cycle of looper moths will crash soon. A parasitic wasp that attacks looper moths usually decimates the blooming population in the third or fourth year of an infestation. What the unusual temperatures, the drought and climate change will do to that cycle remain to be seen. “Climate change makes it more difficult to predict what might happen,” says Jeanne. Eliot says there’s potential for the damaged trees to recover. We won’t know how well they recover until spring of next year, at the earliest. This should be the third year of a three-year cycle for the loopers. “If that’s the case, we can manage it. If that’s not the case, it’s a big problem,” says Greg. George, the arborist, says he has seen certain species suffer, and then bounce back. Cedars are generally looking better this year than they have in the past few years. “Balsams took a big hit in the late 1990s and have since recovered,” he remembers. “But this is different. I hope they will come back. But these trees have been fighting for their lives. In my experience, they can only fight so long, and they may have been given a knock-out punch this year. When I go to bed at night, it gives me anxiety.”

| sean@prliving.ca

Generous land donation supports improved fire protection service delivery

hanks to a generous land donation from three local families, the Northside Volunteer Fire Department will soon have a new Fire Hall in which to hang their helmets.

The current satellite fire hall, built in the 1970s, was undersized for storage of modern fire apparatus and equipment and lacked clear, unobstructed ingress and egress routes. In addition, the site required significant structural repairs and lacked parking and outdoor training space. Recognizing the community need, three local families generously gifted 2.5 acres of land to the qathet Regional District (qRD) that will serve as the site of the replacement satellite fire hall. The new satellite fire hall will complement the main fire hall on Plummer Creek Road, within the Northside Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD) service area. In 2019, qRD received support of the electors to borrow funds to replace the satellite fire hall in Lund, through the Alternate Approval Process. Working with a local construction firm, the NVFD Fire Chief and qRD staff collaborated with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to ensure the project scope remained in line and on budget. The property required extensive clearing and rock excavation to ready the site for construction with facility construction commencing in the fall of 2020. NVFD members plan to move into the new satellite fire hall later this month. The goal was to design a functional satellite fire hall while ensuring the final appearance of the facility would integrate with the look and feel of the community. The new, larger site, located 700 metres south of the current fire hall, will help improve fire service coverage to areas in the Okeover portion of the NVFD service area. The new location provides safe, clear access to Highway 101 and can accommodate three fire service apparatus. The new satellite fire hall includes an exterior covered bay, fully accessible washroom, as well as a multi-purpose room and will allow for quick tanker shuttle filling. The larger site boasts ample parking for volunteers, as well as substantial space for fire service training on site. The qRD would like to thank the generous donors, Lund community and NVFD members for their contributions to the completion of this new facility and to improving fire protection services in the Northside Fire Service area. For more information on qathet Regional Fire Protection services, please visit qathet.ca

202 – 4675 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 2L2 T. 604.485.2260 administration@qathet.ca

qathet.ca 23

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Summert

ere at qathet Living, we like summer photos so much, we had to run a contest just for them. This page represents the best of our entries – or at least, what immediately leapt out at us. Our winner is Erin Osborne’s image of the dog n’ frog (right) from up the lake. It was submitted by her cousin Scott Mastrodonato, who said, “This is our dog Duke on a summer day at the cabin on Powell Lake. He is checking out a frog on the deck and was very cautiously curious. They both stayed in that pose for a minute or so and we captured the photo. One of my favourite pictures! The moment is priceless and really captures Duke’s loving personality.” Many photos of dogs were submitted, but

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

time Snaps what sets this one apart is the tension (or lack thereof) between the two animals, one wild, one domesticated. We also loved the moody sky in Lisa Starz’ fishing shot; the crisp focus and saturated colours in Chris Ryman’s sunflower and bee; and Jessica Ryman’s plums were spot-on. Many folks sent us shots of kids jumping in the water. We couldn’t resist the colour pop of the multi-hued board shorts against the grey in Sarah Elizabeth’s shot – which was taken from in the water (extra points!) with a strong, lively diagonal wave. Sarah Shostack’s shot of a jump at sunset captured the height of the action, with interplay between the sun and the figure, and a backlit splash. Nola Perry’s lounging feet screamed ‘summer in qathet’ to us. And finally, Ari Dublion’s cave image from Texada Island looks so cool and damp – just where we’d want to be in this too hot, too dry summer.

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Survivor raises funds for cancer research

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ON THE ROAD: qathet Living’s Suzi Weibe will ride the Tour de Cure this year along with her husband, RCMP Staff Seargent Rod Weibe, who also rode with Cops for Cancer in her honour in 2019.

n August 28, qathet Living’s Suzi Wiebe will be riding more than 100 kilometres on her bike in the Tour de Cure (formerly known as The Ride to Conquer Cancer). “This is my first year riding with Tour de Cure,” said Suzi, a breast cancer survivor, “and I’m nervous and excited.” Tour de Cure is BC’s biggest cycling fundraiser. Supporting the BC Cancer Foundation and presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, the Tour de Cure is powering cancer research that saves lives. Although Suzi has spent plenty of time on a mountain bike, road riding is new to her. “My husband, Rod, rode in 2019 with Cops for Cancer,” said Suzi. “Rod said he was riding because of what I went through; he said no one should ever have to go through that. He wasn’t able to train with his team in Vancouver in 2019 so I would ride with him on occasion. He was so inspiring.” When a family member reached out and asked Suzi if she and Rod would like to ride in Tour de Cure it was an easy yes for both of them. “This time, we will be riding together.” Suzi said she is riding for research. “It’s because of all the folks who continue to ride each year to raise funds for research that I am still here and able to ride. Research saved my life and I’m forever grateful.” If you would like to support Cancer Research and Suzi on her ride on August 28th, please go to tourdecure.ca, click on donate, type in ‘Suzanne Wiebe,’ click search and she will pop up on your screen. Follow the instruction from there. You can also donate to Rod Wiebe, just type his name in the search box “Thank you for all your support,” said Suzi.

MAD MARKETS: PART III

Forking over more for food High steaks in the food business

BY ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT

o toilet paper. No yeast. Sparsely-stocked shelves of flour and sugar at your favourite grocery store. That was our reality at the start of the COVID 19 pandemic back in the spring of 2020. It’s not like that today, but we’re still feeling the impact of COVID-19 when we reach the checkout. Cindy Morgan has been in the grocery business for over 20 years. She’s the floor supervisor for Mitchell Brothers and like other grocery stores in qathet, Mitchell’s couldn’t keep up with the demand for toilet paper, yeast and pasta in the early days of the pandemic. “I hate letting down my customers,” says Cindy. “It’s awful to see the disappointment on their face when you tell them you can’t get something anymore.” Suppliers were slammed and some had to simplify their offerings just to keep up. Still, it meant product delays for stores which translated into empty or sparsely-stocked shelves. “Some manufacturers have gone with

just the top 10 [selling products] and some have discontinued lines,” said Cindy. One of her suppliers stopped making salad dressing because they couldn’t get the ingredients. “A lot of companies have closed.” It has meant that buyers like Cindy have to look further afield and at other suppliers who may have something similar. And often times, the new items cost more. Along with scarcity, prices also increased. Some items have gone up 50 cents, other two dollars and some, three or four dollars, says Cindy. Food prices have also slammed restaurants since the onset of the pandemic. “It’s been huge for us,” says The Boardwalk Restaurant owner Roy Blackwell. “The price of seafood has gone up and almost all our items contain seafood. Potatoes have doubled in price; canola oil has doubled and it’s probably going to go up even more. This all impacts our chowder but we’re still able to make it.”

FEEDING A CROWD: Miklat Recovery House’s Assistant Manager Lola Amundsen and Manager Rob Fitzpatrick say they’re paying way more for groceries now than they were when the treatment centre first opened in March of 2020. Roy says he’s been shorted by suppliers many, many, times. “Lots of things that I order every week in the summer aren’t available. I’ve had to change the menu and our prices.” Thankfully, much of the Boardwalk’s

food is purchased from local farmers who have held their prices steady and for that, Roy is grateful. Apart from food prices, COVID is hitting restaurants on multiple fronts. Over the past year and a half, public

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Mad Markets: Part III Lumber prices have more than doubled, getting that brand new vehicle can take weeks – even months, real estate is through the roof, and produce is top-dollar. Remember the $7 cauliflower? What’s going on? The short answer is, it’s the pandemic. The long answer is a bit more complicated. We continue this four-part series on crazy markets by looking at what happened to the price and availability of food in qathet.

PEACEFUL ON THE OUTSIDE: Restaurants such as The Boardwalk have been absorbing the skyrocketing price of food; owner Roy Blackwell reports that the price of potatoes has doubled. Photo by Pat Buckna health orders have variously closed restaurants, allowed take-out only, then opened to outdoor dining. “Apart from the closures, being able to access new restaurant hardware – pots, pans or equipment – was difficult. Although it was challenging to buy new equipment, ironically there was plenty of used restaurant equipment on the market because so many restaurants had to close. “The pans we use for portioning were in short supply. And before the pandemic, I could go into any restaurant supply store and buy 20 insert pans – not now,” said Roy. But when it comes right down to it, Roy says the biggest problem he’s facing is a labour shortage. “Nobody in their right mind wants to come off CERB and go to work, so we are really short of people.”

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Steve Wadsworth, franchise owner at FreshCo, is also struggling to stabilize his grocery shelves. “Suppliers have shortages of random products but it’s getting better. Pepsi and Coke experienced major problems during COVID. Products coming from off the continent were challenged as freighters were forced to sit off the port and wait to get in and unload. Everyone’s felt the pressure of the COVID pinch.” Anything canning-related, gardening-related, and baking-related was scarce for months as people, unable to travel, turned their hand to things they could do at home. Steve says his customers tried new foods and the store’s international section did well. “People were not eating out so they tried different foods and dinner ideas. Foodies who knew about it appreciated our offerings and new people experimented with it.”

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ed to feel safe. We had COVID cleaners working 12 hours a day and our cashiers cleaned the belts between every order and sanitized their area because it was the right thing to do.”

Families such as the Schreibers have noticed the rise in grocery prices. Christine and her husband Chuck had four kids at home ranging in age from 12 to 19 when the pandemic started. One of her earliest pandemic memories was when she was doing a regular weekly shop and a man came up to her, pointed to her full buggy and told her to stop hoarding groceries. “I wasn’t, it was just a regular week’s worth of groceries,” she said. And the price? She remembers buying a head of cauliflower for $7, something she’d never done before. “I was paying $300 or $400 more for groceries every month,” she says. “With everyone home all the time I had four teenagers grazing all day long.” The added cost of extra cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer and masks all added up. Like many, she quickly realized that she didn’t like grocery shopping during a pandemic and tried to limit her shops at the big stores. “Townsite Fruit ‘N’ Veg became my go-to for my mid-week restock and I only went to the big grocery stores once a week. I really

Global food prices in December 2020 were the highest for any month in the last six years according to the global FAO Food Price Index with meat rising by by 1.7 percent and dairy products up by 3.2 percent. Drought drove up the price of food in 2020. So did COVID-19, which led to border closures, food processing facility closures and labour shortages, shifting consumer demand and unemployment, as well as modifications in production, manufacturing, distribution and retailing practices to enhance safety – all of which impacted food prices. An oil price war and the devaluation of the Canadian dollar were also significant factors on the price of groceries here in qathet. Food around the world was 7.5 percent higher than the 2014-2016 average with the December 2020 figure being the highest of any month in the past six years. Canada’s Food Price Report for 2021, published by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, forecasts an

overall food price increase of 3 to 5 percent for 2021, noting that COVID-19 changed consumer behaviour and affected prices in a surprising way. “The most significant increases are predicted for meat at 4.5 to 6.5 percent; bakery at 3.5 to 5.5 percent and vegetables at 4.5 to 6.5 percent,” states the report. “Families with less means will be significantly challenged in 2021, and many will be left behind,” says Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, project lead and Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. “Immunity to higher food prices requires more cooking, more discipline and more research. It’s as simple as that.” Food price factors to watch for in 2021 include the impact of COVID-19, the effects of climate change, the growth in e-commerce and online services, the continued loss of the food manufacturing sector, the national ban on some single use plastics and the impact of the US presidential election on food policy and the Canadian dollar.

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

ROLLER COASTER OF FOOD: FreshCo franchise owner Steve Wadsworth says grocery stores have adjusted to constant changes in cleaning and safety protocols due to COVID, as well as fluctuations in supply. The good news: His international food sections shone during the pandemic as some customers tried out cross-cultural cooking at home. like Townsite Fruit ‘N’ Veg and I still go there.” A couple of months before the pandemic, she began reducing the amount of meat she fed her family – a change she still has in place. “I haven’t bought meat from a grocery store since before the start of the pandemic. I only buy local meat now.” Miklat Recovery House also felt the pandemic’s impact on the availability and price of groceries. It’s a non-profit charity that offers affordable residential drug and alcohol treatment programs to men. The chef feeds 13 to 15 people a day. Rob Fitzpatrick, Miklat House manager, explained that the treatment centre opened the same month that the provincial health emergency was declared. Shortages of flour and yeast impacted their clients right away. “Our chef was teaching clients how to bake bread; it became a form of therapy for the clients,” said Assistant Manager Lola Amundsen. At first, Rob was doing the bulk of grocery shopping at local stores, but when restrictions came into effect – at that point only one person could leave their property for essential services – staff decided to get the bulk of their

supplies delivered to their door by Sysco – a wholesale food supplier. “Food is expensive,” said Rob. “We spend $4,000 to $5,000 per month and it’s gone up by at least 20 per cent since we opened in March of 2020.” Wildwood’s Hatch-A-Bird Farm and Blueberry Commons deliver fruit and veggies to the house each week and Miklat depends on Aaron Services for cleaning supplies and toilet paper. He also shops at Mitchell Brothers and Quality Foods. “We try to buy local as much as possible,” says Rob. Like the Schreiber family, Miklat House spends considerably more money in 2021 on cleaning supplies, including sanitizers, boxes of masks and hand sanitizer. But most of all, the onset of the pandemic meant a reduction in the number of paying clients who’d booked to begin treatment. “They were concerned about the financial implications of the pandemic, and we were losing money,” said Rob. But thanks to grant money, and staff who worked for free for several months, they were able to remain open and help those who needed treatment.

| isabelle@prliving.ca

Texada fire reveals major ancient village site in 2012 Tla’amin-inspired shelter completed there in 2021 BY ABBY FRANCIS LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

fter close to six years of planning, qathet Regional District has finished construction of a new Indigenous-style gathering structure. This was thought of as a longhouse, however it has open walls, therefore, Tla’amin has advised the public to instead call it a gathering structure, as it is more fitting to the style. This building will now provide a covered area at Shelter Point Regional Park and Campground. “It took about a week to put up, however, it has been in process since a C3 meeting in 2015,” says Area D Director, Sandy McCormick. “We needed covering at the park. However, the design chosen was just some poles and a metal roof. There had been significant artifacts found there, so I suggested asking Tla’amin for a design.” The artifacts found there were remnants of a very large First Nations village. These include slate knives, bones, cutting tools, building foundations, projectile points, and scrapers. They

were found back in 2012 after a fire had destroyed the caretaker’s residence and concession. The tool artifacts can be seen within a cabinet at the new caretaker’s home. The discovery was seen as being very major, as it was one of the biggest sites found along the Sunshine Coast, and is said to be over 330 years old. Sandy explains that it has taken a while to gain funding for the project, but in 2019 they received about $120,000 from Powell River Community Forest to construct it. She mentions that an archaeologist helped them choose where it would be okay to put the building, with it ending up between the boat launch and swing-set. “The artifacts found were the inspiration for the structure to have an Indigenous design. Fortunately Tla’amin came up with a beautiful conceptual design that we were able to create! There are still a few more things needed to finish the structure, but now people have a covered area for weddings, gatherings, etc., which is nice as things start to get back to normal,” Sandy says.

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tags. I can’t begin to explain how grateful I am for the support received and to everyone who shared the post, offered kind words and for showing pride for such a wonderful community. Not surprisingly, with such an overwhelming response to the story in such a tight-knit community – within 24 hours I was contacted by the family member of the unknown man who shared

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Fine gent offers stranger the shirt off his back BY NADINE BIGGS

“Because his t-shirt was used as a tourniquet on my legs to stop the bleeding, Devon arrived at the hospital with no shirt.”

n the afternoon of June 26, I was in a serious boating accident – I was struck by a propeller – while swimming in Desolation Sound. On arrival to the Westview marina, I was taken by ambulance to the Powell River General Hospital where I immediately went into surgery. Still at the marina, my boyfriend Devon called for a cab but was told it was over an hour wait (grad night). Anxious to join me at the hospital – he walked up the street waving a $100 bill while frantically trying to flag down a passer-by for a ride. A couple cars went by without stopping. (Completely understandable – my boyfriend probably looked like a lunatic). Finally, a man walking to his vehicle from the marina saw the commotion after arriving back from a day of fishing with his family. Devon explained the situation and the man’s father grabbed his car and said “jump in.” Because his t-shirt was used as a tourniquet on my legs to stop the bleeding, Devon arrived at the hospital with no shirt. As he went to exit the vehicle, the kind stranger took off his own shirt and insisted Devon take it. (My boyfriend is a big guy – and it just happened to fit him perfectly). Unfortunately the man’s name was forgotten during the panic, so I’d like to give my most heartfelt “thanks” to this stranger. Not only did you offer my boyfriend a free ride during his desperation (he refused the $100) you also restored his dignity by literally giving him the shirt off your back. (He would have been sitting in the hospital waiting room for hours with no shirt – not pleasant) We’d also like to extend our gratitude to the first

responders and medical staff who came to our rescue that day and helped us navigate a very scary situation (BC Ambulance, Powell River Fire Rescue, and all the doctors/surgeons/nurses and support staff at Powell River General Hospital). To pay it forward and in appreciation of your service, charitable donations have been made to:

• The PR Hospital Foundation • The PR Community Foundation • The PR Professional Fire Fighters Charitable Society • BC Emergency Health Services Foundation

Update: One day after posting the story of the kind stranger on the Powell River Shop and Swap Facebook page, it had been shared over 500 times to both personal and business pages throughout Powell River and British Columbia, with over 1,000 comments and likes and

his contact information. I made contact over email and was able to send our thanks to him and his family directly. They were beyond thankful and relieved to hear of my ongoing successful recovery. Not surprisingly, he is incredibly humble – and kindly requested to remain anonymous while sharing in my immense gratitude for the first responders and medical staff that saved my life that day. Lastly, for those wondering – the Good Samaritan declined the offer to have the shirt returned and instead is “happy for Devon to keep it.” I told him we will cherish it as a gift and share the story of his kindness whenever it is worn. From the bottom of our hearts – thank you.

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LJI reporter to build relationships between qathet’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous folk qathet Living publisher Isabelle Southcott is pleased to welcome reporter Abby Francis to the team at the magazine. Abby has been hired under the Local Journalism Initiative, a program that supports the creation of original civic journalism that covers the diverse needs of under-served communities. The project, qathet for qathet, will see Abby reporting on Tla’amin and Klahoose issues and her stories will be shared with readers through the pages of this magazine, Neh’mothl (Tla’amin’s newspaper) and social media. Abby, who recently graduated from Brooks, fell in love with photography at the age of five – “I took my disposable film camera with me everywhere,” she says – but only recently discovered her passion for writing. “In my last year of high school, I was taking English 12 and realized how much I loved writing. One day I showed a picture I had taken to the photography teacher and he mentioned how I should ‘totally send some of my work to Powell River Living!’ With his advice I sent in about five images and explained how I wanted to go into journalism and photography after I graduated. I got a response almost right away. They really liked the images and asked me if I wanted to write an article for them.” Abby’s volunteer writing career took off and over the course of the year, she wrote several articles for Powell River Living (now qathet Living) magazine. When information about the Local Journalism Initiative’s internship program surfaced, the editorial staff immediately thought of Abby and put together an application. Abby plans to attend BCIT in the fall of 2022 in their broadcasting and online journalism program but before that, she’ll be “learning by doing” as she works for this community magazine in qathet. “During my eight-month internship, I aspire to share more stories from Tla’amin, and Klahoose First Nations peoples to help their voices be heard. This will help increase the coverage and bridge a gap of non-Indigenous and Indigenous news. With every step being taken towards reconciliation, I believe it is important for a larger-scale media coverage of events that take place within these nations. It could bring together the community of qathet as more people begin to be informed of events happening throughout this entire region rather than each being separated news-wise as it is now. Everyone’s story is important to hear, and I hope to be able to help more untold

NO CHILL GAP YEAR: Between Brooks and BCIT, Abby Francis takes on a Local Journalism Initiative project at qathet Living magazine. Photo by Sean Percy stories be heard.” Abby says she has always wanted to be a part of something that leaves an impact and that she thinks this job will allow her to do that. “By bringing in more stories from First Nations peoples, their experiences and lives can be seen by all of qathet which helps others learn while also creating connections. These connections can help build relationships throughout the community, allowing people to come together as a whole, rather than be separated, forming a friendlier, caring environment. With this, I do believe that an impact will be left, as it brings people together. Accomplishing this and bringing Indigenous people’s stories into the magazine is very important.” Growing up, Abby was very focused on school. “I never really took into consideration my First Nations background or culture. I have found within the last few years of my life that it was quite silly of me not to really be involved culture-wise. My uncle, Kyle Francis, would tell me stories from his canoe journeys and the culture nights that Tla’amin has and the way he described them ended with me becoming interested in learning more about this part of my life. “I would have loved to learn more of my culture from him, however, very sadly, my uncle passed away early last year, but the stories he left me with, really encouraged me to learn more. I know that by interviewing and writing more articles based around First Nations peoples and their stories, I can accomplish learning more about my background and intriguing culture. I feel that by doing this, not only will I be proud of the work I complete, but he will be proud, too.” BCIT, she said, “will give me a wider scale of the type of work this career has to offer.” She will also take their part-time photography course. “I have always had my mind set on a future heavily revolving around photography. After schooling is complete, I will pursue this career path and cannot wait to see where it leads me in life.”

THE OTHER BOTTOM LINE

wigs when their hair fell out. This helped to alleviate some of the stress, especially for women, and if someone needed a ride to treatments out of town she would do her best to help them. Laura is one of those people who always has time to talk to someone who might not understand what to expect. There are so many other things she does in the community I could go on and on. I mostly work in her shadows supporting her any way I can and I’m fine doing that.

Engravers still think community in a tough market

What kind of practical support do you get, and from whom, to help you achieve this social value?

aura and John Passek have lived in Powell River all their lives. John was a truck driver and Laura was working for a company that operates group homes for developmentally disabled adults, when they had the opportunity to purchase Crystal Clear Engraving and Photo in 2008. They bought it as a side job to do in their spare time. They dropped the photo part of the name and became Crystal Clear Engraving and Trophies. In 2009 John hurt his back and didn’t qualify for compensation or long term disability so the business became his full-time job once he recovered. For the first year, the Passeks were crazy busy with their new business. “I would come home after working all day and have to put in several hours a night to fill orders,” John said. “Sadly most of that work has disappeared as some groups and organizations have gone in different directions in order to cut costs and now we sometimes struggle to pay bills.”

How do you add social value to this community? Laura & John • We’re an engraving and trophy store so groups and individuals look to us when they need a trophy or something engraved. We’re here to help groups like a fishing derby, the soap box derby or The Powell River Chamber of Commerce with their business awards or individuals looking for something to give someone special to brighten their day and make them feel like they’re an important part of this community. Sometimes it’s something small and they can’t afford much so we will give them a discount or just give it to them depending on the situation. We are a small home-based business and we’ve always helped those who need help because both Laura and I believe that’s the right thing to do. We do what we can but we always wish we could do more!

Have you always done this? What got you started? Laura & John • Both Laura and I enjoy giving back to our community and we have volunteered in many different capacities over the years. I volunteered as the video operator for the Kings hockey team for over 10 years. I retired from that because of back issues but I still fill in if they need someone, and Laura has volunteered in the Kings office looking after ticket sales and making sure that revenue matched sales for over 15 years. She would still be there if COVID-19 had not come along. Laura also spent hundreds of hours as a volunteer for Logger Sports, organizing the chainsaw carving competitions and a huge dinner and dance where all the carvers, loggers and volunteers were invited. She worked alongside Bob Marquis in 2016 to bring it back from a long hiatus and continued to volunteer there until COVID-19 brought it to a halt last year. Do you have a personal connection to this cause? Laura & John • We’re both fierce and passionate about our community. We also love hockey and the Kings so I guess, the answer is yes when it comes to supporting the Kings! Laura is a real people person and she’s also heavily involved with the oncology department at the Powell River General Hospital. She helps by raising money for the walkathon, an event that sees 100% of the money raised staying in Powell River. Because Laura is a breast cancer survivor, she has an idea of what people go through with their treatments so she arranged for people to get free

Laura & John • We’ve never really needed or asked for support; we are proud to be part of the community, even with the stress of COVID. The pandemic hit our business particularly hard because the largest percentage of our income comes from sporting events like tournaments and scholastic activities which have not been happening for over a year and a half. Have there been any hiccups or challenges that others could learn from? Laura & John • We are grateful that we managed to make it through the pandemic. It’s been a tough year; we didn’t qualify for support in any way from the provincial or federal government and have managed to stay open only because we know the community needs a local business like ours. We’ve also managed to keep costs lower than people would pay out of town. Here’s hoping that the coming year is better for all of us. What do you hope is the legacy of this work? Laura & John • We love this community and want to make it a better place for future generations so we help when we can, where we can. What advice do you have for other businesses who might want to add social value to their bottom line? Laura & John • My advice would be to find a cause or organization that you are passionate about and go from there. In our case, we volunteer a lot of time with the Kings because we both love hockey and want to be there and support them. Laura’s involvement with the oncology department is a result of her own journey with cancer. It’s an area that she understands because she’s been there and because of that personal connection, she’s passionate about helping others in a similar situation.

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How did you first hear about Powell River? Sibylle • I passed through en route to the end of the road when first discovering BC 30 years ago, but my real introduction was when Ean and some friends attempted to be first to run the Sunshine Coast Trail in 2003. I’ve made some lifelong friends from that escapade and have come back most years in April to run the Marathon Shuffle.

I MADE THE MOVE

Active, ambitious couple moving here for the slower pace

s recent empty nesters, Sibylle Tinsel and Ean Jackson decided to downsize. With deep roots in Vancouver and a vast choice of great communities in BC, they figured they’d come up with a plan if and when their house sold. Then it sold. As they celebrated the sale with a bottle of bubbly, there were tears of joy and tears of regret. Before the bottle was finished, however, a sense of panic crept in as they realized they would be homeless in less than two months. It didn’t take long to realize that finding a suitable rental almost anywhere in BC would be like winning the 6-49 and a smaller home in North Vancouver would likely cost more than the home they just sold. Sibylle and Ean then put in a bid for a home in Powell River that they’d never seen. Given the white-hot Powell River real estate market, their agent advised that chances of getting the place were slim, so offer over asking and don’t even think about making the offer conditional on financing or an inspection! The offer was accepted. Fate has been kind to the Tinsel-Jacksons: Their new, sight-unseen home was a perfect fit. Given the high speed fiber Internet connections in Powell River, there were no interruptions of any kind for Ean’s job as an executive coach in the technology and cleantech

What would make Powell River a nicer community? Ean & Sibylle • More cohesive recycling programs (standardized garbage/recycling bins, glass, organics) so folks don’t toss their trash in the woods. Safer cycling options so locals and visitors can get around without their vehicles. What aspect of your previous community do you think would benefit Powell River? Ean & Sibylle • A ski hill! What challenges did you face in trying to make a life for yourself here? SWITCHING GEARS A LITTLE: Executive trainer Ean Jackson and RN Sibylle Tinsel are Sunshine Coast Trail alumni.

Ean & Sibylle • Finding a dentist, doctor, mechanic, and figuring out where to find stuff like groceries, household supplies and where to take recycling.

industries. Sibylle, who is a Registered Nurse, has so far been able to maintain her job as Primary Care Manager for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Van.

If you were mayor what would you do?

Why did you choose to move to Powell River? Ean & Sibylle • Opportunity to start a slower paced, new chapter in our lives; friends in town who raved about PR; access to the outdoors and relatively affordable real estate. When? Where from? Ean & Sibylle • We moved in late April after 30 years in Vancouver. What surprised you once you moved here? Ean & Sibylle • Friendly folks who have time to chat, the lack of traffic and there’s way more sunshine than North Vancouver. Where is your favourite place in Powell River? Ean & Sibylle • So far, the beaches (Grief Point/xakwum, and Second Beach, Penticton Maze and our new home and garden.

Where

k n a B u o Y Makes a Difference (604) 485 6206 36

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Ean & Sibylle • One easy thought would be to put a page on the city website for newbies that answers frequently-asked questions and pointers on how to get oriented. And I’d extend the Seawalk. It’s a thing of beauty that serves residents of PR and tourists but ends abruptly. What are Powell River’s best assets? Ean & Sibylle • People, above all. Natural ones: climate, lakes, ocean, mountains. The Sunshine Coast Trail. And Townsite (and Townsite Brewing!) What is your greatest extravagance? Ean & Sibylle • Were advised by friends (and a nice lady at PR Tourism) that we needed a boat, so we bought a couple of second hand kayaks! Which superpower would you most like to have? Ean & Sibylle • Ability to eliminate intolerance and poverty. If you know someone we should feature in I Made the Move, please email isabelle@prliving.ca with your idea.

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Drought? Simply water smarter

n the surface watering may seem to be a fairly straightforward task, but there is a lot to think about when it comes to hydrating your plants. Using water wisely and with good practices is important not only for our plants, but also for the environment at large. It is a crucial part of growing healthy plants, and it can be important for gardeners to understand the factors that can make a big difference, especially in periods of drought and scarcity.

A GROWING CONCERN JONATHAN VAN WILTENBURG

Signs that you’re watering incorrectly in the food garden • Odd misshapen fruits, especially cucumber, and zucchini • Powdery mildew infection on leaves • Stunted growth on foliage, flowers, or fruit • Premature flower drop • Small fruits, mealy fruit • Drooping leaves, or leaves that have lost their shine or luster • Spider mite infestation • Blossom end rot on tomatoes

How to water Water deeply, but less often. Do your best to get the water down deep into the soil. This will encourage your plants’ roots to grow deeper into the soil substrate, rather than sit near the surface where they can dry out easily. Watering deep is easier said than done. One good trick is to make little wells or soil donuts around your plants that will hold the water and give it the time it needs to move down into the soil. It is best practice to water the soil, not the entire plant. Plants use the end of their roots to take up water, so it is important to get the water where it can be absorbed. It is best to avoid watering the foliage (although this is not always achievable) as the water will be prone to evaporation, and wet foliage can contribute to fungal infections.

When & how often to water Water in the evening or preferably in the early morning when the ambient temperature is cooler. This will minimize water evaporation loss. Frequency of watering is dependent on a variety of factors, and the more water you give a plant the more it will use. So it is important to give the right amount. Plant species of course plays a huge role in determining watering needs. Some species such as our local Arbutus tree can tolerate long periods of drought with no difficulty at all. Other species, like a hydrangea, are sensitive to water scarcity and will need more regular water in periods of drought. Soil type also plays a major factor in determining the frequency of watering. Clay soils will undoubt-

Plant now for fall! One of the best parts about living in Powell River is enjoying the great outdoors, especially when our mild coastal climate allows for fresh-from-the-garden flavour all year round! To learn more about fall and winter gardening or to stock up on your seeding essentials, visit Mother Nature today.

edly need less frequency, whereas lighter sandy soils will need watering more often. Soils high in organic matter tend to have greater water holding capacity, which is why adding compost and other organic matter is a wonderful thing to do. Another factor is plant maturity. Mature trees and shrubs tend to need less water, as their roots spread far and wide and are able to collect more moisture than a recently-planted specimen. Also annuals tend to need more regular watering as their roots are at or near the surface of the soil. Fruits and vegetables require regular watering. Letting your fruit and veg plants dry out will cause terrible results. Some of the most common signs you’re not watering your vegetables correctly are: drooping leaves, stunted growth, flower drop, mealy fruit texture, powdery mildew on leaves, odd or misshapen fruits (especially on cucumber and zucchini), blossom-end rot on tomatoes and zucchini, and spider mite infection. If you have any of these signs you may need to water more deeply or more often.

Top priorities in the garden for August 1. Irrigate. With all this sunny, dry weather it is important to get the water down deep. Five or even 10 minutes here and there won’t cut it; be sure to stick your finger in the soil and see how far the water has penetrated into the soil. It surprises me every time how much water is needed to penetrate deep into the root zone. 2. If you’re interested in eating out of a winter garden, now is the time to plant out your beets, chard, carrots, kale. If it’s cool and wet, try sowing some peas, spinach. It is too late to plant seeds for veggies like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. Take a trip out to the local nursery and purchase starts that will mature in time for winter harvest. 3. Be on the look out for pests and disease. Aphids, cabbage white moths, powdery mildew, blackspot, and tomato blight are the main culprits. 4. To keep those summer annuals beautiful, deadhead and nip them back regularly. This should include your hanging baskets and pots, too. 5. Be aware of the fruit on your trees. Check for ripeness and pick as soon as possible to avoid bears helping themselves. If you are overrun with fruit find someone in the neighborhood that would jump at the opportunity to share your harvest. 6. If you planted potatoes, feel free to sneak a few new potatoes for a meal. It doesn’t get any better than your own fresh potatoes. 7. Check with your garden centre for bulbs - the sooner the better. Fall bulb planting is just around the corner. 8. Harvest. Harvest young and often and keep those plants producing. 9. Give some attention to your compost pile. Flipping it is always a good idea. If it is dry and crumbly and not breaking down quickly you may need to add some water. If it smells and is sopping wet you may need let it dry out. Remember your compost pile is a living system that needs adequate amounts of water, air, carbon, and nitrogen for rapid, efficient breakdown. 10. Remember to take a few photos of your garden this year for your records. It is always nice to look over the garden in subsequent seasons and years. Those pics are also an excellent aid when you go to edit in the fall or spring.

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

WHAT’S UP Just in time for Pride, local filmmaker wins award A film that Powell River’s Jason Tully-Barr created in 2018 was selected as an award winner at the LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival last month. The film Surviving History features several members of qathet’s mature

LGBTQ community, reflecting on how much support and acceptance for non-hetero sexualities have changed during their lifetimes, and how far things have to go, now. You can view the five-minute film online here: vimeo.com/233364138. Jason was a Powell River Digital Film School student when he created this film, said Tony Papa, the film school’s director and instructor. He won Jury’s Choice Award of Merit for his work. “Jason completed the film, Surviving History, while attending the 2017 film program at the Powell River Digital Film School and the film has slowly gained attention in the LGBTQ community in various venues. This is the latest award won by Jason. “We at the school encourage students to not only make films but to make films that have meaning to them and to the bigger community,” said Tony. “I am very proud of his work and hope he continues to follow through with other films in the future. A work well done.”

PRISMA on the Couch… and boat? Broadcast series returns for another trip into the musical vault With the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association’s flagship PRISMA on the Beach event on hold for the second year in a row, organizers

have brought back their popular PRISMA on the Couch (POTC) broadcast series – with a few visible upgrades. The second season, once again full of archival concert clips, masterclass moments and insightful interviews, is already underway with the inaugural two episodes having aired on July 23 and 30. Keen viewers may have noticed a new outdoor element to the series as the hosts and their furniture remain on

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

the move to a different location every week. A new edition of POTC will be airing at 8 pm every Friday until the end of August. “We are so excited to be able to connect with people in this unique way, bridging the gap until we can assemble full orchestras and audiences again, while also showing the resilience of PRISMA’s contractors, artists and supporters,” said Andy Rice, PRISMA’s director of marketing and multimedia. “If 2020 was a pivot year then 2021 is definitely our swivel. We didn’t think we’d get the chance to film this show ever again, so our second season is as much a victory lap as it is a challenge to really push this opportunity to the fullest and showcase the beauty of our community.” On the musical front, POTC will once again feature the best of past PRISMA performances including two chamber music concerts that took place in the community last month with a very small in-person audience. Those who find themselves missing the boundless

energy of 80+ students in the PRISMA Festival Orchestra are in good hands as well, with select movements of Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Mahler, Strauss, Brahms and Berlioz making their way out of the video vault for the very first time. Viewers will also get to peek behind the curtain and learn about some of the inner workings of PRISMA production. Andy and music director Arthur Arnold

recently travelled to Vancouver Island to run a satellite version of the PRISMA Academy at the University of Victoria, documenting the experience on their iPhones for one of the episodes. “We also had several big-name American guest artists join us for virtual masterclasses,” said Andy. “Each of them sat down with Arthur for a few moments to talk about their careers – their favourite conductors, performance memories, and tips and advice that helped them get to where they are today. That’ll be in the August 6 broadcast and is quite something to watch.” Although new episodes of POTC premiere only on Fridays, past episodes can be streamed anytime on Facebook and YouTube. The show also receives regular airplay on Shaw Spotlight (Channel 4) in Powell River, and will be expanded to other areas of BC later this summer. For more information, readers may visit prismafestival.com/livestream. - Andy Rice

Where do you fish & hunt? Tla’amin Nation has asked its community to fill out a Contemporary Use Study (CUS) survey for the last 10 years. This survey will help the Nation figure out where people are doing activities such as hunting, fishing, and gathering. The information taken will be used to make sure those areas are protected and kept accessible to the community. This will also help the government with becoming aware of problems and issues members of the Nation may be facing when trying to do these activities. The focus of this study is to enhance and protect Indigenous opportunities to harvest food and express the Aboriginal Rights each member of the Nation has. The Tla’amin Government has said in order to be eligible for the elk draw this year, the survey must be completed. The CUS includes entry prizes; first prize being $300, second prize $200, and third prize is $100, received in RONA gift cards. - Abby Francis, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

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Former Powell River locals help COVID & drought-hurt village in Uganda In 2017, after living in Powell River for 11 years, Jillian Amatt and Chris DeCap sold all their possessions and headed out in the world to travel. Since then, they have lived in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, the Caribbean, Morocco, Turkey and Egypt. Here’s what Jillian wrote: On June 30, our host where we are staying in Uganda, told us that the nearby village of Kikorongo was starving. After determining what food we could feed them, how many people there were, and how much money was needed, I put out a desperate plea on Facebook to try and raise money to help them. Friends and family from across the world responded immediately and started sending money through e-transfers. By the next morning we had raised $3,000, much more than enough money to go buy the whole village food for a week!

queer n’ crafty On Wednesday, August 11 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm, come out to a Pride craft night to be held at Cranberry Community Hall, This is many qathet Pride events schedule for August. Keep up to date with all the events at qpride.ca. LGBT2QIA+ folks, friends and family: Bring your craft and join us for a social evening of making stuff, along with crafty “show and tell”. What kind of crafts? Anything portable and not too messy is welcome! Mac-

Money kept coming, and we have now provided food, a steady supply of water, and medicine to the entire village

for four whole weeks! Their crops have been destroyed by prolonged drought, and their tourism economy was wiped

rame, beading, felting, knitting, crocheting, drawing and sketching, embroidery, jewelry, small leatherwork, digital art, needle felting, cross stitch, Kumihimo, weaving on a portable loom, origami, hand sewing and quilting, mending and repairs, whittling and carving, papercrafts, paracord, lino cutting, beer can models, basketry, painting small items & models... did we miss anything? All ages welcome: there will be a kids activity table, to keep them out of your hair for a while as you work on your own crafts. Lots of table space!

Best of qathet winner! Melanie Anaka was the lucky winner of a Pollen Sweater in the 6th annual Best of qathet contest. Melanie chose a classic red.

Call for artists The Art Centre qathet public gallery is looking for participants in the Cultural Adaptations Symposium and Exhibition on art and the environment. Details at powellriverartscouncil.ca/ symposium2021

Reliability starts here.

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A Thought For The Day

Go where the readers are. Each month, 7,000 copies of qathet Living are picked up in Powell River and around the qathet region. Many of those magazines get shared around. Does your business want to reach all those readers? Let our advertising team create a message that will help local residents know about your services.

sean@prliving.ca or 604-485-0003 suzi@prliving.ca or 603-344-0208

out by COVID-19. Their lives have literally flipped on end, and they have barely been hanging on to survive. This life-giving food and water is providing them with the strength and encouragement to carry on in this changing world. We are also helping them to learn about sustainability with workshops such as beekeeping, building healthy soils by composting, and by learning gardening skills. We have much faith that together we can help these lovely people move forward without so much struggle and suffering. If you are able to help us help them, we truly appreciate it. All money is going directly to giving Kikorongo a leg up in these challenging times! E-transfers can be sent to jillamatt@me.com or visit our Go Fund Me campaign, where you can see many updates, at gofund. me/190cfdbd Small amounts of money go a very long way here! Thank you! Together we are stronger! If you would like to stay up to date with their adventures, visit their website at artisticvoyages.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

“Close your eyes to racial differences and welcome all with the light of oneness.” 5814 Ash Avenue

604-483-4130

local76@unifor76.ca

~ Bahá’í Teachings qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Got guests? Make these hyper-local ingredient dishes at home, created by VIU culinary arts instructor Avi Sternberg and his student, Ce’nedra Dube.

GOT FRUIT? Make beer, wine and cider from your own fruit.

Stop in, call, email or Facebook us for details on how much fruit you need, and how to freeze it for brewing.

We make it easy!

7030 Glacier St | 604.485.0345 | prbrews.ca Tues to Sat, 9 am – 5 pm or by appointment

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Lemon Balm dressed BBQ Fruit Salad

Photo by Avi Sternberg

by Ce’Nedra Dube Recipe adapted from everylastbite.com/2017/08/25/bbq-fruit-salad/ 1 large watermelon round (approximately 1” thick, cut into 4 wedges, rind detached 2 peaches, pitted and halved 3 apricots pitted and halved *Note: pits from plums, and nectarines may not easily detach from fruit. In this case, cut fruit from around pit trying to retain as big slices as possible. 10 strawberries, quartered 8 black grapes (seedless), halved 2 tbsp. chopped fresh mint 1 tbsp. chopped lemon balm

Fruit marinade 2 tbsp. honey 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2 tbsp. coconut oil 1 tsp. vanilla Dash of salt to harmonize marinade

Marinade: In a small sauce pan combine the coconut oil, cinnamon, honey, and vanilla extract. Whisk ingredients until the coconut oil has melted and the liquid begins to slightly bubble. Remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon. Put aside to cool. Dressing: Whisk the lemon juice, lemon balm, lemon zest, and honey together in a small bowl. Lightly season with salt to taste. Turn a gas barbecue to high heat. If using charcoal, burn charcoal until they turn to hot embers. Preparing fruit: On a cookie sheet lay the watermelon, peaches and apricots, cut-side facing upward. Using a pastry brush, brush on marinade to evenly coat the fruit. Turn fruit cut-side down and repeat process. Put aside any re-

maining marinade to toss strawberries and black grapes. BBQ fruit: Spray grill plates with non-adhesive vegetable oil spray, lay the nectarines, apricots, plums and watermelon onto the barbecue and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes or until 75% cooked through. (Note: If the width between grill plates are too large, use a grilling basket to avoid fruit falling between the grills.) While the fruit is grilling, toss the strawberries and blueberries in any of the remaining coconut and honey liquid. Plate: Arrange the grilled fruit and strawberries on a platter, garnish with chopped mint and lemon balm. Drizzle on dressing and serve with coconut whip or lemon cream.

Dressing ½ lemon, juice + zest 2 tbsp. lemon balm chiffonade (thin julienne) 2 tbsp. honey Dash of salt to taste

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Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon with Cherry-Tarragon Cream Sauce By Avi Sternberg 4 Salmon fillets, skinned and deboned (approximately 5 ounces each) Salt and black pepper to taste 3 Tbsp. olive oil for drizzling salmon 2 Tbsp. Tarragon leaves, for garnish 1 Tbsp. fresh leaves for garnish Cherry Cream Sauce: 2 medium shallots, finely diced (approximately 1/4 cup)

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice and zest from 1/2 medium-size lemon 12 cherries, pitted, cut in halves 1/4 cup dry good white 1/2 cup 33% heavy cream 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into 8 cubes Salt + freshly ground white pepper to taste Tarragon

WESTERLY STUDIO

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Cedar plank: Cedar planks are sold at most grocery stores. It is important to soak the plank in cold water a few hours prior to grilling to keep the plank from burning before the fish is fully cooked. *Note: while cedar is the most popular type of plank used, cherry, hickory, pecan, maple, apple and other woods used for smoking work great, too! Salmon: In a stainless steel bowl, gently dress salmon fillets with olive oil and tarragon leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Keep in an airtight container or zip lock bag in the refrigerator for 30 minutes prior to grilling. Sauce: In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup finely diced shallots, lemon juice, 1/4 cup wine and simmer over medium-low heat until liquid has fully evaporated, about 7-8 minutes.

Whisk in 1/2 cup cream, bring sauce to a simmer, add lemon zest, continue to whisk and reduce sauce until it reaches cream sauce consistency. Gradually add in butter, continuing to whisk, one cube at a time. After all of the butter has been added, salt to taste, add cherries and remove from heat. Cover with a lid to keep warm until ready to serve. Cherries will bleed slightly. Gently stir sauce before serving to incorporate cherry juices. Grilling: Set salmon on cedar plank, grill over medium heat on a charcoal or gas-lit BBQ until salmon reaches 63°C, or salmon just begins to flake. Plate: Plate salmon and spoon over cherry cream sauce. Garnish with fresh tarragon leaves and cooked seasonal vegetables.

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With your library card, access Mango Languages for tutorials in over 70 world languages, as well as ESL resources. POWELL R IVER PUBLIC LIBR ARY

info@prpl.ca 604-485-4796 prpl.ca

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

BUSINESS AFFAIRS

no matter where you get stuck – at the ferry terminal or up the mountain, we can help you,” said Richard. You can find Larsen Towing at Larsentowing.ca, on Facebook, or call 604-302-5253 or 604-316-8187.

SEAN PERCY

Terracentric managing SunLund for new local owners

Dominos fall in place for camper

Now carrying gas grills and BBQs from Saber™. Find yours at Cadam’s Fireplace & Stove Centre. For gas stoves, fireplaces, inserts and BBQs, visit Cadam today. REBATES are available to replace your old, inefficient wood stove for a new efficient gas, pellet or wood stove. Ask us for details! Cadam has full GAS FITTING SERVICES including servicing and installation with our own in-house gas fitter.

Domino’s Pizza is coming to Powell River at the end of summer. The new pizzeria will be located in the former Kane’s Sports Bar next to River City Coffee in Crossroads Village. New franchise owner Guru Sidhu said he hopes to open the last week of August, but first needs to hire 15 to 20 local delivery drivers, pizza cooks and managers. He moved here from Squamish when he saw the opportunity to own a franchise here. “I used to camp at Kent’s beach with the family and when we thought about living in BC and owning a house, this seemed to be the place. Squamish and Vancouver are too busy,” said Guru. “I believe Powell River is going to be very successful; Domino’s really succeeds in small markets with really great prices and excellent service.” Originally from Saskatoon, he was moved by Domino’s to Squamish. Guru has eight years of experience with Domino’s.

Camping masseur likes qathet Hot Solutions for your Cool Locations 7468A Duncan Street near the airport

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Another camping trip to the qathet region landed Powell River a massage therapist. Andrew McCully is operating Andrew McCully Massage Therapy out of his Townsite home. “It’s a beautiful space in a hundred-year-old home,” says Andrew. For decades, the home at 5757 Maple was owned by a mill carpenter, so it is well-built and cared for. With a background in arts and psychology, Andrew began massage therapy 15 years ago, after losing his sight just following his completion of art school. He was operating a clinic in Vancouver (which he still owns but is having managed by others) when he and his wife Doreen Allan took a camping trip here and fell in love with the place. “It took us a few years to get up here.” He says his treatment style depends on the individual and while he specializes in deep work, he also provides less rigorous relaxation massage according to individual needs. To learn more, visit andrewmccully.com and to book an appointment, email andrewmccullyrmt@gmail.com or call 778-882-6864.

Tow truck for the backwoods

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

If your vehicle gets stuck in the backwoods, there’s a new company who will come rescue you. Larsen Towing and Recovery specializes in off-road recoveries. Richard and Jacqueline Larsen, with help from 14-year-old son Cooper, launched the new business shortly after moving here July 1. For years, they had holidayed and visited friends in Powell River and always loved it here, and finally this year they decided to sell their home in Chilliwack and buy here. They also decided the towing business was for them, and they’ve invested heavily. They bought a 2007 Hino flat deck and a 2005 F-550 recovery tow truck. But their pride and joy is a restored 1969 Holmes 480 wrecker set up with electric winches and mounted on a 2008 F-250 to service remote back roads. “We love 4x4 and off-roading. That’s how we got started in the towing industry. We go where no other tow trucks will go. That’s now worked into a full-fledged service so

Lund residents Ed and Julia Levy have purchased SunLund Resort and RV Park, and have local tour company Terracentric Coastal Adventures managing the operation. The couple say they don’t have any grand plan yet for the campground, and will wait until the season is over before making any changes. “It is clear to us that Lund needs good accommodations for tourists, staff, and possibly others, so we want to ensure that the needs of the community are well met,” said Ed. “The previous owners have turned over things in excellent shape and we are very pleased to have Terracentric managing things as they are.”

Townsite deli A new deli store is coming to the Townsite. Sunny Deli promises to bring a fresh vision to the gastro culture of qathet region. The store offers a wide selection of quality cheeses, meats, pantry goods as well as housemade sandwiches, waffles and other food items. This will be the place to get your perfectly assembled charcuterie plates, cheese and meat boards for any occasion or just on a regular day. Sunny Deli aims to use produce from local farms as much as possible and support local suppliers and businesses. The store will be located on the second floor of Townsite Public Market. Growing up in the Ukraine, Rostik Artiushenkov and Anna Honcharova, the owners of Sunny Deli, are used to having good quality food and believe that supporting local growers brings a good food culture to the region and the future to the economy. Rostik and Anna are passionate about food and love to source the best ingredients. “We believe that it matters how your food was made and where it comes from and we would love to share it with our community.” To learn all the news and updates regarding Sunny Deli follow them on Instagram @sunny.deli or visit them on Facebook.

New marine shop Jesse McDonald has stepped out on his own as a marine mechanic with the launch of McDonald Marine Services Ltd at 7055 Duncan Street near the ambulance station. Born and raised in Powell River, Jesse has always been an avid mariner. “I have grown up in the marine industry and have been a licensed marine mechanic for 25 years,” said Jesse. He has been factory-trained in Johnson/Evinrude outboards and Volvo Penta Marine Products. For the past 20 years Jesse specialized in Volvo Penta Marine commercial and leisure diesel products including stern drive rebuild and repair. He’s also a marine electronic installer, specializing in Garmin products ranging from Sounders, GPS Plotters, Radars and the new On-Deck system. McDonald Marine supplies and installs forced air and hydronic diesel marine furnaces. You can reach Jesse at Jesse@mcdonaldmarine.ca or 604-483-1792. | sean@prliving.ca

GET OUTSIDE Tuesdays and Thursdays Early Years Summer Fun

10 to noon, Willingdon Beach South. By PRCYFSS. Free program with snacks.

August 4 & 18

Historic Willingdon Beach Walking Tours

1 to 2 pm, meet at the museum. By donation, no registration required.

Friday, August 13

Perseids Meteor Shower photography night

10 pm, Mowat Bay. The PR Astrophotographers Club invites you to bring your camera to capture meteors, the Milky Way, nearby galaxies, and possibly NLCs and aurora.

Saturday, August 21

Illegal Dumping Clean Up event

8 am to 5 pm, Augusta. Drop off collected materials between 8 am and 5 pm. This is a one day only event for illegally dumped waste. No household waste will be accepted. See more on the next page

August in qathet

NIGHT MARKET DEMO: Ever Red Fresh Designs’ Nicole Quigley will bring her exquisite floral skills to the Thursday night markets 7 to 10 pm starting August 5, at Willingdon Beach’s gravel parking lot. Photo by Sean Percy

Even more magical at night A ugust has no Blackberry Fest. No Arts Alive in the Park. No Sunshine Music Fest. After a July with no Sea Fair or Logger Sports. If you’re like us here at qathet Living, you’re desperate for things to do to enjoy the summer nights as the possibility for our fabulous post-vaccine community vibe comes back. That’s why the magazine has teamed up with the City of Powell River to bring you Thursday Night Markets. Cities around the world host night markets, featuring fresh food, live music, groovy stuff to buy and a vibrant scene of folks gathering for good times. Here, we have the additional pleasure of a beach and a sun-

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set (not to mention mini golf) to augment our night market experience. The events run Thursday nights from 7 to 10 pm, August 5 to September 30. All local vendors are invited to apply, though spots have been filling up fast. See Page 55 for more. What will next summer hold for major events here in qathet? As COVID taught us, it’s impossible to predict. For now, we hope you enjoy the night markets. Bring your out-of-town guests. Buy stuff from the vendors. We can’t wait to see your beautiful faces again. | pieta@prliving.ca

CALL TODAY to schedule your next delivery

BIG AUGUST DATES Tuesday, August 31

International Overdose Awareness Day

5:30 pm march from Powell River City Hall. “Die in” at MLA Nick Simon’s office on Marine. March ends at Willingdon Beach with Naloxone training, a memorial table, candlelight vigil, pizza and refreshments. Funded by the Powell River Community Action Team.

Monday, September 6 Labour Day Stat holiday.

Tuesday, September 7 Back to School

POWELL RIVER | SUNSHINE COAST | VANCOUVER

604.485.8100

Thank you to all essential service providers! STAY SAFE!! qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

ART, MUSIC & PERFORMANCE To August 7

SHOPPING EVENTS WITH SOUL

Friday, August 13

What the + Festival

Noon to 5 pm. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, The Art Centre qathet public gallery.

August 5, 12, 19, 26

TBA concert

Cranberry Community Hall. Hungry for live music? Save the Date and keep an eye on our Facebook Page for details.

August 14

To August 16

Megan Dulcie Dill: Painting with the Pacific Wild 10-8 pm, daily. Tidal Art Centre.

Papermaking pop-up

Saturday, August 21

Thursday Night Markets

7 to 10 pm, Willingdon Beach. Art, music, food and more. Continuing Thursday nights to September 30. Co-sponsored by qathet Living magazine and the City of Powell River.

Noon til 3 pm, Museum. Free. No registration.

Saturdays and Sundays

August 16 to 19

10:30 to 12:30 Saturdays, 12:30 to 2:30 pm Sundays. Paradise Exhibition Grounds.

Beginner Kids Fiddle Camp

To register: www.serenasmusicacademy.com/summer-camps or contact: info@serenaeades.com for more information.

Back to School Fundraiser at Town Centre Mall

Prizes, games, crafts, a talent contest, sidewalk sale, food and more. All proceeds go to the United Way’s Healthy Families program – free school meals in SD47. See ad on Page 12.

Farmers Market

August 28 – September 5

Mon / Wed / Fri Weekly

19 artists. Visit their studios in person or online. More on pages 21 & 48 or find the tour map at artpowellriver.com

Kiwanis book sales

qathet Studio Tour

9 to noon by appointment. 4943 Kiwanis. Phone to book your appointment: 604-483-1440. Funds go to Cops for Cancer & Camp Goodtimes.

August 20 to 22

The Rainforest Circus - Submerged

Powell River Recreation Complex – King Fisher Trail. Friday, August 20, 1 pm and 4 pm • Saturday, August 21, 1 pm and 4 pm • Sunday, August 22, 11 am and 2 pm. https://deercrossingtheartfarm.org/submerged/

August 22 To September 15

Robert Mackle Open Studio

Crucible Gallery at Townsite Market. Fridays to Sundays 1 to 9 pm. Live improvised music performances Friday evenings 7:30-9 pm. The Open Studio will include an exhibit entitled AFTERLIFE: featuring beloved deceased artists Margaret Malouf, Giancarlo Melchiori and Kate Miriam Tiley.

Every Wednesday

Tla’amin Nation Culture Nights

5 pm, Tla’amin Waterfront. Everyone welcome: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous. Bring a lawn chair and a drum if you like.

Fridays August 6, 13, 20 & 27 PRISMA on the Couch

prismafestival.com/livestream & see pages 24 and 38 for more.

Wednesday, August 11 Pride Craft Night

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Cranberry Community Hall. See Page 39 for more.

August 10 Adventures of Wren: Elderflower book launch

11-12 pm, Tidal Art Centre. With Maya Voon and Megan Dulcie Dill. See Page 50 for more.

Rob Villani

Stacey Fletcher

Dye plant walk and Hapazone Workshop

10 am qathet General Hospital community garden. Free event with artist Amber Warhol Friedman. intentionalfabric.ca.

August TBA

qathet Pride Festival See qpride.ca for more

August 28 – September 5 qathet Studio Tour

19 artists from Lang Bay to Lund. See their studios in person or online. More on pages 21 & 48 or at artpowellriver.com

Summer Art Camp

9-3 pm, The Art Centre Public Gallery. Ages 7-12. See powellriverartscouncil.ca.

September 7 to 10 Registration week at the Academy of Music

Choirs, music lessons, theatre and dance. See Page 11 for more.

September 26 Academy of Music Celebrates 40 years

Noon to 3 pm, at the Academy. See Page 11 for more.

Katya Buck

Martin Ostensen

Local Lawyers - ready to help you start a company, sell one, and everything in between.

• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

Bash that trash without Trash Bash

August 30 to September 3

here’s no Trash Bash event this year, but if you find an illegal dumpsite on a trail, beach, or alleyway, you can qualify for free disposal at Augusta transfer stations in one of two ways: 1. Participate in the August 21st Illegal Dumping Clean Up event by dropping off collected materials between 8 am and 5 pm. This is a one-day only event for illegally dumped waste. No household waste will be accepted.

Real Estate Commercial Law Wills & Estates Divorce Family Mediation Criminal Law ICBC Claims Civil Disputes

2. Apply for a disposal fee waiver for collected illegally dumped trash. Application is available online through qathet.ca or LetsTalkTrash.ca and should be submitted to info@LetsTalkTrash.ca or dropped off at #105–4675 Marine Avenue. Following approval, residents will be given a free disposal voucher valid for one day that must be submitted to Augusta weigh scale attendant when dropping off collected materials.

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HALF MAN, HALF DRAG QUEEN: Vancouver drag queen The Unstoppable Conni Smudge joins qathet Pride August 16 to 19, visit qPride.ca for details. Join her for Drag Bingo, boy/girl drag make-up tips, events and so much more… Photo by Tinney Photo

Queer in qathet

BY JOHN HEWSON

QATHET PRIDE

Imagine the courage it takes for any person to stand up to the voice of majority or authority and say, “No – this is who I am.” Then imagine if it wasn’t even necessary!

When: The month of August. Some events have been announced already (Craft night August 11, What the + to August 7, see the previous page under “arts”), and many events and details are TBA. See qpride.ca for more.

Self-expression is a human right, self dignity is pride. You get one life, so be true to who you are. I owe it to myself, as you do to yourself, to be you – the best version you can be. Then we can look back on a life lived fully, true to family, friends, community, and above all, self. Sadly many queer kids are not made to feel welcome and often get poked at or bullied cruelly, leaving them scared, overcompensating, or moving away. Some have to disconnect to find a more supportive environment. Some are lucky to be encouraged and welcomed to explore their true selves. Supportive parents, peers

and community sure make a huge difference. Being queer, for those of us who have accepted and embraced our truth, by exploring possibilities we’re well on our way to fulfilling ourselves as authentically expressed humans. You too can support your queer qathet friends and neighbours. Being curious, not judgemental, is a good place to start. Be kind, you have no idea what some people are going through. Don’t assume you know who someone is, just by how they look. Pride is a personal journey, as well as a big parade, proud to be me and proud to know you, and to share this lived experience here briefly on planet earth. Considering coming out? There’s a safe place, qathet has at least four organizations to reach out to:

Drowning Hazard! DANGER! Do not swim or boat near dams and booms, the undertow and submerged structures could trap you. Stay clear of dams, debris

booms and water intake area.

bc.info@evolugen.com | 1.604.485.2233 powellriverenergy.com

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Voices on being queer in qathet

WHAT THE +: Artist Prashant Miranda presents at the show’s opening night. The show continues until August 7 at The Art Centre Public Gallery, above the Library. qathet Pride, Lift’s new Trans qathet: Alliance for Gender Diversity and Support program, and Powell River Child, Youth and Family Services Society, and Volunteer Powell River. qathet Pride, formerly Powell River Pride, is a nonprofit society celebrating diversity and supporting the queer community on the Upper Sunshine Coast. We stand for diversity and equality and education. Lower Sunshine Coast pride organizers joined our recent AGM to build connection on the coast. We have a new board, more members than ever before and more young folk taking on leadership roles. Join us at these Pride mini-events now and throughout the year. “What the Plus” queer art festival runs until August 7 at The Art Centre Public Gallery. August will see multiple Pride “mini-events” that provide opportunities to reconnect with community: picnics, crafts, queer film night, drag bingo and drag classes for all ages, opportunities to decorate your business, home, truck. Vancouver’s Queer Film Festival is online August 12-22… or create your own gathering at work or with friends and family. Check out qathetpride.ca for updated information.

As a business there’s always diversity training, or simply being friendly and careful to use inclusive language.

About qathet Pride Be proud, be you. Thank you to the qathet region for embracing LGBT2QIA+ folk: your loving acceptance of these brave warriors who have the courage to be themselves makes you leaders and change-makers too. We’re in transition from PRPride. ca to qathetPride.ca and qpride. ca… it’s one volunteer community organization and one evolving website with a new expanding team. You are welcome to join us, help create the future of Pride, we’re calling the queer community to submit new logo designs, more on that on our webpage, where you’ll find events, social media links and much more. Participate, Connect, Share, Educate, Liberate. Happy qathet Pride !

“I’m fairly private. In the early part of my life I hid it a lot because of how homophobic society was. That has hung over into my current life because of the early infusion of fear. I’m glad to see that young people and gay people are so much more accepted now.” - Anonymous, lesbian, 80+ “qathet and its people are kind of “clumpy”. In some circles you can be as gender diverse as you like and will get plenty of approval and support. Other groups politely ignore your gaucheness. In others again, it’s just not safe to be anything other than cis/het. It would be nice not to have to continually police ones gender expression to fit other people’s prejudices.” - Anonymous, transman, 60+ “This town thrives on Inclusivity. So when I moved back to qathet from college I knew I had to find like minded individuals. Being a Queer person in a small town is tough but if you look closely you see more and more rainbows around town. I found my little group of rainbows and couldn’t be happier.” - Maenyn Forsyth, polyamorous bisexual, 30+ “I moved here two and a half years ago, and have been really happy to be welcomed by members of the queer community in qathet. The pandemic put a wrench in leaving my house much, but so far I’ve been overwhelmed (in a good way!) with how friendly and active LGBQT+ folks are here.” - Anonymous non-binary newcomer, 30+ “Here it’s difficult because I have not much support in the community. The trans community is very small here compared to a bigger city. It was very scary coming out, I didn’t know what people would say or do. But I got positive affirmations like “good for you” and “be who you are”. I’m my true self now and I love it. Gonna be four years soon, out and on hormones. “ - Ashley Terrico, transwoman, 50+ “When I first moved here, I decided I would talk about my gender and my pronouns with people when/if they asked. Lots of people who know me haven’t asked, so they are surprised

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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when something about being enby comes up (gender fluid). qathet is still a place where people are assumed straight and cisgendered by default. People here are mostly well-meaning and interested in being good allies, but I’d like to see them learn to interact with others without needing to know what gender/orientation box to put them in. “ - rin, non-binary queer (she/they), 40+ My partner and I moved out here for the welcoming and accepting community. After visiting a few times we knew that we could come out here and be our true selves. It’s a smaller community than where we are from, but we’ve found that has led to a lot more respect from the strangers and public we interact with. - Clayton McCrea (he/him), CPA, 40+ Our wedding here in qathet was a community celebration with family and friends, outdoors on the labyrinth at Sycamore Commons. We had not asked for RSVPs, so we had no idea how many would come until we showed up on the bus, to find around 100 folks gathered in the sunshine. We had our quick legal ceremony, planted a fig tree, and wandered around greeting everyone with smiles and many hugs. Then back on the bus to an amazing reception. The music, the potluck food, the kitchen crew and clean up, our loaned car, and a white dove release were all gifts from loving friends and family. As we left, a relative threw virtual confetti. - Alfred and Kevin, gay husbands, 70+ and 60+ I’m a non-binary person who moved to qathet a couple of years ago; I have frequently been surprised by the prolific use of the term “ladies” and “lady”. Both in the singular and the plural: from “excuse me ladies” in the grocery store, to “hey lady” as a greeting, or “the lady in the back” at a group meeting. There are so many non-gendered language options – folks, person, people, friends, everyone, guest – be creative and non-gender specific! You never know how someone identifies. - Laurance Playford-Beaudet (they/them), 33+

Wide variety of construction aggregates & gardening mediums

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Local stars add serious sparkle to forest circus

erial acrobat and teacher Keely Sills; composer Lesley Sutherland; the group Aerial Edge; Musician Sophia Sanford and sound artist Donna Lytle - these are just a few of the 40+ ultra-talented locals who are a part of the show Submerged. It’s a production of Deer Crossing Art Farm on the Lower Coast. The company has brought similar collaborative outdoor productions to Gabriola Island, Victoria, Squamish and elsewhere, but this is the first time here in qathet. And, it represents the first major performance in town since COVID shut down nearly everything back in March of 2020. For three days in the forest near the Recreation Complex, these performers will take audiences on a storytelling journey through the woods. Why use the woods as a performance space? “The forest creates a sense of wonder,” explained Chad Hershler, Deer Crossing’s artistic and executive director, who has been producing art and na-

SUBMERGED When: Friday, August 20, 1 pm and 4 pm • Saturday, August 21, 1 pm and 4 pm • Sunday, August 22, 11 am and 2 pm. What: A forest circus that features story, arial acts, costumes, and skilled performers from here and away. Where: In the forest by the Recreation Complex. Learn more & get tickets at: deercrossingtheartfarm.org/submerged/

ture shows since 2008. “Your audience automatically becomes more aware, more alive. It is a light and magical show - but the themes are about grief and loss. It’s very appropriate for the moment.” Chad explained it is a fun show, and very family friendly.

STORYTELLERS: Top, seven members of qathet’s Aerial Edge will perform in the Forest Circus. The team includes Striker Patterson, Noland Germain, Jordan Hamilton, Pia Elliott, Katie Warren, Shyanne Ashton-Hopkins (top) and instructor/performer Keely Sills (above left). The show features non-local performers, too.

Why choose Stubberfield Funeral Home?

Have a fun, and safe, summer! Providing dignified service to the region since 1969

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Powell River has been trusting Pat and Joanne with funeral services for more than a quarter century.

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Extraordina Dogs are required to be on a leash in public spaces at all times unless in a designated dog park or on private property

remarkable art: qathet Studio Tour invites you in

Owners are responsible for picking up and properly disposing of pet waste If you see a violation, please report it to Animal Control by calling (604) 485-8600 or email animalcontrol@powellriver.ca

Prices are going up, but you don’t have to pay them Due to the increasing cost of printing, and, well, everything else, the price of advertising in qathet Living will increase next month. It’s just a small increase, but we know well that when you’re a small business, every bit counts. So any ads you book for 2021 before August 16 will be protected from this rate hike.

Contact sean@prliving.ca or 604-485-0003 or suzi@prliving.ca or 603-344-0208

Do you provide health services in qathet? Contact Sean Percy before September 1 to get your free listing in ZEST magazine/directory.

sean@prliving.ca or 604-485-0003

Illegal Dumping Clean Up August 21

Drop off collected materials at Augusta Recyclers between 8 am and 5 pm. This is a one-day only event for illegally dumped waste. No household waste. This space available to non-profit organizations, courtesy City Transfer

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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Roy Schneider • Studio Schneider

graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 1976 as a fine art print maker and went on to work as an award winning illustrator. Now my focus is on fine art again, so I have built a studio here in Wildwood and am trying to use my sensibility as a print maker to create paintings with a

strong graphic quality and a fresh perspective on the Canadian landscape. My paintings are of deep and untouched wilderness, complex and tangled, but highlighted by the amazing beauty and light of the northern boreal and coastal forests. www.studioschneider.ca

ary people Painting • Ceramics • Print-making • Sculpture Fibre & clothing • Jewelry • Books & more!

he annual qathet Studio Tour returns in-person (and online) at the end of August! After the isolation of COVID, it may feel strange (and wonderful) to travel from Lund to Lang Bay, popping into 19 working studios along the way. If you’re not quite ready for

all that interaction, the artists will also show you their galleries in mini-videos on the Malaspina Art Society web page (see below). Here, meet four of the artists who will welcome you: Gina Page, Jan Lovewell, Ron Robb, and Roy Schneider.

Gina Page • Sea Wrack Press

live in both Powell River and Richmond BC and have been creating art and poetry for a long time, working on etchings at Malaspina Printmakers Studio on Granville Island in Vancouver and making paper in my back yard from various natural fibres I have either bought or gathered ethically.

Jan Lovewell and Ron Robb • Rare Earth Pottery

e work independently, each of us having developed a distinctive body of work. We fire together, either at home using our raku kiln, or at Earl’s Cove, where we helped to build a large wood fired kiln. We enjoy these processes that pro-

duce organic, varied, sometimes surprising and particularly beautiful surfaces. It is the quest to always improve our work and try new approaches that keeps us inspired and the work fresh and new. www.rareearthpottery.ca

Ursula Medley Gina Page Megan Dulcie Dill Annie Robinson Anna May Bennett Roy Schneider Maggie Poole Bente Hansen Meghan Hildebrand Joyce Furness Lee Mackenzie Petra Ebner Louise Gloslee Janet Southcott Pamela How Lorna Downie Evelyn Kirkaldy Wendy Drummond Rare Earth Pottery

The inspiration for my work comes from dreams and dream states, the natural world and relationships with others. For most of my life, I have lived within sight and sound of the sea, either Malaspina Strait or Georgia Strait, figuring significantly in my writing and visual work.

Plan your road trip to visit these fine artists Left, these 19 qathet artists are opening their studios August 28 & 29 from 10 am to 4 pm, and by appointment August 28 to September 5. Find the map and much more info at artpowellriver.com.

QATHET STUDIO TOUR When: Online in videos and by appointment, August 28 to September 5. But the main event is August 28 & 29 from 10 am to 4 pm, when you can visit each of the 19 participating studios from Lang Bay to Lund. Get your map & more: artpowellriver.com

qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Kindness & how to complete things: What this teen writer learned from her mentor

aya Voon is a 16 year old writer and musician, who partnered with artist Megan Dulcie Dill in producing the second Adventures of Wren illustrated book. Growing up on Savary Island, Maya says she has always been immersed in nature. “I’ve loved both songwriting and fictive writing for as long as I can recall, and have been busking at local farmers markets for the last five years,” she says.

How did you get involved with the Wren books?

ADVENTURES OF WREN: ELDERFLOWER BOOK LAUNCH When: August 10, 11 am Where: Tidal Art Centre, Lund What: Help celebrate the second in artist Megan Dulcie Dill’s series of highquality children’s illustrated books. Artist Editions available through artist and at the launch, $30 www.megandulciedill. com/wren-project

Maya • Previous to being involved with the Wren project, I taught Megan’s son violin. She knew I was keen on creative writing and wanted a set of young eyes working on the project. I was thrilled to help, having admired the first book of the series. At the start of COVID-19, she invited me to collaborate remotely.

What do you plan to do in the next five years or so?

What was your role? Maya • My role with Elderflower consisted of revising the writing, rather than the plot. Although, we did work together to flesh out the ending and finalize the storyline. What did you learn from Megan? Maya • Megan consistently treated me with respect and compassion in our time working together. The key thing I learned from her was definitely the importance of kindness when collaborating with other people.

INTO THE UNKNOWN: Like many other teens, Maya Voon is facing endless choices about the future, and a scary economy. Mentorships can help bring clarity to an uncertain path forward.

How did working on the book change your ideas about what you’re capable of? Maya • I’ve honestly never attempted to finish many big projects in my life, but working on Elderflower has changed that. Being a part of this book has made me realize that I’m truly able to complete things that are important to me.

Maya • I’d like to travel and experience as much of the world as I can. Visiting family in Malaysia and road-tripping through Canada are both things that have been on my bucket-list for several years. The rest is kind of up in the air. The only thing I’m 100 precent sure of is that I want to live my life in a way that will make me happy. What’s your ultimate career ambition? Maya • I’m not sure if I can honestly answer this question. At the moment I’m just working on completing high-school. In a few years I might be able to provide an answer, but today I’m simply getting through day-to-day life. For most teens, it’s quite

hard to pinpoint what career we want to go into, especially with social expectations and financial stressors. What would you tell other teens about the value of finding a mentor, and working on a project? Maya • Working on a project with a mentor gives you an opportunity to expand your knowledge and reach beyond your comfort levels. Especially as a teen, experiences like these are extremely worthwhile. What else should people know about this project? Maya • It was an invaluable experience working with Megan on Elderflower. She’s been incredible to work with, and I’d jump at another opportunity like this one.

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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Local students spent July enriching their learning with engaging activities that span literacy, numeracy, and social emotional development

here are 70 children at Westview Elementary mid-July, but the building is suspiciously quiet. Where are they? The answer is, focused. For three hours each weekday morning in July, the School District offered elementary-aged students an engaging learning program focused on literacy and numeracy. It was free. Anyone could join. School buses took them there and home. In each of the seven classrooms, the students were working hard writing and illustrating their own books. “Fishing at Dinner Rock,” was the title of one. Next desk over, “Cliff Diving at Eagle River” was underway. For many students, formal learning can lag in the summertime - two months off from multiplication tables and language arts. New skills and knowledge can begin to fade. So for the past 18 years, the District’s Community Link Coordinator Dana Sanderson has organized programs like this one as a bridge. “If a student doesn’t read all summer, they sometimes forget some of the skills they learned when they go back to school,” she explained. “Some kids read at home, but not

everyone does.” The Read and Rec summer program grew to nearly 240 children pre-COVID, representing more than a quarter of the District’s elementary-aged students. This year’s smaller program involved more reading, writing, and numeracy, and less recreation. Shorter hours mean students and teachers can focus on engaging learning activities, rather than managing transitions. The change is getting a thumbs-up from both teachers who work in the program, and the District’s Director of Instruction, Kristen Brach. “It’s been great seeing students learning and having fun,” she said. Similarly at Brooks Secondary in July, “School in the Summer” offered all students Grades 8 to 12 the chance to continue their learning from the year before. The Principal of Brooks Secondary, Bill Rounis, shared that students in Grades 10-12 were able to take partial and complete courses. Grades 8-9 students were immersed in a cross-curricular approach, focusing on foundational literacy and numeracy skills, as well as social emotional learning activities.

Top right: Grade 1 teacher Cassidy Ball oversees George reading his handmade book aloud. Middle right: Kristen Brach and Dana Sanderson. Right: a schedule of the day. Left: Lincoln is sharing a book he wrote with his teacher Calico Clark.

Back At It

Students can continue their learning over the summer. We recommend: For literacy: EPIC • www.getepic.com Or go to the Powell River Public Library; they have an incredible selection of children’s books. For math: Math Playground • mathplayground. com/math-games.html Or play board games at home which are a great way to learn math skills while having fun.

Want to learn more? Contact us. 4351 Ontario Ave • 604 485-6271

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

Lund Water Taxi TAKE A BREAK Cultivating consent culture and mindful socializing

604-483-9749 Daily runs to Savary Island • Charters serving Savary Island & surrounding areas, including Sunshine Coast Trail • Phone for reservations • Phone hours 8 am – 8 pm

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Say thanks. Donate to the Powell River Hospital Foundation. 604 485-3211 ext 4349 | 5000 Joyce Avenue, Powell River, V8A 5R3

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s restrictions lift and ging?” were words I overinteractions become heard that truly stood out more frequent, we to me as a respectful enmight find the return to gagement and they got me company “as usual” now thinking on how we might brings unexpected aspects use this time as a reset into JULIETTE JARVIS to navigate and tend to. reverence for the people It may be easy to forget we encounter. the impact the past 17 Consider the differmonths have had on our ent feel from, “Can I hug nervous systems while you?” or just stepping we embrace coffee dates, closer with arms wide travel, and hugs with in expectation. “Are you friends and family, and it hugging?”, “Are you havmay take some time too ing company in your to process the effects that home?”, “Do you prefer witnessing bare shelves, to eat inside or outside?”, face masks, and isolation this reframe sets a tone of have had on us. considering our compaWe might wish to avoid thinking about it and swift- ny’s nervous system over our own wants and without ly get back to “normal.” Even for those of us who feel putting them on the spot to agree for sake of social we are unscathed, there may be signs our nervous expectation. Continuing to ask each time also allows systems are holding a different narration. those we care for to adjust as needs, sensitivities, and I know for myself, I thoroughly enjoyed my first face desires fluctuate while healing and settling into what to face card reading since the pandemic hit and held truly feels best to each of us. it outside a busy coffee shop, then I hosted a table at a Just like any other area of consent, agreeing once pop-up market, went garage sale-ing, and saw a friend is not a blanket contract to continue, and likewise, from out of town all within three days. Yet each night some days may feel more open to close or intimate nausea and exhaustion set in in a big way. I realized I contact than others. It may seem counter intuitive afhad had more social interaction in three days than in ter wishing for such closeness for so long to consider the past year and a half. I also witnessed and stepped anything but full steam ahead, but listening closely into navigating familiar situations in a new way, and I to the signs our body and emotions give us, even afrealized there is an opportunity not only for mindful ter enjoyable experiences and creating safe space for reintegration but also for cultivating a culture built on others will help ensure a deeper recovery. It also may consent. One where we regard our own personal needs give us opportunities to find and set boundaries we along with the needs of who we are with. may not have realized were always needed. What really brought this to the forefront was hugging. So many of us are craving connection after this Juliette Jarvis offers card readings, shamanic sessions extended period of distancing that embracing has medicine gatherings, and immersion programs onmoved from something previously initiated casually line and in-person. Find her at 3FoldBalance.com and to an invitation of mindful consent. “Are you hug- ReturnToReverence.ca

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qathet LIVING • August 2021 •

All aglow

unsets over the Salish Sea: they’re the region’s greatest summer pleasure, a nightly show, and absolutely free for everyone to enjoy. It’s no wonder they were a main theme for photographers submitting to the qathet Living summer photo contest. On August 1, the sun sets at 8:59 pm; on the 31, it’ll set nearly an hour earlier at 8:02 pm – a reminder that summer is short-lived, and should be enjoyed to the fullest. Need more encouragement to leave Amazon Prime and the couch? Come to Thursday Night Markets at Willingdon Beach from 7 to 10 pm til September 30 (see right).

SWIFTLY FLOW THE DAYS: Top sunset photos submitted to the qathet Living summer photo contest are: SHAYLENE GALE: Sun meeting the ferry. JANET WORTH: Sunset, grasses and dog TYAN OUELLETTE: Rowing into the sunset DARLENE WILLIAMS: Willingdon Beach PAULA PARDY: Orange sky and crazy clouds CLAYTON THOM: Pastels over the pier

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• August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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Earn with every purchase! 56 • August 2021 • qathetliving.ca

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qathet Living August 2021

Articles inside

The looper invasion