Note Regarding July 1st Sailpast
Monday, June 21, 2021 at 4:57PM A recent e-spokes notice of the sailpast on July 1 included plans for a "pitstop on Tent Island".
For anyone participating in the sail past and Tent Island pitstop, please consider that Tent Island is part of Penelakut's Reserve and that in August 2020 Penelakut notified the public through signs and newspaper that Tent Island is closed to the public "due to neglect and abuse."
This means if there is no explicit permission to be on Tent Island from Penelakut Tribe, it is trespass. Hopefully in the spirit of being responsible neighbours and citizens, any participating Thetis Islanders will respect and support Penelakut's decision and the ecological integrity of this tiny island by getting permission before making a pitstop on July 1 or any day. And if permission to access Tent Island is granted, we can assume it means responsible and respectful use - no garbage, no fires, and no bathrooming.
Please see the article published in the Chemainus Valley Courier last summer at this link: https://www.chemainusvalleycourier.ca/news/tent-island-closed-due-to-neglect-and-abuse-from-campers/
Kelly Bannister