New Phone Books

The 2014 Chemainus/Ladysmith phone books are available for free at the post office. Pick them up during the regular Post Office hours.

Kevin McClellan
Postmaster

May Parade & July 1st Celebration Cancelled

Due to unforseen circumstances the MAY PARADE and JULY 1ST festivities are cancelled.  

Our apologies.

Don & Gwen

What Does the Islands Trust Do for Thetis ?

'What has Islands Trust done for me lately?' was a question that sparked a discussion at the Thetis Island Residents and Ratepayers Association meeting on March 27.

It's a great question that hopefully will to lead to further community discussions. It will encourage us to reflect on the way our community is managed and hopefully reach a deeper understanding of the blessings and challenges of our unique local government.

As the Chair of the Gulf Islands Alliance (GIA), a non-profit volunteer group of islanders formed in 2005 and dedicated to supporting the Islands Trust mandate, I've had the privilege of working with others from the 13 main islands in the Trust Area most often monitoring how closely the Trust complies with the spirit and letter of the visionary Trust Act.

The idea for the Trust got started in the 1960s when developers took advantage of weak local bylaws to inappropriately zone small-lot subdivisions on Pender and Salt Spring Islands. The province, vowing not let BC's precious jewel, the Gulf Islands, slip through its fingers, at first discouraged the development onslaught and then by 1974 adopted the Trust Act, which has gained international recognition as an inspirational model for preserving special places. GIA commissioned a legal opinion that confirmed the Trust Act has considerable weight -- a judge once said the Act "is no mere piety" -- in protecting our natural environment.

So, it's no accident that we live in a beautiful and tranquil place. The Trust has been fighting for 40 years to keep it that way. Living between burgeoning metropolises to the east and southwest, the Trust has saved us from drowning in an urban wave.

Unlike traditional local governments, the Trust doesn't provide services beyond managing land use. It appears that only about 10 or 11 percent of property tax dollars goes to the Trust. We shouldn't complain about not getting things they can't legally provide. 

Several years ago voters on Gabriola and Salt Spring soundly rejected bids to incorporate their islands. They were aware that after Bowen Island had become a municipality taxes there suddenly increased because they had to assume policing and road construction costs. We should know the price before we buy an alternative to the Trust. 

To make it clear, GIA embraces only the environmental vision of the Trust Act, not the Trust as people or an organization. Sure, we applauded when the Trust boldly stood up to the province and BC Ferries for their ludicrous fare and service changes that are killing coastal communities and to the federal government over the specter of increased oil tanker traffic in Georgia Strait. But we have been equally critical of the Trust's often lax bylaw enforcement, its ambiguous Policy Statement (it interprets the Trust Act), and a staff that sometimes shows more reverence for planning than appreciating the laid-back rural culture that must be sustained to truly preserve and protect this beautiful place where we live.

Dave Steen

Coast Waste Management Association

TIRRA has recently joined the Coast Waste Management Assoc. 

They have just sent a long list of articles about recycling that may be interesting for many to read, and may help people understand some of the potential changes coming down the pipe. 

View Side Bar for Links ~ note: Links will be posted for the next two weeks, until April 10th.

Ernie Hunter

TIRRA

Welcome to the Renewed Library Room!

Click here to view more photos of the reno's.

Courtesy of Gloria Taylor

Springtime ~ Thetis Island

Gloria Taylor

Saturday at Forbes Hall

Did you know there will be food available for sale this Saturday at Forbes Hall?

Nettie & Don are preparing scrumptious baking served with coffee & tea starting at 10:00 am.

Lunch wraps will be ready around noon, so after you’ve been to the recycling come to the hall, visit the library, and browse the Bee Hive.

Sewing Bee, clothing and fabric swap from 10 – 4, no charge for advice, the use of an iron or the extra clothes and fabric.

Free Shop the island!

Found! ~ Missing Raft from Ladysmith Area

Found in Evening Cove ~ Thanks to all who kept an eye out for it!

Have you seen our raft?

It went missing from our beach just south of Holland Creek in Ladysmith on or around February 21, 2014. 

It is approximately 8' x 10', and has a concrete surface with a ladder and wooden rails on two sides.  There are solar dock lights and reflective tape on all four corners. 

Please contact Peter at 250-245-2733 if found.  Thank you!

Wildfire Season Starts April 1st ~

and that's no April Fools' Joke!

Permits for yard waste piles will be required starting April 1st.  

The Permit Pager will be turned on between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on April 1st at 250-715-9131  or you may apply for a permit on-line by visiting www.thetisislandfire.ca and choosing the link for Burn Permits.

We don't know how wildfire season will shape up this year.  Already in the past week five Cowichan Valley fire depts. have responded to bush fires, grass fires and out of control yard waste fires into the trees, even though it has been fairly wet.  On our own island last week, a resident found a stubborn root fire popping up in different places on his property that took two days and a lot of digging to extinguish.  He had thought he had thoroughly extinguished a small yard waste burn pile weeks previous and was surprised to see smoke drifting up out of the ground in several places.  Luckily that underground fire reared its head in March and not August.

Please be careful and follow all burning regulations.  Report any problems immediately so that we can get a jump on things.

Thanks!

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck

Thetis Island Fire Dept.

TIRRA AGM Reminder

Please be reminded of the TIRRA AGM this Thursday, March 27th at 7 pm. 

Annual reports are posted on the Thetis website, click here to view.

We will be setting the parcel tax rebate policy for the coming year.

Ernie Hunter

TIRRA Chair 250-252-0144

Are You Missing a Spoon?

Anyone missing a spoon from the Sat night concert contact Matt Hess.

Spoon is from a set marked Lauffer Holland

Maureen Loiselle

Camera Club ~ March 31st

Camera Club will meet on Monday March 31st 7pm at Forbes Hall.
Everyone welcome!

Carol Sowerby