Improvement District Elections: Dixon Strachan

Dixon Strachan is running for an open trustee position on the Improvement District. Dixon narrowly missed being voted to a seat last year.

For those of you don’t know me very well I have been a full-time resident of Thetis for 33 years. You see me on the ferry taking your tickets working as a deck hand for 22 years now. I’ve been involved in many community groups since 1991 I have decided to invest my personal skills and time again.

Previously volunteering on the fire department for 14 years both as a regular member and first responder then Captain. This gives me a good understanding of our remote location and the necessity for good fire protection and emergency health response care.

Whilst working in my current career I have developed many skills as an educator, safety rep on the highest joint level between Union and management and dealing with work site safety and labour relations.

I have a solid background to offer any committee.

Dixon Strachan

Improvement District Elections: Ian Ralston

Ian Ralston is running for an open trustee position on the Improvement District.

I have lived on Thetis since 1991, in the past I served on the Fire Department, later I served as a trustee and Chair of the Improvement District.

In my work and in volunteer positions I have a wide experience of working with committees, community engagement and the development of consensus on difficult issues including within the context of local and provincial government policy and procedures.

I also am experienced in running a small business and small and large projects, including management of budgets and planning, procurement, options analysis and practical implementation.

Ian Ralston

Improvement District Elections: Platform from Dixon Strachan and Ian Ralston

Dixon and Ian are running for open trustee positions on the Improvement District.
There are two trustee seats available this time, so we are both running as a team. We would like to serve together as trustees. We have a long-time friendship and work well together with very similar goals and strengths that would complement the Improvement District and its Fire and First responder service. It’s our hope you would vote for both of us for the next 3-year term, allowing us to invest our time and experience for the community.

An Improvement district is designed to provide neighborhoods/communities a method of
accomplishing local improvements.” Thetis Island’s demographics are changing, with an increasing population and larger younger and middle-aged population many with families who are career-based on the island. They need to be able to work year-round to survive on the Island in order to maintain a sustainable demography for the island. Our Improvement District provides the Fire Protection and First Responder service for Thetis.

WE NEED TO:

-Continue our GREAT first responder medical aid service and fire prevention service, and to encourage more involvement.

-Continue practical management of interface fire risk in support of the rural nature of our community.

-Continue maintaining and providing the best fire and response equipment we need for these services.

-Retain current department members and increase membership.

-Develop, in consultation with the Fire Department and the community, the capital plan necessary to ensure long term sustainability for the department and make that plan consistent with community objectives.

-Increase transparency and improve financial reporting to the community.

-Increase community engagement and involvement on issues under consideration at the Improvement District.

-Improve the ability for local businesses to work and function year-round even during fire season as livelihoods can be affected. This could be implemented through a permitted work site system with safety equipment on site.

-Improve the ability for homeowners to maintain and manage their Rural properties.

Including our Institutional, commercial and Agricultural properties year-round even during fire season in order to help the Fire Department help us.

Please consider voting for us; any questions call or txt Dixon at 250 701 5310 or call Ian at 250-246-4774

Dixon Strachan and Ian Ralston

The Ferry Webcam is Back!

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Sony Falardeau at Capernwray for the extraordinary amount of skill, time and effort he has expended to recreate this wonderful resource for the island. It's a new camera, as will be clear when you see the image with its date and time stamp, and it's set to refresh every 2 minutes.

Thank you again and again, Sony!

Veronica

for TIRRA Communications Committee 

https://www.thetisisland.net/ferry/index.html

Mosquito Update Spring 2024

Although not a TIRRA mandate to manage the mosquitos on Thetis Island, the issue continues to be raised at TIRRA meetings.

As discussed at the TIRRA AGM is on Sunday March 24th, it is felt to be timely to provide an update.

Big shout out to 2024 Mosquito Squad (You know who you are!): for making repairs on the drainage and flapper valve at the slough (Marina Road and Pilkey Point). They have stepped up on behalf of the Community and we owe them much appreciation. Repairs were done with minimal costs, but a lot of time and labour. Thank you all!

The slough is certainly not the only location where mosquitos find breeding habitats, although it may be a source of those small aggressive saltwater mosquitos which were prevalent since the drainage system failure. With the number of mosquitos laying eggs last year (yuck) and the warm spells coming earlier (like last week's beautiful weather), it is a sad reality that we need each property owner to consider their standing water, ponds, buckets, old tires, fountains and pots.....the eggs are lurking, waiting for us to be complacent and hope the slough was the problem.

If you search "mosquito" on the Thetis blog, you will see lots of discussions over many years. This is not a new problem.

Thetis Island former resident, Roy Pickford (Entomologist), wrote an article for the Quarterly in 2003:
A few key quotes from Roy's article:
- Destroy common mosquito breeding sites around your home. Anything that can hold water is a potential development site - an inch depth of water could, in theory, produce 1000 mosquitoes a week.
- One of the first things an entomologist considers when investigating any insect is its life cycle. Elementary perhaps, but you would be surprised at the number of persons I have met who really believe that mozzies emerge from the grass. Eggs are laid in or near water, and after hatching into a tiny wormlike larva (often quite difficult to see) will moult about four times into a crescent shaped pupa from which the adult mosquito will emerge.
-The time spent in the larval stage may vary substantially depending on the temperature of the water ; if shallow and very warm several days is sufficient, whereas in colder conditions it may take a week or two.
- It therefore becomes obvious that control must be accomplished during the water phase and not when these insects are flying. One of the most useful things to do is to check your property for anything that might hold water such as garden buckets, rain barrels, bird baths, old tires, eavestroughs and even hunks of plastic.

So please do your part and watch for standing water in "vessels" on your property.
And join us in thanking the mosquito squad for their work this spring.

Wendy Hinsperger,

Past President TIRRA

Wire Fencing Wanted

Before we go and buy some, does anyone have about 30 ft of 6 ft high wire fencing they would like to sell or give away.

Call Ann or Gary at 250-246-8176 or email ann.eriksson4@gmail.com .

Thanks!

Woody's Chipping Service Awaits Your Party Plans

Whilst Woody's been Winter Snoozing
Tall Timber's Wood has been a Falling
Woody's Now Awake Awaiting an Invite to Your Chipping Party.

Plan your Chipping Party today
- Contact Woody at
gnp.gall@gmail.com

- Rate for Woody and his swamper = $150/hour
The faster we can feed Woody, the sweatier we get and faster the job gets done. Feel free to ask your questions so you’re not sweating before the party.

Soup’s On: Cancelled for Wednesday, March 27th

Our sincerest apologies, due to medical reasons Soup’s On is cancelled for Wednesday, March 27^th.

The final two Soup’s On days for Spring 2024 are April 3^rd and April 10^th.

It is unusual that we could not find a replacement as we have a truly dedicated group of cooks, and we thank them for their tremendous dedication to this program.  

Thanks to all the wonderful islanders for their incredible continuing support for so many years, and we’ll see you in April!

Don Sinclair and Ann Dickie

Vessels and a Broom

Hello Islanders!

The Hobbit playhouse, now a sanctuary, yearns for vessels to complement Athenia's herbal concoctions. Seeking pottery, earthenware, old wood canisters, and humble vessels—cracked, lidless, or simply forgotten. Athenia's boundless creativity will fill these treasures, transforming them into vessels fit for brewing, storing, and serving her concoctions.

Also looking for a corn broom, the unsung hero of post-mess cleanup. It can be way past its prime, just need enough whisk left to keep Athenia's haven slightly swept.

So, dear friends and neighbors, rummage through your abodes for these treasures, no vessel is too lowly. In Athenia's hands, they'll discover newfound purpose, infusing her Hobbit house with an earthy charm that warms the heart. No plastic or glass as we want this special space to be entirely earth friendly and safe for children to play.
Join the adventure and support Athenia's passion for the earth and all things herbal!

Also still looking for an old-style mechanical tile cutter to use today.

Thank you all
Elite Willowbrook
250-533-9347
elitewillowbrook@gmail.com

Lawrence Valley Loop Trail

Now that flooding has subsided, the bottom portion of this trail is once again open. The big planks which had been moved off their supports by the water still need to be replaced, so caution should be exercised until this has been rectified.

Trail Committee

Reminder: TIRRA AGM Sunday, March 24, 2:30 pm

The Annual General Meeting of the Thetis Island Residents' & Ratepayers' Association is being held this Sunday, March 24th, at 2:30pm in Forbes Hall. All TIRRA meetings are open to the public. Reports from the TIRRA executive and other Community Partners will be given, and there will be opportunities for the membership to ask questions or give suggestions.

The agenda, minutes of the last AGM, and reports that are available to be reviewed ahead of time are all linked at https://www.thetisisland.net/tirra/tirra-reports.html .

Please note that we continue to seek a member to fill the vacancy for Transportation Chair.

2024 Membership Dues may be paid at the meeting. Or if you have not yet joined and want to do so now, you can download the renewal form at:  https://www.thetisisland.net/2024_Renewal_2_page_letter_and_form.pdf

We look forward to seeing you there!

TIRRA Executive Board

No more Saturday Yoga

I think I've had to cancel more often than I've been able to teach class in the last couple months. With travel commitments starting to stack up for the spring and summer, I'm going to pause the Saturday yoga classes for now (unless another instructor wants to lead the class?!).

I hope to revive the sessions again in the early fall and maybe we can do some 1-offs this spring and summer!

Thanks to everyone who came out and joined our little yoga community at the hall!

Brianna