Friday, 29 January 2021
Wednesday, 27 January 2021
Watershed deal signed
Landmark deal expected to protect Tahsis watershed from logging
Tahsis and WFP agree on letter of understanding to preserve McKelvie Creek Valley within TFL 19
A concrete plan to save the McKelvie Creek valley from logging is finally underway after the village of Tahsis and Western Forest Products (WFP) signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU).
As part of the agreement, the forestry company has established new wildlife and old-growth reserves in the McKelvie Creek area within WFP’s Tree Farm Licence 19. By doing so the company has committed to Tahsis’ community objective of ‘no harvesting’ within the McKelvie area.
Apart from being the community’s source of drinking water, McKelvie watershed is also home to old-growths, and an important habitat for the threatened Marbled Murrelet.
The last intact watershed in the Tahsis region, McKelvie has been at risk of logging for years under TFL 19. The LOU brings to rest a long haul by Tahsis to “completely preserve” the watershed.
Since 2018 Tahsis has been opposing all harvesting within the McKelvie watershed. In 2019, Tahsis council passed a resolution which called for its preservation and a request was made to the province to remove the watershed from TFL 19 altogether.
Last year, although McKelvie Creek was among the nine old-growth forest areas where the province deferred logging, Tahsis still felt this was a temporary fix and that they were running against borrowed time.
Which is why this agreement is being considered a huge win for the community.
Tahsis mayor Martin Davis who was at the helm of negotiating the deal said that WFP agreed to include several areas that the village mapped out to be preserved.
Some of these areas contain sensitive ecosystems, karst limestone landscapes, and/or culturally significant areas for First Nations, said Davis.
“The areas we had negotiated for are the large blocks to the northeast and northwest of Tahsis, as well as the areas along Tahsis Inlet and the bits around Weymer Park which is to the southeast of town,” he said.
In future, the village is also looking at establishing a community forest in the surrounding crown land with hopes of setting up a small scale, village-run, sustainable logging operation, said Davis.
READ MORE: B.C. suspends some old-growth logging, consults communities
In an email statement, WFP spokesperson Babita Khunkhun said that they are “pleased” that the ongoing discussions with Tahsis council have resulted in the LOU endorsing a draft plan that balances community interests in conservation and forestry activity in TFL 19.
Tahsis falls within the traditional territories of the Mowachaht/ Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN). The draft prepared and agreed to by both parties will be reviewed by MMFN before it is submitted to the province for legal establishment through the Land Act and Forest and Range Practices Act.
The forest management plan for the area, which proposes new wildlife and old forest reserves in the McKelvie, requires discussion with Indigenous groups to reflect their interests and is subject to government approval, said Khunkhun and added, the plan may be refined based on this engagement.
“WFP will manage TFL 19 and continue to work collaboratively with the local Indigenous communities and the Tahsis Village Council on this important initiative,” she said.
Tuesday, 26 January 2021
Sunday, 24 January 2021
Zoom bingo
Bingo cards are on sale at Tahsis Building Supply until Tuesday afternoon. Click the link below to join. If you let me know you’re playing, I’ll wait for you to sign in.
Topic: Zoom Bingo Time: Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021 07:00 PM Vancouver Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73667575416?pwd=K1RNdHdLRUlEOGpyQ0VHS3Yzc29DUT09 Meeting ID: 736 6757 5416 Passcode: UnA50BTuesday, 19 January 2021
Monday, 18 January 2021
Thursday, 14 January 2021
Tahsis' fire chief taking legal action against Gold River firing
(from Campbell River Mirror)
Fired Gold River fire chief breaks silence, claims ‘wrongful termination’ by council
The fired chief implored firefighters who walked out in solidarity to ‘stay on and protect the community’
Most of the Gold River firefighters who walked out last week have returned to work at the fire department at the urging of their fired former fire chief, easing worries about fire protection for the community.
But the mystery of Lisa Illes’ sudden dismissal that caused them to hand in their pagers Friday remains and Illes is consulting a lawyer to contest what she considers a “wrongful termination” and get some answers.
“I don’t even know why I was terminated. So I will be reaching out to my attorney to get, specific infractions of why they terminated me,” Illes told the Mirror after she decided to break her silence on the matter.
Golld River terminated Illes’ contract on Jan. 8 with mayor Brad Unger saying that it was based on “human resources matters.”
READ MORE: Council fires Gold River fire chief
Around 19 firefighters walked out with her.
On Monday evening, Illes met with her former co-workers at the fire hall and “implored them to stay back and protect the community,” she said.
Illes also said that after serving in Gold River’s fire department for the past 11 years – of which the last four years were as fire chief – she was “disgusted” when the village terminated her contract.
She said that she has the “support” of her crew and the community and intends to “fight this.”
In the meantime she continues serving as the fire chief for the neighbouring community, Tahsis.
The mass resignations by Gold River’s firefighters raised concerns among community members about fire safety and and insurance.
Gold River mayor Brad Unger, said that an interim chief has been appointed and that they have “full coverage” from the fire department. He also said that this has “no effect on insurance at all.”
Neither Unger nor the Gold River Volunteer Fire & Rescue department were able to confirm the exact number of firefighters on the team as of Tuesday.
Jeff Rockwell, volunteer firefighter who worked with Illes for the past four years before she was asked to step down as fire chief said that most of the firefighters from the department were “surprised” by the sudden dismissal of Illes.
“The crew stands united in their conviction that a grave injustice has been done to chief Illes and are still, individually and collectively, processing shock and sadness at her sudden termination, which was to their eyes carried out in an altogether undignified and underhanded manner,” said Rockwell.
Rockwell also said that council members were invited to attend the meeting with members of the fire department and Illes at the fire hall Monday evening but no one showed up.
Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Community compost
Stephanie Valdal, who is in charge of the community compost will be in town Thursday, January 14. Probably in the afternoon. If you are interested in joining the compost project you can contacted her using the information below or meet her at the compost which is just on the other side of the free store.
Stephanie Valdal
Services Coordinator
Comox Strathcona Waste Management (CSWM) Service
Direct Line: 250-336-8083 ext 223
Cell: 250-792-0026
Monday, 11 January 2021
ZOOM bingo January 25
CHANGE OF DAY. CHANGE OF DAY. CHANGE OF DAY
TUESDAY, January 26, 7:00
Saturday, 9 January 2021
Friday, 8 January 2021
Bligh Island Shipwreck spill response
Below is a message I received from the group involved in the cleanup.
You are more than welcome to take a look at the response web site we’ve set up. The statement from the beginning of December provides some background information, and there are regular weekly operational updates on the work being done at the site, as well as photos and video, that you are more than welcome to use. People can also go directly to the web site too of course: http://www.spillresponsebc.ca/
Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks,
Kiri
Kiri Westnedge
Information Officer
Bligh Island Shipwreck
Cell: 250-508-2038
Monday, 4 January 2021
Update on Community Unity Trail
Community Unity Trail – Phase One
Village of Tahsis
| ICET Contribution: | $$387,080 |
| BC Rural Dividend Fund : | $$200,000 |
| Village of Tahsis : | $20,000 |
| Village of Zeballos: | $20,000 |
| Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nations: | $10,000 |
| Ehattesaht/Chinehkint Nations: | $10,000 |
| TBC: | $127,080 |
| Total Budget: | $774,160 |
Tahsis and Zeballos are among the smallest communities in the Island Coastal region.
While the Villages of Tahsis and Zeballos have experienced declines in traditional industries such as forestry and mining, miles of deactivated logging road presented an opportunity to diversify the local economy. In partnership with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Ehattesaht/Chinehkint First Nation, and with support from ICET, the working group undertook the technical and business planning rquired to transform the road network into a new recreation corridor for ATV and off-road motorists.
The Community Unity Trail will establish a recreation trail between the communities of Tahsis and Zeballos, suitable for all-terrain vehicles, off-road motorcycles, as well as hikers and mountain bikers. Phase One of the project will repurpose an 11km section of the trail from Tahsis to the headwaters of the little Zeballos River, featuring Interpretive signage that will tell the story of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht and Ehattesaht/Chinehkint First Nations and their territory.
The first phase of the trail will stimulate the Nootka Region tourism economy with new outdoor recreation opportunities, creating demand for hospitality and other services in gateway communities. Upon completion of the full 25-km trail, the Community Unity Trail will establish a critical link between the remote communities of Tahsis and Zeballos, with potential to integrate with an extensive network of ATV trails on the North Island. Access to the motorized recreation market is anticipated to extend tourism into the shoulder season, providing incentives for small businesses to add services, products and extend their hours. Construction is pending a formal recreation trail designation, currently under evaluation, and is anticipated to be complete in 2021.