How the Grinch Stole Fairyslipper

The marker and post for Fairyslipper Forest Nature Reserve trail disappeared Monday, either stolen or removed as a prank. 

This is a shock and disappointment to those of us who spent more than four years and hundreds of hours raising more than half a million dollars to purchase the property, saving it from development and making it available for public use; then putting in countless hours of voluntary work building the low-impact trail and arranging for its long-term management by Islands Trust Conservancy. Oddly enough, this happened just two days after a disturbing incident. 

While Ann and I were installing one of the posts for a direction sign on the trail Saturday afternoon, a hiker, walking the trail with a well-behaved dog, scuttled past grumbling that we were ruining the forest by putting up signs. Before I could reply, he scooted off down the path. Not a word of appreciation for the purchase or the volunteer work of building the trail; and certainly not a thought for those newcomers or visitors who might find these signs useful. I assume there’s no link between these two incidents other than a lack of regard for community efforts and public property. 

If anyone has information about the lost sign and post, please contact us. It would be lovely if the thief or prankster had the decency to return them.

Gary Geddes, 250-246-8176.