Fire Hazard Rating Moves to EXTREME

The fire hazard rating has moved to EXTREME, meaning that all High Hazard Activities must be completed before 11 a.m. for the next three days and a two-hour fire-watch posted after 11 a.m.  

Commencing 11am Friday, August 9, all High Hazard Activities must cease until after the Fire Hazard rating drops down to HIGH again for three consecutive days and High Hazard Activities could again start up before 11 am with a two-hour fire-watch after 11 am

Please be very careful. As some of you may have heard this weekend multiple grass fires were accidentally set by a truck on the Trans Canada Highway from Ladysmith north, dragging a chain on the roadway.  

Approved propane campfire appliances are allowed.  No solid fuel fires.

If you witness people ejecting burning materials from their vehicle (i.e. throwing out cigarette butts) the RCMP request you phone in the licence and description of the vehicle.  

TIVFD

Being Built to Last: Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade

“This is obviously being built to last” a comment overheard during a tour of the Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade Project.

Here are a couple of recent pictures of the project.  For more, please click here to see the full gallery.

Walking Trails, Horses & Bikes

Just a reminder that horses and bikes (and all wheeled vehicles) are not permitted on the lower loop portion of the Lawrence Valley Trail or the Dingly Dell Trail, which enters from below Jollity Farm.  These walking trails have sections that are dangerous for horses and their riders and horses damage the trails.  

Horses and bikes are permitted on the Community Trail which runs from the end of Mission Road to Kenwood Road but please be conscious that the trails are primarily for walkers and watch out for them. 

Trails Committee, TIRRA

This Week at the Nature House:

Wednesday: 'Modified' documentary 7 - 9 PM

Friday: Deep Sea with Junior Biologists 11 AM - 12 PM

Saturday: Community Picnic & Nature Story Telling 12 - 2 PM

Sunday: Nature Tie Dye 1 - 4 PM, Meteor Watch with Jonathan Thornburg 8-10 PM

*****

A bit of background about the documentary - "Modified", showing at the Nature House, tomorrow, Wednesday evening, from 7 to 9pm.  This is taken from a review in Britain's "Off-Guardian":

This is an award winning Canadian documentary from film-maker Aube Giroux. 

The film centres on Giroux, who resides in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her interest in food and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) was inspired by her mother, Jali, who also appears throughout.

"She wanted me and my sister to grow up knowing the story behind the food that we ate, so our backyard was basically our grocery store," says Aube.

Parts of the documentary "Modified" are spent at the kitchen table. But it's not really a tale about wonderful recipes or the preparation of food.  Ultimately, it's a story of capitalism, money and power and how our most basic rights are being eroded by unscrupulous commercial interests.

In the film, Aube explains, "Farmers who grow GMOs have to sign technology license agreements promising never to save or replant the patented seeds. My mom didn't think it was a good idea to allow corporations to engineer and then patent the seeds that we rely on for food. She believed that seeds belong in the hands of people."

As the GMO issue became prominent, Aube became more interested in the subject. It took her 10 years to complete the film, which is about her personal journey of discovery into the world of GMOs [and the current very limited oversight in Canada].

For the complete review, go to: 

https://off-guardian.org/2019/06/30/review-modified-a-film-about-gmos-corruption-of-the-food-supply-for-profit/

Hope to see you there!

- Veronica Shelford

ACT Meeting Thursday

A plan to ban deep sea freighters anchoring in Thetis waters and beyond is the subject of a public meeting Thursday 4 to 5.30 p.m. at Nature House on North Cove Rd.

Guest speaker Chris Straw of Gabriola Island, chairman of a coalition of Southern Gulf Island area anchorage groups, will outline the plan and take your questions and comments.

ACT (Anchorages Concern Thetis) is hosting the event and invites you to take part.

Order Certified Organic Blueberries & Jollity Garlic

Due to popular demand, we can drop the price on Certified Organic Blueberries to $60/flat.

Order before Thursday @ 10pm for pick up Saturday, August 10

Jollity Garlic (naturally grown without any pesticides, herbicides etc. ever!)

Curing & Ready for pick up Saturday, August 24 & 31

$12.99/lb

Place orders - info@jollityfarm.ca or 250.416.6736

Free Renovating Surplus

Single pane 6’ sliding and locking (with key outside) glass patio door with screen. 

2 single pane sliding windows with screens 4’ high x 6’ wide

2 double sealed glass units 67” x 48”

1 double sealed glass unit 67” x 27 1/2

Call Alex at 250-416-0286

Book & Bake Sale Report

A big thank-you to everyone who donated baking to the Book and Bake Sale.

The Baking raised $565.00! Well done Bakers.

Gloria and Helen

Forbes Hall Project: On the Court Session - Friday, August 9th 10AM

The Directors of the Thetis Island Community Association and the Members of the Forbes Hall Expansion Committee invite you to our upcoming “On the Court” Information session.  We look forward to having the opportunity to meet with you, and bring you up to date on the project, and funding.   It has been quite an undertaking from the first donation to this project in October 2016, to now, with footings being poured this week, and the original building with its renovation well underway.  

We want the community to know what is happening behind the gates & fencing; our “On the Court” sessions create a gathering where we are able share with you all we know about the project, and in turn, you will be able to share your new knowledge within the broader community.  We are ready to answer your questions, and listen to your comments.

Our objective is to inform, answer, and inspire.

Friday, August 9^th from 10:00 - 11:30 at the Tennis Court (access via the Pathway on Mission Road - no access through the building zone)

If you are unable to attend this session, we are available to meet with you individually if it is more amenable to you.  As well, there is another session planned for Saturday, August 17th, if that date would be preferable.  Just let us know to put you on the list for a reminder.

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday, 

Sincerely

Ann Dickie

on behalf of the Thetis Island Community Association & the Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade Committee

For more information about the Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade please go to www.ForbesHall.ca

TICA is a Registered Charity with Canada Customs & Revenue Agency

Lawrence Valley ~ August 4, 2019

The water's flowing in the meandering stream, a beautiful sight for mid-summer!

Sunday August 4th at the Nature House

Ocean Citizen Science with Doug Biffard!

From 12:30 to 3:00 PM, join Doug Biffard to learn about the BC coastal environment and citizen science monitoring techniques. We will then map zones and count biota with a transect at low tide. 

Doug is a local diver and retired aquatic ecologist. He started diving in 1975 in the BC interior and then moved to the coast to work as Geoduck diver.

After completing college and a career in aquaculture Doug joined BC Parks as the provincial Aquatic Ecologist for 19 years. Doug was involved in the development of citizen science to monitor natural and cultural features in protected areas. He has participated in volunteer fish monitoring surveys from Prince Rupert to California, the Caribbean and South Pacific.

Book & Bake Sale Today! Sunday, August 4th

11am - 2pm

Howling Wolf Farm Market Grounds

Come out and support the Thetis Island Library!