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Letters to the Editor: August 15, 2012

No room for recreation We have a long history of recreating on our local forests. We hike, walk and climb rocks; we ride horses, mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trucks, canoes and kayaks.

No room for recreation

We have a long history of recreating on our local forests. We hike, walk and climb rocks; we ride horses, mountain bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trucks, canoes and kayaks. We go to Sarah Point, Dinner Rock and Stillwater Bluffs; the Bunster Hills; Inland and Duck lakes; Appleton Creek and Eagle River; Freda, Tin Hat and Troubridge mountains; and into the backcountry: Powell Forest Canoe Route (lakes and trails), Emma Lake, the A-Branch cabin, Eldred Valley and South Powell Divide. We’ve got a lot, but then, local recreation is all we’ve got—we can’t easily hop in our cars and drive elsewhere.

We do it so well it has become part of our economy. The canoe and ATV routes draw visitors every year. Eldred Valley is a nationally known rock climbing area. PRPAWS (Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society) received a $160,000-matching grant from the provincially-funded Island Coastal Economic Trust to build huts along the Sunshine Coast Trail. BC Bike Race has made Powell River part of its course for two years.

Much of this fun takes place on Crown land that is controlled by Western Forest Products under provincial Tree Farm Licence (TFL). Western is developing a new Management Plan for TFL 39 [“Directors accept draft timber supply analysis,” July 25]. Table six of the information package about this new plan shows that in the Powell River forest, there is a total harvestable land base (THLB) of 48,033 hectares, but only 11 hectares (0.023 per cent) are set aside for recreation. Around Sayward, BC (another part of TFL 39), there is a THLB of 81,166 hectares, of which 531 hectares (0.579) are set aside for recreation.

The recreation allowance for Powell River is very small. How will these 11 acres allotted? Must we choose between buffers for the Sunshine Coast Trail or the canoe route? Will horse riders be dueling with ATVs?

The plan’s information package can be viewed at www.westernforest.com/sustainability/environmental-stewardship/planning-and-practices/our-forests/tree-farm-license-39-draft-management-plan-9/, at Western’s office or at Sunshine Coast District, the forestry office on Duncan Street.

Pat Christie

Zilinsky Road


Controversy unfair

Powell River Sea Fair Committee was disheartened to see the cartoon in the Peak [“Local musicians denied nominal payment,” July 25] three days before Sea Fair. We would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight regarding Sea Fair voting “no” to paying the entertainers a nominal fee.

The fact is we voted “no” based on the information we had, which was that no money from the raffle for this purpose had been deposited and some had not been collected. The monies raised were originally designated for two headliner bands then that changed when it did not work out. The majority felt, until we were certain the monies were available to pay musicians, we could not commit to these funds at the last minute within a week of Sea Fair, especially since it is something we have never done in the past with the exception of a few who have been sponsored by a group, an organization or an individual. For example, a few years ago the Rotary Club of Powell River sponsored a juggler/cyclist. Another year someone sponsored fire twirlers, another year a hypnotist. Clowns have been sponsored. On occasion we have also brought in entertainment for the cost of travel and meal expenses.

We do value our local entertainers and would very much like to pay them what they are worth, but that would require fencing off the area and charging a fee. We believe that would take away from offering a fun family event that can be enjoyed by all to celebrate “Our Good Life by the Sea.” We are a small committee who works very hard to raise the funds necessary to pay the expenses of all the events, insurance, fireworks and so much more. Local businesses have been very generous with donations and prizes.

This information should never have gone public due to not having all the facts. We have worked hard all year to provide a fun family event to be enjoyed by citizens and visitors of all ages and all interests, what we believe the Rotary Club intended when it started it 49 years ago.

Powell River Sea Fair Committee


Fish farm fallacy

In the article about the fish farm disease outbreak near Saltery Bay [“Results pending for salmon virus,” August 8] it states the IHN (infectious haematopoietic necrosis) virus has no impact on wild fish. Actually, it is well known to infect chinook and sockeye. This causes me to question the accuracy of anything else stated by the Norwegian-owned company running this farm.

IHN virus is well known in Europe where testing is mandatory.

I have only one question: why are these disease-spreading operations not yet in closed containment to protect our wild fish from viruses, lice and farm sewage released into the waters our wild west-coast salmon depend on?

Rob Southcott

Gordon Avenue


A balance of kindness

Over time, I have met some uncaring “caregivers” which, I guess is an oxymoron. Babysitter, parent, teacher, health care worker, pet owner or veterinarian, part of the human race. It is a privilege to be a caregiver and a lot of us are paid caregivers.

A former boss at a seniors residence, once said  “These people are your bosses. This is their home. They pay your wages. You work for them.” True. Without them, we would have no job.

Years ago, I was lucky enough to be contacted by a cousin who drove buses in Victoria. One day he stopped to pick up an elderly man and got out of the bus to help this gentleman on, only to discover he was a former Powell River teacher.

This wonderful young man did more than keep in touch with the teacher, they became friends. Like so many, he thought the world of him. The teacher not only taught school “stuff” but he taught us so much more about life “stuff” and in such a gentle, caring manner.

This teacher very recently passed away at 107 and a half but what a grand life [“Learning for teacher was constant,” August 8]. Imagine living to that age and still being thought of kindly. As caregivers, we don’t know the how small gestures can impact someone’s life but we hold the ability to not only make their life wonderful but show them how to pass it on.

The kindness our teacher showed came back to him over 50 years later.

Sheri Moloughney

Michigan Avenue


Extraordinary teacher

Last week I received a message via email announcing the passing of Ken Bradley at the fine age of 107 [“Learning for teacher was constant,” August 8].

I was fortunate to have had Bradley as a teacher in grade six at JP Dallos School. His ability to make and keep his lessons interesting, and the way he was able to bring a book to life as if you could reach and touch the characters was amazing. I can remember when he read to us the novel The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. With my head on my desk listening, it seemed so real. He was instrumental in giving me, to this day, the joy of reading.

Last November, my wife Lorraine and I had the pleasure of visiting Bradley at his care home in Victoria. When we arrived, unannounced, he was in his room reading the book he and his co-author Karen Southern had written Historic Railways of the Powell River Area. On his bedside table was a box of his favourite Peek Freans vanilla crème cookies of which he apparently had two each night around midnight.

We had a great visit with him and after pointing myself out in our grade six photo he looked at me and said, “My, but you have aged.” He told us of friends who visited him often to attend to his personal items that he may need occasionally. Although our visit was short it was very meaningful to me especially now since his passing. I’m glad we took the time to see him.

As you go through life, there are always those who have made a difference along the way and for me Bradley was one man I will never forget.

Grant Franzen

Joncas Place