For Your Information: Islands Trust 5.2% Tax Increase

Islands Trust met yesterday to approve their draft 2025/2026 Budget that will increase your taxes 5.2% on July 1, 2025.

Overall planned spending is up 1.4% ($152,000) due primarily to Trust Council and Islands Trust Conservancy cost increases. A 1.4% increase is below inflation of 2.5%. (Consumer Price Index annual increase for Victoria BC at December 2024).

However, revenue from external sources (fees, grants, investment income) and internal funds (surplus, reserve transfers) has decreased resulting in a shortfall of $708,000 necessitating the 5.2% tax increase.

You can read more at eSCRIBE Agenda Package, starting at Page 184:
https://islandstrust.bc.ca/document/trust-council-quarterly-meeting-agenda-9/

A 5.2% increase is trending down from prior years.

Paul Duncan

CANCELLED: Soup’s On Wednesday March 12th

We’re sorry to say, but we need to cancel next week’s Soup’s On due to illness.

A big thanks to all the cooks, bakers and helpers who work to offer Soup’s On most weeks from October through April.  It’s a big commitment and is truly appreciated!

Next Soup’s On is March 19th.

Thanks
Ann Dickie and Don Sinclair
Forbes Hall Food Services

Thetis Island Marine Association (TIMA)

Notice of Annual General Meeting March 25, 2025, 7pm -9pm

Forbes Hall Community Centre LIBRARY

Please consider becoming a member of the board, united we can make a difference in our community which is already great!

TIMA

For Sale - Office Chair $50

Black vinyl with swivel base and height adjustable. Good condition with small wear on front of seat. No rips or tears.

It is too large for our space. Pick up on Thetis Island.

Hamilton
Call or text 204-620-7557

Keep the Numbers Low and your Home in Good Shape!?!

Without my most experienced helper 'Mounzer' the challenge is on ->> keeping the rodent numbers low. And this is not just to protect my vegetable! A common misunderstanding is that people believe if they don't see any rodents or droppings there are no rodents around. Totally WRONG!! When you see droppings inside your home or any building the rodents moved already in and 'established residence'. Now the mice we have on the island - Deer Mouse in the thousands - enjoy getting into any food and destroy and spoil all kind of stuff. And the invasive rats we have additionally eat bird eggs/chicks too. Which by the way squirrels do too! They certainly do a lot of damage. But the worst/most important to know they and their droppings transmit decease/viruses. Our Deer Mouse, I have them in the traps around our outbuildings/dome nearly daily(yesterday even 5!!), they transmit among other the Hantavirus. And this virus is known in Canada and really serious. However, all doesn't come or show up overnight but like everything in nature any outbreak comes with numbers. In the last two weeks alone, I caught already over 50 mice - most Deer Mice!?! I am slowly getting better in the catching and learned! :)  Hazelnut butter is a magical attractant!! But it seems the numbers of mice is growing. Last year in total it was less even with the help of 'Mounzer'. If you need help tips and tricks on the 'how to catch' just contact me. No Charge!! :)

But please DO NOT use poison because this will kill their predator and pets too AND you have the dead rodents rotting in the walls and everywhere. I guess there are some homeowners who know how that's like.

Following is a nice website - I think - how to identify our rodents:

https://birdwatchinghq.com/mice-and-rats-in-british-columbia/

And some info about web links!! https link = Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)  protects the data from being accessed and altered by hackers (it has secure connection >>Secure Socket Layer (SSL)!). Never use sites which use 'HTTP' only!!

Good Hunting!

Matthias

Thank You for Your Help at the Invasive Species Pull!

A huge thank you to the dedicated group of Thetisians who volunteered this past weekend at the invasive species pull at Fairyslipper Forest! With your help, we made significant progress in removing Scotch broom around the Nature Reserve and tackled the last remaining patches of English holly.

Managing invasive species on our properties is crucial for supporting local biodiversity and maintaining healthy ecosystems. It also plays a key role in reducing fire risk, as many invasive plants are highly flammable and can worsen fires by creating dense, hazardous understory growth.

To further protect the Nature Reserve from invasive species, we encourage our neighbouring properties to monitor and manage invasive plants on their land. Every effort counts!

Thanks again for your hard work and commitment to preserving the beauty of our community.

Wishing everyone a wonderful spring!

Warm regards,
Charlotte,

ThINC Education and Stewardship Coordinator

Reminder: "Nature of Water" launch event March 22

Our climate is changing and how much rain we get and how it falls is part of the change. While weather varies from year to year, on average we are getting dryer summers and wetter winters featuring intense storms. How does this affect Thetis Island and what should we be doing?

On March 22, Community Climate Resilience and Thetis Island Nature Conservancy is launching our "Nature of Water" series, we are hosting a series of events focusing on our water resources. The event will feature a discussion of our project, a short film "What the Water Tells Us", and a keynote address "Dinosaur Pee and the Future of Thetis Island's Water" by David Slade.

A key part of the project is to address areas that are important to Island residents. Please fill out our survey. The survey can be found in the latest Thetis Island Quarterly or in the foyer of Forbes Hall. The drop box for completed surveys is also in the foyer of Forbes Hall.

The survey can be filled out and submitted at:
https:/bit.ly/thetiswater
We look forward to seeing you!

Saturday March 22, 2025
2-5 pm, Forbes Hall

For more information please contact: ccr@thetisisland.net.
CCR Group

Free Firewood/ You Cut on Site/ No Delivery

Arbutus logs and a 16” fir ready to be cut for firewood beside our upper driveway. Easy access. 

Available Wednesday March 12th, Thursday the 13th, or the morning of Friday March 14th.

Please text 250-701-2067 if you are interested. No drop-ins
Gordon and Leslie Smith

Jollity Farm Weekly Order Reminders

It's True Grain bakery pick up this week, so you can send us an email, or text or use our online order form.
https://www.jollityfarm.ca/order-form

Organic baking and local dairy orders due by Monday evening.

We've got lots of dumplings in the Chemainus shop freezer, so we'll bring some back for Sat. market. Fresh batch of chili oil coming too!

On the local fresh list:
Pea and Sunflower shoots
Kale
Spinach
Cabbage (green and a few reds left)
Arugula
Salad Greens
Golden beets
... and maybe a few more things.

With thanks,

Jollity Farmers

From the Library...

A Friend of the Library will be available today, Sunday 1-4 with tea and treats, Monday 10-1 and Tuesday 12-1.

New materials:
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. Fiction psychological suspense
The Manor House by Gilly MacMillan. Fiction
The Case for Space by Robert Zubrin. 629.44
Land of the Living by Nicki French. Mystery

Enjoy
Celine

Soup’s On – Wednesday March 12th Cancelled

We’re sorry to say, but we need to cancel next week’s Soup’s On due to illness.

A big thanks to all the cooks, bakers and helpers who work to offer Soup’s On most weeks from October through April. It’s a big commitment and is truly appreciated!

Next Soup’s On is March 19th.

Thanks
Ann Dickie and Don Sinclair
Forbes Hall Food Services

Spring Break Guided Trail Walks

The Trail Committee is providing islanders and visitors opportunities to become familiar with some of our trails. Meet 10:00 sharp, rain or shine (but not pouring!)

Monday, March 17th - Lawrence Community Trail - some wet spots. Meet near Mission Road/Fire Hall. Approximately 1 hour.

Thursday, March 20th - Dingly Dell - meet at Jollity Farm lower parking lot. Long steep steps. Approximately 45 minutes.

Friday, March 21st - Lawrence Valley Loop - meet at Mission Road/Firehall - approximately 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Monday, March 24th - Mount Burchell - North Cove Road, right side (past the school). Roadside parking - approximately an hour.

Further information - contact Vicki Walker at 250-246-9126 or Pat English at puzzlnut@telus.net