The regular monthly meeting of Glacier Probus was held on Thursday, May 6, 2021. We were again on the Zoom platform as Covid 19 regulations continue to prevent meeting in person.
Several members logged in at 1:45 to enjoy some small group socializing before the formal start of the meeting. When participants were again gathered in one large "room" Elaine Brown outlines Zoom protocols to all attendees - urging everyone to mute their microphones to prevent ambient noise, wave their hand if they wished to ask a question or make an announcement, make sure their screen name reflected who was using the device, etc.
President Sandy Dreger, welcomed everyone and thanked Alan and Elaine Brown for again acting as Zoom hosts and trouble-shooters. Sandy expressed the hope that members were all getting vaccinated to move us closer to a time when in person meetings will be possible. It has been a long, lonely time since we all met in person.
Michele Morton, Special Events Coordinator was unable to attend but sent details of upcoming events that are planned starting in late June (assuming they are permitted under Public Health Orders ). Our second Digital Scavenger Hunt will take place on Sunday, June 27. There are already 7 teams signed so don't waste time thinking about - sign up. You can join as a team or there are many individuals looking to form a team. 40 people have indicated interest in attending the summer picnic in August, many have signed up for Oktoberfest in October and we already have 32 people expressing interest in our December Christmas dinner dance. Expressing interest through the Special Events page on the Glacier Probus website does not commit you - it will depend on Public Health rules and each persons feeling of personal safety in attending.
Gary Lucas introduced our first guest speaker. Probus member Colleen Connolly who is on the board of Friends of Rails to Trails Vancouver Island (FORT-VI). Colleen was very active in using the converted rail trails in Ontario and was disappointed to find there was no similar use of the E and N rail bed. Colleen explained that 80% of the population of Vancouver Island live within 5 km of the E & N railway and that there are 21 communities between Courtenay and Victoria.
However, there are many issues related to this conversion and much work to be done. There is still some who hope to see rail service restored but the BC Ministry of Transportation only supports the train as far north as Shawnigan Lake with electric buses serving areas of the Island further north. It is projected that it will be 25 years before population growth on the island will make a railway viable.
It is projected that restoring train service could cost $500 million while a trail would cost approximately $50 million. FORT-VI supports starting with the Courtenay to Buckley Bay segment - allowing biking, hiking, running through Royston and Union Bay with no need to use the dangerous highway. A one way trip would be possible with existing bus service available for the return trip.
If expanded to Parksville, then south there would be tremendous economic benefit for coffee shops, restaurants, B and B's, etc. Conversations are being opened with First Nations populations to garner their support. Jim Belair thanked Colleen for her very informative presentation and thanked her for all the work FORT-VI is doing.
John McGinn introduced Sasha Hnatiuk from the Cumberland Museum and Archives who spoke to the group about the history of Cumberland with a particular focus on some of the women leaders in the community. Her presentation started in the 1820s when Hudson's Bay Company traders discovered coal. Robert Dunsmuir was granted a Free Miner's License and subsequently built the E and N railway to transport coal.
Chinese and Japanese workers were recruited to work in the coal mines and many brought their wives and established towns around the mine site. These women were often very well educated and brought teaching, midwifery and nursing skills with them. There are currently self guided tours of these town sites that are very informative about the vibrant communities that existed.
Sasha also advised that the Museum is currently closed for major renovations to the first and second floors with a summer 2021 reopening planned.
John McGinn thanked Sasha for sharing her research with us.
Dorothy McGinn announced that the speaker at our June 3meeting will Caitlin Pierzchalski who is the Executive Director of Project Watershed. She will be bringing an update on the Kus-Kus-Sum project to unpaved paradise along the Courtenay River.
Several members logged in at 1:45 to enjoy some small group socializing before the formal start of the meeting. When participants were again gathered in one large "room" Elaine Brown outlines Zoom protocols to all attendees - urging everyone to mute their microphones to prevent ambient noise, wave their hand if they wished to ask a question or make an announcement, make sure their screen name reflected who was using the device, etc.
President Sandy Dreger, welcomed everyone and thanked Alan and Elaine Brown for again acting as Zoom hosts and trouble-shooters. Sandy expressed the hope that members were all getting vaccinated to move us closer to a time when in person meetings will be possible. It has been a long, lonely time since we all met in person.
Michele Morton, Special Events Coordinator was unable to attend but sent details of upcoming events that are planned starting in late June (assuming they are permitted under Public Health Orders ). Our second Digital Scavenger Hunt will take place on Sunday, June 27. There are already 7 teams signed so don't waste time thinking about - sign up. You can join as a team or there are many individuals looking to form a team. 40 people have indicated interest in attending the summer picnic in August, many have signed up for Oktoberfest in October and we already have 32 people expressing interest in our December Christmas dinner dance. Expressing interest through the Special Events page on the Glacier Probus website does not commit you - it will depend on Public Health rules and each persons feeling of personal safety in attending.
Gary Lucas introduced our first guest speaker. Probus member Colleen Connolly who is on the board of Friends of Rails to Trails Vancouver Island (FORT-VI). Colleen was very active in using the converted rail trails in Ontario and was disappointed to find there was no similar use of the E and N rail bed. Colleen explained that 80% of the population of Vancouver Island live within 5 km of the E & N railway and that there are 21 communities between Courtenay and Victoria.
However, there are many issues related to this conversion and much work to be done. There is still some who hope to see rail service restored but the BC Ministry of Transportation only supports the train as far north as Shawnigan Lake with electric buses serving areas of the Island further north. It is projected that it will be 25 years before population growth on the island will make a railway viable.
It is projected that restoring train service could cost $500 million while a trail would cost approximately $50 million. FORT-VI supports starting with the Courtenay to Buckley Bay segment - allowing biking, hiking, running through Royston and Union Bay with no need to use the dangerous highway. A one way trip would be possible with existing bus service available for the return trip.
If expanded to Parksville, then south there would be tremendous economic benefit for coffee shops, restaurants, B and B's, etc. Conversations are being opened with First Nations populations to garner their support. Jim Belair thanked Colleen for her very informative presentation and thanked her for all the work FORT-VI is doing.
John McGinn introduced Sasha Hnatiuk from the Cumberland Museum and Archives who spoke to the group about the history of Cumberland with a particular focus on some of the women leaders in the community. Her presentation started in the 1820s when Hudson's Bay Company traders discovered coal. Robert Dunsmuir was granted a Free Miner's License and subsequently built the E and N railway to transport coal.
Chinese and Japanese workers were recruited to work in the coal mines and many brought their wives and established towns around the mine site. These women were often very well educated and brought teaching, midwifery and nursing skills with them. There are currently self guided tours of these town sites that are very informative about the vibrant communities that existed.
Sasha also advised that the Museum is currently closed for major renovations to the first and second floors with a summer 2021 reopening planned.
John McGinn thanked Sasha for sharing her research with us.
Dorothy McGinn announced that the speaker at our June 3meeting will Caitlin Pierzchalski who is the Executive Director of Project Watershed. She will be bringing an update on the Kus-Kus-Sum project to unpaved paradise along the Courtenay River.