Community Paramedic Presentation: Heat Related Health Emergencies and First Aid

Today, Wednesday, June 7th from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm at Forbes Hall

Please turn up for a presentation by Vinh Pham on Heat Related Health Emergencies and Basic First Aid refresher.

Forbes Hall Health Services Group

Thank You for Helping Out!

A huge THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to shorten the grass/weeds on the roadside edges of your properties to reduce the fire risk and increase the safety for walkers.  A special thank you to those residents who also mowed or whacked their neighbours’ verges and near the school.  Metal blade mowers or gas powered equipment are now restricted.  Electric or battery powered string weedwhackers and battery powered chainsaws used where there is no danger of striking the soil or rocks are still allowed at this time.

Please report all local smoke sightings to 911. 

A new fire has ignited near Cameron Lake on the road to Port Alberni and Thetis may receive smoke from that large fire.

I am attending the BC Fire Chiefs’ Educational Summit in Penticton this week (and can see the 5 aircraft actioning the fire near Peachland) and attending the BC Wildfire updates.  The long term forecast for July is a return to more seasonable temperatures and precipitation patterns, but the confidence is low for the southern Vancouver Island region.  This is the earliest we have ever been in EXTREME Danger Class.  We all hope it will be short lived and we can soon get back to being able to work in the woods.  

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck 

Waitlist for Forbes Hall Community Dinner

Thanks to everyone who has bought tickets to the dinner. We reached our limit today, so will only be taking new names on a waitlist basis. Waitlisted people will be contacted if a space opens.

Many thanks for your interest!

Ann, Ellen & Don

TICA

Post Office Hours

Monday through Saturday. Not open Sunday so please do not ask for service. Lis and I are the post masters and we do not work Sunday. 

Hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Note that we shut the computer down for day end around 10 to five. We will still give out parcels because we can scan them the next day but postal services that require money exchange we cannot do because the computer is doing day end.

Parcel Handling

We very seldom send a parcel back. We are aware that people are away for extended periods of time. We would appreciate a head’s up so that we know that you will be awhile before you pick up your mail/parcels. Occasionally we will send out a final notice to let you know that you have a parcel... Some of you forget, lose your tag and forget, have your tag and forget whatever the process it is just a reminder you have a parcel. If we were following procedures, we would only be keeping mail and parcels for two weeks if we are not notified by the receiver otherwise. Do not 'frash' over a final notice just get in touch and we will get you and your parcel together. 

Fred

Community Boat Launch Parking Area

There are multiple boats taking up space at the boat launch parking area. This area is provided for boaters to temporarily park their empty trailers while their boat is in the water. It is not for storing boats. This is both rude to the boaters looking for trailer parking and against parking bylaws. We would request that boat owners remove their boats as soon as possible.

Thetis Island Port Commission

Wednesday KIOSK at Jollity Farm

10am until dusk

Salad Greens

Hummus

Spring Pesto

Jolly Green Sauce (salad dressing or dip)

Asparagus

Kale

Romaine Lettuce 

If you have any special requests from the farm fridge or freezer, just let us know.

250.415.0101 or orders@jollityfarm.ca

With thanks, 

Jollity Farmers

Looking for a Small Vanity with Sink

We are looking for a small vanity with a sink in it. 

Please contact Ken Redman by phone or text at 250-210-6046.

Looking to Rent or Buy

Hello my friendly folk, 

I have been visiting the island now for the last 6 months and have fell in love with it.

I have met many of you and I'm looking to relocate here. I just sold my house in Northern British Columbia and doubled my profit. I have been working remotely in the oil field for the last 10 years. I'm in very good position to move in this direction and live the life I've always wanted.

I am very open to all ideas, and it doesn't even have to be just on Thetis, although I do love this island. I am looking to rent a suite a single person non-smoking with two very well-behaved dogs most of you have probably met them.

I'm open to any kind of rental even if it's a pad rent that I bring a trailer or camper on to. I'm also open to buying if it's affordable.

Also. if you know somebody, anywhere else in the main island, that has any of these options I'm open to them as well.

I know I want to leave the North, my family and friends are here. My dad, aunt and cousins are in North Van and my sister's in Ladysmith and I have friends all over the island so I would love to be near people that I love.

If anyone can help me out with ideas or suggestions, I'm open to it all!!! 

Thank you so much for your help. 

Lisa Armstrong

3dhs.lisa@gmail.com

Sailboat For Sale

Sailboat for sale for $35000.00 This vessel, a Roberts 35 is a custom sloop/cutter Rigged centre cockpit sailboat. It was built in 1986. It has a large aft cabin, a galley, head, refrigeration, Dickinson heater, AC electric fan for heater, new Yanmar Diesel, 3JH5E, diesel fueled three burner range with oven, new furling headsail, Wagner autopilot, built in water tanks, built for blue water sailing, heavily laid up, extra sails, Simrad navigation system. Easy live aboard, large fin keel, recent upgrades. Valued at $300,00 to replace. Ready for someone to live on board. A survey is available upon request. There is an amazing amount of storage and hanging lockers on this boat as it was built for offshore. A survey was done in April of 2021. The boat is moored at Telegraph Harbour on Thetis Island, BC. The haul is fiberglass with a balsa core. It is a very dry boat. We have an external fuel tank on the deck in a special box. It allows you to see your fuel. It holds 200 liters of fuel. The diesel motor uses very little fuel.

Photo at https://thetisisland.net/notices2006.htm . I have more photos that you can request.

Please contact Genevieve by text at 250-210-3087 or by email at gkredman@gmail.com 

Province Shuts Down Campfires at Noon Thursday

We are shutting down campfires at noon on Thursday to comply with the newly posted Provincial regulations.  Category 1 fires are campfires.  This effectively cancels all solid fuel fires now.  Approved propane campfire appliances are permitted.  

Current Coastal fire bans and restrictions

•          Category 1 open fire ban effective 12 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday, June 8, 2023

Fire Chief J. Caldbeck

Thetis Island Vol. Fire Department

BC Wildfire Service: For Immediate Release

June 6, 2023

Ministry of Forests

BC Wildfire Service

Coastal Fire Centre Enacts Campfire Prohibition

PARKSVILLE – Effective at noon Pacific Daylight Time on Thursday, June 8, 2023, campfires will be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre, except for the Haida Gwaii Forest District. This prohibition is being enacted to help prevent human caused wildfires and protect public safety. 

These prohibitions apply to all public and private land within the Coastal Fire Centre jurisdiction, unless specified otherwise in an enactment (e.g., in a local government bylaw). Always check with local government authorities to see if any other burning restrictions are in effect. All categories of Open Fire use are still permitted in Haida Gwaii Forest District.

This prohibition will be in place until Tuesday, October 31, 2023, or until the order is rescinded.

A map of the affected areas is available online: http://ow.ly/xuuw50OHiff 

On June 8, 2023 the types of open fires listed below are prohibited in the Coastal Fire Centre, with the exception of the Haida Gwaii Forest District:

Category 1 campfires as defined in the Wildfire Regulation;

Category 2 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation; and,

Category 3 open fire as defined in the Wildfire Regulation.

In addition to open fires being prohibited, the following activities and equipment are also restricted:

Fireworks;

Sky Lanterns;

Burn Barrels or Burn Cages of any size or description;

Binary Exploding Targets;

Air curtain burners;

Tiki and similar kind of torches; and,

Chimineas.

This prohibition does not include the use of outdoor stoves. As per the Wildfire Regulation, an outdoor stove is a CSA-rated or ULC-rated device used outdoors for cooking, heat or ambiance that burns charcoal briquettes, liquid fuel or gaseous fuel, and has a flame height that is less than 15 cm tall.

To learn more about the different categories of open burning, visit the Open Burning webpage.

Anyone who lights, fuels or uses an open fire when a fire prohibition is in place or fails to comply with an open fire prohibition may be issued a ticket for $1,150 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and/or sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or contributes to a wildfire, the person responsible may be subject to a penalty of up to $100,000 and ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The Coastal Fire Centre covers all the area west of the height of land on the Coast Mountain Range from the U.S.-Canada border at Manning Park, including Tweedsmuir South Provincial Park in the north, the Sunshine Coast, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii. 

To report a wildfire, call 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cell phone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: http://www.bcwildfire.ca 

Learn More: 

Follow the latest wildfire news:

on the free BC Wildfire Service public mobile app, available for Apple (iOS) and Android devices

on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo

on Facebook: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo

Contact:

Fire Information Officer

BC Wildfire Service

Coastal Fire Centre

250-951-4209

News Release: Cowichan Connectivity Strategy Recommends Actions for Improved Internet and Cellular Services

June 5, 2023   

Connectivity strategy provides roadmap to improved internet and cellular service for underserved Cowichan communities  

DUNCAN, BC – A newly completed Cowichan Internet & Cellular Connectivity Strategy has identified gaps in connectivity infrastructure and services in the region, and provides recommended actions for improved connection into the future.  

The 2020-2022 Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board Strategic Plan identified the development of a connectivity strategy as a key action towards creating healthy, livable, and efficiently-serviced communities for residents of all backgrounds and income levels. After conducting extensive background research and securing funding for the project in 2021, Economic Development Cowichan (EDC) launched the Cowichan Regional Internet & Cellular Connectivity Strategy project in early 2022. Working in collaboration with consultants from IBI Group, EDC staff undertook a process of research, analysis, education and engagement that has resulted in the development of a Regional Connectivity Strategy and four Community Connectivity Plans.  

“Connectivity is an essential service that allows us not only to communicate, but to work, learn and access services online,” said Barry O’Riordan, Manager of Economic Development Cowichan. “This strategy helps us better understand the state of internet and cell phone connectivity in the region so we can work to improve access for all residents and businesses.”   

Community members, local businesses, First Nations, internet service providers, and many others participated in the development of the strategy, which identified the following as a collective vision for the future of connectivity for the region:  

“The Cowichan Valley Regional District is a connected community, with an appropriate and efficient mix of technologies deployed throughout the region that provides affordable access to connectivity services for all homes and businesses. Connectivity enhances the livability of our communities by enabling business, employment, health care, education, security, and social and family connections for residents of all backgrounds and income levels.”   

The Regional Connectivity Strategy recommends that the CVRD continue in its role of observing, advocating and influencing the rollout of connectivity infrastructure and services in the region, with the potential to evolve into a more active role in the future. The report provides 28 specific recommended actions focusing on advocacy and facilitation, affordability and access, infrastructure, local government policy, and cellular coverage. The Community Connectivity Plans outline specific technologies, network plans and funding models to bring improved service to the four priority underserved communities: Thetis and Penelakut Islands, Cowichan Station, Ditidaht First Nation, and the Cowichan Lake region. The plans provide a roadmap for these communities to tackle their connectivity challenges.  

The Cowichan Regional Internet & Cellular Connectivity Strategy may be viewed at planyourcowichan.ca/connect.  

Economic Development Cowichan and the CVRD gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia and Island Coastal Economic Trust in completing this project.