Campbell River’s premier wooden building hosts Forest Minister

A sold-out crowd of Chamber members packed the Maritime Heritage Centre over the noon hour yesterday to hear Pat Bell speak. He is the Minister of Forests and Range and believes opportunities within the forest industry still exist.

 Prior to the Minister taking centre stage, Mayor Charlie Cornfield announced the creation of a Wood First policy by council last week. The policy is aimed at the use of wood in all new buildings funded by the City of Campbell River.

It’s important to support a wood culture in Campbell River His Worship said.

Minister Bell began his address to Chamber members by stating the Campbell River is a fork in the road. It’s time for decisions to be made about our future - do we want to continue to be a resource-based community or move towards a new way that could include tourism and various other opportunites. The challenge of how to create value for ourselves is ours to decide.

He provided some suggestions about where Campbell River could look for opportunities within the forest sector. Here are a couple:

* The creation of a bio-energy industry through using logging residues (more commonly known as slash to most people) to create wood-based pellets that would replace coal as a fuel source. Between 2.5 and 3 million cubic metres of slash existed in 2009 according to the Minister, providing significant economic potential for North Vancouver Island communities.

* Advanced and intensive silviculture. “We grow the best trees in BC here on Vancouver Island,” said Bell.

* The development of the Chinese marketplace. BC shipped 300 million board feet of lumber to China in 2007 – the equivalent of one mill’s entire annual production. The following year, that number had grown to 720 million board feet. As of the end of November 2009, more than a billion board feet of hemlock and cedar had made its way to China.

“If you send it, they’ll (the Chinese)  figure out something to do with it,” said Bell.

Don’t focus on the revival of the US market, he said. Look instead to China. That country could feasibly becoming BC’s number one customer by 2013, when our softwood lumber agreement with the US expires.

Bell predicted more mills will be open at the end of 2010 than were operating at the beginning.

During the question and answer period, Minister Bell was asked about the reopening of the Catalyst mill. It’s a “local decision” he said, adding that the government is involved but only “peripherally” since the issue isn’t within the province’s jurisdiction.

Employees from Corilar, Pallan Timber, and the City of Campbell River won door prizes.

Words on the Water offers wealth of words

The days are longer, bulbs are beginning to poke their green heads through the cool soil in some lucky gardens, and Christmas is off the radar for another year. For this avid reader, that combination means only one thing: it’s soon Words on the Water time again. This year’s event is Friday, March 19 and Saturday, March 20 at the Maritime Heritage Centre.

This year’s lineup  promises to be another winner. Campbell River is fortunate to welcome the following authors:

* Annabel Lyon,  author of The Golden Mean, which was a finalist for the 2009 Rogers Writers’  Trust Fiction Prize, the 2009  Scotiabank Giller Prize, and also in 2009, the Governor General’s Literary Awards – Fiction. The interview I heard on CBC Radio in the fall was compelling and I’m so looking forward to hearing about Aristotle and Alexanders the Great from the writer who brought them to life. Oh yeah – The Golden Mean won the Rogers Writers’  Trust for fiction.

* Gabor Mate, author of In the Realm of the Hungry Ghost – Close Encounters with Addiction. It was published in 2008.  He’s a doctor at a harm reduction facility in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

* Children’s author Kit Pearson, who wrote the brilliant Awake and Dreaming as well as the Guests of War trilogy that tells the story of Nora and Gavin, a brother and sister pair who are sent from England to live in Canada during WW2. I can’t wait to meet her.

* Andreas Schroeder has been a freelance writer for more than 40 years. He’s published poetry, literary critcism, and and and. His most recent book is Renovating Heaven.

* Current Haig-Brown Writer-in-Residence Harry Thurston, whose most recent book is A Place between the Tides, A Naturalist’s Reflections on the Salt Marsh.

* Ronald Wright is the author of What is Amerca, a BC Book Prize finalist. He’s published in more tan 15 langueas. His first novel, A Scientific Romance, was a Globe and Mail Book of the Year.

This ninth annual event gets underway on Friday night. Throughout Saturday, enjoy readings by all the authors and ask questions. Books will be available for sale and you can have them signed too! (I love that).  Saturday night is always tons of fun – it’s the literary cabaret, featuring  the guest writers, music by local musicians, laughter, and gourmet appies.

Be sure to get your Early Bird Pass quickly – they’re bound to sell out. At $65, it gets you into all events and is a terrific deal. They go on sale at the Tidemark theatre Tuesday, February 2. Find out more at www.wordsonthewater.ca . Get ready for a literary bounty that Campbell River hasn’t seen since last year’s Words on the Water!

Navigating the Boat Rodeo

It was barely 11am and already crowds were building today for the fourth annual Boat Rodeo at Robert Ostler Park (aka The Foreshore). In marked contrast to last year’s windy weather, when volunteers appreciated getting home to a hot bath and a mug of tea, this year meant remembering the sun screen, water, and hats. Co-organizer Fred Rose was all smiles as the day started.

Officially kicking off the day’s event was a display of marine rocking and rolling by a ’sidewinder’, a water craft used in the logging industry and one that is almost impossible to tip over. Equipped with large bumpers, it rocked from side to side and did circles. It was pretty neat. It could be called the roller coaster of local waters.

Immediately following the impressive display of skill by the appropriately-named sidewinder were kayak demos by  Comox Valley Kayaks. Three kinds of rescues and various rolls were shown with accompanying commentary to explain to the audience what was happening. Watching the kayakers in action gives a whole new appreciation for our waters. While paddling is a beautiful way to spend time,  seeing how people’s lives can be saved by someone with the knowledge to do so reminds you that safety is an integral part of enjoying our water ways.

Available for tours were the Orca Chief and the Orca Warrior from Marine Harvest Canada. Used to transport farmed salmon from site to processing plant, they’re impressive seen from shore and even more impressive up close. Also on display from Marine Harvest was a former Norwegian Coast Guard vessel, decked out in nautical blue and white and making its debut at this event. Tied up nearby, Marine Link’s vessel was also open for tours.

Also part of the day’s events was the bathtub race, blind rowboat races, and the “Passage Passage”, which saw a variety of craft make their way to Quadra Island’s Cape Mudge.

The Canadian Coast Guard vessel the Point Race kept a gentle eye on the proceedings throughout the day, ready at a moment’s notice in case of emergency.

The boat rodeo is hosted by the Maritime Heritage Society. Sponsors for this year’s event included Redden Nets, Top Quality Music, Grant Signs, Plastics Plus, Gowland Towing, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.,  and Island Ready Mix.

Living in Campbell River, we regularly spend time watching what the wateroffers us, from cruise ships headed to and from Alaska in summer to the more modest ferries whose schedules you can set your watch by, to sailboats and water taxis. Seeing the diversity of what floats was an unusual treat. Late summer brings many delights to Campbell River – the boat rodeo is one of my favorites.

Pier St. Farmer’s Market offers medley of goodies

Summer is in full swing and that means the weekly Pier Street Farmer’s Market is too. If you’re looking for a local event to bring your visitors to, look no further than the parking lot at the Maritime Heritage Centre/Discovery Pier every Sunday from 9am to 2pm. And even if you don’t have visitors, it’s worth your time to scope out the food and craft vendors. The ocean provides a breath taking backdrop.

The market recently celebrated Doggie Day, despite there being fewer canines than usual. However, that didn’t stop Amy the four-and-a-half month old Maltese-Yorkie cross and her owner from appreciating the free doggie towel they won in the weekly draw. In addition to the give-away, there was a dog portrait artist and a dog photographer ready to capture your canine’s distinctive personality.

That same day, the Hal Douglas Band from across Discovery Passage on Quadra Island, entertained the crowd with their blues and gospel tunes. Listening to their music while eating a wonderfully garlicky chicken pita wrap was a most enjoyable way to pass the time before the 12:45pm performance of the C.R. Museum’s summer puppet theatre. The puppets and their operators (owners?!) don’t usually go on road trips so it was a special treat to see an outside performance. Fred Nunns’ Pumpkins was enthusiastically presented by summer students Taryn Deeble, Tye Shutty, and Tyson Bailey (the Three Ts!). Fred Nunns is a delightful and somewhat clumsy character (hold onto those pumpkins Fred!).  Give the C.R. Museum a call at 250-287-3103 for details of their twice weekly puppet shows. It’s Big Fun.

There is so much to see and enjoy, not to mention take home:

• enormous romaine lettuces that stay fresh in your fridge far longer than anything store bought ever could 
• gingerbread peeps if you don’t mind nibbling their body parts off. I’ve realized I’m too soft-hearted for this, despite how yummy they taste
• frozen pizza, prawns, samples of coffee freshly roasted in Sayward, a dazzling array of jewellery, and dog biscuits

Two vendors in particular caught my eye on the Sunday I visited: Melissa March from Amu Designs and Buffalo Bob and Heather, who own Oyster River Rustic. The former is a local artist who paints scenes of the natural world with non-toxic materials, prints them on 100% tree free paper, and mounts them on biodegradable foamboard. Packaging is environmentally friendly too. Her site is www.amudesigns.com. Melissa’s work is a feast for the eyes.

The outdoor garden furniture, benches, stools, and tables created by Bob and Heather on Glenmore Road and made from local wood, is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They’re wonderfully orginal and clearly made with love. The ginormous rocking chair is a hoot. I only wish I had room for it. See pictures at www.oysterriverrustic.com. Both Amu Designs and Oyster River Rustic welcome custom work.

Campbell Riverites are not the only ones who know what a delight our market is. In May, it recently attracted the attention of Canadian Geographic magazine and was named as one of the Top 10 in Canada. It’s one of only two markets in BC that warranted a mention. Check out the entire list here: http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/travel/travel_magazine/may09/tenbest.asp.

To find out what’s coming up at the market, surf on over to the official Pier Street Market site  http://www.pierstreet.com/id1.html

Ocean’s Day offers bounty of activities

We are indeed fortunate to have the ocean as our watery neighbor here in Campbell River. It not only provides year round employment but it blesses residents and visitors with its ever-changing personality and breathtaking beauty. Yet despite the ocean’s constant presence in our lives, how much do you really know about it? Here’s your chance to change that.

Bring the entire family to the Maritime Heritage Centre this Saturday, June 6, for the eighth annual Ocean’s Day festivities from 10am to 3pm.

A highlight this year is sure to be Jim the Pirate, who will show you around the really neat Maritime Heritage Centre. Remember to ask him about the pirate alphabet! 

What else can you do? How about: 

* Jumping on the free shuttle for the brief ride to the Museum and have a tour of the Soyakaze, a cod fishing boat. There will be arts and crafts fun too.

* Do more jumping, this time in the Bouncerama (preferably before lunch). 

* Having your face painted or try your luck at soaking someone in the dunk tank.

* Buying a raffle ticket for only two bucks for a 1 in 500 chance to win a whale watching trip for tour, a scuba package, wildlife adventure tour, or other cool stuff. Pretty good odds.

* Getting up close and personal with sea creatures such as sea urchins, sea stars and even an octopus  in the live “touch tanks”. This is always popular. 

* Trying your hand at fishing for free at Discovery Pier (and eat ice cream too).

* Visiting a Coast Guard vessel and the DFO conservation boat and truck. Find out what these people and their equipment do on our local waters.  

* Learning about the work of the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences and the BC Salmon Farmer’s Association.

* Seeing what the Quinsam Fish Hatchery has to offer.

* Exploring the diverse life found on our local beaches with a naturalist.

This wide variety of entertainment, fun and games with some educational things thrown in take place against the stunning backdrop of  Discovery Pier. Whales have been sighted in our local waters over the last several days and you never know – they might drop by in honour of Ocean’s Day.

This year’s raffle prizes have been donated by Campbell River Whale Watching, Aboriginal Journeys, Discovery Marine Safaris and Beaver Aquatics.

It promises to be a great way to learn, spend time with the family, and get outside all at the same time. Don’t forget your sunscreen.