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October 21, 2008

From the Islands Trust

LOCAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN TEN OF THIRTEEN ISLANDS TRUST AREAS

VICTORIA - Chief Elections Officers have now declared 45 candidates for positions on twelve local trust
committees and Bowen Island Municipal Council. There are acclamations in three local trust areas. Voting day is Saturday, November 15, 2008.

There will not be trustee elections for the Mayne, Saturna and South Pender Island Local Trust Committees (LTC) as the candidates were elected by acclamation. Mayne Island LTC will be served by incumbent Jeanine Dodds and first time trustee Colin Shew.

Elected on Saturna Island were John Money, who previously served as a local trustee from 1982 to 2002, and first time trustee Beverley Neff. South Pender Island will be served by incumbent Wendy Scholefield and first time trustee David Greer.

Like other communities in British Columbia, island communities elect their local government representatives every three years. Voters in each of the twelve Local Trust Areas elect two local trustees to serve on a Local Trust Committee and to represent it on the Islands Trust Council. Local trustees serve a three-year term and make land use planning decisions for their communities. They are responsible for decisions about Official Community Plans, zoning and subdivision regulations and a variety of development applications.

On Bowen Island, the community elects two Municipal Trustees at the same time they elect the Bowen Island Municipal Council. The Municipal Trustees represent Bowen Island on the Islands Trust Council.
The Islands Trust Council has a provincial mandate to preserve and protect the Islands Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for residents and all British Columbians. To carry out this mandate, it makes decisions about overall policy, staff resources and budget.

October 15, 2008

A Time of Growth and BIG Challenges

“Ask and you will receive” has become a very meaningful scriptural quote for the Victoria Human Exchange Society (VHES)!

In the past two months, no less than 4 suitable houses/duplexes have been offered to the VHES by Owners sympathetic to the plight of fellow human beings in need of housing.

In one case, the developers of the Mt St. Angela property -- with the blessing of the Sisters of St Ann, who have partnered with us for years-- have offered us two large houses on the development site to lease for 2 years.

We are presently working with all parties to raise the necessary funds to furnish and set up these houses with an opening date of November 1st.

If you know of any mature low-income women who work or study in the downtown or need to be in the Victoria area for medical reasons, please contact Linda at the Victoria pager:

250-361-2762/ her cell: 250-857-3905 or home: 250-658-0170

or Patricia at 250-920-5056.

Outside Victoria: 1-800-691-9366

If you are able to help financially or with furniture and supplies to set up these unfurnished houses, please also phone the above numbers.

For more information on VHES, click here.

June 9, 2008

Take the Pledge to Go Pesticide Free! Make A Pledge to go pesticide- free on your lawn and garden, and receive a free lawn sign

May 7, 2008

Our own Peter Askin has been nominated for the Islands Trust Stewardship Award. More. Congratulations, Peter.

and congratulations to Mary Cooper who has also been nominated.
More.

March 31, 2008

The BC Ferries Experience™ Card will be available beginning March 19 on our Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands and Crofton-Salt Spring Island routes. Beginning March 26, the BC Ferries Experience™ Card will be available on our Mid and North Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast and Queen Charlotte Islands routes.

The BC Ferries Experience™ Card offers you wallet-sized access to reduced fares* plus new features that provide protection, flexibility and more for your money.

How does it work?

Your new BC Ferries Experience™ Card is an electronic swipe card that can be loaded with money and used to pay for ferry travel including reduced fares wherever they’re available (you can’t do that with paper tickets!).*

You’ll also get the choice to save on your passenger fare OR vehicle and passenger fares by loading a minimum amount onto your card

Click here for more info

March 18, 2008

RCMP goal: Hire 27 new officers for the Island ... Times Colonist

March 1, 2008

Some Island RCMP detachments too small
to comply with national policy ... Times Colonist

February 25, 2008

At the beginning of last week, there were two sightings of a cougar. The first was at the end of Garrick Road and the second was in Rainsford's field (just off Georgina Point Road). Our RCMP officer and a local farmer hiked all around the area looking for signs and found no signs of the cougar or any kills in that area.

Safety Guide to Cougars in BC

January 10, 2008

The new president of the Agricultural Society is Karen Ramlo.

April 27, 2007

Kadonaga Bay

Background

This project was taken on by Jeanine Dodds on behalf of the Mayne Island Community. The idea came from Mildred Emmett's oral history (available at the Mayne Island Library) where she stated that it was unfortunate no place names existed to recognize the early Japanese settlers. Together they chose the bay on the South side and the particular name. Kadonaga will now show on all new official maps.

Origin Notes and History

Adopted 24 April 2007 on 92B/14, as proposed by trustee Jeanine Dodds, Islands Trust, on behalf of the community of Mayne Island, and endorsed by Mayne Island Conservancy Society, Association of Mayne Island Boaters, Gulf Islands Branch of the BC Historical Federation and various property owners in the immediate vicinity.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Sometimes called "Eddy's Bay" by members of the Eddy family, who own property here. Called "Arbutus Bay" in 1973 by property owner and developer Paula Buchholz, whose self-titled company Arbutus Bay Estates Ltd subdivided parcels here, and continues to maintain guest/rental cottages. Neither name is in use by the general public on Mayne Island according to trustee Jeanine Dodds, although "Arbutus Bay" and "Arbutus Bay Estates" is marketed by principle P. Buchholz.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Kadonaga Bay recalls Goan Kadonaga, the first Japanese settler to arrive on Mayne Island, as well as symbolizing and recognizing the settlement history of all the Japanese settlers who made important contributions to the economic and social fabric of the island community before their removal in World War II.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

"Gontaro (Goan) Kadonaga was the first Japanese settler on Mayne Island, arriving in 1903. He had purchased the 160-acre property named St. Johns Point on the eastern tip of Mayne Island from James C. Campbell some three years previous to this time. Goan's brother, Kinzo, had arrived at the same time. Another Japanese family, the Sasaki's, had no sons and when Kenzo married into the Sasaki family he took their name as his. In 1921, Goan (or perhaps Goan and Kinzo) divided his/their property into 2 lots, giving the northern section to Goan's eldest son Toru and the southern section to Kinzo's eldest son Kwanichi. Mayne Island was a unique community prior to World War II. Many Japanese families had settled here [and] approximately one third of its population were of Japanese descent. Some relied on fishing and there was a fish saltery at Dinner Bay. Other families farmed, raising chickens and growing tomatoes under some 8 acres of glass in various locations on the island. Much of the economic activity occuring on Mayne Island at this time was attributed to the hard working and respected Japanese families. On Tuesday April 21, 1942, the CPR steamer Princess Mary came for the 50 Japanese men, women and children who waited on the Miners Bay wharf. Most of the Mayne Island residents were in attendance to shake hands and wish them well. It was a sad time for all.... The descendants of [the Kadonaga and Sasaki families] continue to visit their original farms [and a family gravesite] with the support of the current owners...." (June 2006 letter from trustee Jeanine Dodds, Islands Trust, file V.1.38). Also on file: schematic diagram of 16 properties purchased by early Japanese settlers, chronology of settlement provided by Roger Sasaki, and an artist's rendering of the Kadonaga homestead, published in Canadian Geographic Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003, p.94.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

More

April 26, 2007

British Columbia Community Achievement Award

The whole of the Mayne Island Community was honoured when Tosh Saito received this award on Wednesday, 25 April. This was the fourth year these awards have been presented to honour those who have served their community with selfless dedication. This year 44 recipients were selected from 150 nominations submitted.

In making the presentations our Lieutenant Governor, Iona Campagnola, commented that each recipient had helped build our communities for the betterment of us all. Such dedication makes us all proud of their achievements, and that we come to rely on their integrity. The Premier, Gordon Campbell, noted that it is often hard for the recipients to appreciate the impact they have had on their communities, and that they have done exceptional service for their province.

The chair of the BC Achievement Foundation, Keith Mitchell, who introduced each recipient for their award also said that each one had given that gift of time, and we all appreciate the sacrifice they have made to improve our communities in so many different ways.

As an observer, I was really impressed with the high calibre of dedication shown. Quickly realized that this is an ideal way of rewarding those outstanding achievers within our local communities. Tosh was accompanied by Mitzi, Debbie, Mike and Bob. And they were delighted when he went onstage to receive the award and certificate from the Lieutenant Governor and the Premier. He stood proud in his unassuming way as the cameras flashed and the family positioned themselves for a better angled shot. Keith Mitchell noted that Tosh had served the community in innumerable ways, helping and being the leading light on many of its building projects with a special reference to the commemorative Japanese Garden. Iona Campagnola told Tosh she had fond memories of the time back in 2002 when she had unveiled the plaque in the Garden with the help of the school children, and accompanied by a number of early Japanese residents and so many descendents of the families that had lived on Mayne prior to 1942.

Congratulations Tosh! The whole island and the Japanese community in BC is proud of you.

Alan Cheek

April 24, 2007

911 911 911 911 911 911

MAYNE ISLAND REALLY NEEDS YOU !
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND SAVE LIFES !

We are in a desperate shortage of Paramedicas / and Ambulance Drivers on this island
and there are days when the Ambulance can not operate!

This Essential service is threatened more than ever by the lack of people
to join our small but fantastic team of Paramedics!

BC Ambulance will currently pay for trainging !
Consider it, take time from your busy life and act now !
Giving back to your community, despite any sacrifice you might have to make, will give you the most positive, fulfilling experience in your lifetime.

CALL THE HEALTH CLINIC FOR MORE INFORMATION @ 539-2312 / DR. LOSIER /
or CANDIDA KITKA @ 539-5693