Forbes Hall ~ Busy Day On Site

Sven & Michel ~ physically distancing, or perhaps just measuring?

for more photos, click here.

Firewood For Sale

Mainly fir and a bit of arbutus

Well seasoned $300/ chord 

Freshly cut $250/ chord 

Split and delivery included 

Stacking available for extra charge 

250-208-3546

Torin Mcivor

Returnable Bottle Depot Remains Open!

Thank you to everyone in our Thetis community for continuing to donate bottles to the Returnable Bottles Depot.

The Depot remains open as usual. It is maintained by the Thetis Island Parents Association (TIPA) and all proceeds support educational equipment and activities for our school, and bursaries for our high school graduates.

It is always greatly appreciated by our small labour force when the bottles are sorted according to the signage. And thank you for being conscientious about not mixing in trash or recyclable materials.

Kelly Bannister

(TIPA Treasurer) on behalf of TIPA

Friday - Sunday Fire Weather Forecast

Of note, is poor morning humidity recovery from many stations. Light outflow winds and warm afternoon temperatures result in low to mid teens RHs. Friday morning will see clouds but not shower activity moving in until the cold front has passed through late Friday. The cloud cover will be patchy and showers scattered and widespread, and result in lower afternoon temperatures and higher relative humidity. A stronger northwest gradient then blows in following the weak cold front and winds speeds likely reach 20 to 25 km/h through Saturday morning.

By Saturday morning skies are clear again with a brisk outflow breeze. Afternoon high reach the high teens, humidity remains moderate and winds gradually decrease by afternoon. Sunday and Monday continue sunny and warm with moderate humidity and winds. An active cold front reaches the west coast by Tuesday afternoon. This initiates a major pattern change with onshore flow, much cooler Temperatures and occasional rain or showers.

Please note that several more bushfires have been reported in the past few days in the Cowichan Valley. 

TIVFD

BCWS Category 2, Category and Resource Management Open Fire Prohibitions

Category 2, Category and Resource Management Open Fire Prohibitions

This is a reminder that effective at noon, today April 16, 2020, most open burning activities will be prohibited throughout British Columbia.

The following activities will be prohibited, and these restrictions will remain in effect until the public is otherwise notified:

Category 2 open fires;

Category 3 open fires;

Resource Management open fires;

the use of fireworks;

the use of sky lanterns; and

the use of burn barrels or burn cages of any size or description

Typically, human-caused fires are more common in the spring due to field and debris burning.  By considering an earlier provincewide burning prohibition, the BC Wildfire Service anticipates a reduction in human-caused wildfires. This will minimize the need to deploy staff, which help to reduce their risk of exposure to COVID-19.  

To report a wildfire or backyard burning violation, call 911.

TIVFD 

Wildfire Season

Dear Neighbours and Friends,

Further to our Fire Chief's message about the early looming wildfire season, please give some thought to fire mitigation around your property, your personal emergency preparedness (Grab and Go kits) and your Emergency Evacuation plan.  

On the CVRD website:https://www.cvrd.bc.ca/2887/Evacuation-Preparedness. 

Although the info on this page may not be perfectly applicable to Thetis (a hundred cars won't fit on the ferry), it may be helpful in formulating your own plan.  

It seems, these days, we have to think about the Unthinkable.  

Many thanks,   

the ESS and LERN Volunteers.

Lost Glove

I just realized that my yellow & black left hand glove didn't follow me home from my tour of the Burchell Hill Trails this past Tuesday. 

If any one has found my wayward lefty give me a call, his playmate is not the same without him!

Greg

Text 780-505-1569

Call 250-246-2730

Finished Fir...

Does anyone have four pieces of finished fir at 1” x8” x 8’ for sale to complete a bookshelf I’m building.

The wood I’ve been using is commercial standard fir, which is ¾ inch by seven and ¼ inches.

The actual cuts I need are 2 pieces 40”, 4 pieces 34.5” and 1 piece 6’.  

Please call Gary Geddes: 250-246-8176

For Sale - 8 Items

Complete BBQ set in hard plastic case. Like new. Unused Eddie Bauer. $20.00 

Nice compact outdoor /indoor cooking burner with 5 butane canisters $25

Beautiful glide rocker - Excellent condition $65.00 

Little glass bird feeder on chain $5.00

Rubbermaid of M/L Eddie Bauer Polo shirts. All excellent condition. $50.00 for ALL or $10.00 each 

ORANGE ski/snowboard jacket M/L   More medium. Immaculate. $100.00

Corduroy jacket with furry collar. Jean jacket style.  GAP M/L. More medium$30.00 

Vintage Aluminum Suitcase. $200.00

Text

2502520699

Forbes Hall Volunteers

Howdy Neighbours

We have a great opportunity to get to know one another a little better as we labour together on various volunteer projects for the hall.

After chatting with Michel there are two we can begin immediately.

1. The first one that I'll be beginning on, starting 8am Friday the 17th, is leveling the soil within the patio areas. I've borrowed some tools from Pioneer but if you've got your own favorite rake or shovel bring it along. You will need to bring your own work duds and PPE.

2. The exposed wood package of 2x6 & 2x8 is needing staining. This project will take place at Michel's fabric covered shop. Stain, brushes, etc. will be supplied, you will need to bring your own PPE. The timber package is scheduled to be installed/erected in 3 weeks, thus the staining will need to finished by Friday May 1st at the latest. 

I'm thinking these two volunteer projects are just the beginning of what we may be able to accomplish together as a community. If "rubbing shoulders" with the likes a me and other neighbours tickles yer' fancy, give me a holler'.  

I'll attempt to answer all calls as promptly as possible. I'll be at the hall beginning tomorrow morning and home after 5 pm. 

Hoping to rub shoulders from a social distance with ya soon.

Greg Gall

Res     - 2502462730 

Text    - 7805051569

Email  - gnpgall@gmail.com

Amarah Pegg

Our family would like to send a huge thanks to the Thetis Island fire department, first responders, and everyone at Capernwray who helped us get off the island and to the hospital safely.  

We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful community and look forward to raising our daughter here. 

Benji, Justine and Amarah

Forbes Hall Expansion Update ~ April 15, 2020

On March 28^th, the TICA membership voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a Sole Source for General Contractor. Prior to the vote TICA had informed the membership that, should the motion be approved, a contract would be negotiated with Poirier Custom Homes as General Contractor. TICA looks forward to working with Michel Poirier and his team as they work on this important community project.  A reset button has been pushed! 

Following the vote, work re-started on site. 

Early April started with Volunteer Sven Aaberg & his excavator working on the very necessary trenching to allow for the final positioning of the perimeter drains.  A huge thank you to Sven, for stepping forward, and helping to make this all happen so promptly!

The next week saw the perimeter drains corrected, finalized, and approved by CVRD Building Inspector Norm Knodel, and Rocky Point Engineering. 

The trenching was done from the Electrical Shed to the Hall, with a spur to the Pavilion.  Conduits were laid for electrical and communications, as were water lines, connecting the Hall, Electrical Shed, and Pavilion.  The water lines provide for future water access at the out-building points. 

This week, all the backfilling will be completed readying the site for further concrete pours.  The driveway asphalt has been expertly cut to allow for the entry stairs, and access ramp & area to be constructed.  

Electrical Panels have been installed inside the Hall, including construction lighting and outlets.  

The FraserWood Timber arrived Wednesday, April 15^th, which is a milestone to those closely involved with the project.  

Also during this time, some organizational changes have been made.

The Forbes Hall Expansion Committee was disbanded, and although this group has created a well-envisioned project, and some have navigated the project through some very rough waters, it is felt that smaller committees will be able to focus on aspects of the project going forward.  We want to thank all of the Forbes Hall Expansion Committee members for their tireless efforts over the past 3+ years in working for the betterment of the Thetis Island Community: Charlotte Aaberg, Carolyn Askew, Ron Bannister, Shirley Burr, Ann Dickie, Greg Gall, Art Hunter, Heather Hunter, Tricia Hunter, Anne-Marie Koeppen, Tatiana Nemchin, Ellen Rush, and Don Sinclair. Your contributions have been significant and are appreciated.

TICA has formally created a Project Management Team "PMT" with Ron Bannister, Ann Dickie, Carolyn Askew, and new to the Project, Doug Darling.  We are looking forward to having Doug’s participation, and have his expertise in assisting both the PMT and Poirier Custom Homes "PCH" in the ongoing planning and scheduling for the Project. 

As well, TICA has engaged Peter de Hoog as Project Facilitator, to assist as we move forward in this new relationship with PCH and the expansion of Forbes Hall.  Peter will be liaising with Angela Quek (Architect), and all the consulting engineers.  We thank him for stepping into this role and look forward to his creativity and vision in the development of the Project.  

Greg Gall has accepted the role of Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Project.  We will be meeting with both Greg and Michel this week to look at how the Project can benefit from community volunteering, and how the co-ordination of this assistance can be managed.  Thank you, Greg, for accepting this role!

During these unprecedented times, all COVID-19 protocols, as required by WorkSafe BC, are being observed and provided.  The Project will continue to move forward as long as it is deemed safe to do so. 

Site meetings are held observing physical distancing, as best as possible.  There have been four on-site meetings over the past two weeks, prioritizing construction as it moves forward.  It is key at this point to get all of the concrete, and the area immediately adjacent to the hall, completed, both for practicality’s sake, and worker safety.

Coming up:

For the West Patio and Entrance Patio, the decision has been made to go with suspended slabs versus slab-on-grade.  Going with suspended slabs will create both cost-savings and time-savings. Instead of compacting the fill, in 6” layers, the whole of the area is filled and levelled.  Then it effectively becomes the form for the suspended slab, which has embedded beams within it.  As the fill settles naturally, it moves away from the suspended slab, which is structurally supported with the beams.

Following the completion of Phase 1, which includes all the necessary site work to be completed in preparation for starting the timber-work, more information will be shared about the design, schedule & budget as the Project proceeds. 

One last note: 

Please remember that, unless accompanied or invited by Michel Poirier, or a member of the Project Management Team, no one is allowed on the construction site.  This is especially critical during the response to COVID-19.

It is exciting to see the Forbes Hall Expansion Project moving ahead, with such purpose, and very much as a community project.

Thetis Island Community Association