PLEASE REMEMBER ALL GLACIER PROBUS CLUB ACTIVITIES ARE SCENT FREE INCLUDING PERFUMES, ESSENTAL OILS, CIGARETTE, AND CANNABIS SMOKE Held as usual at Comox United Church, the meeting was opened at 2 pm by Club President Lorne Meyer who welcomed those present and then told several “seniors” jokes. Tony Nicol outlined the details of the Club’s 10th Anniversary “Black and White” Gala Dinner Saturday, May 5th. at d’Esterre House in Comox. Tickets are $60 per member, or their significant other, no other non-member guests. Registration and payment may be made through the Special Events section of our Club website. President Lorne thanked the speaker for her presentation and with Donald Bourne conducting the draw of door prize tickets, winners being Karen Barr, Dorothy McGinn, Ken Rowley and Lisa Powell. The April Monthly Gathering closed at about 3 pm. Meeting report prepared by Ian Thompson, Club Communications The speaker at the next monthly gathering will be family law lawyer Alana Zanbilowicz who will reveal the secrets of family property law in British Columbia. Gain invaluable insights on how to protect your assets and avoid unwittingly becoming liable for your spouse's debts.
Forget about marriage, did you know that you don't even have to live together to be "spouses" under the BC Family Law Act? Or that you could be legally required to split your assets (and your spouse's debts) if your relationship ends? Gain invaluable insights on how to protect your assets and avoid unwittingly becoming liable for your spouse's debts. Don’t miss out on this important presentation! Disclaimer:This presentation will provide information only and does not constitute legal advice. The speaker for the Monthly Gathering on Thursday March 7th is Evelyn Marie Gillespie who served as MLA for the Comox Valley riding in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1996 to 2001 as a member of the BC New Democratic Party.
Please click below to download and view the minutes from the Monthly Gathering on Thursday February 1, 2024. A big thank you to Dorothy McGinn for taking these notes!
At the Monthly Gathering on Thursday January 4th, there will be two speakers:
Members gathered at 1:30pm to enjoy light refreshments and conversation.
President Lorne Meyer called the meeting to order at 2:00 and opened with some great “dad jokes” about getting older. Announcements:
Introduction of Guest Speaker: Vice President Ann Zanbilowicz introduced the guest speaker, Jim Lariviere from the Comox Fire Department. Jim served 42 years in both the Royal Canadian Navy and Airforce. He then started a fire service career and in the year 2000 Jim was hired as a full-time Assistant Fire Chief. Among his qualifications are Fire Officer Four and Fire Inspector Level Three. Besides Jim’s operational duties he is responsible for First Responder training, Public Education, Fire Inspections, Fire Engineering, etc. Jim described and demonstrated how to handle the following emergencies:
Some interesting highlights:
Gift Cards ($25) from Milano Coffee were won by: Donna Young, Nancy Brown, Diane Needham and Jill Almond. Notes by Cat Pedersen on behalf of Secretary, Vicki Matthews At the Monthly Gathering on November 2, Jim Lariviere, who is Assistant Fire Chief, Comox Fire Rescue will be our Guest Speaker. He has served 42 years in the both the RCN and the RCAF. He has been a Firefighter for over 42 years.
His topic is how to deal with a Cardiac Emergency. He will cover the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and the CPR which is required to go with the AED. Members gathered at 1:30 to enjoy light refreshments and conversation. President Lorne Meyer called the meeting to order at 2:00 and opened with some “groaners”. Announcements: John McGinn publicized the Orca Probus singers group. Second Tuesday of each month from 2:00 to 4:00. Ian Thompson will send out details to the membership. Introduction of Guest Speaker: Ann Zanbilowicz introduced our speaker Wendy Bancroft who helps people write their “own” stories using a technique called GAB – Guided autobiography. It is a warmly structured approach to help people recall, write about and share important memories. It is not therapy but people often find it therapeutic. It usually involves a six week course. It is theme based: family, health, money, relationships, etc. Sessions are confidential. Stories are memoirs – very short, usually 1000 words. They are NOT autobiography which is a story of a life. They are a memoir which is a story from a life. There was a ten minute break for “Flash writing” about a "Decision you made that was the right decision". We then broke into groups of 4 to share our work. To learn more: www.wendybancroft.com . Ann Zanbilowicz distributed handouts that summarized the process. Gift Cards: from Roys' Town Pub were won by: Cheryl McMahon, Jennifer Smith, Tannis Baker, Sylvia Giles. There were 55 members in attendance. Thanks to Dorothy McGinn for taking these notes for Vicki. The Guest Speaker at the October Monthly Gathering is Wendy Bancroft
Wendy has been helping people tell their stories for over 40 years—as an award-winning journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, a researcher with two national research organizations and, for several years, in her own video production company. She uses stimulating exercises and questions to spark creativity and trigger memories of different aspects of commonly shared experiences like turning points in life, family influences, health, and work. Bring a pen and something to write on, and Wendy will give you a fun and interesting taste of how to share your memories using GAB, guided autobiography. Meeting Notes - September 7, 2023 Glacier Probus Club Monthly Gathering Held at Comox United Church Light snacks were served along with hot drinks at 1:30. The socializing was lively and friendly. Friends reconnected and other people chatted with new members. Thanks, Brenda!
Lorne brought the meeting to order at about 2:04 pm. He regaled the members with a few short jokes, none of which I can remember now, but some were groaners. He welcomed all members to the meeting and asked if we had any new members. Six people stood up and Lorne warmly welcomed them. Presentation of Probus Award by Probus Canada representative: Ian Kennedy was introduced, representing Probus Canada. He spoke about what a gift it is to be in charge of the Island with the only downside being travelling. One of his duties is to visit clubs on their significant anniversaries. The certificate was developed on July 16, 2023 anniversary. He present the certificate to Lorne. Passed on good wishes from the national board. Some of the other Island Probus’ are up to 25 years old. He touched on why there will be no other club added to Comox Valley - mainly because Campbell River has established one and they have a lot of members that came to Comox Valley. Activity Groups: Jim Belair then talked about Activity Groups which are the heart of this Glacier Probus Club. He listed all 25 different activity groups. Some have been running all summer and some are just restarting after the summer. He mentioned Random Readers have changed their names to Recommended Readers. Jim went over how to use the website to find information and to join individual clubs. Then he had the Activity Coordinators stand and the members showed their appreciation. Jim summed his presentation up with some pictures of how far the Coordinators will go to do their jobs. You had to be there! Announcements of upcoming Special Events to celebrate the 10th Anniversary throughout the Year:
Alan reminded us of the other, annual events:
Draw for Door Prizes - Donald Bourne: Winners of Kiki’s Gift Card was Lindsay Sparkes, and winner of the Flying Canoe prizes were Mary Finnan, Jill Almond, Vicki Matthew and Dawn Moore. Adjournment at 2:32 REMINDER of Glacier Probus Management Meeting on Thursday September 28, 2023. REMINDER OF Monthly Gathering which is on October 5, Snacks & Hot Drinks at 1:30. Meeting at 2:00. The focus of this meeting will be the 10th Anniversary Celebration! The Committee working on the 10th Anniversary will be presenting.
This is the slideshow set to music, with photos extracted from the Activity Group News during the entire past year. You may also download the video, if you wish. Turn your speakers up and click on the image to play President Alan Brown opened the monthly meeting, welcoming those present on this rainy day, held as usual in the Hall at Comox United Church.
He encouraged Club members to volunteer to stand for election as Secretary or Vice President at our Annual General Meeting this June 1st. He outlined the Secretary’s duties setting agendas and taking minutes for a term of one year while the Vice President’s commitment is to a three year term: first as VP organizing our monthly speakers, then as President chairing meetings and finally as Past President chairing our Nomination Committee. Current VP Lorne Meyer pointed out that speakers are lined up through next October. Alan then noted that our June PRISMA Symphony Cruise, an annual Special Event, has 17 tickets still available and those members already committed need to pay Michele Morton this April so we may take advantage of early discount pricing. He further commented that Comox Valley, with four Probus Clubs, has the highest penetration ~ Probus members as percent of population ~ in all of Canada. Three Clubs, Orca, Strathcona and Glacier, are at capacity with waiting lists while the fourth and original, Comox Valley, has an aging membership and limited activities. Club Presidents are working to form a fifth Club to draw from current waiting lists. Alan gave the meaning of some Texting Abbreviations ending with GGPBL ~ Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low. Donald Bourne announced that today's Gift Cards are from Kiki’s located at 1811 Comox Ave. in Comox, publisher of Compass magazine, offering printing service, gallery and gifts in a coffee shop. Worth a visit. As our guest speaker’s computer would not connect to the Hall projector, but would to the Church projector, the meeting was moved to the Nave. With our speaker Esther Sample at the Pulpit, she explained how growing up and living near the water, spending 10 years as a commercial fisherman plus kickboxing activity inspired her passion for west coast living. Her visual memories ~ laid out on canvas ~ are intended to inspire others to connect through her art with their own west coast realities. She spoke of taking 40 to 100 hours spread over several weeks to create one painting, used the projector to show her current canvas in stages of added complexity to its present yet unfinished state. Esther commented that her art has influenced her personal development and with increasing confidence she is moving toward a more abstract style of illustration. Her presentation was well received and after answering a number of questions from Club members in the pews she was thanked by President Alan Brown for attending and sharing her enthusiasm with our Club. Esther’s website is at https://www.esthersample.com/ . Door prizes for Kiki’s gift certificates went to Beverly Pendlebury, Bill Tower, Gil Moore and Helmut Breitinger plus I-phone stands to Tony Nichol and Steve Latta. Photos attached of our speaker, the Church and our door prize winners. Photos and Meeting Notes by Ian Thompson, Club Communications Next General Meeting will be Thursday May 4, 2023. Our guest speaker will be local artist, ESTHER SAMPLE.
Using her experiences from her commercial fisherman career and the inspiration from BC's rugged west coast, Esther's oil and acrylic paintings come alive and reconnect the viewer to nature and life on the water. Esther will share her life and artwork. COME AT 1:30 FOR A SOCIAL VISIT BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS AT 2:00. DON'T FORGET YOUR MUG AND NAME TAG! YOU MIGHT WIN A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE 30 Glacier PROBUS club members and our guest speaker Caila Holbrook met for our March General Meeting at Comox United Church.
President Alan Brown welcomed everyone. He asked if our contact information, specifically phone numbers, have changed to please let the MC team know. PRISMA is going ahead on Saturday, June 28 and includes the return cruise, lunch, and concert. There are 50 tickets available but depending on other PROBUS clubs in the valley we may be able to get more. VIce President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Caila Holbrook who has been with the Project Watershed Project since November 2008. Caila has a Masters in International Nature Conservation and a BSc in Environmental Science. Caila is currently managing Project Watershed’s education and outreach activities. Kus-Kus-Sum Unpaving Paradise Project Watershed (PW) is a local environmental group established in 1993. Their mission is “to promote community stewardship of Comox Valley Watersheds through education, information, and action.” One of their local projects was the Courtenay Airpark breech with a tunnel built under the pathway and the lagoon now able to cycle water bringing more fish and birds. In 2008 PW held a public meeting where the idea of purchasing and restoring the old sawmill site to its natural habitat was voiced and supported by many. In 2011 PW supported a study that listed the restoration of the K'omoks Estuary as a priority to increase the health and productivity of salmonids. In honour of an ancient village on the opposite side of the river and with the permission of the K'omoks First Nation, the site was named Kus-kus-sum (meaning very, very slippery). In September 2017, the plan to purchase and restore Kus-kus-sum began with the support of the K'omoks First Nation and the City of Courtenay. The Kus-kus-sum is PW’s biggest project with a budget of $8M. The Kus-kus-sum Estuary is one of the best on the BC coast. Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems providing habitat for waterbirds and wildlife as well as providing water filtration, detritus breakdown, and nutrient recycling. The K'omoks Estuary is a mega carbon sink sucking up ocean blue carbon which continues to be studied for its long term effectiveness to remove CO2. In the late 1800s to 1918 the site was initially a First Nations Village. In 1946 it was a forested site. Then in the 1950s, Field’s Sawmill bought the site. The sawmill was very productive until the mid 1970s. In 2004 Interferon shut down the site. In 2006 they tested over 300 soil test holes for contamination and removed toxic soils from the site earning the highest standard of reclamation from the province. From 2004-2017 PW ran a fundraising campaign to unpave Kus-kus-sum and put up paradise. Their vision was to have trees by the road and grasses by the shore with a deep pool at one end, hoping that in 20-30 years the site will look like Hollywood Flats, a salt marsh with upland native Sitka spruce trees. TIMELINE FOR PROJECT 2017 Launch Funding 2022 Phase II 2020 Purchase site 2023 Phase III 2021 Initial Phase PHASE I - UNPAVING All concrete, metal, and asphalt were removed (34 bins were recycled and 750 truckloads were taken away) and as much as possible recycled. It was soon discovered that there were 3 concrete layers as well as a concrete wall behind the metal wall. Concrete was recycled for aggregate or sold to developers. There was constant archeology monitoring for possible mortuary trees or bones. There was also water quality monitoring above, at, and below the water level. PHASE II - CONTOURING The site is handled section by section with earth being moved so as to make varying elevations. In April and October 2022, 5000 plants were planted. 10,000 plants remain to be planted. The plants all require compost and mulch. Willow will be planted on the slopes to hold the banks and wooden debris will make the habitat more complex. PHASE III - REMOVING THE METAL WALL As the wall is buried approximately 20 feet into the ground, it will be removed by vibrating the panels out. A barge will come up the river when the timing is right (high tide with no fish running). It was hoped that the wall would be removed this fall but it is more likely to happen next year. The company removing the metal wall is doing it pro bono. Caila ended by noting that 84% of the total cost has been raised with 75% going to restoration. Three ways to raise money are:
For more information check out: Kuskussum.ca support@kuskussum.ca 250 753-2871 QUESTIONS:
Caila reported that PW has some fun activities planned for Earth Day, April 22, 2023 such as shoreline clean-ups and watershed walks. Check out their volunteer page on their website: projectwatershed.ca Vice President Lorne Meyer thanked Caila for her talk and noted that Caila asked that her honorarium be donated to PW. President Alan Brown also thanked Caila for clarifying what exactly was going on at Kus-kus-sum as we all wonder when we drive by it. Winners of The Mill Coffee gift certificates were: Gil Moore, Alan Brown, Sandy Dreger, and David Pendlebury who generously gave his certificate to Caila. Photos of VP Lorne, guest speaker Caila, and winners Gil and David with President Alan Brown picking a ticket were taken by Ian Thompson. Next General Meeting will be April 6, 2023. President Alan Brown welcomed 50 Glacier PROBUS Club members and our guest speaker to our meeting.
Alan noted that our club is a popular group in the valley with 42 people on the waitlist. In September there is usually only a 10% turnover, so with that in mind, the waitlist will be cut off at 40. Past President John McGinn reminded members that we have two openings on the Board and asked members to give it some serious thought. Special Events Coordinator Michele Morton is a font of information and he suggested members talk with her. John stated that the current Vice President, Lorne Meyer, would be serving his three year commitment of vice-president, president, and past president. Vice President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink, the patriarch of Lentelus Farms. Willem grew up in Cape Town, South Africa and studied environmentalism and social activism in three continents. Behind the mountains in northern SA where the indigenous Khoisan lived and the hills were covered in endemic cedar and the rivers flowed, there were many abandoned farmsteads. In 1947, Martin Versfeld, Dave’s grandfather, bought a farm in Bo Kouga, SA with the name of “Depths of Despair” and changed the name to Lentelus, which means, “Joy For Spring”. This farm became a refuge from the security police, and a place of rest. And this is where Dave, Willem’s son, grew to love his grandparents' farm. There was an orchard, pigs, sheep, and bees. Willem grew up in the 60’s in the United States. Willem avoided the draft by studying at University where he was drawn to agriculture and environmental concerns. He was interested in sustainable, organic agriculture and growing food in a more sensible way. Dave, started Lentelus Farms in the Comox Valley, in 2015 after deciding to try his hand at farming rather than travelling to plant trees forever. Dave has leased 40 acres from Ducks Unlimited and another block also from Ducks Unlimited off the Dyke Road. Regenerative farming is the underlying philosophy of Lentelus Farms and the belief that the soil, plants, and animals work with our gut microbiome. They question: “What did your food eat?” The animals at Lentelus Farms are allowed to roam and graze freely. They are 100% free of antibiotics, hormones, or steroids, and GMOs. Willem is the baker in the family and you can ask Steve Ray about the yummy bread from Lentelus Farms. Check out their roadside Farm Stand at 1300 Comox Road, north of the 17th Street Bridge. Winter hours are: Thursday 1:00 to 4:00 and Saturdays 10:00 to 3:00. Website: lentelusfarms.com Questions: Lorne Meyer asked about the Lentelus Farm affiliation with North Island College. Willem stated that he and Dave have been working on the curriculum for a farming certificate for the past four years. North Island College hosted 8-12 students introducing them to farming, market gardening, livestock, and orchard development at Lentelus Farms. Alan Brown noted the large number of geese and trumpeter swans on the open land. Willem reported that Ducks Unlimited has liens on the land and that no posts or perimeter fencing are allowed so that the wildfowl can graze freely. Cover crops must be planted at all times according to regenerative farming policy. There is duck hunting in November to December on the land. Monica McKinley noted that last September there was an open house for North Island College. Willem stated that due to insurance costs no other visitors are allowed on the farm. There is hope that the Kus-kus-sum Project Watershed may provide a walkway through the farm and wetlands in the future. Jill Almond asked about their work in Kelowna. Willem stated that they have purchased a land butchery and abattoir. Monica McKinley, who lives behind the farm pasture, also noted that she had not seen the pigs outside recently. Willem stated it is too wet for them to be outside in the winter so they are either inside or at the abattoir (Gunther’s). Lorne thanked Willem for telling us about Lentelus Farms. The winners of the Hot Chocolates gift certificates were: Dawn Moore, Dave Adshead, Stuart Lane, and Teresa Cosco. Photos of our guest speaker, Willem Semmelink and Vice President Lorne Meyer and President Alan Brown and GC winners taken by Ian Thompson. President Alan Brown welcomed 53 club members to our January GM with a joke and a Happy New Year. He welcomed Christine Dickinson, our guest speaker. Christine was born and educated in New Zealand but lived and worked as an educator for 34 years in northern BC moving to the Comox Valley in 2007. Her passion is for the regional history of the province, and she has co-authored Atlin: The Story of British Columbia's Last Gold Rush and Watershed Moments: A pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Christine is a contributing author to Step into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in the Comox Valley.
Christine's talk concentrated on the Beginnings of Tourism in the Comox Valley. Tourism didn't start in the valley until quite a while after the first settlers who fished and hunted out of necessity. These activities were otherwise only available to the leisure or wealthy classes of Victoria who went to Duncan for these activities. The Royal Navy trainees enjoyed fished and hunting for rest and recuperation and tourism in Campbell River grew. But this all changed when Clinton Wood, a teacher, bookkeeper, and sawmill engineer, moved to Courtenay in 1910. He worked for Comox Logging and Rail and built houses at Headquarters. He worked for the Power & Light Company from 1910-12 and travelled around by bicycle wiring houses even in Cumberland. In 1922 he became Courtenay City Clerk charged with developing a water system from Brown River following the big fire of 1916. No one knew the headwaters of Brown River, except the local First Nations. Cecil Smith (known as Cougar Smith) believed it had multiple sources, McKenzie Lake being one. Exploring with Cecil, Clinton was overwhelmed with the beautiful meadows, rolling hills dotted with lakes, lush trees, and spectacular scenery. Clinton saw economic prospects with this back country hidden gem. He brought members of Courtenay City Council and Board of Trade up the almost fourteen miles to a meeting in the wilderness to see his vision. On July 6, 1926 Clinton and Cougar set off with two saddle horses on their first trip to Mount Albert Edward from the trail at Bevan and up to Mount Becher and on to the Forbidden plateau. The following year he returned with the president of the Vancouver Island section of the Alpine Club of Canada. This resulted in a joint Alpine Club and Courtenay-Comox Mountaineering Cub (CDMC) camp in the summer of 1928 on the plateau. The rustic Mt. Becher cabin was built and was filled with groups of people most weekends summer and winter for fun and games. Over the years the cabin improved with bunks and a wood stove that Sid Williams carried on his back up to the cabin. The cabin became a labour of love. Previously skiing was not known in the West and in the 1920s the group began to ski making their own primitive skis (and developing the Becher Squat). In the late 1920s they even had a Ski Meet which was won by the Scandinavians. By spring there would be 15-20 feet of snow and one had to dig down to get in the door. But great fellowship and good humour was enjoyed by the likes of Ruth Masters and Marjorie Briscoe. Clinton realized that an easier trail through Bevan to the plateau was needed. With some government money but mostly volunteer money from the local CDMC, the Dove Creek Trail was built. It started at the end of Dove Creek Road to Anderson Lake Road to Paradise Meadows to Battleship and Croteau Lake. The Trail was officially opened by Lieutenant-Governor the Honorable Randolph Bruce and a number of local dignitaries including Courtenay Mayor Theed Pearse and his wife, Elma, Clinton Wood, now President of the CCMC, George McNaughton a GP from Cumberland, and Miss Helen McKenzie , a niece of Randolph Bruce. Clinton stated that, "the Trail would bring within a half days travel, a new Switzerland, allowing people to go up into higher altitudes". In the 1890s, Eugene Croteau came to BC from Quebec. He was involved with sawmills, mining, and real estate. In 1917 he worked for the Comox Logging Company as a log scaler and time keeper. He purchased a five acre property on Croteau Beach and was a neighbour of Mack Laing. Croteau was a restless fellow and in 1930 built a log cabin at the foot of Mt. Elna. He began a business guiding celebrity guests such as film stars and a Russian prince to his camp. After the almost fourteen mile walk or horse ride, the guests were accommodated in tents with proper beds. Breakfast in bed was provided with real maple syrup from Quebec. The cabin on site was the cookhouse where clam chowder, chicken mulligan, and huckleberry pie were whipped up by cooks such as Ruth Masters who was the cook in 1939. While the adventurous men climbed the local mountains, the women rambled or sketched and painted the scenery. In the evenings Eugene was a great raconteur singing and telling stories. Then WW2 broke out and there were no longer any available packers or guides. By 1942, Croteau, now 81, having done twelve trips by himself in one year, retired and that was the end of Croteau's Camp. Clinton Wood still wanted to invest in this magnificent playground and in 1934 built the Forbidden Plateau Lodge as a guest lodge which they operated for eleven years before retiring. His son, Stuart, was an integral part of this development and helped in the building of a railway, a telephone line, and a power plant for the lodge. The Wood men operated a packhorse team for mountaineers and tourists. They built a road with at least seven switchbacks by dragging a V-shaped contraption behind the horses. Stuart went to UBC for guiding and in 1941 joined the RCAA. His plane went missing over Cologne devastating Clinton who withdrew and sold the business. Finally the Lodge was acquired and designated a Class A Provincial Park in 1962. The development of tourism in Comox is a totally different story. The settlers included Sidney D'Esterre, "Dusty" who was a rich Anglo-Irish man making his money from diamonds in South Africa. He served in the British Navy in the 20s and 30s. In 1862 James Robbb and his son attempted to start their own town with land from Anderton Road to the Stewart waterfront to Noel Avenue. However, they were charging so much for the lots that nobody wanted to buy. James Dunsmuir who was developing coal in Cumberland had a barge crossing to Comox but he even said Robb wanted too much. In the 1920s, there were still only a handful of lots sold. Dusty D'Esterre bought the property up and build the Elk Inn. The timing was fortuitous occurring at the end of prohibition. Making a profit, the large plot of land was re-surveyed into larger lots and the first early homes in Comox were built from 1920-1928. But Dusty had bigger plans putting in electric lights, a wide carpeted staircase and stairways in the Elk Inn where tourists could lounge and talk about their fishing adventures. The menu was locally sourced meat, fish, dairy, strawberries, etc. Dusty took people tie fishing and started up the tie fishing club, named the Comox King Salmon Club. His competitions to catch the biggest salmon with a rod and 9 strand line drew celebrities such as Bing Crosby and Ginger Rogers. He also put up bathing boxes at Kye Bay and Goose Spit and developed the Comox Golf Course and tennis courts. The Port Augusta Hotel was developed as a family hotel where one did one's own cooking and cleaning. Eventually the waters became overfished and tie fishing ended. During the 1950s motels became popular with Laing's Beach Resort offering comfortable bungalows which developed into today's Kingfisher Resort. That was the end of "the beginning" of tourism in the Comox Valley. Question Period: A member asked how the time frame of the start of tourism in the valley coincided with the development of Banff. Christine stated that Strathcona Park was the first Provincial Park in BC coming in on the coattails of the development of Banff. Alan Brown thanked Christine for her informative talk noting it was interesting to hear about the people behind the local street names. Winners of the Big Foot Gift Certificates were: Christine Dickinson David Pendlebury, Deb Haines, and myself, Jill Almond Pictures compliments of Ian Thompson. aOver 80 members and guests ate and danced the night away to the great sounds of Easy Street at d'Esterre Senior Centre in Comox. After an initial mingle with participants trying to find their matching Christmas card friend, the d'Esterre team served up a bountiful buffet of ham and turkey and all the trimmings and fixings. Then the Presidents past and current, opened the evening with jokes. Next followed a hilarious 12 Days of Christmas rendition with the tables of guests singing and acting out their gifts. The eight maids a-milking stole the show! (see picture eight below). One number under a seat at each table won a door prize and the person sitting across from the winner won the gorgeous decorative centerpiece basket. A great time was had by all and the dance floor was never empty.
Photos by Ian Thompson. President Alan Brown welcomed 67 members to our November General Meeting. New club members Barrie Russell, Joanne Endacott, and Diana Guinn were mentioned. President Brown reminded us there will be no GM in December. Instead the club will celebrate with a Dinner and Dance on December 3. There are 8 tickets left and they are available from Michele Morton today. President Brown announced to raucous applause that Michele would be staying on as Special Events Coordinator until June 2023. The club is looking for an assistant to work with Michele and eventually become the Special Events Coordinator. If anyone is interested contact Michele, Jim Belair, or John McGinn. President Brown thanked Vice President Lorne Meyer who stood in for him in his absence last month. President Brown stated he was happy to be back and handed the mic over to Vice President Lorne. Lorne introduced our guest speaker, Dave Weaver, who worked in Forestry in BC for 37 years from Vancouver Island to Smithers. He was a Registered Professional Forester (RPF) since 1981. Dave’s last 12 years were spent working for the Provincial Government in Silviculture Policy and Legislation in Smithers and Victoria. Retired now, Dave is the Vice President of the Beaufort Watershed Stewards (BWS) primarily involved in administration and water sampling. Have our local watersheds been logged too much or not hydrologically? What would be the implications? Dave stated he will try to answer these questions by presenting his findings from the Beaufort Watershed Stewards’ 2021 Hydrological Health Report Card on four local watersheds on the east side of the Beaufort Mountains. The Mud Bay, Waterloo Creek, Wilfred, and Cowie Creek ranging in size from 363 hectares to 2057 broken down by percentage of public and private ownership. Dave is neither a hydrologist nor against logging but sees a better way and would like all values to be considered from the start of tree harvesting. The Mission of the BWS is to promote the health and resilience of local watersheds in the Beaufort Range and to ensure the quality and quantity of fresh water for the future. Dave drew up the report card with graphs and findings to promote the next steps and the change necessary if we value our drinking water. The BWS is a small group of 35 members working out of Fanny Bay. Their major activity is sampling streams. If a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear or CARE? That depends on how many, where, and how. Why should we care? In 2022, the Forest Practices Board (FPB), which is an independent watchdog that audits the government on forestry performance practices and water, reported that current practices already have a negative impact on drinking water, fish habitat, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges. Younes Alila, a Forest Hydrologist and Professor at UBC, states it would take years, sixty to eighty for watersheds to recover. Three out of five watersheds in BC had sediment from forest harvesting roads that increases risk to fish. The FPB recommends that the Equivalent Clearcut Area (ECA) percentage be reviewed as the first step in assessing watershed health. What are the potential effects of Harvest Activity? Three aspects need to be considered:
The BWS Study examined 7 of the 9 primary factors:
The BWS Study found the Cowie Creek Watershed to be of concern today earning a D grade and being the most unhealthy. Next Steps
Vice President Meyer thanked Dave for his fascinating presentation and expertise and dedication. President Brown asked those present whether they preferred regular or decaf coffee and as there was not a definitive answer the club will continue to serve both. He again reminded us there is no General Meeting in December. The winners of Mudshark gift certificates were: Deb Haynes and John McGinn. The winners of Benino gift certificates were: Al Sabey and Anne Champagne. President Alan again thanked everyone for coming. NEXT GENERAL MEETING JANUARY 5, 2023. Pictures of meeting and guest speaker Dave Weaver, winners Anne Champagne and Al Sabey and Dorothy picking husband John's name as winner! Photos compliments of Ian Thompson. GLACIER PROBUS CLUB MEET AND GREET OCTOBER 25,2022 was held from 3:30-5:30 at Murrelet Place Club House for all new members having joined since June, 2022. It was a wine and appies gathering with veggie, fruit, and sweet snack trays.
33 new members were invited and 22 attended along with 8 Management Committee members. President Alan Brown welcomed all and shared what we do at Probus. After speaking about a number of activity groups, Alan invited Jim Belair, Activity Groups Coordinator to speak more about our Activity Groups. Everyone had a great time. Thank you to Brenda Latta for organizing this successful event. Brenda noted it was great to put faces to the names of folks she had been dealing with via email. Thank you to all the helping hands. Thank you to Mary Ann Tait who secured the Club House for this event. Pictures by Ian Thompson. Thank you Ian. Vice-President Lorne Meyer welcomed 57 club members to the General Meeting opening with a few one-line zingers. He welcomed new members: Bob and Kathy Ell, Lori Gavas, Ann and Brad Champagne, and Judy Schieder as well as guests Alan Pattison and Tom Collins.
Vice-President Lorne reminded us that Glacier PROBUS Club is looking for new coordinators for both the Random Readers Group and the Wine and Appies Group. Special Events Coordinator, Michele Morton, reported that tickets for the Christmas Dinner and Dance on Dec. 3 were available today. She also has one ticket available for the opera Carmen in Victoria on October 16. Michele also reminded us to keep in mind plans for a bus trip to Vancouver in the spring to see the play Come From Away. Vice-President Lorne Meyer welcomed our guest speaker, Rick James. Mr. James was born and raised in Victoria and is a West Coast Maritime historian. He is currently doing relief standin as a lighthouse keeper up the coast. Mr.James has written 3 books and his talk was based on extensive research along with newspaper coverage plus the first hand accounts of old time rum-runners for his latest book, Don’t Never Tell NOBODY NOTHIN’ NO HOW: The Real Story of West Coast Rum Running. Liquor prohibition in BC lasted from 1917 to 1921 but In January of 1920 The National Prohibition Act of the United States (US) prohibited any person from drinking, making, selling, importing, or transporting alcohol. James recounts the stories of BC’s rum-running mariners and businessmen that provided roughly one million cases of alcohol to thirsty US citizens over the course of the next 13 years from 1920-1933. Offering other means to make a living, in the beginning the boats used for smuggling were small vessels such as old fishing boats that filled their holds with liquor and sold it along the coast of Oregon, California and the Juan De Fuca Strait known as Rum Row. As the demand for more alcohol grew, custom built rum running boats involved “floating mother ships”, such as the Malahat, an old lumber schooner and other steamers that parked off the San Francisco Bay or the mouth of the Columbia River. These ships were floating warehouses of liquor where smaller, faster vessels (the mosquito fleet) picked up the liquor and distributed the orders to shore. These faster vessels were outfitted with fast sub-chaser engines and often painted black so as to avoid detection under the cover of darkness into American waters right up onto the beach. These rum runners, mariners and ordinary businessmen were breaking no law as these “mother ships'' were either anchored in International or Canadian waters. The rum runners often made 5 or 6 trips a month earning $1000 the equivalent of $14, 000 today ($1 then equal to $14 today). In April 1924 the Victoria Daily Colonist reported that Southern Vancouver Island and properties on roughly twenty Islands including Smuggler’s Cove and Discovery Island provided “a Scotch oasis in a desert of salt water.” Annoyed with the 5 million gallons of liquor coming from Canada to the US, the American government put pressure on the Canadian government. However, the Canadian government said it wasn’t the responsibility of their government to stop American citizens from drinking liquor. The ships were doing everything legally with custom and clearance papers filled out. So Washington, DC raised their liquor export licence from $3000 to $10000. The rum runners formed the Consolidated Exporters on August 25, 1922 housed on Hamilton Street in Vancouver, for the import and export of wines and alcoholic beverages. Captain Charles Hudson, superintendent of Consolidated Exporters, stated “they were doing everything legally and considered themselves philanthropists, supplying good liquor to poor, thirsty Americans,...and [this] brought back prosperity to the Harbour of Vancouver”. Hudson was a highly decorated WW1 Royal Navy veteran who stated Consolidated Exporters “ran like a clock” and “by my code” with 2 Vancouver distilleries on board and thirty to forty boats. The Malahat reportedly played the most prominent role and was the flagship of Rum Row, known as the Queen of Malahat. She could hold 100,000 cases of liquor while anchored and 60,000 cases sailing. The Malahat made 2 or 3 voyages a year full of scotch, rye, and brandy. The rum running business was “God’s gift to Vancouver” and “kept a lot of seamen and shipyards busy when the economy was truly bust”. The Dominion Bureau of Statistics reported that in 1929 liquor sales increased from $19M to $48M. Vice-President Lorne Meyer thanked Rick James for his informative talk and requested that if people had questions to ask Rick at the table where he had books for sale. Winners of the gift cards for Milanos and Mud Sharks were: Tina Kelly (who will be volunteering at the Registration desk next month), Brenda Latta, Lorne Meyer, and Dave Adshead. Next month’s meeting will be November 3,2022. President Alan Brown welcomed 57 club members to the first meeting of the year and hoped everyone had a great summer. He reminded us that all future General Meetings will be on the first Thursday of the month. The next one being October 6.
He welcomed new club members: Marianne Nies, Cindy Blackmore, Coleen Zimmer, David Miller, Karen Hodgson, Christine and Rod Smith. President Brown also noted that the Wine and Appies Group is looking for a new coordinator and that if you are interested to email Jim Belair, Debbie Haynes, Jeanne Hall or himself. Vicki Matthews is hosting a new Games Night Group. It will consist of informal board and/or parlour games at her house where she is able to host 25-30 people. September 23 will be combined with the Wine and Appies group. Future Games Night dates will be October 21, and November 13. Vicki is looking for someone to carry on for the months of January-March while she is away. If interested contact: vmatthew@ shaw.ca Michele Morton, our Special Events Coordinator, is stepping down effective December 31, 2022. Anyone interested contact John McGinn. Vice-President Lorne Meyer introduced our guest speaker, Paul Berry. Paul is a 25 year member of Comox VAlley Search and Rescue (CVSAR). He is a recently retired Director of Instruction with the Comox Valley School District, and now devotes his time to Emergency preparedness and response and SAR in the province and across Canada. He is currently only one of a handful of Level 2 Senior Search managers for the province and is currently the lead instructor for Search Command with the Justice Institute of BC. In addition, he teaches Incident Command, Emergency Operations Centre Operations, and Lost Person Behaviour courses across the province. He is also involved in 3 large National level SAR projects for Public Safety Canada and the SAR Volunteers of Canada. SEARCH AND RESCUE: HOW TO AVOID NEVER NEEDING TO CALL Paul Berry said it was a pleasure to be with us. There are distinct, different types of rescue in Canada: Air-the Department of National Defence from the US to the North Pole mostly looking for downed aircraft but also supports the Coast Guard. Marine-Canadian Coast Guard patrol the Great Lakes and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. Ground and Inland Water-Police led coast to coast and primarily searching for missing persons, the investigation is formal and follows strict protocols. WHO ARE WE? The Comox Valley Search and Rescue (CVSAR): 48 unpaid professionals from many backgrounds putting in over 20,000 person hours to train weekly, sometimes more, in first aid, navigation, search tactics and tracking. We are a team and a family often putting in 12 hours a day for 8-9 days until an operation is suspended. We are a Public Safety Communication Lifeline and an Emergency Services Organization that is committed to saving lives 24/7 365 days a year. We are the only backcountry first responders. We bring resolution and support to families in their darkest moments. SERVICES PROVIDED (Specialty Teams) SAR Management Wilderness, Rural, and Urban SAR Electronic tracking of Alzheimer and Dementia subjects Support to local authorities WHAT DO WE DO? We only respond when called out by the BC Emergency Management Centre in Saanich, BC through the RCMP, Coroner Services, BC Ambulance Services, Coast Guard, Department of National Defence or an Independent Investigations Office. SEARCH OPERATIONS Lost Person’s Behaviour teaching across North America. Terrain analysis and investigation tools. There are other smaller, Technical Rescue Teams: Swift Water Rescue. High Angle Rope Rescue to lower rescuers down crevices. Avalanche Response Team-cannot send out teams if we are at risk. Helicopter Hoist Rescue-one of two teams on Vancouver Island involving high mountain rescue. An annual certification is required on entering a helicopter when flying. K-9 search-currently 2 teams. Man Tracking-Sign cutting is an essential tool as it shows signs of passage. Medical Evacuation and First Aid which is a minimum 8 hour course but 40-80 hours for advanced wilderness first aid. The Support Team Program keeps tools readily accessible and running (i.e. boats). The Adventure Smart Programs is our Branch About Prevention. The Hug A Tree program is for kindergarten to Grade One and teaches lost children to stay put. Teenagers and adults are taught how to survive outside as well as snow safety and the winter environment. 3 STEPS TO SAFETY OUTSIDE 1. Plan Your Trip- leave a detailed trip plan with a responsible person. Run or hike with a buddy. 2. Training 3. The Ten Essentials: 1. Communication- cell phone, the Garmin InReach or SPOT which all have tracking features, a help button, and SOS. 2. Whistle-travels long distances and saves your voice. 3. Head Lamp 4. Check the Weather- check previous conditions on the ground and what is forecasted for the local area of your planned trip. 5. More Water than you need. 6. Follow Trail Safety Guidelines-bring some calories, if using headphones use only one. For a full list check out: cvgsar.com OUR BIGGEST PROJECT-A ROOF FOR RESCUERS CVSAR has been in existence for 40 years but has no home. The plan is to fundraise (which detracts from training), seek major sponsors and apply for Provincial funding to raise $1.5M to either build or buy a suitable property. QUESTIONS? Bill Boham asked at what wind velocity would Paul call off a hike? Paul responded that it would depend on the hike and the direction. But he suggested with winds of 30-40km/h that a walk around the AirPark would be the best choice. Someone asked about his experience with InReach or SPOT. Paul responded that one must be patient using these devices as there is a delay and in narrow terrain they can be challenging. Another questioned Aerial Search Support: Paul stated that first deployed is the RCMP aerial team, followed by civilian SAR then commercial teams are hired and finally the Coast Guard is requested (using their infrared technology). Drones are used by the RCMP but they are difficult to use in mountain terrain. A small drone is able to fly down into a gulley or crevice or even into water. CONTACT: PAUL BERRY, PRESIDENT, SEARCH MANAGER II of Comox Valley SAR 250 334-3211 info@cvgsar.com Donations are tax deductible. The winners of Milano gift certificates were David Pendlebury and Ian Thompson (What again!) and Benino gift certificates were Marie Morck and Steve Latta. Photos of President Alan Brown, Vice-President Lorne Meyer, and guest speaker Paul Berry from CVSAR. Thank you Ian Thompson. |