From Graeme Shelford

I want to thank all who sent their condolences, there were so many it will take me a few days to answer them all. The outpouring of love for Veronica reflects the love she had for Thetis and its community.

We turn over a new page and start life without her and try to make it as beautiful as she made it.

Graeme

Volunteers Needed For Cemetery Preparation

The TIVFD is organizing a “grave digging” event for late Thursday afternoon (4 pm) to hand dig Veronica’s grave, in keeping with her wishes for a green burial and to help out with the natural mandate for the cemetery in the green burial area.

We are reaching out to the community at large to assist us in honouring her wishes, and this will also give everyone a chance to Honour Veronica and support the family in a physical way if they wish. There may be light rain.

Veronica’s remains will be returned to Thetis Island in a few days, so the grave will be ready no matter what service, if any, will be scheduled.

Please come out if you can. The more people attending, the lighter the load and the faster the hole is dug. You can bring your own tools, and of course the FD has lots of shovels. With lots of help we can be done by supper time.

Thank you.

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck
Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.

Inside Versus Outside Water Use

A garden hose or a lawn sprinkler can flow at around 4 gallons per minute, while a good low flush toilet uses around 1 gallon per flush. This means that just one hour of watering could use 240 gallons of water, which would be equivalent to 240 toilet flushes or a dozen 10-minute showers with an efficient (less than 2gpm) shower head.

Even drip irrigation systems can use a lot of water if run frequently and/or for extended periods of time.

The main point being. The water necessary for human health and sanitation is only a fraction of the water that is often used for lawns, gardens and shrubs that are not drought tolerant.

David Slade

Nature House, Friday, August 15

10:00 AM Junior Biologists: Purple Martin Monitoring (youth)
Location: Telegraph Harbour Marina

Did you know that, with the help of volunteers, the Purple Martin coastal population has skyrocketed around BC since the implementation of nest boxes? You’ve likely seen, or heard, these vocal swallows around the island - swooping through Telegraph Harbour, chattering at the Hollyberry Lagoon, or catching the updrafts behind the ferry. Join us for a special monitoring session where we’ll observe nestlings preparing to fledge, explore the fascinating story of their migration and evolution, and watch selection in action through the lives of a few mating pairs.

2:00 PM Expert Excursion with Stephanie Cottell (youth, adults)
Location: Meadow Valley (meet at the trailhead at the end of Kenwood road, where it meets Meadow Valley road).

Join local conservation professional and nature enthusiast Stephanie Cottell for a guided walk along the north end of the Lawrence Valley Trail. Through the lens of ecological protection and conservation, discover the unique plants and other-than-human beings that thrive under the care of a conservation covenant. Learn how this protected land supports biodiversity - and how you can help protect it too.

The ThINC Team

Changes at the Sea Life Centre

Due to several instances of equipment tampering that has resulted in sea life mortality, the Sea Life Centre at Telegraph Harbour Marina is only open during set staff hours (see below).

Children 12 and under are only allowed if accompanied by a supervising adult who must be present at all times. Please follow all the Sea Life Centre rules.

Opening hours starting Saturday, August 16. Other open times may be added in the future.

Friday: 10 am - 2 pm (NOT open Friday, August 15)
Saturday: 1 pm - 3 pm.
Sunday: 10 am - 3 pm

Thank you for your understanding.
Thetis Island Nature Conservancy.

Paint for a Project

We are in search of some paint, exterior preferred, for a project.

We could really use bright colours like reds, blues and jewel tones but some greens and browns would be great too.

I used to be able to get it from the recycling centre but looks like that discontinued…

If you have old paint, even in small quantities, laying around I’d be happy to put it to use.

Please email ellen.hrad@icloud.com

Thanks!

What's Fresh @ Jollity Farm! (Silver Rill Corn is back!)

Open Saturday 10am -1pm

Silver Rill corn is here starting this weekend. We'll have peaches & cream and yellow. If you'd like to reserve 6 or 12 let us know so we can set aside.

Salad, Arugula, Kale, Cabbage,
Carrots, Beets, Squash - summer and winter,
Strawberries & Blueberries

Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Beans, Herbs,

See you at the farm!

Islands Trust News Release: Thetis Island Property Clean-up Successfully Completed

The cleanup of this property not only supports efforts to restore the environmental integrity of the area but upholds local bylaws and maintains safe, livable spaces for residents," said Tobi Elliott, Chair of the Thetis Island Local Trust Committee. 

Access full News Release here:

https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/august-13-2025-thetis-island-property-cleanup-successfully-completed/

Farewell Veronica Shelford

With her family around her and Graeme by her side, Veronica passed peacefully on Tuesday, August 12, at Cowichan District Hospital.

She sent a message of love to Thetis:
"Send my love to everyone--too many to count. I'm so glad to live where there are too many to count."

The Shelford and Hess Families

St. Margaret’s Cemetery: Looking for Assistance

Dear Thetis Island friends, as you have heard our dear community member Veronica Shelford died this past Tuesday.

Veronica has requested a natural burial in St. Margaret’s Cemetery. She will be technically the first to be buried in this more natural way. That means the burial must happen within a couple of days. St. Margaret’s Cemetery is making an urgent call out to the community for someone to come forward who has a small backhoe capable of digging a plot approx. 4 feet wide by 4 feet deep. Preferably with rubber treads.

Veronica contributed so much to our community. I am trusting that there is someone who can come forward to assist in making her burial as beautiful as we can.

Please contact

Suzanne.sarioglu@gmail.com

Or call 250- 246-9965 or 250-886-6965

For the Library

Does anyone have photos from the Book and Bake sale? If so, could you send them to Carol Sowerby for inclusion in the Quarterly.

Celine

Family Fun Day: Thank You

Thank you to all attendees for a successful 2025 Thetis Island Community Fund Family Fun Day.

A special shout out and thank you to each and every one of the 40+ volunteers. Full list of volunteers below.

Appreciation to all for joining the celebration of our community. 

Lots of laughs, some awesome gamesmanship, fabulous food, awesome weather, great music and overall fun for all ages.

"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time; they just have the heart." —Elizabeth Andrew

Grateful TICF Board: Tricia Hunter, Carol Sowerby, Mary Des Chene, Noah Bond, Sahir Advani, Rob Welsh, Wendy Hinsperger 

Fabulous Volunteer Roster! 

Face painters: Marcie Welsh, Marcia Aftimus, Grete Wilkinson

ThINC's "Taste the Garden": Charlotte Fesnoux, Iliana Cutten, Amelia Marshall

TIVFD and SPU Crew (pool and safety): Jeannine Caldbeck, Dave Tarris, Michelle Sutter, Margaret Woodhouse, David Reay, Jamie Alton, Jim Moloney, Norm Kasting, Bill Dickie

Kitchen Crew: Joe Knowles, Westley Knowles, Christine Shea, Dusty Knowles, Katrina Peter, Anne-Marie Koeppen

Beverage Station: Theresa Elsie, Jaana Boren

MC/DJ Robin Deans

General Volunteers including Clean up: Paul McMillen, and his grandson Awesome Dawson, Cat Fielding, Nan Beals, Lynne Smith, Richard Minardi, Ernie Hunter, Ted Hunter, Callum Hunter, Arlene Kasting, Chad Kerr, Taylor Kerr, Sheryl Savard, Jen Le Blanc, Wayne Loiselle, Maureen Loiselle, Matt Hess, Beth Austin, Paul Austin , Jenn White, Jaime White, Nathan Hunter, Doug Fenton 

With sincere thanks: The TICF Team  (Tricia Hunter, Carol Sowerby, Wendy Hinsperger, Mary Des Chene, Noah Bond, Sahir Advani, Rob Welsh). 

We couldn't do it without volunteers like you!!