By candlelight
Organizers from Royal Canadian Legion Branch 164 are inviting members of the public to take part in a candlelight remembrance ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at Cranberry Cemetery.
The annual event, which began in 2008 in Powell River, has commemorated various milestones in Canadian military history over the past seven years, including D-day, the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the signing of the armistice which ended the Korean War. This year the ceremony will pay tribute to Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a day which marks the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied forces on May 8, 1945.
On Saturday afternoon, at 3 pm, family members will go up to the cemetery to place candles at the graves. Then at dusk, around 8 pm, they will return to the cemetery. More than 250 candles will be lit this year. Organizer Karen Crashley said that the sight of the lit candles at the soldiers’ graves is a powerful reminder of the number of veterans who lived in Powell River and who are interred at the cemetery.
Any readers interested in participating in the ceremony can contact the Legion at 604.485.4870 or Crashley at 604.485.5176.
Ferry changes
Ferry changes are coming this fall to the Sunshine Coast.
The changes, recently announced at the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee meeting in Powell River, were made to allow Queen of Nanaimo its turn in dry dock.
To cover, BC Ferries is reassigning the similarly classed Queen of Burnaby, which can handle an equivalent complement of cars and passengers, to the vacated Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands Route.
This switch moves the MV Island Sky from its Saltery Bay - Earls Cove route, to the 39-kilometre crossing between Comox and Powell River.
According to BC Ferries’ website, the Island Sky has a Coast Café Express, rather than the cafeteria previously available, meaning hungry travellers will have to get their hamburgers and fries elsewhere.
The snack bar and vending machine on the Bowen Queen will provide sustenance to travellers between Earls Cove and Saltery Bay.
According to BC Ferries spokesperson, Darin Guenette, the ferry switch up will take place mid-October and is estimated to remain in place about a month.
