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Stretcher evacuation from Mt. Erskine Salt Spring rescuers’ first call-out of 2022

Emelie Peacock
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Stretcher evacuation from Mt. Erskine Salt Spring rescuers’ first call-out of 2022

The first rescue of the year on Salt Spring took place Monday afternoon, as search and rescue crews and ambulance personnel worked to carry an injured hiker off of the Mount Erskine trail. 

Using a basket stretcher and a wide wheel, Salt Island Spring Island Search and Rescue (SSISAR) volunteers helped BC Emergency Health Services personnel transport a hiker who had been injured as a result of a fall and was unable to walk. The hiker had been treated by paramedics for hypothermia and a traumatic injury SSISAR stated, before being safely evacuated off the trail by crews. 

Due to icy and slippery conditions on the Mount Erskine trail, SSISAR was able to complete the operation with numerous rescuers and “with the aid o microspikes and solid teamwork to safely evacuate the subject for transport to hospital.”

SSISAR said several bystanders were instrumental to the rescue operation, keeping the injured hiker warm and comforted until crews arrived. 

The volunteer rescue organization reminds people to take essentials with them and to follow Adventure Smart principles when venturing out in the changing temperatures.  

“Icy trail conditions, fading light and an unexpected  injury can make a nice afternoon adventure turn into a challenging ordeal,” SSISAR stated. 

For more on this story, see the Jan. 12 issue of the Driftwood newspaper.

Cold weather causes sewage spill into Ganges Creek, Ganges Harbour

Emelie Peacock
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Cold weather causes sewage spill into Ganges Creek, Ganges Harbour

People are being told to avoid contact with the waters around Ganges Creek and Ganges Harbour as clean-up efforts continue after the local treatment plant’s piping system failed.  

The Capital Regional District (CRD) stated that the Ganges Wastewater Treatment Plant experienced a mechanical failure on part of the above ground piping system, likely caused by cold temperatures. “Much of the volume was contained on site, but some sewage ran overland, entered the storm water system leading from the facility to Ganges Creek and out to Ganges Harbour,” the CRD stated. 

Clean-up work has been done, with some affected areas including a section of the creek path north of the plant cordoned off, and warning signs have been put up. People are being told to avoid the areas where the spill happened, as well as water along the affected shorelines until testing determines there is no longer a health risk. 

In addition to cold temperatures over the past week, the Southern Gulf Islands are under an Environment Canada wind warning.

With an extended period of strong winds expected into Sunday night, with winds of 70 kilometres per hour gusting to 90, several ferry sailings have been cancelled. Sunday afternoon sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay have been cancelled, as have the two afternoon sailings between Long Harbour and Tsawwassen. A modified Long Harbour sailing at 5:20 p.m. will facilitate people getting to Vancouver Island (Swartz Bay), while no service will go to the mainland due to high winds.
For details about ferry cancellations, see @BCFerries on Twitter, bcferries.com/current-conditions or call 1-888-223-3779. 

The weather warning also stated rain and rising temperatures could result in rapid snow melt.

SHASKE, Edward John

Driftwood Obituary
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SHASKE, Edward John

EDWARD JOHN SHASKE
December 20 1927 – December 28 2021

It is with sadness and broken hearts that we share the news of Ed’s passing December 28, a few days into his 95th year. Ed is remembered lovingly and will be missed tremendously by his wife of 69 years, Lucy; daughter Suzan; son-in-law Bob; granddaughters Katie and Laura. Ed and Lucy’s son Eddy-Mark died in1982 at the young age of 25 years.

Ed was born in Edmonton Alberta to immigrant parents of Ukrainian heritage. His father died when Ed was a very young child. Ed’s only memory of his father was holding his father’s hand as they waited for a bowl of soup in a Salvation Army Soup line. Ed grew up in poverty and although his early years were difficult, Ed ultimately had a very long, rich and happy life full of wonderful and exciting experiences.

Ed and Lucy married in 1952. They were a fun-loving couple, lifelong partners and a team right to the very end. They laughed every day and always treated each other with affection, kindness and respect.

Ed was a successful businessman, land developer, realtor and real estate appraiser. Together, Ed and Lucy built a very successful business that became one of the largest appraisal companies in Western Canada. Ed was highly respected by his peers and the legal community. His work as an appraiser was recognized throughout North America.

Ed was a highly accomplished trapshooter and Olympian, competing in the 1969 Olympics in Mexico City. He blazed the trail for Canada’s Olympic trapshooting team and was recognized by the Shooting Federation of Canada for his outstanding contributions to the sport of trapshooting in Canada. He was Coach of the Canadian Olympic Trapshooting Team and took the team to the Olympics in Los Angeles (1984), Seoul (1988), and Barcelona (1992). Ed was also the coach for the Olympics in Moscow (1980). Ed was a gold medalist in several Provincial, Canadian and World Trapshooting Championships.

Ed and Lucy retired to Salt Spring Island 34 years ago. Ed absolutely loved Salt Spring and their community of friends and neighbours. In his retirement Ed followed his passion for fishing and enjoyed many early mornings on his boat with friends and family. Ed and Lucy enjoyed gardening, and together created a vegetable garden and small orchard. Ed was a master award-winning carver. While retired he focused on his wood carving, mentoring other carvers, and gifting his carvings of birds to charities, friends, and family.

Ed loved his granddaughters beyond words and was very proud of Katie and Laura. Ed was a devoted grandfather who loved to spend time playing crib with Katie and Laura, making Caesar salad with Laura, and sharing stories about his life. Ed taught Katie and Laura how to fish, sharing his wisdom, problem solving and patience required to bring in the big catch. Ed named his Boston Whaler “Katie Laura” and was always so proud to introduce the namesakes of “Katie Laura” to his fishing and boating friends.

Ed became independent at a very early age, and his determination to remain independent and self-sufficient was evident throughout his entire life. He was a kind and generous gentleman who over the years shared his life experiences, lessons and wisdom with his children and grandchildren. He was a very hard-working man, and it was important to him that he succeed with each task he was challenged with. He was an analytic and critical thinker that allowed him to solve problems with ease. Ed was a risk taker and was not afraid of any challenge presented to him. He was competitive with himself and others, and was very proud of his life achievements. He was always optimistic about life and recognized the good in everyone. Ed will be remembered for his sense of humour, kindness, generosity, loyalty, and an exceptional life well lived.

The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to the multitude of people who provided care, support and compassion during Ed’s difficult journey. Our heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Ronald Reznick, Jean and Margaret, Island Health Palliative Support Team (Jan, You Yau, Elizabeth), Anastasia and all Home Care Support Workers, Selene and staff at NexGen Hearing, and all staff on the Acute Care Unit Lady Minto Hospital, Salt Spring Island. Finally, enough cannot be said about the tremendous support given to Ed and Lucy by their very close and dear neighbours and friends.

A private family funeral will be held in the future.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army in memory of Edward John Shaske would be appreciated.

To view Ed’s obituary in its entirety, please go to https://www.haywardsfuneral.ca/obituary/edward-shaske/

GEORGESON, Derrick Alan

Driftwood Obituary
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GEORGESON, Derrick Alan

Derrick Alan Georgeson
December 9th, 1959 – December 5th, 2021

Derrick Georgeson of Lantzville, BC died peacefully at the age of 61.

Derrick is survived by his wife, Suzanne Turnbull: children, Savannah and Marcus; mother, Hilda Higgs; Sisters, Deanna, Jodi (Bruce); niece, Sarah and nephews, Evan and Layne; stepmum, Earla And dear step-sisters, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and other cherished relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Andrew Georgeson (2017); step father, Gerald Higgs(2004); Grandmother, Katherine McNeil (2005).

Derrick was born in Nanaimo, BC. Always keen to build or figure out how things worked, the acreage he was raised on in Cedar and the surrounding woods were a perfect play land for him. He graduated from NDSS in 1978. He worked at the Chemainus sawmill for a few years before going to Camosun College and choosing Marine Engineering as his career. Joining the mariner tradition of his Gulf Island (Saturna/South Pender/Mayne) relatives. He started this life on the water in 1984 with Seaspan. Enjoying the comarderie of the various tugs’ crews, perks of the job such as whale watching, spectacular sunsets, along with the passion for ‘preventative maintenance’ and problem solving in a warm engine room.He and Suzanne married in Telkwa, BC August 6th, 1993. They lived in Nanaimo and Lantzille with a special sabbatical to Cape Breton. Derrick was an ideal travel companion for their backpack and volunteer adventures in Canada and abroad. Always able to strike up a conversation with anyone, quickly finding ways to share a joke.

Derrick constructed many things over the years and had a vision for his role in self-sufficiency. Most notably; projects on Saturna,; extensive renos and re-design of his homes, forts, half pipe, water collection system and functional and bountiful landscaping. Derrick embraced community and quietly delighted in adding flavour to the rules of games played at the many gatherings at his home. Fun to Derrick encompassed many things: time with his children in silliness, rowing, water play or working alongside; hiking/snowshoeing- the steeper the better or using his wheelbarrow.

A private Celebration of Life will be held. The family would like to thank the staff of the Vancouver and Nanaimo Cancer agency, NRGH ER and palliative/hospice care, Nanaimo Health Care Services and Home Support; as well as Sows Ear Medical clinic. And the surgical team of Dr. Gul at Lions Gate hospital. Your expertise, caring and positivity helped Derrick achieve living his life to the fullest in the last 3 years despite his brain cancer diagnosis.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to the BC Cancer Agency, Cancer Research, Nanaimo Hospice or the Nanaimo Palliative care unit.

Staffing issues, cold weather hamper Salt Spring ferry sailings

Emelie Peacock
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Staffing issues, cold weather hamper Salt Spring ferry sailings

Salt Spring Island ferry sailings were cancelled Wednesday night due to staffing issues and delayed Thursday because of cold weather-related mechanical issues.

On Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. BC Ferries announced that the final two round trips between Fulford Harbour and Swartz Bay would be cancelled due to a crewing issue. 

The Driftwood asked BC Ferries what the reason for the crewing issue was, yet no further details were provided.

“We require a specific number of crew members on board the vessel to ensure the safety of our passengers in the unlikely event of an emergency and to comply with Transport Canada regulations,” communications manager Astrid Chang stated by email. 

One Salt Spring Island parent, who tweeted to BC Ferries, wondered how her children, who were walk-on passengers, would make it home. When the Crofton-Vesuvius Bay route was suggested as an alternate, she replied, “So are you providing transportation ? How are my teenagers with no car supposed to get to there?”

Chang said BC Ferries was unable to secure a water taxi service Wednesday night. 

Sailings between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay were also cancelled Thursday due to a weather-related staffing issue, including the noon and 4 p.m. runs from Tsawwassen and the 2 and 6 p.m. departures from Swartz Bay. 

BC Ferries stated that customers with bookings whose sailings were cancelled would have reservation fees refunded, with travel instead going into a standby basis. 

Chang reminded anyone who needs help with their ferry travel to speak with BC Ferries.

“Our staff are ready to help, and requests for compensation are reviewed on a case by case basis,” she stated.  

The Vesuvius to Crofton route was hampered by a mechanical difficulty caused by cold weather Thursday morning. The Quinitsa was being held at Vesuvius due to a temporary issue with its rescue boat, BC Ferries stated at 6:29 a.m. At 7:30 the boat was sailing again, 23 minutes behind schedule. Weather in the early morning on Salt Spring included snowfall and a temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius.

Other sailings in the network were delayed or cancelled due to snow removal, as well as issues with equipment including frozen throttle lines. One northern route cancelled two sailings as weather hampered flights that delayed a crew change. The Campbell River to Quadra Island route had two early morning sailings cancelled due to a burst water line. 

To view up-to-the-minute information on ferry delays and cancellations, visit BC Ferries’ Twitter page, website or call 1-888-223-3779. 

Salt Spring Crews Battle House Fire Amid Heavy Snowfall

Emelie Peacock
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Salt Spring Crews Battle House Fire Amid Heavy Snowfall

A Swanson Road home suffered extensive damage yet no injuries resulted as firefighters quickly knocked down a house fire early Thursday morning, Dec. 30. 

Crews were dispatched to a structure fire at a home at 140 Swanson Rd. at around 1:48 a.m., an update from incident commander Capt. Warren Nuyens stated.

“Arriving on scene, crews made a rapid exterior knock down and transitioned to the interior where the fire had made entry into the attic,” Nuyens said in his report.

Crews were able to quickly take care of the fire despite heavy snowfall, Nuyens stated, owing to the “close proximity to the staffed fire hall.”

Nuyens said 13 firefighters attended, which was a strong turnout especially considering the snow and poor driving conditions. Five fire apparatus were also used to fight the fire for around two and a half hours.

The fire’s cause has been deemed accidental.  

Everyone living in the home is safe and accounted for, the fire department stated, and no injuries were reported in the response, which also involved RCMP, the ambulance service and BC Hydro. 

Schools Remain Closed for an Extra Week; Local COVID-19 Cases Keep Rising

Driftwood Staff
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Schools Remain Closed for an Extra Week; Local COVID-19 Cases Keep Rising

The return to school for students in kindergarten to Grade 12 will be delayed by one week until Monday, Jan. 10, due to the rise of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

New case numbers have risen on the Gulf Islands, as everywhere, in the past week, as evidenced by new data released by the BC Centre for Disease Control for the Gulf Islands and southern Vancouver Island region for the Dec. 19-25 week. (Click on the chart above for a full view.)

The government said the extra week will give B.C.’s health and school authorities “additional time to adapt to the impacts of the Omicron variant on communities and schools, and to implement enhanced safety plans to support the continuation of in-class learning,” the B.C. government stated in a press release on Wednesday afternoon.

Schools will be open for limited numbers of students in particular need, said the release. Districts will be communicating out to families about how this process will work.

“Schools have safety protocols in place that have kept students and staff in school over the past two years, but as the pandemic changes, our protocols must change, too,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “That’s why schools will be implementing enhanced public-health measures to ensure we can continue the in-person learning that is so important for well-being and mental health.”

The delayed return is supported by an order from the Provincial Health Officer, which applies to all public and independent schools in British Columbia. While students will return on Jan. 10, staff will return on Jan. 3 and 4. This will allow schools to implement enhanced safety measures and proactively implement continuity of learning plans.

“We know how important it is for students to return to safe, in-person learning,” said Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Education, in the press release. “This extra time will allow the Ministry of Education and public health to better understand the impact of the Omicron variant on the education system, and school communities to prepare for students returning to class with enhanced safety measures. Safety is our top priority, and we’re going to keep working with public health to ensure the right measures continue to be in place to keep students and staff safe.”

The Ministry of Education has developed an addendum to the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 settings based on public health’s current knowledge of the Omicron variant. The guidelines were developed in collaboration with the BC Centre for Disease Control, Indigenous rightsholders and education partners, including teachers, parents and school administrators. As the ministry has done throughout the pandemic, safety measures for schools will continue to be updated as needed in consultation with public health.

K-12 schools must reinforce existing safety measures, including:

* Using all available space to maximize space between people:
* For example, different common space, classroom and learning environment configurations (e.g., avoid face-to-face seating arrangements where possible).

* Everyone able to wear a mask.

* Doing daily health checks, and staying home when sick.

K-12 public and independent schools must also implement enhanced safety measures, such as:

* Implement strategies that prevent crowding during class transition times.

* Hold school gatherings and events (e.g., assemblies, etc.) virtually. If they must be in-person, limit the number of people to no more than 50% operating capacity. 

* Hold staff-only gatherings (e.g., meetings, professional development activities) virtually whenever possible.

* Limit visitors to those who are supporting activities that directly benefit student learning and well-being (e.g., teacher candidates, immunizers, meal program volunteers, etc.).

* Pause extracurricular sports tournaments. 

The guidelines build on existing protocols that have succeeded in minimizing the spread of the virus in schools, such as:

* Encouraging everyone who is eligible to get fully vaccinated.

* Using available space to spread out and to respect personal space.

* Wearing masks in accordance with Provincial Health Officer Order on Face Coverings:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/covid-19/covid-19-pho-order-face-coverings.pdf

* Cleaning hands regularly.

* Cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces at least once a day.

As the province awaits new rapid tests shipments from the federal government, B.C.’s existing supply of rapid tests will continue to be used at schools where there has been exposure events and outbreaks. When new federal shipments of take-home rapid tests arrive in mid-January, their use will be scaled up with 500,000 tests deployed as needed to support the safe continuation of in-person learning.

Transmission in B.C. schools reflects transmission in the community and schools with consistently implemented prevention measures have proven to be lower risk throughout the pandemic. The government is committed to continuing to support safe in-person education in recognition of its positive impact on the intellectual, social and emotional development of students. Schools also provide important supports for children, such as meal programs and mental-health supports.

Nobody Asked Me But: Confessions From the Compost Bin

Shilo Zylbergold
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Nobody Asked Me But: Confessions From the Compost Bin

First of all, a little disclaimer. If you are weak in the stomach or have a hard time watching gruesome scenes, it would be best for you to just turn the page and read another article. This column details the shocking true confessions about the sordid activities that are carried out regularly deep within the innards of your compost bin.

On the surface, the principles of composting seem quite simple. For most people, it’s just a matter of scraping unwanted food off your plates into a bucket and then tossing these leftovers and table scraps into a pile somewhere outside your dwelling. Of course you can accessorize your compost with some of those questionable food items that have found their way onto the door of your fridge or far back on some of the lower shelves. 

You know what I’m talking about: besides the obvious milk that has soured and the curdled cream, there’s that tube of anchovy paste that was used just once back before the turn of the millennium; the browning block of tofu that is well past its “best before” date; all those jars of homemade relish, chutneys and jams whose labels have long ago decomposed and peeled off and which are now incubating some kind of alien species of lime-green mold; and, of course, the ubiquitous scuzzy plastic baggie filled with slimy decaying cilantro that just kept sitting in your refrigerator because nobody wanted to deal with it.

Some food scraps are better left out of the compost and disposed of some other way. Leftover de-kernelled corn cobs, for instance, seem to survive unchanged for decades and will probably still be intact when future archaeologists come digging for signs of civilization. Banana peels sporting brand name sticky labels such as Chiquita and Del Monte are also troublesome as there is a chance these labels may reappear where you least likely expect (like inside a head of cabbage). Bones are another no-no. Turkey bones have more of a chance of growing into new turkeys than breaking down to produce nutrient-rich soil.

The object of composting, I repeat, is to create an environment where the cellular structures of living organisms break down into simpler building blocks which when mixed together provide the ideal medium for plant growth. For this reason, you also don’t want to include items that will feed and grow instead of decay. Notorious for this kind of misbehaviour are avocado pits, which revel in the ability to split apart, thusly allowing new growth to sprout from the inner core. Uncooked potato bits act in a similar manner and, if you are not careful, may take over your compost bin and turn it into next year’s spud patch.

If all goes according to plan, you hope all this decaying organic matter that didn’t make it into your pie hole will miraculously turn into rich nutritious soil that will nourish a new crop of fruit, vegetables and lush greenery. The key to making this happen is layering and not allowing the compost to dry out. Layering means piling different strata of organic non-food materials, such as sawdust, wood ash, kelp and other types of seaweed, and shredded newspaper flyers advertising special sales that have long ago expired, on top of one another. You can also use dead leaves, grass clippings, biochar and half-chewed apples left behind by renegade deer that have breached your fence line.

There’s a lot going on in your compost once you scrape below the surface. Not all veggies get along with each other. You’ve probably heard of companion planting where some vegetables grow better when in proximity to others. Well, the same thing is true inside your compost. Leafy vegetables prefer to stay clear of root crops. Pineapples would rather not mix with other fruit that grow on trees. Kumquats are generally snobby while artichokes wear their hearts on their sleeves. Nobody wants to be anywhere near the hot peppers, and the pole beans are looked on derisively as freeloading hangers-on. Broccoli are pretty laid-back and spend most of their decaying time pondering the moral dilemma of whether their name is spelled with two C’s and one L or the other way around.

Of course, the entire sociological order and class system of the common pile of compost is thrown into total disarray when you decide it’s time to turn the compost. Not only are the decaying morsels of matter upended topsy-turvy into a state of confusion, but the worms, insects and microbes which do the heavy lifting in your compost are stunned into suspended animation for a few days.

Nevertheless, when order is restored, the earthworms, flies and bacteria, working together in unison, return to break down the solids into smaller particles which can then undergo chemical reactions to help move along the process of soil building. In fact, the earthworms release castings, an organic form of fertilizer also known as “worm poo,” that enrich the compost and improve soil aeration, drainage, as well as water retention.

There you have it: the secret life of compost. 

Nobody asked me, but it’s fair to conclude that your compost bin can be seen as a microcosm for the world at large. In fact, the earth is really one big heap of compost. Sure, it can get smelly sometimes, but if you just mix a little bit of this with a little clump of that, give it a stir, keep it moist and let it heat up with its own energy, you will find that decay transforms into growth. That’s how it goes: as the compost turns. 

More Snow On Its Way

Driftwood Staff
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More Snow On Its Way

Environment Canada warns that between five and 10 centimetres (two to four inches) of snow will fall over the Southern Gulf Islands from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. 

A storm system is moving across B.C.’s south coast this evening, bringing snow to the islands and also to Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Environment Canada states that snowfall will be most intense overnight, with around five cms of snow to accumulate rapidly within three to six hours.  

Some areas could see even heavier snowfall, including the Sunshine Coast, parts of Vancouver Island and over Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains.

The notice stated that visibility and travel could be impacted by the snowfall.

The snowfall warning follows record low temperatures in several parts of the province during the first three days of this week.

POSTPONED: GISS Students Set To Present The Addams Family Musical Comedy

Gail Sjuberg
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POSTPONED: GISS Students Set To Present The Addams Family Musical Comedy

Gulf Islands Secondary School’s Grade 10 drama class has spent the fall semester working hard on their production of The Addams Family, which opens at ArtSpring next week. 

The new musical comedy that is ideal for all ages runs Thursday and Friday, Jan. 6-7 at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.   

People may remember The Addams Family TV show that ran from 1964 and 1966, which was based on ghoulish characters created by New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addams. The musical comedy being undertaken by GISS students also includes a “normal” family called the Beinekes. Dynamic tension results when Wednesday Addams and Lucas Beineke fall in love and want to marry each other, and Wednesday needs a meeting of the two families to go off without a disaster.  

“They come over and Wednesday wants just this one normal night, with no weird Addams family things. But it doesn’t quite happen that way,” said student Dash DeBruin as part of an interview with the Driftwood before the Christmas holiday break. 

“We’ve got two families who are complete opposites,” explains student Killian Irsch. “On the one hand, you have the Addams, who are a very eccentric, very dark family  . . . And on the other hand, you’ve got the Beineke family from Ohio, which I am a part of. They are the perpetuated stereotypical American-dream family.”

One of the interesting things is that secrets are never kept between Addams family members, but Wednesday asks her father Gomez to keep her marriage plans secret.  

“I think it’s a really entertaining show to watch,” said student Abby Zacharias, who has also done the play’s choreography, adding that even though it has strong themes of family, love and authenticity, “It is definitely just created for entertainment.” 

The students were happy with how the show was progressing. 

“It’s all coming together now,” said Nuala Stafford. “You can really see it with the set and the props and from being in the play. Now, it’s like, ‘Whoa, this is actually happening, and it helps us visualize it more, so I think that’s pretty awesome.”

While both the weather and rising regional COVID cases are potential causes for concern that the show could be cancelled or postponed, as the Driftwood went to press on Dec. 28 it was still slated to run. 

Tickets are available only through ArtSpring. 

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