Home Blog Page 388

DAWSON, Dr. Bryan

Driftwood Obituary
-
0
DAWSON, Dr. Bryan

Dr. Bryan Dawson
April 16, 1929 – October 14, 2019

Dr. Bryan Dawson, a resident of Victoria British Columbia, previously of Salt Spring Island British Columbia, Saskatoon Saskatchewan and England, passed away on October 14th, 2019 at the age of 90 years.

Bryan was predeceased on October 15th, 2017 by Vivian, his loving wife of 62 years. Bryan is survived and greatly missed by his five children, Kathryn Rozdilsky and husband John of Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Gillian Brook and husband Michael of Puyallup Washington, Fiona Klotz and husband Ken of Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Andrew Dawson and wife Ida Piasentin of Richmond Hill Ontario and Jonathan Dawson and wife Cheryl of Regina Saskatchewan. He will also be missed by his fourteen grandchildren, Jennifer Lucyk and husband Evan, Rebekah Kurylyk and husband Chad, Rachel Brook, Meagan Steinhoff and husband Michael, JoAnn McLain and husband Brett, Robert Brook, Daniel Rozdilsky and wife Colleen, Matthew Rozdilsky, Jeremy Dawson, Thomas Brook, Samantha Dawson, Connor Dawson, Brooklyn Dawson and Emily Dawson as well as his five great-grandchildren, Dillon Lucyk, Madison Lucyk, Noah McLain, Anberlyn McLain, and Presley Kurylyk. In England, Bryan’s sister-in-law Jean Moor, his niece Lorraine Moor, nephew Christopher Moor, wife Susan and family, nephew Julian Gawthorpe, wife Diane and family, niece Judith Beckett, husband Ian and family, cousin Elizabeth Ray, husband David and family as well as numerous friends, old and new across Canada, England and around the world.

Bryan was born in 1929 in Ulverston, Cumbria England, on the edge of the Lake District National Park. In his younger years he spent many hours hiking the beautiful fells and mountains of the area. His great love for the outdoors followed him throughout his life, be it playing rugby at University, hiking, skiing, boating, fishing or simply gardening. After completing his schooling in Ulverston in 1947, Bryan fulfilled his two years of National Service in the Royal Air Force after which he was accepted into the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds. It was there in his final years of medical studies that he met Vivian and in 1955 they were married. After living and working for a short time in Stockton-on-Tees and Burton-on-Trent they, and their growing family, moved back to Bryan’s beloved Lake District and settled in the village of Broughton-in-Furness where he worked as the areas General Practitioner for several years. In 1968 Bryan and family spent six months in Kamloops, British Columbia, however, Bryan was not happy with the medical position he had accepted, and they returned to England to live in Ulverston, his birthplace. The family remained there for six years, reconnecting with old friends, making new friends and once again enjoying everything the Lake District could offer. In September 1974 the family left a second time for Canada, this time choosing Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. After several more years of Family Practice, Bryan’s hard work, his ever-expanding medical knowledge, his compassion for his patients, his love of medicine and his well-earned respect from colleagues opened up great opportunities for him. He became a consultant to the Department of Veterans Affairs and a physician at the Veterans Home located in Saskatoon. He was appointed to Chief of Staff at the Frank Eliason Centre, a long-term facility also in the city. In 1978 he was a member of the Joint Ministerial Task Force on Services for Seniors and a joint author of their report. The following year Bryan accepted the position of Assistant Professor in the Family Medicine Residency Training Programme and moved to the Family Medicine Department at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. During his time there he sat on the Complaints Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan and the CME and Geriatrics Advisory Boards. In 1987 Bryan was appointed the Chief of Medical Staff at Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon and provided compassionate care for long term and rehabilitation patients. Both Bryan and Vivian enjoyed life on the prairies and lived there until 1991, retiring to Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Bryan embraced island life and his love of the outdoors flourished. He purchased a boat and enjoyed many days out on the water and spent numerous peaceful hours in his garden, orchard and greenhouse. He loved taking their dog Dougal for a walk on the beach every morning; completing the daily challenge of the cryptic crossword puzzle; discussing stamps with his fellow collectors and listening to his classical music in their sun-soaked living room in the afternoons. Both Bryan and Vivian became very involved members of Salt Spring Island Seniors for Seniors, making numerous good friends along the way at Thursday lunches and enjoyable Friday coffee mornings. Over the years Bryan was both Treasurer and President of the Society. He sang, with Vivian in the popular Seniors choir, “The Lost Chords” and played the trombone in the community band, “Bandemonium”. During all these busy, active years they spent many fun and memorable holidays with their large, ever expanding family. Entertaining grandchildren with tractor tours of their property, morning treasure hunting expeditions on the beach, making delicious blackberry jam with freshly picked berries, playing games with them in the evenings and relaxing in their hot-tub. Bryan and Vivian travelled back to England annually to visit family and many great friends whom they had known for years. They discovered the delights of sun-soaked Hawaii and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and even ventured as far afield as New Zealand. In 2016 after more than 25 wonderful years on Salt Spring Island, Bryan and Vivian moved to a retirement community in Victoria and in July of 2017 were welcomed to the Sunrise Assisted Living Residence. During his final years, Bryan struggled with advancing dementia which was a difficult and very emotional time for his family, but he remained quite content and uncomplaining while slowly losing touch with the world. He still enjoyed family visits and lived to see his 90th birthday in April when nineteen family members travelled to Victoria from across Canada and the United States to celebrate with him.

Bryan’s family will be forever grateful for the always welcoming staff at Sunrise Assisted Living and for the gentle, compassionate care given to both of their parents.

Dr. Bryan Dawson made an impression on many people over his lifetime; patients, colleagues and friends and most of all a family who appreciated and loved him so very much. As all of their lives go forward, he will be deeply missed.

Contributions in Bryan’s memory can be made to: The Alzheimer Society of Canada

FUNK, Annie

Driftwood Obituary
-
0
FUNK, Annie

Annie Funk
May 26 1919 – November 15 2019

Annie was born in Halliburton Saskatchewan to William and Jean Ewen. Annie came to Salt Spring, the island she loved, with her husband Orlando Alvin Funk in 1970 after he retired from the RCAF. Annie organized and cooked many Friday night dinners, first at the “old” Royal Canadian Legion on McPhillips Ave, and then at the “new” Legion on Blain Road for which she was given an “Honorary Lifetime Membership”. Annie was predeceased by her husband Orlando and is survived by her six children, Florence, Doris, Clara, Kathy, Trish, Donald and their families. Annie is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 21 great great grandchildren.

A big thank you to the staff of Lady Minto Extended Care for the love and compassion they showed mom for the last couple of years.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Preliminary safety budget details released

Contributed Article
-
0
Preliminary safety budget details released

By GARY HOLMAN

SSI CRD DIRCTOR

I’m writing in response to recent articles and letters in the Driftwood regarding the proposed new CRD Community Safety Service. I can confirm the initial requisition for this new service will be $30,000 (about 40 cents per household per month), about $10,000 of which covers counter-petition costs. A referendum would have taken the entire requisition.

In consultation with the stakeholder group that formed in response to safety concerns in Ganges, I’m proposing a preliminary budget for further public discussion in the new year if the initiative proceeds, including: $9,000 in grants to on-island organizations to better support and connect those in need to existing services; $7,000 for crime prevention measures (e.g., Neighbourhood Watch and security cameras and lighting in public locations), organized under the auspices of a contribution agreement with the RCMP; and $4,000 for minute-taking and CRD financial accounting/reporting. Over time, as priorities are refined, and success demonstrated, the requisition can be increased.      

For those concerned about the validity of the counter-petition process, it is a well-established, provincially legislated means of securing voter assent, used by local governments throughout B.C. On Salt Spring, counter petitions were used to establish and increase funding for our successful public transit system. Counter petitions do not “end run” voters and some have failed here, including those for the arts and fire district. In fact, counter petitions give voters at least 30 days to register their opposition (CRD has been accepting petitions since Nov. 4 and will do so until Dec. 9), compared to just one day for a much more costly referendum.   

It’s been suggested that a poll be conducted before putting the issue to voters. My “polling” involved attending a number of community meetings sponsored by the United Church, the Chamber of Commerce, and other citizens, as well as many conversations with workers, volunteers, residents and visitors in private and public venues about repeated rounds of vandalism, and their experiences of threats and harassment. I cannot as an elected official ignore these concerns, or dismiss them as “peripheral.” 

At this time, I’m not proposing the establishment of a formal CRD commission, but to regularly convene public meetings of an inter-agency advisory group. Any grants or expenditures made through this new service will have the same staff and political oversight as other CRD services. The involvement of any resident or local group will be welcome in these public advisory meetings to take part in discussions about priorities and inter-agency collaboration. The information sharing and collaboration facilitated by this new CRD service will enable existing agencies and organizations to more effectively fulfill their mandate. Improved collaboration will also result in more effective advocacy to senior governments, an approach that recently helped encourage BC Housing’s about face on funding for a year-round shelter.

If voters approve the proposed safety service, the CRD budget increase over 2018-2020 will average about 3.7 per cent per year. Considering an inflation rate of about 2.5 per cent and local population growth of one per cent, these increases are certainly not out of control. For an initial investment of 40 cents per household per month, a CRD Community Safety Service will improve safety and supports for all our residents, and pay dividends in terms of funding partnerships with senior governments, just as we’ve accomplished with public transit, pathways and affordable housing.

Bowen Queen to Serve Vesuvius Dec. 1 to 9

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Bowen Queen to Serve Vesuvius Dec. 1 to 9

BC Ferries has announced the Bowen Queen will temporarily replace the Quinitsa on the Vesuvius to Crofton route, beginning with the 1:45 p.m. sailing from Salt Spring on Sunday, Dec. 1. 

The Quinitsa will return to the route on Monday, Dec. 9 as of the 1:45 p.m. sailing from Vesuvius.

The company advises that due to the deck configuration of the Bowen Queen, there is limited over height space and all vehicles over 6’8” in height will be sorted to the over-height lanes to maximize loading capacity. Customers may notice a change to lane assignments both in the terminal and on the ship. The maximum width for vehicles that can be loaded to the vessel is three metres (10 feet).

BC Ferries thanks its customers for their patience and understanding during this maintenance period.

For more information or traffic updates follow @BCFerries on Twitter, visit the website at bcferries.com, or call toll free at 1-888-BCFERRY (223-3779).

Rural islands connect

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Rural islands connect

Delegates from multiple small island communities gathered at Pender Island’s Poets Cove Resort on Thursday and Friday for the first ever conference to focus on the economic well-being of such places.

Members of Salt Spring’s Community Economic Development Commission were deeply involved in the organization of the forum, with Francine Carlin and Holly MacDonald both sitting on the steering committee. Participants came together to forge connections, share their similar challenges and concerns, and discuss strategies for achieving sustainable economies without necessarily courting growth in the face of climate change.

Forum topics over the two days included green business trends, entrepreneurial ecosystems, island transportation, economies of climate change, tourism management and sustaining rural culture. 

A session on sustainable tourism held on Friday morning addressed some of the impacts visitors can have on island communities and discussed ways to stretch tourism throughout the calendar year instead of being bombarded in just two months.

Panel members were Callum Matthews, director of destination development with Tourism Vancouver Island; Dawn Rueckl, manager of policy and programs at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture; and Salt Spring’s Randy Cunningham, chair of the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership Society. While the session did not fully dive into the advertised topic — Balancing Tourism with Environmental Protection — there was discussion of how to educate visitors about island limitations such as water and septic systems as part of a more sustainable industry overall.

“Research is key to having a better understanding of what success means,” Matthews said. “Increasing visitor volume is not a good measure; we need to focus more on what visitors do to contribute to our communities.”

He mentioned Indigenous tourism partnerships and “voluntourism” events such as beach clean-ups as positive developments. He also suggested celebrating local businesses that are truly part of the communities they are in, and working across community and local government groups.

Cunningham discussed the new Gulf Islands society that will be receiving funds from the two per cent MRDT accommodation tax that was implemented on Sept. 1. He said the organization is working with BC Ferries and other sources to gather data on visitors, with hopes of convincing some people to move their travel to the fall and spring seasons to better deal with over-stretched resources in the summer months.

The society is working on a five-year strategy that must be reviewed by Destination BC. Annual tactical plans are also required, with the group’s first to be submitted by Nov. 30. Those plans will become publicly available through the Capital Regional District, whose economic commissions advanced the creation of the SGITPS.

Criticism of the new society came from South Pender Island trustee Steve Wright, who said the Islands Trust and local stakeholders aside from business owners were not consulted about the plans to create the new destination management and marketing organization. He asked that more concrete development strategies be shared. Another attendee questioned how communities were involved in creating the local and regional-level plans that Tourism Vancouver Island is working on.

Matthews explained that stakeholder meetings were held in 20 communities and that locally elected officials, including those from the Islands Trust, were invited to attend each one. 

For more on this story, see the Nov. 13, 2019 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Oleanna play prompts timely dialogue

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Oleanna play prompts timely dialogue

Salt Spring Community Theatre is offering a brave choice for its fall production, tackling the thorny issue of male-female power relations as expressed in David Mamet’s Oleanna.

Resting on the performance of just two individuals to reflect a huge social concern, Oleanna charts the changing relationship between a male professor and his young female student over three acts. At the beginning of the play, professor John (played by Dave French) has all the security of position, his fortune rising with tenure at his university just about to be signed. He’s not much help when Carol (Metta Rose) arrives at his office begging for help to understand his obscure writings and thoughts on the philosophy of education.

By the third act the power relationship has almost completely reversed, as Carol’s reports on actions John unthinkingly took in acts one and two place him on the verge of losing everything. While John argues things he said and did to Carol were never meant to be sexual in nature, Carol challenges his right to assign the meaning of those actions.

Oleanna premiered in 1992 and was written during the hearings on Clarence Thomas’ appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court — which were complicated when his former assistant Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment. Similar to the more recent hearings for Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford, the claim was dismissed as politically motivated invention.

As Oleanna director Damian Inwood states at the beginning of the Community Theatre production, in the wake of the #MeToo movement we may be thinking about these matters differently now than when Hill was testifying. The shift may in turn colour how modern audience members react to the situation depicted on stage, which on paper sounds like a false accusation.

Without the right actors in place this could have been a bad choice for community theatre, but Inwood has made a solid bet on the two stars. His directing talent is also notable. The dialogue-heavy material sounds natural enough that the audience can focus more on the subtext, which is where the true rift in power and perception lives. Movement and blocking in the simple office set likewise creates a dynamic analogue to the interior battles taking place.

Salt Spring Community Theatre offers four more performances of Oleanna beginning with a fundraiser event for SWOVA tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 13. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. nightly though Saturday, Nov. 16.

For more on this story, see the Nov. 13, 2019 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Fulford crews work on loading

Elizabeth Nolan
-
0
Fulford crews work on loading

BC Ferries crews stationed on the Fulford-Swartz Bay route continue to work on making the Queen of Cumberland meet the schedule more than two weeks after the vessel replaced the Skeena Queen.

The Cumberland will be the main vessel serving the route while the Skeena undergoes a six-month mid-life upgrade, except for two weeks during the Christmas holiday season when the Bowen Queen will take over. So far the switch has received mixed reviews from passengers, with late sailings frequently occurring at peak periods when an on-board vehicle ramp must be employed in order to match the Skeena’s capacity.

Islander Chris Bradley has experienced the Cumberland being late on more than one occasion since the vessel change occurred and feels everyone on Salt Spring should be aware of the situation.

She said “it is doubtful” that people taking the 7:50 a.m. sailing from Fulford hoping to make the 9 a.m. connection from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen will be successful due to the Cumberland’s struggle to maintain the morning schedule. It takes 10 to 15 minutes to deploy and load the upper ramp, she said, which automatically throws the schedule out of whack.

Other passengers who have had better luck catching less busy sailings have said they prefer the Cumberland’s lay-out, with one large passenger lounge and cafe service promoting more comfort and community between travellers.

BC Ferries acknowledges the change between two very different vessels has been difficult on some sailings. Strategy and community engagement manager Darin Guenette said Monday that crews are still getting fully accustomed to having the Queen of Cumberland on Route 4. On-time performance has improved, though, going from under 60 per cent during the first week of the change to approaching 80 per cent in the past week. Statistics show the Skeena Queen’s on-time performance was at 98 per cent for the month of October prior to the Oct. 28 change.

Issues for Salt Spring travellers who are trying to transfer to Tsawwassen through Swartz Bay were discussed at the Oct. 30 ferry advisory committee meeting. Guenette said crews have since developed a procedure where the first 20 or so vehicles that arrive at Fulford are loaded in stages near the front of the ferry’s main deck, which allows them to unload earliest and have the best chance of making a timely connection at Swartz Bay.

For more on this story, see the Nov. 13, 2019 issue of the Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper, or subscribe online.

Gift program forms now available

Contributed Article
-
0
Gift program forms now available

For Salt Spring parents anticipating a financial struggle during Christmas, now is the time to submit a Santa’s Workshop application form.

The forms are available at the reception desk of Community Services at 268 Fulford Ganges Rd. and should be returned by Tuesday, Nov. 26. Applications will be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

Santa’s Workshop is a volunteer group that comes together once a year to buy and distribute gifts for children at Christmas.

Workshop head elf Wendy Eggertson advises that the workshop will be held differently this year. For parents of children aged 0 to 12, they will have a shopping time to choose the gifts of their choice for their children. For parents of teens, aged 12 to 16, they will be asked to provide their choice of gift certificates on the application on a priority basis.

As well, the distribution of gifts will be held at Central Hall between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

“This year it will be the parents’ responsibility to pick up the gifts, although we will try to schedule times that make it easier for them and may have volunteers help with transportation from the hall if it is required,” said Eggertson.

For people who have new or lightly used toys, books, art supplies or sports equipment to donate, they can do so in Santa’s Workshop boxes provided this year at Country Grocer, West of the Moon or Home Hardware. No clothing will be accepted this year. The boxes will be placed out the week of Nov. 18 and will be retrieved on Dec. 14. Santa’s Workshop Christmas trees will not be set up CIBC or the Legion this year.

Anyone interested in helping out with Santa’s Workshop between Nov. 26 and Dec. 14 should call Eggertson at 250-537-2658.

Host boys face disappointment

Gail Sjuberg
-
0
Host boys face disappointment

The Gulf Islands Secondary School junior boys volleyball team ended their season at the island championship tournament held on Salt Spring over the weekend.

After a strong performance last week at the mid-island championships, the boys were well placed to impress this weekend, but fell just short of their goal. They lost their first two games, did well in their third on Friday, but were unable to advance to Saturday games and ended up placing seventh.

“They had a rough start,” said coach Kellie Booth. “They just didn’t play well in the first two matches that we played.”

The tournament was a step up in challenge compared to last week, where the team went undefeated. Though the boys had faced that kind of competition before, Booth said the pressures of playing at a high level on a home court may have been the reason for their slow start.

“It’s interesting because the senior group that I had last year had difficulty playing at home in front of friends and family. There’s distractions and what not,” she said. “I’d say we had a taste of that again with this group.”

Setter Reuben Wright was named the team’s all-star during the tournament. Booth said that Wright has two years of playing experience and acts as a leader for the team. Grade 9 athlete Jackson Allan also stood out to Booth, since he showed promise with just a few months of experience.

“He played like a veteran and he’s only played a couple of months of volleyball. His star is rapidly on the rise here,” Booth said.

Booth was impressed by the boys’ performance over the weekend. The team is a very young and inexperienced group of players and they were able to hold their own against some tougher rivals. Booth said the skills the boys showed meant that the next few years of high school volleyball would be ones to watch.

Other GISS volleyball teams played over the weekend as well, with GISS junior girls A team winning the islands tournament held in Nanaimo. According to a GISS Athletics tweet, after winning their first set, the team found themselves down 9-17 in the second set and battled back to win it 26-24.

Viewpoint: Election changes nothing

Contributed Article
-
0
Viewpoint: Election changes nothing

BY FRANTS ATTORP

John Sprague pointed out in last week’s Driftwood that votes for “centre-left and left parties” in the October federal election far outnumbered votes for “right-leaning” parties. It is an interesting perspective, but I seriously question the labels. I see the Liberals more as a pro-establishment party fiercely opposed to meaningful change.

Canada’s fossil-fuel agenda will not be affected by the results of the election as the Liberals and Conservatives have more than enough seats to push it through. Subsidies to Big Oil will continue and the toxic gunk from Alberta will still flow to the coast.

Since Confederation, Canada has been ruled alternately by two dominant parties. Not until the 1920s did other parties break through, but even so, power has never shifted significantly from the two main players.

The reason is simple: because the British aristocrats who created our electoral system centuries ago did so to disempower the rabble and keep money and power in the hands of the elite. First-past-the-post was designed to protect the status quo.

We shall never know how the election results would have differed under proportional representation. It is quite possible that, without strategic voting, wasted votes and general voter apathy, we could now have a more progressive government.

We have just commemorated all those who fought and died in past wars, but let’s not forget we are now engaged in a war that is much greater in scope and even more destructive. The weapons used by the oppressors have changed from rifles and tanks to the almighty dollar. There is very little that money cannot buy (including governments), and the psychopaths with most of the wealth are taking control. Millions are being enslaved, exploited and displaced, all while eco-systems collapse around the globe.

South of the border, Trump is using inflammatory language to whip up hate, anger, racism and violence, and to fool people into believing there is no difference between the corporate and public interests. As he trashes the environment, he convinces others that the climate crisis is “a hoax” and “America is clean.”

Here at home, Trudeau uses politically correct language, but there is no doubt whose interests he serves. He is the pretty face that hides the ugly reality of the corporate establishment and unbridled capitalism.

In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, a group of British school boys is stranded on an island. The one with the most reasoning ability and knowledge about survival is a fat boy nicknamed Piggy. He is ridiculed by the others, and his glasses, which symbolize science and allow him to see, are soon broken. Eventually, Piggy is thrown off a cliff and his brains are literally splattered on a rock. As the veneer of civilization disintegrates, the society of boys descends into the chaos of tribalism, war and superstition.

As I reflect on the state of the world and the election results, I recall Elizabeth May saying, “This will be the last election of any consequence,” and wonder if we are heading in the same direction as the boys on the island. We are indeed in deep trouble, but unlike events at the end of Golding’s story, nobody is coming to save us. 

1...387388389...610Page 388 of 610