HRFC Newsletter Volume 17 #2 - Heron Rocks Friendship Centre

February, 2006
Box 64, Hornby Island, B.C. V0R 1Z0
Coming Events
Literary Lunches
February 9th Doug Carrick will be talking about eagles
and showing an amazing videotape he has made about
the life of an eagle family nesting in a tree on Harwood
Road. (see page 3 for more information)
February 16th Mary Mackenzie and Betty Fairbank will
present “Water Conservation for Dummies”.
Lunch begins at noon on Thursdays, at New Horizons.
Speakers begin around 12:30.
Saturday, March 4th Seed Swop in the Annex at Heron
Rocks from 11a.m. till 1p.m.
Sunday, May 21st Plant Sale and Berry Tea at Heron
Rocks.
Vol. 17 No. 2
In this issue
Islands Trust Community Stewardship Page 1
Seed Swop
2
Plant Sale and Berry Tea
2
Wintering Among the Little Birds
2
Hornby Island Eagles
3
North Island Wildlife Recovery Association 4
A Little About Eagles
7
Islands in the Salish Sea (book review)
7
Gerald Hodge - The Geography of Aging
8
Islanders’ Secure Land Association
9
Ben Kramer, Eagle Man Dies Suddenly
9
Poem - A Dark Light
10
Springtime at Heron Rocks
10
The Herring are Coming
11
ISLANDS TRUST COMMUNITY
STEWARDSHIP AWARDS
In the October 2005 edition of this Newsletter
we reported in detail on the results of the third
annual Islands Trust Community Service
Awards. Of the two awards in the individual
category, Hilary Brown had been selected for
her ongoing energy and dedication, over nearly
seven decades, towards improving the quality of
life on Hornby Island.
Hornby Water
Stewardship Project, which operates under the
HRFCS umbrella, won one of the awards in the
group category. This was in recognition of the
continuing hard work and dedication by this
group for its water testing and work, through
public education, towards protecting the quality
of Hornby’s water.
Both awards were presented following an
Islands Trust Business Meeting at New
Horizons on Wednesday, November 23rd,
2005. It was truly a celebration, and Heron
Rocks Friendship Centre sends many
congratulations to the recipients of both well
deserved awards.
submitted by Meg Parrish
Hilary with her Islands Trust Community Stewardship
Award at New Horizons on November 23, 2005
Photo: Meg Parrish
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
SEED SWOP!
On Saturday, March 4th 2006 Heron Rocks
Friendship Centre will be sponsoring the annual
Seed Swop in the Annex at Heron Rocks from 11am
till 1pm.
This is an opportunity to browse the
spectrum of seeds offered by islanders to islanders
at no cost. More than that - it will be an opportunity
for browsers to compare notes with other browsers.
Also there is complimentary Free Trade coffee for
all. There may even be an animated discussion by
the fire on whether SWOP is spelled with an O or an
A!
So collect up those seeds you have to swop
and come along - even if you have no seeds to
swop, you will be welcome.
submitted by Meg Parrish.
PLANT SALE AND BERRY TEA 2006
This year our not-to-be-missed Plant
Sale and Berry Tea will be held as usual during
the first long weekend of the year.
The
difference this year is it will be on Sunday. This
is by special request of those who work on
Saturday, and therefore are usually unable to
attend. Please mark Sunday May 21st in your
diaries, and watch for posters and press articles
with details closer to the date.
This annual event is the Friendship Centre’s
most important fundraiser of the year. Funds
raised go towards the maintenance of the
buildings and the land of this very special place.
A long weekend Sunday, music on the lawn, a
fabulous scone with cream and berries, tea and wonderful plants.
What more could
anyone ask?
If you have any plants to donate, please
let us know. We can collect them from your
place. Or, if you prefer, we will bring pots and
dig them up replacing any soil that is
removed. There will be potting up days on both
Hornby and Denman islands in early April which allows the plants time to settle down
before sale day. Please call either Pam Gordon
335-0993 or Meg Parrish 335-1131 if you have
any queries.
Watch for the posters and we look
forward to seeing you on Sunday, May 21st.
submitted by Meg Parrish
.
2
WINTERING AMONG THE LITTLE BIRDS
For Kids (or the young at heart)
by Pamela Gordon
Close to the house in the shrubbery where
the berries and seed heads grow, lives a little mixed
flock of birds.
They appear in the morning,
afternoon and again before dusk to feed together.
There are 7 or 8 Towhees, one-half dozen Song
Sparrows and Fox Sparrows. Also at these times,
one or two Ruby Crowned Kinglets hunt for the
winter insects, flitting about
in the twigs and sometimes
catching bugs mid air. Even
the Anna’s Hummingbird
comes with this group to sip
the yellow flowers of the
Japanese Mahonia. There
Ruby Crowned Kinglet
must be safety in numbers
Photo: Bird Alert
as they all seem so amiable
together in the natural setting. (Put a bird table out
and watch them squabble! It brings out the greed
factor. We save the feeder for disaster conditions).
Another mixed flock hangs out in the conifers
by the barn: Chickadees, Little Brown Creepers and
Nuthatches. These are bug eaters patrolling the
trunks and branches for over-wintering insects.
The Golden Crowned Kinglets do not
associate with the others. One hears their high
pitched twittering in the tree tops. Sometimes, after
a storm, a dozen or so come down on the ground
where they appear curiously tame.
Juncos form another flock, 15 or 20 of them
foraging for seeds in the perennial beds. Do you
see how they scratch? A jump back with both feet
together, not at all like a barnyard hen. Then they
fly away with their two very conspicuous white tail
feathers showing.
Robins also make large flocks in winter, 20 30 birds in a marauding band. Noisy robbers
stripping fruit off the Pyacantha. With luck a few are
left for their shy, solitary cousin, the Varied Thrush.
He is very fond of the bright red berries. The Robins
fly off on their circuit of plunder and are not seen
again for a week or so.
Red Winged Black Birds must have an even
larger circuit. It is a thrill to hear them several times
each winter, as they check nest sites in the swamp
and flash their red epaulettes atop the cattails. Next
day they are gone, who knows where.
All this is just a stone’s throw from our
house, and perhaps yours too.
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
HORNBY ISLAND EAGLES
By Doug Carrick
With the help of Jed Young and Doug
Wood, a video camera was mounted just above
the nearby eagle nest. This was done in
September 2004, when the eagles were away
on migration. I received permission from the
owners of the “tree” property and a permit from
the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. I
also have the support of the Wildlife Tree
Stewardship Program, the Malaspina University/
College and the North Island College.
Every morning, I turn on the TV set and
there is the eagle nest. At this time of the year,
the nest is generally empty. Eagles don’t sleep
in their nest except when there are eggs or
chicks to protect and keep warm. This morning,
however, the two eagles were in the nest. The
male had a small rockfish, but very soon the
female took it from him and ate it all up. The
eagles were facing the camera and the lighting
was good, so I recorded the scene on the
videotape. By the end of the season I had six
videotapes full of eagle activities – nest building,
feeding, laying eggs and feeding chicks. I have
now edited this down to 36 minutes of the most
interesting scenes.
Very early on we had to buy a new TV and
VCR because of conflicting program
requirements. One evening, Sheila taped an
episode of “Frost” and the next morning I
recorded my eagles over the top of it. No big
deal. “Don’t sweat the small stuff”, I said.
Then, something really bad happened. Sheila
recorded “Frost” over the top of my eagle tape!
Now that’s an entirely different thing. Totally
unacceptable. And I heard her say something
about “small stuff”! We soon agreed to buy a
new TV and VCR, exclusively for the eagles.
Recently, David Hancock, an “eagle man”
from way back and publisher of wildlife books,
has taken a great interest in my eagles. He
feels everyone in the world should see them. In
other words, they should be on a web-cam.
And he is going to provide the “know-how” and
equipment! For my part, I have signed up for an
Enhanced High Speed connection with Telus.
3
All this gets my mind working.
If
hundreds of thousands of people are watching
from around the world, I’ll mount a sign just
behind the nest, “DAHLIAS FOR SALE” or
“DRINK AT THE THATCH” or “SUTTER FOR
PRIME MINISTER”.
Anyway, the 36-minute video can be seen
at the New Horizons lunch on Thursday,
February 9.
Spread Eagle (Immature)
Photo: Robin Quirk
CHRISTMAS FAIRE
Once again this year Heron Rocks
Friendship Centre had a very successful table at the
Hornby Christmas Faire on November 26th. We
raised a total of $812.00 which will go towards the
development and running of programs and
maintaining the Centre. A big thank you to all you
members who donated baking, jams, canning, cards,
jewellery, time and much much more. We would
also like to thank everyone who supported us by
purchasing the items. We especially appreciated the
help from HRFC members Margot Bushnell, Betty
Fairbank, Judith Lawrence, Marjorie and Dennis
Wing and Mike Parrish who each took a shift selling
at our table.
submitted by Bev Lownie
Marcel Poulin, Meg
Parrish and Mae Pagdin behind the Christmas Faire table.
Photo: Bev Lownie
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
NORTH ISLAND WILDLIFE RECOVERY CENTRE
by Wendy Reimer
Ten years ago the Arthur Knowles “Museum
of Nature”, a mortise and tenon timber frame
structure, was built. Then in 2001 the May Neish
“Wildlife Learning Centre” was constructed, in
keeping with NIWRA’s mandate of education for the
public. NIWRA is instrumental in building and
managing the Vancouver Island Black Bear
Rehabilitation Program where bears are
successfully rehabilitated and released back to the
wild.
In 2005 the Dr. Malcolm McAdie Treatment
Centre, basically a veterinary clinic, was built using
donations from individuals, service clubs, the
Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Vancouver
Foundation. It has an operating theatre, x-ray room,
examining and lab areas.
Photo: Don Reimer
In 1984 Robin Campbell discovered a Great
Horned Owl entangled in a neighbour’s fence, its
wing mangled and in need of emergency care. It was
Christmas Day and the Christmas Dinner would have
to wait. Spirit, as the Owl was later named, became
the first of Sylvia and Robin’s many casualties at the
Buckley Bay Wildlife Recovery Centre (by the
Denman Island Ferry).
Two years later the newly formed association
moved to an eight acre parcel of land in Errington, a
few kilometers from the Coombs Market. The name
was changed to North Island Wildlife Recovery
Association, since they were hoping to serve the
north end of Vancouver Island, not knowing at the
time they would be receiving animals from as far
away as Saskatchewan.
NIWRA became internationally known when a
local farmer, not realizing the danger of the
barbiturate in the cow’s system, left an euthanized
cow in a field for the eagles to eat. Neighbours of the
farmer began calling NIWRA when they discovered
eagles dead on the ground. Due to the tremendous
community support and the media, NIWRA,
volunteers and veterinarians were able to save and
release 25 of the 29 eagles that were found.
Over the years, NIWRA has developed its
expertise in dealing with oil spills, wildlife
rehabilitation, short term rehabilitation of bear, wolf
and cougar, and has developed educational
programs for the public. They are known to have the
largest eagle flight cage (measuring 140 feet x 30
feet x 20 feet) of its kind in Canada, which has
housed hundreds of eagles being readied for
release. Built in 1991, this cage has never been
empty.
4
Unique Shake and Driftwood Animal Cage at NIWRA
Photo: Don Reimer
In addition to those buildings the Wildlife
Recovery Centre is composed of many individual,
funky-looking cages made of shakes and driftwood
for animals that are non-releasable and for public
viewing. There are ponds for the water birds and
large spaces where raptors can exercise their wings
and practise a little flying. Black bear are housed in
such a way that they do not come into contact with
humans, or even see them. The public can watch
the bears on video camera.
One young bear was released at the end of
November 2005 after spending a year with NIWRA.
Originally he came from the Port Renfrew area as a
two year old. He was found in a container similar to
a dumpster, where he had probably been looking for
food. It was thought he was a cub because of his
small size, but after being caught and examined, Dr.
McAdie determined the bear was dwarfed due to
malnutrition. That, along with hair loss and poor
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
body condition, indicated he may have lost his
mother and had a hard time coping and finding food.
In the Recovery Centre the bear could wander in the
enclosure, going in and out, catching the sun.
Nature sounds were piped into the cage so the bear
could not hear any human sounds from the outside.
He was fed as much natural food as possible.
The process worked and upon the
completion of rehabilitation this bear weighed 300
pounds and had the right attitude to be released. He
was afraid of anything human. He was loaded into
the Ministry of Environment’s bear trap and driven to
the back end of Sadie Creek in the Nanaimo Lakes
area. The area was ideal for the bear, at the base of
two mountains, tall timber, clear cuts and a nearby
creek. Alders were on each side of the roadway and
as the door was opened the bear seemed
overwhelmed by what he saw. Taking his time,
heading up the road, he slowly turned around and
noticed two humans standing there. This motivated
him to quicken his pace and he headed off into the
bush. NIWRA has released 19 bears since it began
the bear project.
Occasionally an animal is not suitable to be
released and it remains at the Centre. An example
is the eagle “Brian”, named after the dentist who
gave so much time to help this bird. Residents of
Tofino heard a gun shot and saw a truck driving
away. Later they found the eagle and quickly took it
to Rory’s Refuge. He was later transported to
Errington. The shot had blown away most of his
upper beak, leaving just the tip, which remained
attached to his skull by a thin piece of cartilage.
Some veterinarians suggested that Robin Campbell
put Brian down but Campbell persevered and slowly
the bird started to recover. Campbell sought the
help of the local newspaper in finding a dentist in
the area who would be prepared to give Brian a new
beak. That’s when Dr. Brian Andrews from Nanaimo
offered his services. He took an exact mould and
then built a wax model of it for the dental technician
Fred Leak from Victoria to work with. When the
mould was ready, Leak constructed a permanent
prosthesis tinted yellow to match the rest of Brian’s
beak. After seven prosthetic beaks being built, the
bird has finally settled to one that fits his needs. He
has been an international story and now even a
child’s storybook has been made. Although Brian
can never be returned to the wild, much has been
learned by saving his life. At least one more eagle
has had similar reconstruction done.
Brian with his Permanent Prosthesis
Photo: Don Reimer
Another service is the “drop off shed”. If you
find an animal after hours or when the centre isn’t
open to the public in the winter, you can put an
injured animal in the ‘drop off shed’ where it will be
out of the weather and safe from predators until
staff can be summoned.
What goes on at NIWRA?
Daycamps for kids happen and are a
popular field trip for schools. Guided tours are
available and ‘hands on’ museum exhibits. Eagles
can be viewed in the flight cage through one-way
glass. Live owl presentations occur in the summer
months. A nature trail skirts the release pond and
examples of B.C. flora are all named on small signs.
Volunteers will also go to schools to give talks.
A Cool Birdhouse
5
Photo: Don Reimer
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
Did you know?
Eagles don’t nest in the Brackendale area, but they
do so along Howe Sound, the West Vancouver
Shore, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and Haida
Gwaii. Most scientists believe that eagles pair for
life. Usually eagles find mates at about age 5, but
only one in 10 survives to that age. Eagles can live
to age 30 in the wild and age 50 in captivity.
3. You can also name NIWRA in your will, or as a
beneficiary in a life insurance policy, or add
money to NIWRA’s established endowment fund.
4. Memberships are available. These include
NIWRA’s annual newsletter, voting privileges
and a membership barbecue. Season’s tickets
are also affordable. The Centre is open from
Spring Break through October, 10 – 4 daily.
The 10th Annual Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival
was held in mid-November, when 800 to 1200
eagles returned to winter and to feed on spawning
salmon. Brackendale holds its annual Festival in
January when an average of 1745 eagles come to
live off the salmon.
References:
NIWRA website
The Book of Eagles.
Beautiful British Columbia Magazine. 1995.
Thanks to Sylvia Campbell, NIWRA
•
Bald eagle populations are declining
alarmingly in southern and eastern
North America.
• However increasing concentrations of
eagles in Squamish River, the lower
Fraser River and the Gulf Islands are
happening for two reasons:
1. banning of DDT (which worked its way
up the food chain and caused thinning
of eagles’ egg shells) which has
resulted in a significant rise in eagle
populations in the continental US since
the ban;
2. decreasing suitable winter habitat in
the US and along the south coast of
B.C. which has pushed more bald
eagles into fewer places to survive the
winter.
NIWRA maintains an excellent website with lots of
information about wildlife. www.niwra.org
For
instance they alert the public about what to do if we
see certain animals.
List of important phone numbers for
wildlife matters:
Ministry of Water, Land & Air
Protection – Nanaimo 250-751-3100
Canadian Wildlife Service –
Qualicum Beach 250-752-9611
NIWRA 250-248-8534, 1240 Leffler
Rd.
Ways to Support Wildlife:
1. Adoption plan. For $25 you can adopt a Bald
Eagle, (including Brian, the one with the
prosthetic beak), Golden Eagle, Turkey Vulture,
Peeles-Prairie Falcon, Swainson’s Hawk, Saker
Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, Great
Horned Owl, Raven, Geese, Doves, Ferret,
Marmot or Black Bear. Adoptions include a
certificate with a colour photograph of the animal
you have adopted along with a brief history of
the animal, one individual free pass and your
name on the board in the public viewing area of
the centre.
2. Cemetery. Another way to support NIWRA’s
programs is to have your pet’s ashes laid to rest
in the gardens of the NIWRA in the company of
other pet lovers’ companions. A portion of the
fee for this service will be donated to support the
work of the Centre.
6
Vancouver Aquarium (Marine
Mammal Rehab. Centre)
604-258-SEAL
24 Hour Marine Mammal Rescue
Emergency pager 604-735-4777
Reporting of Fisheries and Fish
Habitat Violations 1-800-465-4336
Department of Fisheries and
Oceans – Canada 250-756-7000
Pollution Emergencies
1-800-663-3456
Environmental & Wildlife Violations
and Sightings (Bear and Cougar)(24
hrs.) 1-800-663-9453
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
A LITTLE ABOUT EAGLES
by Wendy Reimer
Birds of prey, because of their predatory role
and their power, have always evoked strong,
emotional reactions. Some cultures persecuted
them as vermin, while others have revered them as
gods.
The eagle figures prominently in the
mythology and folklore of the Haida people of BC’s
west coast. The adult bald eagle is one of North
America’s most impressive animals.
It has a
wingspan of 7 to 8 feet, a dazzling white head
against a dark brown body, a powerful beak and
talons, and penetrating yellow eyes.
The bald eagle, a fish eagle, is named for its white
head and tail feathers. “Balled” is a Middle English
word for white. They thrive wherever there is a large
body of water, big trees and a plentiful supply of fish.
Like most flying birds, the eagle’s skeleton
has hollow bones. Its bones are just half the
weight of its feathers. An entire eagle skeleton
weighs between 250 and 300 grams, a little more
than half a pound.
Eagle eyes face forward like human eyes. This
gives them binocular, three-dimensional vision,
which enables them to judge distances and speed.
Eagle vision is so acute that experts believe they
can see a rabbit from three kilometers (two miles).
That’s almost eight times sharper than a person
with 20/20 vision.
Although they possess an apparent air of
strength and invincibility, bald eagles are highly
susceptible to the effects of man and have suffered
the insidious, damaging consequences of
insecticides and other environmental pollutants.
They have, at times, been intentionally shot and
poisoned, and their wilderness domain has been
steadily destroyed so that only small pockets
remain.
The deadly link between DDT and bald eagle
reproduction was first identified by a retired
Canadian bank manager and amateur ornithologist,
Charles Broley.
7
ISLANDS IN THE SALISH SEA:
A COMMUNITY ATLAS
Edited by Sheila Harrington and Judi Stevenson
c 2005 TouchWood, $44.95 Cdn.
History by Kathy Dunster
Preface by Robert Bateman
Foreword by Briony Penn
The Salish Sea, known on the Canadian side
of the border as the Strait of Georgia, is the islanddotted stretch of the Inside Passage between
Vancouver Island and the mainland. The Salish
people have lived here since time immemorial; their
very name is synonymous with this most ancient
region.
The spectacular and surprising maps in this
glossy, colourful atlas were created by communities
on 17 of the largest islands in the Strait of Georgia.
The “Islands in the Salish Sea Community Mapping
Project” engaged over 3,000 people and involved
everything from oral history with elders to reviews of
scientific data to school kids with clipboards. More
than 30 local artists then brought these layers of
accumulated information to life in unique and
extraordinary maps. Their work is showcased in this
atlas, accompanied by accounts of how each map
came to be. There is one chapter for each of 17
islands and additional chapters describe the origins
and strengths of a this new discipline, artistic
community mapping.
The project’s overall coordinators, Sheila
Harrington and Judi Stevenson, live on Salt Spring
Island. The project’s sponsor was the Land Trust
Alliance of B.C. and it was supported by a number of
funding agencies and individual donors.
A copy of
this atlas has been
given
to
Heron
Rocks
Friendship
Centre because of
our
help
in
promoting
the
project
on
both
Hornby
and
Denman Islands. It
will be placed in
HRFC’s
future
library
and
at
present will reside
safely on Hilary’s
bookshelf.
by Wendy Reimer
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
HRFC cooperates with Hornby’s New Horizons in
providing programs for their Literary Lunches, held
Thursdays during the winter season. Since our onsite facilities at HRFC, Under the Maple and The
Annex, are less than comfortable at this time of the
year, we appreciate this opportunity to present our
programs.
GERALD HODGE
AND THE GEOGRAPHY OF AGING
by Mae Pagdin
Gerald Hodge, one of our multi-talented members,
was the guest speaker at the New Horizon’s Literary
Luncheon on January 12,
2006. He shared some of the
interesting concepts and data
from his latest book, The
Geography of Aging, soon to
be published by UBC Press.
Gerald, with an academic
background as a community
and regional planner, wrote the
book primarily for students’ Photo: Bev Lownie
use, but we found the data
interesting for anyone.
Gerald noted that the geography of aging has two
facets: where senior citizens live in the country as a
whole; and, the everyday geography of these
seniors, which encompasses their activities in the
communities in which they live and how they get
around to them.
An important concept is population aging which
simply means the ratio of the number of people 65
years of age and older to the total population. For
example, senior citizens represent 17% of the
Canadian population; 14% of British Columbians;
and 19 – 22% of Hornby Islanders. At the current
rate of population growth, by the time the Baby
Boomers, the present 40-60 years olds, have
become 65 years of age, the percentage of senior
citizens in every Canadian community will have
doubled. Some people take a doomsday attitude
toward this fact, but Gerald noted that aging is
nothing new, creative approaches are possible, and
that the vast majority of people “age in place” – even
those living in cold, remote areas!
8
Everyday geography focuses on where people go,
how they get there, and how they maintain their
independence in their new environment.
An
example of everyday geography occurs when senior
citizens, who do relocate, blend-in with their new
community.
Gerald introduced us to the academic expression,
environmental press. This term encompasses the
challenges that people contend with in their day-today living. For the senior citizen, this press might
include insufficient income, declining physical and/or
mental ability, and communication/language
barriers. Community planners, when considering
housing for our older citizens, must create ways to
alleviate press. Thus, transportation solutions, and
the provision of sufficient community support
services, are just as crucial considerations as
building adequate housing.
During the discussion period, the audience
suggested some specific questions related to
environmental press that community planners might
keep in mind. Does our elder population have
pleasant, accessible places to exercise, to socialize,
to listen to and make music? Can public transit
make more frequent stops, build waiting shelters
and buses with steps that are not so high?
Gerald finished his program with a slide show, “My
Sixty Years With Camera In Hand,” a portrayal of his
hobby that began with his mother’s box Brownie in
Whitehorse to the influence of master photographer,
Sharron Milstein on Hornby Island for the past six
years.
An entertaining demonstration of “the
geography of aging!
For the past 25 years, Gerald has devoted his expertise
to researching and planning improved community
environments for senior citizens. He has been a faculty
member at the Gerontology Research Centre at SFU, as
well as a member of the British Columbia Seniors’
Advisory Council and the National Advisory Council On
Aging. And he is a senior member of our Hornby Island
community!
Further to the Harrison Brown Article in the
October 2005 Newsletter, please be advised that
recognition is given to Jan Bevan who was the
initial person to research and organize HB’s
materials.
submitted by Hilary Brown
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
ISLANDERS’ SECURE LAND ASSOCIATION
by Reina LeBaron
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Society has
recently joined ISLA as its first organization member.
Who is ISLA? The Islanders’ Secure Land
Association is a Community Land Trust formed to
serve Hornby and Denman Islands by acquiring and
holding lands for affordable housing for island
residents. It was duly incorporated in 2005.
And what exactly is a Community Land Trust?
All Land Trusts, including HRFCS, are non-profit
societies that hold land in perpetuity for the long-term
benefit of the community. Unlike Conservation Land
Trusts (Conservancies) Community Land Trusts
focus on land for human uses, particularly housing.
A Community Land Trust obtains land through
wills, donations, or purchase, and determines what is
the best use of the land, paying attention to
ecological considerations. The land is then leased to
individuals, cooperatives or community organizations.
Leases are usually long-term (99 years) and are
renewable and inheritable. The buildings on the land
may be built by the CLT, by community volunteers, or
by the future occupants, and in any case are usually
owned by the occupants.
CLTs are very flexible and can take a variety
of forms to suit local needs and conditions. A
Community Land Trust parcel might look like any of
the usual ways of owning a home--single-family
dwelling on a lot, duplex, apartment, cooperative, cohousing, farm, intentional community, cluster
housing, or strata development.
There are three key differences. First, the
CLT owns the land, and the land is not sold. Second,
when housing becomes available it is offered to lowincome residents. Third, there is always a buy-back
clause (also called limited equity agreement), so that
the housing remains affordable. People can buy a
CLT home at a low price, and when they sell, they
don’t get “market value”. Usually the selling price is
their original cost, plus improvements, minus
depreciation, adjusted for inflation.
The ISLA Community Land Trust means that
Hornby and Denman Islanders will have a way to
secure island land and keep it affordable for longterm residents despite rising land prices and taxes.
The combination of community and ecological
stewardship that ISLA embodies fits very well with
the HRFCS mandate. ISLA is pleased to have
HRFCS as its first organization member.
Ben Kramer
Photo: Vancouver Sun June 26 1999
BEN KRAMER, POPULAR HORNBY EAGLE
MAN DIES SUDDENLY
All of us on Hornby Island were shocked and
saddened to learn that Ben died in a climbing
accident in Manitoba on October 21st. He was
a subject and an advocate of autism who
developed an amazing relationship with a pair
of eagles he named Elizabeth & George. They
nested on his camping property on Hornby and
daily during the summer, Ben climbed a tree
adjacent to the nest and fed them (much to the
delight of the campers at the campsite at
Bradsdadsland). Ben was able to capture
incredible eagle photos while feeding this pair.
Ben was also a marathon swimmer who swam
around Manhattan Island sixteen times as an
international fund raiser for autism. Ben would
swim from Hornby to Denman Island as practice
for his marathon endeavours. He will be missed
by all who knew and admired him.
submitted by Bev Lownie
Elizabeth and George with Possum Catch
Photo: Ben Kramer
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Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
A DARK LIGHT
SPRINGTIME AT HERON ROCKS
They said that dark is evil,
but dark is winter
and winter is snow
and snow is soft and sweet
like love.
Now that the longest day is past we can look
forward to Spring at Heron Rocks. Visions of
Chocolate Lilies, carpets of Camus with the odd
peek at the White Fawn Lily will renew the soul of all
who take advantage of a relaxing walk or sit to gaze
at the mountain vistas.
Black is no different than
white.
Black is a shade.
Nothing more.
Maybe we are not against
darkness.
Maybe we are afraid.
Maybe we are afraid of
Lili Robinson
darkness because we are
afraid of what we cannot see.
We are afraid of the unknown, the unforgiving, the
terrible.
We cannot fight what we cannot see.
They said that light is better,
but light means stars
and stars mean night
and night means dark
but dark is quiet and still
like light.
Those who love
the warming sun, a fresh start to your day, a time to
get up and go, to look at your life with enthusiasm
and joy
may follow the light.
Chocolate Lilies
Photo: Bev Lownie
Those who love
the chilling moon, a calm end to your day, a time to
relax and renew, to look at your life with thought and
joy
may follow the dark.
So dawn to dusk, midday to midnight, the light
workers and the dark workers must work together
as one.
Lili Lee Robinson, age 10
Lili Lee Robinson is the only youth member of HRFC.
She resides in Vancouver with her Mother, Jan. Her
Grandmother is Phyl Robinson of Hornby Island. Lili
wrote this poem on the occasion of the book launching
of her Uncle Scott’s book, The Journey is the Goal.
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Camus
Photo: Tom Lownie
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
THE HERRING ARE COMING
Spring also heralds the gathering of thousands of
sea lions and seagulls to join the resident eagles
and other animals around the waters between
Hornby and Denman Islands.
This fishery is worth approximately one hundred
million dollars to the economy of the region and
British Columbia. During this time one can almost
feel the beat of the jungle drum of life as the boats
go about their business of collecting the silver
treasure.
Relaxation
White Fawn Lily
Some facts about the herring fishery in this region
According to the DFO review of the 2002/2003 BC
herring fisheries:
• One hundred and fifty-two (152) seine licences
participated in the Strait of Georgia seine
fishery;
• One hundred and fifty-two (152) seine licences
participated in the Strait of Georgia gillnet
fishery;
• The Strait of Georgia seine fishery was open for
9 hours, 44 minutes for a total validated catch of
10,897 tons;
• The gillnet fishery was open for 6 days, 21 hours
with a total validated catch of 8,707 tons.
submitted by Tom Lownie
Photo Tom Lownie
Photo: Tom Lownie
The Fleet in Action
Photo: Tom Lownie
Herring Eggs
Photo: Robin Quirk
Fish Nets
Photo: Robin Quirk
Camus View
Sea Lion Singers
Photo: Robin Quirk
Photo: Tom Lownie
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Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Newsletter February 2006
HRFC Membership Fees
$15 individual membership
$25 family (2 or more people)
$10 youth membership
Friend of Centre – Any membership plus donation
of $100.
____Please direct my donation toward
the Hilary Brown Youth Fund.
Name, address, phone:
_______________________________
_______________________________
Please make cheques payable to
Heron Rocks Friendship Centre Society.
Send to HRFCS, P.O. Box 64,
Hornby Island, BC V0R 1Z0
In 1982 Bill Vander Zalm was Premier of British
Columbia. Vander Zalm was outraged at his own
Government’s failure to pass the “Land use Act”.
One reason the Bill was allowed to die was it would
have abolished the Islands Trust, and a storm of
protest had erupted from the public because of that
plan. This picture is of Hilary Brown erupting on
the steps of the Legislative Building in Victoria.
Photo: courtesy of Hilary Brown
HRFCS is a registered non-profit charitable
organization. You will receive a receipt for tax purposes
for memberships as well as for donations. Each
member receives three newsletters annually, and
receives notice of our many events throughout the year.
Written contributions and photos are most
welcome. Please send material or suggestions to:
HRFCS, P.O. Box 64, Hornby Island, BC V0R 1Z0
Newsletter produced by Meg Parrish,
Mae Pagdin, Paddy Tsurumi and Bev Lownie
assisted by Hornby Desktop.
Printed on recycled paper,
processed 100% chlorine free
Board Members for
2005-2006
(Area code 250)
Mae Pagdin
335-1199
Pam Gordon
335-0993
Bev Lownie
335-0017
Florette Maclean
335-2901
Meg Parrish
335-1131
Marcel Poulin
335-2732
Don Reimer
752-7321
Wendy Reimer
752-7321
Phyl Robinson
335-0056
Ron Sitter
335-0699
To find out when your Heron Rocks
membership expires check the mailing
label on this newsletter.
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