ON TAP - Pacific Coastal Airlines

In-flight Magazine for Pacific Coastal Airlines
Powder
Punch
Snow days in the Kootenays
Culinary
heritage
Trail’s Italian history
leads to a tasty today
On tap
Granville Island
Brewery rides the
craft beer wave
October/November 2013 | Volume 7 | Number 5
ED HANDJA Personal Real Estate Corporation & SHELLEY MCKAY
Your BC Oceanfront Team
[email protected]
[email protected]
Quadra Island Oceanfront: Undeveloped 1-acre
oceanfront property in Gowlland Harbour, SW
side of the island, beautifully treed with old growth
fir. 150ft of low-bank shoreline, good privacy,
shared well and shared private moorage with
dock. Amazing ocean views in a stunning location
to build your dream coastal home.
$297,500
Desolation Sound, BC Central Coast: 2 adjoining
50 acre forested properties in Homfray Channel,
adjacent to Marine Park. 2000ft combined
oceanfront. Diverse low bank easy access shoreline
with gravel beach and rock outcrops up to more
rugged, mountainous terrain. Moorage potential.
No specific zoning, spectacular location. Great
wilderness opportunity!
$497,500ea
Quatsino Sound, Bergh Cove: 6 bedroom
oceanfront home with significant foreshore,
private deep water moorage, standing pier and
dock, 400sqft guest cottage, drilled well, electricity,
telephone and internet. This would be an ideal
adventure lodge or corporate retreat, located on the
north-west coast of Vancouver Island in a premier
fishing region.
$498,500
Driftwood Estates: Vancouver Island Saratoga
Beach. An exclusive oceanfront development with
180º views over the Strait of Georgia across to the
coastal mountains. Beautiful walk-on beachfront.
Very private. Marina facilities nearby, minutes from
grocery store, medical clinic and liquor store. 20
minutes to either Campbell River or Courtenay/
Comox.
$479,000ea
Schloss Island: NW coast Vancouver Island. 82acre forested private island in Quatsino Sound.
Undeveloped and unspoiled, in a superb location in
Koprino Harbour. Zoning allows for subdivision to
10 acres. 7000+ feet of oceanfront, lots of it easy
access to beautiful beaches. The island is wellprotected and just 1km from road, moorage and
boat launch.
$987,000
Magnificent Oceanfront Acreage: Campbell
River, Vancouver Island! Private, 1.8 acre
property, 260ft of low-bank waterfront with views
over Discovery Passage and Quadra Island.
2000sqft oceanfront bungalow. Zoning allows
second dwelling. Build on the ridge with spectacular
views, keep oceanside residence for guest cottage/
vacation rental.
$1,325,000
Quadra Island Acreages: Two forested,
private acreages with electricity, phone and
shared drilled well. Appealing residential
acreages, very private, with diverse topography.
Minutes from Heriot Bay and Rebecca Spit.
Vancouver Island Acreages: seven substantial
waterfront properties totaling 1320 acres
throughout the central west coast and northern
regions of Vancouver Island. Some timbered, two
in subdivision process, all with diverse natural
beauty. Titles are offered individually and
consideration will be given for multiple property
offers.
Starting at $247,500
BC Mainland Oceanfront: Cordero Channel,
Discovery Islands region. 9 acre oceanfront
property, spacious 3 bedroom panabode-style
cedar home with large decks, modest secondary
cottage, swimming pool with adjoining deck at
water’s edge. Systems are in place for power, water
and septic. Moorage facilities include storage
building, standing pier, ramp and dock. $875,000
10.45 acres
11.07 acres
$249,900
$229,900
NE
Tlell Acreage: Graham Island, Haida Gwaii. 15
semi-oceanfront acres south of the Tlell River.
Partially cleared, some forested areas, ocean
views. 1968sqft 2-storey custom home with wood
ceiling beams, sandstone fireplace, maple counter
tops and oak flooring. Drilled well, septic, storage
building & outbuildings. Easy access to sand and
gravel beaches.
$280,000
Galley Bay: BC Mainland Upper Sunshine Coast.
4.3 acre oceanfront property located inside the
Desolation Sound Marine Park boundary. Shared
common interest in 121 acres with private lake.
Lindal cedar home, top condition, expansive cedar
decks, hot tub. Community water system, generator,
wood stove and fireplace. Substantial moorage
facilities.
$550,000
W
PR
ICE
Squirrel Cove General Store: Cortes Island,
Discovery Islands. Full service centre on 2.5
oceanfront acres serving residents, visitors and
boating community. Easy road access, user-friendly
property, adjacent to Government Dock. Diverse
operation with general store, restaurant, fuel sales,
garden centre, boat launch, owner accommodations
and more.
$865,000
w w w. b c o c e a n f r o n t . c o m
Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com • Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com
Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com • Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com
Specializing in Unique Coastal Real Estate in British Columbia
Ed 250.287.0011 • Shelley 250.830.4435
Toll Free 800.563.7322
Contents
Pacific Coastal Airlines’ Inflight Magazine
October/November 2013 | Volume 7 | Number 5
Features
6 On tap
The art of craft beer at
Granville Island Brewery.
10Ark of the air
Transporting animals:
helping out BCSPCA.
12 enhancing salmon stocks
Brian Kieran reports.
14 a culinary heritage
Trail’s Italian history
leads to a tasty today.
16 powder punch
Snow days in the Kootenays.
18 up, up and away
Comox Airshow
takes off.
21 casual Luxury
Kingfisher Resort.
22 Q&A
Dallas Gislason, Victoria
Development Agency.
Departments
4Up Front
President’s message;
Meet a PCA employee.
9 BC Business Roundup
News from around the province.
20Datebook
Community events from
around B.C.
Cover: Red Mountain
Photo: Courtesy Red Mountain Resort
Editor
Susan Lundy
[email protected]
Graphic Design
Lily Chan
Michelle Gjerde
Phone 250-381-3484
Fax 250-386-2624
Published by
Black Press
818 Broughton Street,
Victoria, BC V8W 1E4
www.blackpress.ca
Group Publisher
Penny Sakamoto
[email protected]
Direct, Advertising Sales
Oliver Sommer
[email protected]
SOAR magazine is published six times per year and is distributed on all Pacific Coastal Airlines flights. The points of view or
opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or Pacific Coastal
Airlines. The contents of SOAR magazine are protected by
copyright, including the designed advertising. Reproduction is
prohibited without written consent of the publisher.
October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
3
President’s Message
Commitment to community
PCA aims to help Ktunaxa Nation preserve language
O
Quentin Smith
President,
Pacific Coastal Airlines
n Sunday, September 8 we celebrated our
10th year anniversary of service to the
Canadian Rockies International Airport
in Cranbrook.
Located in the beautiful east Kootenay region,
Cranbrook is the furthest east of our more than 65
destinations in British Columbia, one hour ahead
in the Central Mountain Time zone.
As in all of our destinations, we work hard to
be part of the community. We are a proud sponsor
of the Kootenay Ice hockey team that plays in
the Western Hockey League. We support local
charities through participation in fundraising
events and provide transportation for sick, injured
or adopted animals through the BCSPCA and
other animal organizations in the area.
With our long history of partnership with
Aboriginal peoples in BC, it’s only natural that we
work closely with local First Nations.
Recently, we began discussions with the
Ktunaxa Nation about ways in which we can help
support the preservation of their language. The
Ktunaxa language is critically endangered. It is
known as a cultural isolate language, which means
it’s unlike any other language in the world, and
right now there are only a handful of members,
mostly elders, that speak the language fluently.
One of the ways we can help is to heighten
awareness and build local interest in the language.
To this end, we will soon be putting up signs
at the airport in Ktunaxa and will be using the
language in some of our upcoming radio and print
ads.
In addition to this, we’re working to develop
a way of using radio to teach basic phrases to
Ktunaxa and non-Ktunaxa residents alike. It’s part
of our commitment to the community.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Meet a Pacific Coastal Employee
What do you like best about this job?
A couple things. For one, everyone I work with is a great
person — this makes coming to work every day really easy.
I also love getting an opportunity to see the vast beauty of
British Columbia every day I go to work.
Where do you live now and
where did you grow up?
I live in Vancouver and grew up in Cloverdale, Surrey.
Do you have family?
I’m married — we had our first anniversary in September.
We also have a two-year-old dog, half Australian Shepard and
Name: SEAN COFFEY half Red Heeler. Position: Beech 1900
What are your hobbies outside of the job?
First Officer, based at
I enjoy photography, hiking, camping and snowboarding
Vancouver Airport’s South outside of work.
Terminal
Time with
Pacific Coastal:
15 Months
4
Anything else you’d like to share?
At Coastal Pacific Aviation, where I’m a flight instructor,
it’s become a tradition for the graduating class to provide a
class photo to the school. The photo is then displayed in the
dispatch area until the next grad class comes along. I had been a flight instructor to many of the students in this
year’s grad class and one of the students asked if I could help
arrange a picture in front of a Pacific Coastal plane. We had
the photo taken at the hangar with the help of Rob, Jeff, Laura
and Trevor. The resulting picture (at left) turned out great.
Susan Lundy is a freelance
writer, author and editor, who
grew up in Victoria and now
lives on Salt Spring Island.
Benjamin Yong is a
freelance journalist and
community news reporter
based in Richmond, B.C.
He enjoys writing about
lifestyles, culture and cars.
Alyn Edwards has been a
career journalist, and life-long
classic car enthusiast. For the
past 16 years, he has been a
public relations consultant,
freelance writer, and, since
2003, a partner at Peak
Communicators.
Montreal-born Brian Kieran
has worked for several BC
newspapers, taking him from
England to Qatar. He is also
a communications volunteer
for the Pender Island Fire
Department.
Soar
October • November 2013
pca honours
Seen with the COMBASS award in Port Hardy are, from left, Vince Crooks, general manager; Claudia Voth, ground ops manager; Ivan DeToro, ramp/fueler supervisor;
Lori Hillyer, ESSO territoy manager; and Jennifer DeToro, ramp attendant.
PCA base and employee reap awards
P
acific Coastal Airlines and one of its
employees received honours from two
different sources this past summer.
In Masset, the PCA base was given an
appreciation award from the Masset Haida
Lions Club, which acknowledged the airlines’
support to various community events.
“Throughout the time we’ve been in
Masset, we’ve supported the community by
helping out in events like the Timmy Telethon
and by donating free flights,” explained base
supervisor Elisabeth Rayer.
The Lions presented the Masset base with a
plaque to mark the honour.
In the meantime, in Port Hardy, the
COMBASS award was presented to Ivan
DeToro, the base’s ramp/fueler supervisor.
According to Vincent Crooks, general
manager of seaplanes in Port Hardy, “The
COMBASS award is given to dealerships that
have done an exemplary job of meeting the
Esso Imperial’s aviation dealership standards.”
He added, “Ivan has been with Pacific
Coastal since 1994 and has been a great
asset to our operations here in Port Hardy.
[He won the award] for operating and
maintaining an exemplary ESSO dealership.”
October • November 2013
Crooks also noted that DeToro has spent
many years studying, training and teaching
the martial art of Shotokan Karate-do to
more than a thousand students on the North
Island. As a sensei, he has operated dojo’s in
Port Hardy, Port McNeil, Port Alice, and even
Sointula. He has attained the rank of 5th Dan
Black Belt and is planning to test for his 6th
Dan.
In winning the ESSO award, it seems
DeToro has successfully used his energy and
enthusiasm to unite the ramp and fueling
departments in Port Hardy into one efficient
operation. Seen with the award in Masset are, from left, Kevin Lagroix, Bob Isaacs, Sharon Mathews, Sandy Goan and
Jim Holland from the Masset Haida Lions Club; and PCA’s Elisabeth Rayer and Elisa Schatz.
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
5
vancouver
on tap
Granville Island Brewery
rides the craft beer wave
Story by SUSAN LUNDY
Photos by KEN SAKAMOTO
V
isit most any pub or liquor establishment in BC
these days and chances are you’ll be able to find at
least a smattering of craft beer — a traditional-style
beer produced by a smaller, sometimes independent brewery
— on the menu and the shelves.
However, that wasn’t always the case, says Vern
Lambourne, brewmaster at the Granville Island Brewing
(GIB) Company.
The soft-spoken 46-year-old from Nanaimo has been
behind the helm at GIB for the last 12 years and has watched
the scene explode.
“It was a trickle at first, then it picked up and a bunch of
breweries opened and closed and then it has picked up again
in the last three years. I don’t remember it ever being as
dynamic, interesting and broad-reaching as it is now. I would
guess it’s slowly built up, people have been exposed to it and,
not to be cliché, but it’s reached a kind of critical mass,” says
Lambourne.
“But really, if you look at it in the grand scheme of things,
for volume of beer, craft beer is still very small compared to
commercial breweries.”
Perhaps ironically, GIB — popularly known among locals for
its limited release, “small batch” brews created from Lambourne’s
imagination like the current Chocolate Imperial Stout or Pumpkin
Ale — is actually owned by Creemore Springs, a subsidiary of Molson
Coors.
Lambourne says since GIB was established in 1984, it has had
numerous owners until the beer giant purchased the company in
2009.
“They really haven’t changed the way we do things. They’ve let us
continue making diverse beers, flavourful beers, that sort of thing. I
think they recognized that the way we were doing things — the craft
way of doing things — was the right way for growth. My guess would
Above, a workman unloads pallets of beer kegs from a large tractor trailer van; at top, brewmaster Vern
Lambourne; at far right (top), inside GIB; and a sample of hops used in the brewing process.
6
be they were tired of watching craft beer
surge while they sat at a steady state.”
The company has also maintained its
sense of community and was recently a
sponsor at the Pacific Coastal Airlines
Charity Memorial Golf Tournament.
“We sponsored the tournament as part
of our continued commitment as a local
brewer to be involved with and support
local companies and community events,”
Lambourne notes.
For the first nine years of Lambourne’s
career at GIB, he was solely in charge of the
small batch brews, which are still made and
bottled at the company’s original site under
the Granville Street Bridge.
The other six original year-round
varieties: Cypress Honey Lager, Brockton
IPA, Island Lager, Kitsilano Maple Cream
Ale, English Bay Pale Ale and Robson St.
Hefeweizen are all done at GIB’s larger
facility in Kelowna.
Soar
October • November 2013
And although he’s running the show now,
Lambourne started from humble beginnings
on Vancouver Island as a young man who
loved his first taste of micro-brewed beer.
“Ever since Strange Brew came out, that
movie with Bob and Doug (McKenzie), I
wanted to be a brewer,” says Lambourne,
laughing.
An academic background in microbiology
and biochemistry didn’t hurt his career
aspirations, and in 1995, with a work holiday
visa in hand, he travelled to the UK where he
started working for a brewpub in London.
“In 1995 they had a couple of brewing
schools, and it was a good place to go for
education. At the time, there were only one
or two schools in North America. With the
limited number of breweries in those days,
getting a job without experience was very
difficult.”
He eventually made his way back to
familiar shores and had stints at Steamworks
in downtown Vancouver, Big River Brew
Pub in Richmond and a brewery in Kelowna,
before finding his way to Granville Island.
During the recent spike of craft beer
popularity, Lambourne says, he’s seen a shift
in the type of people walking through the
doors.
“The biggest change I’ve seen is
demographics, in the sense that it’s not
just people in their mid 30s and mid 40s
getting into craft beer. Nineteen-year-olds,
20-year-olds . . . you’ve got 70-year-olds and
everything in-between. It’s not a narrow
focus in age group. The other thing I’ve seen
that has really become more apparent is that
there’s less focus on strictly male,” he says.
“I think it’s the same reason for everybody
that drinks it — it’s the attraction to flavour
and diversity.”
Asked which beer he prefers out of the
20 styles that he brews on a regular basis,
Lambourne pauses and says that’s probably
the hardest question to answer.
“I don’t have a favourite. If I had favourite
I would only make one type of beer.” How To Get There
Pacific Coastal
Airlines offers several
flights every day
between Vancouver
South Terminal and
Victoria International
Airport. Visit www.
pacificcoastal.com
for details.
Unique Properties
FOR SALE
SUBTLE ISLANDS
DISCOVERY ISLANDS, BC
HARDSCRABBLE FARM
MAYNE ISLAND, BC
•Two extraordinary private islands, joined
together, totaling 85 acres
•Features an exquisite timber-frame, 13,000
sf main house plus showcase “horse barn,”
boat house & airplane hangar
•Turnkey retreat includes furnishings,
equipment, watercraft and much more!
•Asking Price $29,000,000
•75-acre organically operated farm/retreat
•Picturesque property features a beautifully
restored 19th century farmhouse and a
caretaker’s or guest residence
•Potential for subdivision of non-ALR
portion of the lands
•Asking Price $1,950,000
FOX ISLAND
SUNSHINE COAST, BC
HOSPITALITY PORTFOLIO
PORT RENFREW, BC
•46 acre private island located just off of the •Hospitality oriented portfolio including the
popular Sunshine Coast in Blind Bay
Port Renfrew Hotel, West Coast Trail Motel
and Lighthouse Pub
•Includes a 1,500 sq. ft. rustic home and allweather deep water dock
•Approximately 12 acres, oceanfront &
located adjacent to the
•Potentialtosubdivideofffive,5-acrelotson prominently
government wharf
the undeveloped portion of the island
•Asking Price $3,950,000
•Asking Price $2,950,000
Mark Lester & Alan Johnson
S P E C I A L I Z E D A S S E T S G RO U P
TEL: 604.632.3345 / 604.632.3346
SpecializedAssets.com
[email protected] / [email protected]
SpecializedAssets.com
T: 604.632.3345 / 604.632.3346
October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
7
Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com • Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com
NORTH COAST AND WEST COAST
Vancouver Island
Rugged Point: $695,000
■
■
■
323 acres
1742m / 5715ft of oceanfront
Kapoose Creek & a fabulous wetland area
Offered for sale are seven substantial waterfront properties
totaling 1320 acres throughout the central west coast and
northern regions of Vancouver Island. Titles are offered
individually and consideration will be given for multiple
property offers.
Rupert Inlet, Section 16: $600,000
Quatsino Sound, Sec 26: $285,000
■
■
■
60.9 acres
Subdivision application underway to create
five individual titles
■
■
38 acres
426.7m / 1400ft low-bank oceanfront
estimated 9,000 cubic metres of mature timber
Alice Lake, DL202: $1,450,000
Rupert Inlet, Kenny Point: $495,000
■
■
■
■
220 acres
approximately 1219m / 4000ft of shoreline
17 lakefront titles from 4 to 6.67 hectares
■
■
99 acres
1500m / 4921ft diverse oceanfront
approx. 10,000 cubic metres of mature timber
Quatsino Sound, Sec 10 Klootchlimmis
River: $247,500
■
■
105 acres approx. 487.8m / 1600ft of the river
701m / 2300ft of estuary and oceanfront
Muchalat Channel, Kleeptee Creek:
$460,000
■
■
478 acres
substantial estuary and ocean frontage
ED HANDJA Personal Real Estate Corporation & SHELLEY MCKAY
Your BC Oceanfront Team
Specializing in Unique Coastal Real Estate in British Columbia
Ed 250.287.0011 • Shelley 250.830.4435
Toll Free 800.563.7322
[email protected]
[email protected]
8
w w w . bwww.bcoceanfront.com
coceanfront.com
Soar
October • November 2013
Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com • Great Choices for Recreational Use & Year-round Living • www.bcoceanfront.com
PRIVATE PORTFOLIO OF COASTAL PROPERTIES
business roundup
More hope in the air
Kevin Boothroyd, director sales and marketing for Pacific Coastal Airlines, presents the $10,000 cheque
from PCA’s Memorial Charity Golf Tournament to Keith Henry, chair of the NEC Native Education College.
NEC puts PCA funding to use
The NEC Native Education College in
Vancouver recently celebrated the opening of
its new building and a $10,000 contribution
from the Pacific Coastal Airlines Memorial
Charity Golf Tournament.
The Tsimilano Building was named after
highly esteemed elder Vince Stogan of
Musqueam, who, as a traditional Elder and
speaker, contributed generously to the NEC
and the Aboriginal community as a whole.
The building will house the NEC admissions
office and three classrooms. The $10,000 cheque was presented by
Kevin Boothroyd, director of sales and
marketing for Pacific Coastal Airlines
to Keith Henry, chair of the NEC Native
Education College. The money will be used to
offset construction costs of the new building.
“The NEC is thrilled to be a first time
recipient of the Pacific Coastal Airlines
Memorial Charity Golf Tournament,” said
Henry. “Putting this money towards the cost
of our new building is a huge support for the
Aboriginal community and an investment in
long-term prosperity.” He added, “We are proud to have
completed this renovation without any
government funding. We are grateful to three
levels of government and our community
partners for continuing to partner with us
in offering this important training at our
campus in Vancouver and in partnerships
with First Nations throughout BC.”
“We continue to honour Aboriginal people
and their communities which now form a
significant part of our clientele,” said Quentin
Smith, PCA president. “We are looking
forward to continuing to have the NEC as a
recipient of our memorial golf tournament in
the years to come.”
Seven BC Overwaitea stores and their
customers raised over $1,000 for Hope Air’s
mission of Getting Canadians to Getting
Better.
Hope Air, operating in Canada since
1986, is a national charity, which arranges
free flights to get low-income Canadians to
specialized healthcare that does not exist in
their local communites.
Pacific Coastal Airlines is an essential
component of Hope Air, donating
numerous flights each year.
Anna du Bois, donor relations officer
with Hope Air, says, “The Overwaitea
Food Group customers donate their More
Rewards points and the stores match them.
So far this partnership has helped us raise
funds for about five additional flights.
“At the moment we have seven stores, and
we hope that more Overwaitea stores will
join this partnership — it’s a great way for
people to donate and for the stores to get
involved in the community.”
More BC Roundup, page 17
Past meets present in Haida Gwaii
Hundreds of people gathered in Gwaii Haanas National Park to witness history unfolding
in a remote part of southern Haida Gwaii in August.
Using ropes and blistering manpower, a 13-metre, 3,000-kilogram totem pole was raised to
mark the 20th anniversary of an agreement between the Haida Nation and the government
of Canada that allows both to co-manage and protect the region.
The totem pole raising took place on Lyell Island, where the Haida Nation led a political
standoff in 1985 to protest logging in the area. The Gwaii Haanas region was subsequently
designated a heritage site and a national park reserve.
The beautifully carved totem, which tells the story of modern and ancient Gwaii Haanas,
marks the first totem pole to be raised in the area in more than a century.
President of the Council of Haida Nation Peter Lantin told media that the pole was the
perfect way to tell the story of the resolution of that conflict.
A fish at the bottom of the pole and an eagle at the top symbolizes an area that is protected
from ocean floor to mountaintop.
October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
9
SBA_ad_Oct-Nov_rev.indd 1
2013-09-06 4:20 P
Ark
of the Air
BC SPCA honours airline with
Caring Company Award
By Susan Lundy
T
he dust had barely settled on the grand opening of Powell River’s new BC SPCA
shelter last May when Pacific Coastal Airlines was called into action.
Within hours of the shelter doors opening, a man drove up with three baby
raccoons that he’d found in the bush.
“They were very small — only about a week old,” recalls BC SPCA
general manager of operations, Bob Bush,
who was in Powell River for the grand
opening event. “We hydrated them and then
called the Wildlife Rescue Association in
Vancouver, which agreed to take them.”
The next call was to Pacific Coastal to
secure a flight for the three raccoons.
“We were in a bad position — we
couldn’t have driven them to Vancouver,”
Bush says. However, PCA stepped
in and flew the raccoons back to
Vancouver on the same flight as
Bush, and they “arrived in good
condition.”
This is just one of hundreds of
stories involving air transportation
of animals by PCA for the BC SPCA,
which recently honoured the airline
with its 2013 Caring Company Award.
“For many years, the airline has
donated space on its flights to transport
animals to and from SPCA shelters across
the province,” said Lorie Chortyk, general
manager of community relations for BC
SPCA, following presentation of the award.
“In many cases animals are being transported
Lynda Little, a Drive For
due to urgent medical concerns. Overland travel can be
Lives transfer driver at
extremely stressful, and even dangerous, for sick and injured
the BC SPCA, is seen here
animals and many animal lives have been saved through the
transporting a pair of cats.
hundreds of free flights that have been donated by Pacific
Coastal Airlines.”
In addition to transporting sick animals, Bush says, PCA
moves numerous dogs and cats from smaller SPCA shelters
to centres such as Vancouver, where they have a better
chance for adoption.
10
Soar
October • November 2013
Above is PCA Manager of Cargo Services Carl deRoy at his office at
YVR’s South Terminal.
“This is especially helpful during the
summer when our branches take in more
than 6,000 homeless kittens,” Chortyk said.
“Some of our northern and interior branches
can become overwhelmed with the number
of surrendered and abandoned kittens, and
our managers can count on Pacific Coastal
to quickly move the kittens to shelters where
they will have a better chance of finding a
home.”
SPCA branches that regularly rely on the
airline’s help include Williams Lake, Comox,
Haida Gwaii, Trail, Campbell River, Victoria,
Vancouver, Powell River and Cranbrook.
“Our branch managers have the highest
praise and gratitude for the help they receive
from Pacific Coastal Airlines and we are
delighted to recognize the airline’s generous
contributions with this award,” said Chortyk.
At PCA’s south terminal base in Richmond,
Manager of Cargo Services Carl deRoy
says Pacific Coastal “transports animals
almost daily from anywhere throughout our
network.”
Sometimes it involves pets travelling with
passengers, or services for the BC SPCA.
“What many people may not realize,” he
adds, “is that we don’t just transport dogs and
cats. From time to time we’ll see wildlife that
can range from marine mammals such as
abandoned baby seals to injured eagles.”
In fact, one of the “most majestic” animals
deRoy recalls transporting was a fully-grown
bald eagle, which had been injured.
“You see them from a distance and take
them for granted . . . try looking at one three
inches away. Amazing!”
deRoy says that for their own safety during
transit all animals have specific container
requirements.
“Most animals that we accept are
mammals, and the typical container used
October • November 2013
Seen at the awards ceremony, from left, are: BC SPCA CEO Craig Daniell; PCA Director of
Sales and Marketing Kevin Boothroyd and Marylee Davies, BC SPCA Board President.
is called a Type 1 Kennel. It’s usually
constructed of a special plastic that’s resistant
to cracking or breaking under stress. The size
of the container is governed by the size of the
animal, which must be able to stand up, turn
around inside and lay down normally.”
All PCA aircraft carry passengers, deRoy
adds, so in most cases the animals are
transported in the cargo compartment of the
aircraft.
“Staff are always especially vigilant and
take extra care when placing live animals into
the cargo compartment,” he says.
The BC SPCA Awards Program honours
people, companies and animals, which have
made outstanding contributions to animal
welfare during the past year. Recipients
include veterinarians, staff, volunteers and
animal heroes. The non-profit BC SPCA cares
for nearly 29,000 abused, abandoned, injured
and neglected animals each year in British
Columbia. Comfort.
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PUBLICATION: TBD
11
vancouver island
A recipe for enhanc
BC beer and wild salmon
I
t is hard not to feel optimistic about the
future health of BC’s wild salmon stocks
when you take a second to appreciate
the efforts of the private sector to empower
legions of volunteers dedicated to salmon
enhancement.
A case in point this fall is Pacific Western
Brewing (PWB). The Prince George-based
brewery’s “Community Foundation” has
just established a $20,000 fund to support
grassroots salmon enhancement initiatives
starting on Vancouver Island.
with BRIAN KIERAN
When I visit communities on the mid to
north Island, I hear a common theme of concern
about the pressing need to replenish our
precious wild salmon stocks. Hundreds of tireless volunteers
are working hard in communities from Sooke near Victoria
to Courtenay/Comox, Campbell River and north to Port
Hardy to repair salmon bearing streams and rebuild salmon
stocks. Brewery owner Kazuko Komatsu believes her brewery has
a duty to give back to communities. She calls it “investing
where we live.” True to her word Ms. Komatsu supports a
number of BC initiatives including “Forests for Tomorrow,” a
tree planting campaign that is more than 10 per cent along
in its goal to plant one million trees by 2020,
and a $20,000 shoreline cleanup campaign
that has given financial support to
groups from Cowichan to Quesnel.
The announcement of the
salmon enhancement fund came
at a special event in Port Alberni
on the Labour Day weekend
in conjunction with that
community’s annual salmon
derby. Throughout the fall the
PWB team is visiting other
Island communities and the
Community Foundation will
be seeking and adjudicating
requests for support.
Obviously, PWB is the
new kid on the salmon
enhancement block and
has much to learn from
organizations like the
Vancouver-based Pacific Salmon
Foundation (PSF), which has
inspired
thousands of concerned
Ongoing work at the Omega Pacific
citizens to volunteer their time and
Hatchery on Vancouver Island.
THE KIERAN REPORT
12
Photos courtesy of the Pacific Salmon Foundation
Above and at right, volunteer streamkeepers help preserve and build
salmon stocks.
energy. PSF’s corporate partners include TimberWest,
West Coast Resorts, HSBC, Newalta, BC Ferries and many
more.
The foundation’s vice president of communications
Michael Meneer says: “For 25 years, the Pacific Salmon
Foundation has supported community-based projects that
address wild Pacific salmon conservation, enhancement
and habitat renewal. During this time, the foundation’s
flagship Community Salmon Program has granted $10.4
million to local salmon restoration and enhancement
projects.
“Because these projects are volunteer driven, the
foundation’s partners are able to generate, on average, an
additional $7 for every $1 granted. The foundation draws
its funding from various sources, including proceeds
from the federal Salmon Conservation Stamp, community
fundraising dinners and tax-deductible donations from
individuals and businesses.”
Meneer adds that Pacific Coastal Airlines has been a
long-standing supporter through donations of flights for
auctions held at the foundation’s community dinners.
In just about every community on Vancouver Island
volunteer streamkeepers are the first line of defence in the
fight to preserve and build salmon stocks.
The Simms Creek Stewardship Society has used PSF
funds to hold a biennial “Wetlands to Waves” workshop
in Campbell River. The workshop, attended by 200 to 300
people, teaches volunteer streamkeepers about new issues
affecting Pacific salmon and gives them strategies and
Soar
October • November 2013
ement
tools to use when working in their own
watersheds.
In the Alberni Valley, Bob Cole wears
several salmon enhancement hats. He’s a
director of West Coast Aquatic, co-chair
of the Nahmint Enhancement Team
and a member of the Alberni Valley
Enhancement Association.
He says: “On behalf of all the volunteers
who work hard saving and enhancing
our West Coast salmon resource —
streamkeepers, hatchery volunteers,
committee members and advocates —
when responsible corporations, like Pacific
Western Brewing and others, help with
the most pressing challenge of funding,
it makes our efforts worthwhile.” Own a piece of paradise in Haida Gwaii…
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October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
13
flavour TRAIl
Delizioso!
Trail’s Italian culinary experience
Story and photos by Alyn Edwards
I
Pasquale Amantea at the Star Grocery.
14
n the late 1800s, hundreds of skilled workers from Italy began
flooding into the BC south central interior city of Trail to work
at the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company (CM&S),
then the Cominco lead zinc smelter.
Many of these immigrant men lived in boarding houses that
served meals based on old country recipes. Once they had saved
enough money, they brought their wives and children to the
community.
The Italian immigrant workers built homes on lots carved
out of the hillside above the growing community alongside the
Columbia River just north of the Washington State border. They
planted gardens on almost every square foot of the terraced lots
supported by beautiful stone walls, and sowed the seeds for future
generations.
The Italian culture shaped the growing community with names
like Georgetti (Ken Georgetti is president of the Canadian Labour
Congress) and Ferraro (Ray Ferraro is a former NHL star now a
TSN hockey commentator), becoming prominent in the community.
Their traditional Italian shopping area was called The Gulch.
Rossland Avenue running through the gulch was once lined with
as many as nine Italian grocery stores, at least as many Italian
restaurants and many other commercial enterprises serving the
community.
That strong tradition lives on in Trail, although there is only one
of the original Italian grocery stores left. Little has changed at the
Star Grocery over the more than 65 years it has been in business.
Owner Pasquale Amantea is known far and wide for his handmade sausages. Patrons come from as far away as Edmonton and
Spokane for the imported Italian foods that line the shelves and the
specialized meats in the coolers.
A block down Rossland Avenue is the Columbo Lodge owned
by the Societa Cristoforo Columbo since 1905. It is North
America’s oldest Italian club.
The Columbo is known throughout the West Kootenay region
for opening its doors for catered functions with amazing Italian
food prepared from recipes handed down through the generations
of members.
Amore’s Restaurant serves gourmet Italian meals using family
recipes in a building that was Trail’s liquor store a century ago.
Proprietors Greg and Anita Amantea (no relation to Pasquale of
the Star Grocery) have worked hard to bring back the flavours
of the past in a setting that was Nellie’s Pizza and was a must for
diners for decades.
Possibly Trail’s best known restaurant is the Colander which
has been serving the all-you-can-eat pasta special for more than
40 years under continuous ownership of the LeRose family. The
original logo Water go – Pasta stop has now given way to Come
twirl with us.
Cook Alanna Loos lifts a huge pot filled with spaghetti in boiling
Soar
October • November 2013
Seen here and at left, top, are food and staff at Trail’s famous Colander restaurant.
Above is “The Gulch”on Rossland Avenue; while at right is The Gulch General Store.
water towards the sink to pour it through a large colander, while kitchen mate
Michelle Sigurdson takes pans filled with baked chicken from the oven. They
prepare up to 400 meals a night for large groups of diners attracted by the all
you can eat pasta dinner with chicken for $14.95.
Rustic Crust Pizza is not a restaurant but it is fast becoming a new Trail
tradition. The Wiley family built their first clay oven at their cottage on
Kootenay Lake where pizza night quickly gained popularity.
Now they have a clay oven at their home where pizza lovers stop by to pick
up either baked pizza or one prepared to bake at home. The family owned
and operated business also has a pizza oven on a trailer to go to events. Check
out the Rustic Crust Facebook page. One enthusiast posted: “Do you deliver
to California?” Maybe someday, as Trail’s reputation for amazing Italian food
continues to grow.
New in the downtown area is Casa di Ciocolato — an interesting store with
an eclectic mix of chocolates, wide selection of imported olive oils, flavoured
salts, numerous different teas and 16 flavours of balsamic vinegar that include
fig, cranberry pomegranate, pumpkin spice and lemon grass.
“Growing up in the Trail area is like being in Italy,” says Casa di Ciocolato
owner Daniel Haley. “Although I’m not Italian, my stepmother is and
everything in my store tries to capture the Italian heritage of Trail.”
October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
How To Get There
Pacific Coastal Airlines offers several flights
every day between Vancouver South Terminal
and Trail. Visit www.pacificcoastal.com for
details.
15
east kootenays
Powder
punch
powder highway promises
another epic ski year
By susan lundy
T
here was more to Al Janusas’ decision
to ski part of BC’s famous Powder
Highway last year than an opportunity
to hang out with friends and family.
Janusas, an avid ski-buff who flew from
Toronto to ski at Kimberly and Fernie alpine
resorts last March, says the experience beat all
comparisons.
“It’s world-class skiing at un-crowded,
reasonably-priced and friendly resorts,” he
says. “It’s as good or much better than other
places I’ve skied — and without the crowds.”
According to press material, “The Powder
Highway is known for deep snow, funky
towns and some of the most downhome, stash
laden, adventure packed ski resorts on the
continent. At every turn, there are more ski
resorts, backcountry helicopter, snowcat and
touring operations than any other region in
the world.”
Highlights for Janusas, whose sister lives in
Kimberly, included, “the weather (sunshine
and mild temperatures) and a big dump of
powder.”
Indeed, the Powder Highway — which is
located in Kootenay Rockies and includes an
area of close to 60,000 square kilometres — is
famous for its dry, fluffy “champagne” powder
and the fact there are virtually no mid-week
lift lines at any of the mountains.
Serviced by three airports, including the
Pacific Coastal Airlines destinations of Trail
and Cranbrook, the area includes eight ski
resorts, 22 backcountry ski touring operators,
and nine heli-ski, 11 Nordic and 16 snow-cat
operators.
16
Red Mountain Resort, located in Rossland
near Trail, is western Canada’s original ski
resort. Last season, it announced a massive
two-year expansion, developing Grey
Mountain and adding almost 1,000 acres to
its “already epic” 1,685 acres.
“We had a record year last season with 25
per cent increase in day tickets,” says Nicole
Briggs, events and marketing manager. “We
expect to see [another] increase this season.”
A groundbreaking ceremony for a
new, fixed-grip Poma quad chair on Grey
Mountain occurred in June and the chairlift
“will be in operation for this coming winter,”
Briggs says. The lift gives 360-dgree skiing off
the top.
According to press material, the new
zone “elevates RED to the top three per cent
of all resorts in North America for skiable
acres (2,682), while keeping its independent
Photos courtesy Red Mountain Resort
The scene at Red Mountain Resort in
Rossland, near Trail.
Photo by Bruce Cameron
Al Janusas at Fernie Alpine Resort.
soul, and escaping the stuffy (and
expensive) trappings of many of the mega
resorts.”
All of the Powder Highway’s ski resorts are
located just minutes away from their unique,
small and friendly communities. For example,
it’s just a 10-minute drive from the small town
of Fernie (pop. 4,448) to Fernie Alpine Resort;
five minutes from Kimberley (pop. 6,652) to
Kimberley Alpine Resort, and five minutes
from Rossland (3,556) to Red Mountain.
(Red is just 25 minutes from Trail Regional
Airport).
Snowfalls in 2011 and 2011 hav e been
described as “epic,” with an average of 18
metres (or 60 feet).
With all that the Powder Highway has to
offer, it’s not surprising Janusas plans to be
back. To Get There
Pacific Coastal Airlines runs several
flights daily to Cranbrook and Trail
airports. Visit www.pacificcoastal.com
for more details.
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October • November 2013
Doc Creek
Namu
M
Ha cNa
rdy ir C
Inl ree
et k
ROUTE map
Joe’s Lodge
Ole’s
Adam’s Har
bour
Pruth Bay
S
MASSET
Bay
lla
nnery
be
let Ca
Sheemahant R
Kil Rivers In
iver
Ge
Riv O we
Mac nesee Creek
hmell
ho ers In ekeno
let
tb
Res
o lt
ort
Ba
y
B
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Duncanby Landing
b
Nekite River
Sportsman’s Clu y
Naysash Inlet
Ba
B ay
Go o s e
a re t
Wyclees Lagoon
M a rg
L
o
n
g
L
a
ke
Trevor L
ak
Chief Nolis Bay
Boydell Lake e
Belize Inlet Seymour Inlet
y
Woods Lagoo
Warner Ba und Wakeman Sound
n
on So
Creasy Bay Actae Turnbull Cove
Kingcome Village
Clayd Nimmo Bay
Jennis Bay
on Bay
Quatse Bay
y
nle t
Shawl Bay
Drury I van Ba d
n
Thompson Sou
S u lli
Sou Echo Bay
nd
way Shoal Harbour Scott E lainLondon Po
int
G re e n
Cov e C
reek
e
Gilford Ba
l fo
y
Sointula
rd
Mins
trel Isla
Vi l l
Alert Bay
Port McNeill
nd
age
ANAHIM LAKE
Haida Gwaii
Klemtu
WILLIAMS LAKE
BELLA COOLA
PORT HARDY
Gi
BELLA BELLA
Hakai Pass
Rivers Inlet
A
ay y
Broughton Archipelago
PORT HARDY
d
n Islan
dleto
ding
Pen awsons Lan
D Good Hope
Finn Ba y a
Wadhams
B
y
Johnson Bay
Sle e p e B
hi n
Su ns
A
B
Port McNeill
PCA Destinations not shown on map
- Jenny Inlet
- Ocean Falls
- Tom Bay
ALBERTA
CAMPBELL RIVER
POWELL RIVER
COMOX
CRANBROOK
VANCOUVER SOUTH TERMINAL
TRAIL
CANADA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
VICTORIA
MAIN PACIFIC COASTAL HUB
WASHINGTON
AIRPORTS
FLOATPORTS
Destinations
Pacific Coastal Airlines: Route Map October, 2011
MORE business roundup
Beautiful Cranbrook
Those entering the City of Cranbrook via Highway 3 can now enjoy a beautifully upgraded place to
stop, get information and enjoy the natural setting, thanks to the Elizabeth Lake beautification project,
which opened with an official ribbon cutting in early September.
The $204,355 project, which involved upgrades to the lake entrance and satellite visitor centre,
included driveway and parking lot repaving, new signage, an information kiosk and interpretive signs,
tree planting, landscaping, picnic table installation and lighting.
The most visually prominent component is the new “Welcome to Cranbrook” sculpture and sign
designed and built by local artists Paul Reimer and Michael Hepher.
The project was funded in part by two grants totaling $57,000 through the Columbia Basin Trust
(CBT), plus a contribution from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of $35,000.
Several groups provided input to the project, including the Ktunaxa First Nation, the Rocky Mountain
Naturalists, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce.
“This project is a great example of what can be achieved through partnerships around a vision,”
said Mayor Wayne Stetski.
BC BUSINESS SUMMIT
With British Columbia and western Canada facing a wide range of economic opportunities
and challenges that will determine future prosperity, the Business Council of British Columbia
(BCBC) recently announced the inaugural BC Business Summit
The Summit will bring together industry, governments, First Nations and other community
leaders to explore pressing economic issues of competitiveness, trade, human capital, natural
resource development, infrastructure and transportation, notes a press release.
The BC Business Summit: Building Prosperity through a Competitive Economy will be held
at the Vancouver Convention Centre, November 12-13, and will feature a keynote address by
Premier Christy Clark, who will be joined by her cabinet colleagues, and an array of global
CEOs and local business leaders who invest and create jobs in this province.
For registration information or additional details about the BC Business Summit, visit www.
bcbusinesssummit.com, call 604-684-3384 or email [email protected].
October • November 2013
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
PR library kudos
Powell River’s “little library that could” has
won Canada’s highest honour for its efforts
to improve literacy: the 2013 Council of the
Federation Literacy Award for BC.
“With its track record of bringing together
a wide range of partners to support literacy,
the Powell River Public Library has earned
the nickname, ‘the little library that could,’”
said BC Premier Christy Clark, as she
congratulated the library in September.
The award — created by the Council
of the Federation to promote literacy —
is presented annually in every province
and territory, recognizing outstanding
achievement, innovative practice and
excellence in literacy.
This marks the first time in its nine-year
history that the award has been won by a
public library.
“Powell River provides a shining example
of how a city’s library can play a vital
social and economic role,” said Minister of
Education Peter Fassbender. “It reminds
us that we need to leverage the strength of
our great library system to support the BC
Jobs Plan and help people gain the skills and
training they need to succeed in our rapidly
changing economy.”
17
comox valley
Up, up and away
Comox Airshow takes off
Story and photos
by SUSAN LUNDY
18
P
arking was tough at the Comox Airshow, but
not because it was hard to find a spot.
The tough part was keeping eyes on the
road and not the careening, swooping, fly-straight-up
and dive-back-down antics of Super Dave Mathieson
in his MX2 (an aircraft “designed to pull serious G’s”).
The “wow factor” was turned up high as we entered
the airshow grounds at the Comox Valley Airport
in August. Coinciding with 2013 Armed Forces Day
celebrations — which honoured
70 years of RCAF history in the
area — this marked the first
time in eight years the airshow
took flight. Over 15,000 people
attended, and there’s no doubt of
its success.
Despite the number of people,
there was lots of space to walk
around and get close-up peeks
at the display aircraft — all the
while non-stop action occurred
in the air. My partner and I
wandered the grounds, exploring
the displays, pausing frequently
to crank our eyes skyward, and
ultimately ended up in the beer
garden, sipping brew in the
sunshine and enjoying the buzz
overhead.
Ground displays included a
colourful collection of gleaming, brightly painted
aircraft from around the globe, representing several
different eras. There were both military aircraft
and civilian planes on display, including several
with historical significance, like the B-25 Mitchell
“Grumpy” (one of the most prolific bombers of the
Second World War). “Walk throughs” were available
on some of the aircraft, such as the massive Hercules,
part of the Canadian Forces transport fleet.
The sleek lines —which spelled “speed-plus” — of
the Canadian Air Forces’ CF-18, captivated many
viewers (myself included) and, as with several other
displays, a pilot was on hand to answer questions.
As exciting as the ground displays were, nothing
could compare to the ongoing activity in the air. The
Granley’s Yak-O-Batics performance was described as
“show stopping,” when in fact it was heart stopping.
The two Yak-55s — flown by a father-son duo —
dipped and dived and flew straight at each other,
almost creating “can’t watch” moments. (How do they
practice this, I wondered. And how does their wife/
mother feel about it?)
Other performances included a demonstration by
the CH-149 Cormorant, the Canadian Air Force’s
only dedicated search and rescue helicopter; and the
colourful Cascade Warbirds — a group of vintage
ex-military aircraft that flew several runs in various
formations.
Of course, the two ultimate air events were the CF18 demonstration and the world famous Canadian
Soar
October • November 2013
Seen here, clockwise from top left:
The dazzling Snowbirds in
flight; the historic B-25 Mitchell
“Grumpy”; Super Dave Mathieson
landing his MX2; Snowbirds
lined up and ready to go; one of
several biplanes on display; and
the Canadian Air Forces’ CF-18 — a
crowd-pleaser on the gorund and
in the air.
Forces Snowbirds Air Demonstration
Squadron.
One could feel the thunder of the CF18 as it exhibited its speed and agility. We
watched it fly straight up and even hover . . .
and then blast by in a sonic-breaking boom,
afterburners flaring. While the CF-18 has
a maximum speed of close to 2,000 km per
hour, nearby military personal said, it couldn’t
be taken full out at the airshow due to the
threat of breaking glass in the area.
The Snowbirds closed out the show
with a mesmerizing display of aerobatics,
choreography and formation flying, stunning
viewers with high-speed antics, creating
October • November 2013
stunning visual effects, and highlighting the
need for impeccable teamwork.
The event was admirably hosted by 19
Wing Comox, which formed in 1942 when
the Royal Air Force constructed the airbase to
protect the Pacific coastline and train air crew
for service during World War II. In 1943 the
base was transferred from British hands to the
Royal Canadian Air Force.
“It is this 70 years of Canadian Air Force
History that we celebrate with the 2013
Comox Air Show,” noted the airshow website.
In addition to offering attendees a fabulous
event, the airshow drew hundreds of people
from across the province and Washington
PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
State to the Comox Valley, providing an
economic boom to service providers. Hotels
were filled to capacity and restaurants were
busy.
We left the airshow grounds buoyed with
enthusiasm and ever-hopeful for a repeat
performance next year. How To Get There
Pacific Coastal Airlines offers several
flights every day between Vancouver
South Terminal and Comox Airport.
Visit www.pacificcoastal.com for details.
19
datebook
The Great
British Columbia
Shakeout
Oct. 17
Get ready for the largest
earthquake drill in Canadian
history. FMI: www.shakeoutbc.ca
CAMPBELL RIVER
Campbell River 2013
Fall Home Expo Show
Oct. 25-27
Campbell River’s building,
renovating and decor show at the
Campbell River Sportsplex. FMI:
http://homeshowtime.com/
COMOX VALLEY
Logging the Flats: The
Steam Era, 1910-1945
Oct. 2
Author and historian Richard
Mackie shares photos, maps and
stories about the early years of
the Comox Logging & Railway
Company operation; 7 p.m. at the
Courtenay museum.
MASSET/HAIDA
GWAII
60th annual Coho Derby
Sept. 21 to Oct. 13
Takes place at Queen Charlotte
and Sandspit. FMI: 250-637-2212.
Waterfront
Powell River’s
Specialist!
...at BC’s best-kept secret
604.483.1633 Call (anytime)
www.kathybowes.com
Located in the
Powell River
Airport
PORT HARDY
Pumpkin Patch Walk
Nov. 1
Annual event takes place at
Carrot Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
“Enter the pumpkin patch at your
own risk!”
POWELL RIVER
Oktoberfest Party
Oct. 5
A fundraiser for Parkinson’s
Research with traditional
music, Bavarian food, Townsite
brewing beer and possible guest
appearances by the “Von Trapp
Family.” At Dwight Hall from 4:30
to 9:30 p.m.
SIDNEY
Sidney Fine Arts Show
7516B Duncan St., Powell River, BC V8A 1W7
Recently renovated
Oct 16 - 18
World Leadership
Conferences, conducted
annually by the International
Women’s Forum, draw women
from more than 50 countries.
At the Vancouver Convention
Centre.
Helicopter Association
of Canada AGM,
Convention and Trade
Show
Nov 8-10
HAC’s 2013 convention and
trade show is the largest annual
gathering of the Canadian
Helicopter Industry; at the
Vancouver Convention Centre.
Oct.18-20
BC Business Summit
Presented by the Community
Arts Council of the Saanich
Peninsula, and held at the Bodine
Family Hall at the Mary Winspear
Centre. FMI sidneyfineartsshow.ca
Nov. 12-13
First Nations, Inuit and
Metis Art Show & Sale
Oct. 1-12
Fifth annual event takes place at
the Mary Winspear Centre.
FMI: www.marywinspear.ca
Christmas Vintage, Retro
& Collectibles Show
Nov. 24
One day vintage/retro show and
sale at the Mary Winspear Centre.
FMI: www.marywinspear.ca
VANCOUVER
604-485-4131 or 1-800-319-6919
International Women’s
Forum Hall of Fame
Gala Banquet
Vancouver International
Writers & Readers Festival
Oct 22 – 27
Writers of fiction, poetry, nonfiction represented at the festival,
which takes place on Granville
Island. FMI: www.writersfest.bc.ca
The BC Business Summit:
Building Prosperity through
a Competitive Economy will
be held at the Vancouver
Convention Centre and will
feature a keynote address by
Premier Christy Clark.
VICTORIA
Art of the Cocktail
Oct.19-21
A festival celebrating the
art, craft and tradition of
the cocktail takes place at
various venues. FMI: www.
artofthecocktail.ca
Vancouver Islands
Most Amazing
Collectible Show IV
Oct.26
Over 150 tables of coins,
watches, toys, dolls, jewellery,
comics, stamps and more, a lot
more. Takes place at Pearkes Rec
Centre. FMI: www.vimacs.ca
Reach an influential audience.
Waterfront dining on beautiful Powell Lake…
To advertise in
WHERE LOCALS BRING THEIR GUESTS
6233 Powell Place, Powell River, BC
Pub 604.483.3545 • Bistro 604.483.2001
www.shinglemill.ca • [email protected]
“Proud member of the Powell River Chamber of Commerce”
20
Contact Oliver Sommer
Director, Advertising Sales
250.480.3274 | [email protected]
Soar
October • November 2013
Casual luxury
comox valley
Kingfisher Spa and Resort satiates the senses
By SUSAN LUNDY
“I
could get used to this,” I thought as I
soaked in my own personal tidal bath
at Kingfisher Spa and Resort, located
just a few minutes south of Courtenay on
Vancouver Island.
The day’s stress had already ebbed away as
I moved through the resort’s unique Pacific
Mist Hydropath — a shoreline-mimicking
pathway of water and steam hydrotherapy
stations.
My shoulder and neck muscles had been
loosened by Swiss water jets and tumbling
waterfalls. I’d basked in eucalyptus steam;
been heated up and cooled down. I’d sweated,
floated and scrubbed myself in sea salt. And
now I was encased in a warm-water, womblike tidal bath carved out of rock. Everything
took place amid a seascape of sculpted stone,
lush flora and beach wood. Life was good.
Set on the ocean’s edge on the eastern shore
of Vancouver Island, Kingfisher Spa and
Resort is a mix of casual luxury. Lodged in
the lovely Orca suite, which opens right onto
the beach, my partner and I were mesmerized
by the stunning views and delighted by the
room’s beautiful space and luxurious details
(like heated floors in the bathroom and
a divinely comfortable king bed). Room
interiors are accurately described on the
website (at www.kingfisherspa.com/) as
“clean and unfussy” with “colours that reflect
nature.”
Not surprisingly, nature is a big theme at
the resort and new branding has embraced
the wild, west coast backdrop in the renaming
of the Breakwater Restaurant.
“Just up the shoreline from our restaurant,”
notes the website, “more than a dozen ships
were scuttled to create a breakwater . . .
[The new name] speaks of the restaurant’s
proximity to the ocean, as well as the rich
history of the Comox Valley.”
Dinner at the Breakwater Restaurant was
another happy surprise. The culinary team
delivered an absolutely topnotch seafood
spread — seamlessly accommodating my
gluten and dairy allergies — all delivered by
an extremely helpful and friendly server. We
also enjoyed our cosy table next to one of two
fireplaces with views directly over the ocean.
And although we reserved a table for 8 p.m.
on a Thursday night in January, the restaurant
October • November 2013
hummed with patrons: evidence, I suspected,
of a dedicated local clientele.
In fact, according to Cristina Baldini (director
of sales and marketing), who showed me around
the facility, much of the resort’s repeat business
is from area and Vancouver Island residents.
Locals regularly use the spa, pool, yoga studio
and seaside fitness centre.
In addition to the Pacific Mist Hydropath —
which the resort claims is unique in North America
— the spa has over 20 treatment rooms and an
extensive spa menu.
Accommodation ranges from the original ocean
view and garden view rooms on the upper level of
the property to the newer, more luxurious beachfront
suites, located on the lower level. All of the rooms
feature a deck or patio, and a room reservation
allows access to the heated outdoor pool, sauna,
hot-tub steam cave and fitness room. The resort also
features several conference rooms, available for small
or large groups, and hosts a popular Sunday buffet in
a room adjoining the restaurant. PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
Treasures
Come get your share.
Only five minutes from the Victoria International Airport.
JOB #S567-14960
CLIENT: SIDNEY BUSINESS ASSOCATION
PUBLICATION: SOAR MAGAZINE AD
21
Q&A
Dallas Gislason
Greater Victoria Development Agency
D
allas Gislason leads the Greater Victoria Development
Agency, the economic development office for Greater
Victoria, the country’s 15th largest metro-region.
Gislason has spent the last decade working in economic
development at the community and provincial level, and as an
international consultant. He has delivered keynotes and workshops
to hundreds of community leaders throughout Canada, the USA,
and other parts of the world. He has received over a dozen awards
for both his work and his various volunteer commitments.
Dallas and his wife Leanne live in Victoria and enjoy exploring
the outdoors with their two sons, Noah and Avi.
Q: What is the mandate of the Greater Victoria
Development Agency?
A: The Greater Victoria Development Agency is the economic
development office for a metro-region encompassing 13
municipalities. We are committed to marketing the region’s
competitive advantages, positive business climate and superior
lifestyle across Canada and around the world. Our two broad
goals are: to facilitate and promote development of a strong
economic base in Greater Victoria, BC; and to ensure that the
Greater Victoria region remains a vibrant place to live and work.
Q: How did you become involved?
A: I have been in the economic development field for about 10
years working in Canada’s prairie provinces and a bit in the US
and other countries. When my wife and I decided to move to the
Victoria region about four years ago, I started my own company
to aid in the transition, which I ran for a couple of years before
working with the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in
2011. When the opportunity came up to take the helm of the
Greater Victoria Development Agency, I thought it would be
an interesting challenge and present me with opportunities to
become a leader and contributor in a community where I wasn’t
well-known.
Q: What has been the agency’s greatest
achievement in recent years?
A: The easy answer would be to point to some investments that
we’ve helped facilitate, but more importantly in recent months,
the organization brought the region to a better position of
collaboration — something which will benefit us significantly
in the long-term. In a region with 13 municipalities, the natural
tendency is to be competitive, which I think is healthy. However,
looking at the big picture in terms of what major wins we can
achieve by working together will better benefit all citizens across
the region.
22
The other thing I am quite proud of is that as a team we deliver the
same mandate as any other economic development office in any
city in North America, but with a fraction of the resources. We can
organize trade missions to China — with an impact of $10 million
to the local economy — and the next week we are connecting local
entrepreneurs to investors and other useful resources. We do this
with a fifth of the operating budget of most agencies across Canada
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing
economic development in Victoria today?
A: The number one challenge facing the region’s economy is the
provincial government spending and hiring freeze. This has a
huge impact on local service and retail firms, from housing to
furnishing, clothing, vehicles and other discretionary items: if your
largest employer isn’t hiring or spending, it will slow your economy.
This doesn’t mean there are not hundreds of success stories
occurring in the community, because there are; they just don’t have
the same holistic impact on the economy as a whole — in the short
term anyways. .
Q: What is the GVDA doing to address this?
A: Short answer: diversify. I think in many parts of the globe,
government fiscal instability could be the new normal in the postrecession world. Those jobs are important to the region and we
must do what we can to embrace and nurture them; however, our
largest sector in terms of wealth creation is now high-tech (which
includes a large number of niche industries, from aviation, marine
and shipbuilding, ocean sciences, gaming, life sciences, software
and mobile technologies, to e-commerce and many others). The
focus for the economic development office is first to keep these
companies here, and second, to help them expand by looking at
the macro-level needs of the economy (areas like human resources,
access to capital, transportation infrastructure, business climate,
quality of life factors, and getting their product to market). Soar
October • November 2013
Photo Credit: haidagwaiiphotos.com
When you’ve reached the edge of your
world, ours begins!
T
he crisp morning air settles over
the river running quietly between the
pristine rainforest and the nearby Pacific
Ocean. The river awakens with the rhythm of
the cast, and the fly moves effortlessly across
the water.
A splash shatters the calm and the day begins!
For more info, see:
www.gohaidagwaii.ca
email: [email protected]
call us at: (250) 559-8050