Turtle talk
It’s remarkable how Peak reporter Chris Bolster managed to distill the essentials of turtle protection and filmmaking from an interview that meandered like a mama turtle on a quest for a nest site (“Turtle documentary wins people’s choice award,” November 7).
There was only one inaccuracy that I’d like to address in order to give Peak readers a glimpse into the “glamour” of grassroots filmmaking. It actually took 100 hours to produce one minute of finished turtle video, not 20 hours. That’s just the hours that Terry Brown and I wrote grants, scripts, emails, emails and more emails; composed music; shot video; recorded sound, narration and music; edited, edited and edited again; organized DVD styles, cover art, replication and some of the distribution.
Other talented and creative folks worked on the project as well, piling on more hours. Among them were a couple of locals. Theo Angell’s final edit and Robin Gibson’s endearing cartoon turtle added zing and humour to the mix. And we haven’t even factored in the critter hours contributed by those lovable turtles.
Jude Abrams
Palm Beach Road
Public telephones
This past summer I had the opportunity to visit Powell River [“Tourism receives mixed reviews,” August 15]. I must say you are hilly, but the view over Willingdon Beach is breathless. The setting sun, warm sandy beaches and the historical aspect of how Powell River was established was amazing.
But, during my walk about your town, I could not find one public telephone to use. I guess your town should be called the “Cell of Powell River” instead of “Pearl.”
While I was enjoying the wonderful campground at Willingdon Beach, I couldn’t believe my eyes. There, in front of me, encircled by trees, was a telephone booth in working condition.
I just want to convey my appreciation to the Willingdon Campground for keeping a land line available for out-of-town visitors. Willingdon Beach, you receive my respect and trophy for highlighting my trip to Powell River.
Anne Jarvis
Victoria, BC
Chicken bylaw
I am very disappointed in City of Powell River Mayor Dave Formosa and councillors Chris McNaughton and Jim Palm who voted against an amendment to the animal control bylaw to allow urban chickens in Powell River [“Council nixes chickens,” October 24]. I am especially disappointed by McNaughton who was chair of the Sustainability Charter committee. Voting against allowing backyard chickens flies directly against the charter for Powell River which the city adopted as a guide “for planning and implementation of policies, programs and projects” that will assist municipal government toward a more sustainable future.
I would suggest mayor and council find the document in that drawer labeled “Old News,” dust it off and commit the entire document to memory so that it can begin to be the useful tool it was intended to be in making decisions, such as the urban hen bylaw, which move Powell River inches closer to regional food security.
I am baffled to be writing this letter today after having written a letter in support of this bylaw in July 2010 and it still has not been approved. In fact it has been voted down through complete short-sightedness. As stated in the charter’s principles, our elected council has a duty to “take the long view” and “promote self reliance” when making decisions of any kind. Otherwise we really have no hope of surviving as a community in the wake of ever-rising food and oil prices due to our reliance on semi-trucks, ferries and barges to bring our food to us.
I urge mayor and council to take a good hard look at the world we live in and where we are heading before making any more decisions that laugh in the face of what the Sustainability Charter stands for. Let’s have a new vote on allowing urban chickens when all councillors are present to vote. It’s a sad day when the elected officials tell the family of four they can’t keep three chickens in their backyard, that they are willing to look after, so that they can have healthy fresh eggs every morning to feed their kids.
CaroleAnn Leishman
Ramsay Road
