screening of Taylor Steele's new film "Castles in the Sky"
Vancouver, June 29, 2010
The Surfrider Foundation and Sitka Surfboards are hosting a screening of Taylor Steele's new film "Castles in the Sky" on June 29 at Fifth Ave. Theaters in Vancouver.
Tickets are $10 or $5 if you are a Surfrider member and can be purchased at Sitka Surfboards in Vancouver.
Highway 4 road closures
June 22-25, 2010
premier of 180° South @ HtO
June 13, 2010
HtO is excited to announce that on Sunday June 13th we are co presenting a Canadian video premier of Patagonia newest surfing, sailing, climbing, hiking and adventure movie, 180° South.
http://www.180south.com/trailer.html
Here is a break down of the night:
7:00 pm Doors open
8:00 pm - 9:30pm Live music
9:30 pm Special guests- including the Malloy brothers and Mary Osborn
Senate Committee to do the review of lightstations. Help keep them staffed
You no doubt remember the renewed attempt to extinguish lightstation services last September. Due to your efforts, Fisheries Minister Gail Shea was forced to state that there would be a 'review' of the services before any destaffing took place.
Things are ramping up somewhat. CCG has asked the Senate Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans to do the review of lightstations and they have accepted. We can send you transcripts of the meetings so far if you wish. There is talk of the committee traveling out here and to Newfoundland and Labrador but that might not happen. If you wish to retain the services that you use and want from Lightstations, a submission to the committee would be wise.
Join with your fellow mariners and aviators and support each other to retain these safety services for the whole. Ask that you be allowed to have input in the review on Lightstation Services by the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Submissions should be sent at the committee’s mailbox at fish-peche@sen.parl.gc.ca
Make democracy work for you. Any submissions sent to Committee should also be sent to your MP, MLA or any other representative and myself, if you feel that it is appropriate, to make sure that your voice is heard.
We are in the process of setting up a new website for the public to gather information regarding this, and for user groups to be able to support and contact each other to ensure that their needs are met. http://www.canadianlightkeepers.org/
(February 11, 2010) - The colourful, warm waters of Kalamalka Lake between Vernon and Oyama, BC will be home to the first major SUP race in Canada – The Kalamalka Classic. It’s a 3-event SUP race at one of Canada’s prime flatwater Stand Up Paddling locations and the organizers have partnered with Gatzke’s Farm Market to provide great food, hammock hangout, bocce’ and accommodations.
Overview of the Event:
Location: Kalamalka Lake – Vernon & Oyama, BC (3.5 hrs from Vancouver, 4.5 hrs from Seattle)
Organizer: Kalavida Sports Ltd. / Kalavida Surf Shop, Vernon BC
Host: Gatzke’s Farm Market/Kalavida Sports Ltd.
Sponsors: To be announced
Nearest Int’l Airport: YLW Kelowna (20 mins)
Nearest Major Int’ Airport: YVR Vancouver
Friday: To be announced.
Saturday: (The Kaloya Crossover) It’s a short, loop course that has two different races; one for the newbie’s and one for the experienced paddlers. Newbies will do a short 2-mile version of the course and the experienced paddlers will ‘crossover’ the land at Kaloya Park as part of their 6-mile loop course. The afternoon will feature a more casual atmosphere with sprint races for prizes, board demos, vendor expo, followed by dinner at Gatzke’s Farm Market .
Sunday: (King/Queen of Kalamalka) The day that we’ll see the King and Queen of Kalamalka Lake crowned. This is the long distance paddle and the first male and female to cross the length of Kalamalka Lake (from Oyama to Vernon) will be crowned. Expect the winning time to come in around 2 hours for the 9-mile trek – An amazing chance to see one of the world’s most beautiful lakes up close and personal.
Accommodations at Gatzke’s:
3 Cabins available (sleeps up to 6 people) *book now!
Tent sites
RV parking with no hookups
Contact Lindsay Wong at: events@gatzkefarmmarkets.com
LINCOLN CITY, Oregon, April 16, 2010, Behemoth, LLC is proud to
announce that the 2010 contest will be a paddle in event and will be
part of the Big Wave World Tour. After 5 years of operating as a Tow
In focused event, the contest will now become a paddle in big wave
surfing event. The Big Wave World Tour will include Nelscott Reef as
one of its stops for the 2010 season.
The Big Wave World Tour is the brainchild of legendary big wave
surfer, Gary Linden of Oceanside, California. After 20 years of being
Contest Director and Organizer of big wave events all over the world,
Gary’s company, Rogue Wave Events, has formed the world’s first big
wave tour, with events in Chile, Peru, Mexico, and California. 2010
will be the second season for the tour, which will grow from 4 events
to 5, including Nelscott Reef.
The Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic was started as a Tow In surfing
contest in 2005. For the first three years the event operated as a tow
in only contest and in 2008 added a paddle in heat as a test to see if
the pros could paddle Nelscott. Everyone caught waves and agreed
Nelscott was a great paddle in venue. In response to the demand to
paddle, the organizers added a second heat the following year. The
Paddle In event in 2009 proved to be the most popular, with the pros
and fans alike prompting the expansion of the Paddle In to a full 24
man, 7 heat event for the 2010 contest.
"This was a natural progression for us", said John Forse, event
founder and Nelscott Pioneer. "I was so stoked that for the second
year in a row all the pros were more excited about the challenge
of paddling into huge waves than towing in. This year we listened
and changed the format to accommodate them".
Having run every year since the first contest in 2005, the Nelscott
Reef Big Wave Classic is now the longest continuously running big
wave event in the World. While other big wave events have stopped
and started due to lack of contestable surf, adequate purse or
organizational problems, Nelscott Reef organizers have managed to
provide the perfect venue and overcome budget shortfalls every year
to become the most consistent big wave contest in the world.
The Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic is honored and proud be a part
of the Big Wave World Tour and promote big wave surfing
internationally. For more info go to www.roguewaveevents.com and www.nelscottreef.com.
» Volcom Stone's Beaverfish surf Series - North Chesterman Beach, Tofino - Nov - TBA
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Tofino Emergency Preparedness Week – May 3rd to 9th 2010
The District of Tofino is pleased to announce the following initiatives for Emergency Preparedness Week:
May 3rd to 9th – Emergency Preparedness Display
An information display at the Co-op Grocery Store will feature information on: local hazards, why and how to prepare for emergencies, and the role of emergency social services. The public will have an opportunity to pick up guides for assembling their own survival kits, as well as to order preassembled 3-day survival kits from the Co-op Hardware Store.
May 4th, 7:30 PM – Movie Night
CBC Documentary film, Shock Wave, will be shown in the Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre. This documentary, photographed in high-definition and with state of the art computer animation, takes you behind the scenes as scientists apply what they've learned from Sumatra to create new disaster survival plans for western North America. Admission is free and door prizes are available.
May 6th, 7:30PM – Emergency Social Services Information Session
Existing Emergency Social Services volunteers, those interested in getting involved, as well as the generally curious are invited to attend an information session in the Council Chambers. This will be an opportunity to update contact information and procedures, determine training needs, refocus priorities, and most importantly, reconnect with friends and neighbours and welcome new volunteers.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION STATEMENT FROM THE DISTRCT OF TOFINO ADVISORY #2
Tofino is currently under a TSUNAMI ADVISORY, meaning that there is a possibility of strong localized currents. No significant flooding is expected, but low-laying coastal areas and beaches are at risk of experiencing strong currents and/or a tidal surge.
Arrival for Tofino is predicted for 15:15 PST (3:15 PST) with a tidal surge of 0.5 m (1.6 ft).
It is estimated that this event will occur during middle tide (11:18 am was 12.5m high tide, 5:55 pm is 1.3 low tide).
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
The District of Tofino is requesting that all persons should move out of the water, off the beach and out of the harbours and marinas from 2:30 pm until 5:00 pm.
Earlier today a large earthquake magnitude 8.8 has occurred off the coast of Chile, South America.
EFFECTIVE 7:00 AM PST, the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre has upgraded British Columbia to a TSUNAMI ADVISORY LEVEL. The Tsunami Advisory includes all of coastal British Columbia, including Tofino and the surrounding communities.
The District of Tofino will issue updated information as it becomes available. This information and updates will be posted on the District’s website at www.tofino.ca and broadcasted on the local radio station at CHMZ 90.1 FM
This statement is issued at 12:45 pm PST.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION STATEMENT FROM THE DISTIRCT OF TOFINO #1
A large earthquake magnitude 8.8 has occurred off the coast of Chile, South America.
EFFECTIVE 7:00 AM PST, the West Coast Alaksa Tsuanmi Warning Centre has upgraded British Columia to a TSUMANI ADVISORY LEVEL. The Tsumani Advisory includes all of coastal British Columbia, including Tofino and the surrounding communities.
TSUNAMI ADVISORY means that there is a possibility of strong localized currents. No significant flooding is expected, but low-laying coastal areas and beaches are at risk of experiencing strong currents and/or a tidal surge.
This event is predicted to start at approximately 15:00 PST (3:00 PST) at the southern BC coastline.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Persons should move out of the water, off the beach and out of the harbours and marinas from the arrival time and up to 2 hours afterwards.
The District of Tofino will issue updated information as it becomes available. This information and updates will be posted on the District’s website at www.tofino.ca and broadcasted on the local radio station at CHMZ 90.1 FM
This statement is issued at 8:30 am PST Feb/27/2010.
TOFINO - Police are recommending assault charges to Crown Counsel following an argument between two surfers last week at Cox Bay.
Tofino RCMP say the disagreement started when a female surfer cut a male surfer off during a surf session. The fight continued onto the beach and that's when police say the assault happened.
Staff at local surf shop Long Beach Surf Shop said incidents like this are very rare in the small resort community. Tofino is widely regarded as a great destination for beginner surfers because the waves are relatively easy to catch, and the people are friendly.
Tofino RCMP Constable Jordan MacKellar says the man has been released and the police investigation continues.
With the ongoing earthquake disaster in our headquarters of Padang Sumatra communications are still very sketchy and information has come out in bits and pieces.
We wanted everyone to know that all of our workers, friends, family and loved ones in Padang have survived with most of their homes intact. This is amazing, as 20 percent of all downtown buildings have been destroyed and thousands of people are still missing, many of which are trapped beneath the rubble.
The 3-story Ambacang Hotel where many of our boat's guests stayed and relaxed between trips has collapsed and 80 people are still considered missing there. Another friend of the Nusantara “Sri” has lost her Bed & Breakfast called the Spice Homestay where we personally slept between trips. Sri was out walking at 5:15pm when the quake struck so she escaped with just the clothes she was wearing.
Ayen, Eri, the many crewmembers and Ateng's wife and family are also safe. Our boat the Nusantara was safely parked at Telescopes in The Mentawais but will have a big challenge when coming back to port next week. The airport is open again so hopefully our guests will return home safe to their loved ones without delay.
More and more support and relief is flying in every day and if you would like to also contribute the link to SurfAid International is below. Our boat will be available for all relief efforts once it reaches port again and we look forward to rebuilding Padang's prosperity through renewed tourism.
I'm working on a project with Parks Canada in Pac Rim that involves restoring the sand dune system on Wickaninnish beach. There's invasive beach grasses (European and American Beach Grass) and they are stabilizing the dunes. This is strangling out some blue- and red-listed species that thrive on open sand faces to survive, so what we are doing is bringing in a backhoe to remove the grasses and (hopefully!) re-activate the dune system. There's a parks interpreter for passers-by and lots of info for anyone who wants it!
Hopefully this works, it's a five year project and (barring any government issues) should put a pretty significant dent in the invasives. Speaking of sunshine, other than one morning of fog (and glass.... was a sweet dawn patrol) it was sunny the whole time we were up there.
Jordan Eamer
We're losing the weather information that lightkeepers provide on the BC coast
OPEN LETTER TO CANADIAN CITIZENS FROM LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS
Once again, government bureaucrats are attempting to remove the services of Lightkeepers from the Canadian people. They are working quickly to implement a plan to de-staff the remaining 27staffed lightstations on the west coast and the remaining 9 on the shores of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Assistant Commissioner of Coast Guard, by continuing to refer to these stations as ‘automated’, is attempting to lead the public to believe that the stations being de-staffed are automated already and that it is only a matter of removing the Lightkeepers. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Lightkeepers have been key players in public safety for over a century and their efforts continue to be held in high regard by the Marine and Aviation communities on both coasts. This is not romanticism. It reflects reality. The services that the Keepers perform are professional and extensive and there simply is no reliable way, even in this day, to replace them with automated equipment.
Their weather observations have a positive impact in both the prevention of incidents and the success of rescue efforts when incidents occur. They help in the accuracy of forecasting and assist the timely flow of goods and passengers along the waterways of both coasts. There have been numerous attempts to duplicate these observations by a variety of equipment and all have fallen miserably short.
Lightkeepers continue to assist in Search and Rescue, provide sanctuary, act as first aid outposts, relay warnings and distress calls, liaise with RCMP, Fisheries, Pollution Control and other government agencies, and we help to ensure Canada’s sovereignty and security by establishing a strong federal presence on our coastlines. Our work is not limited to this list. We protect and maintain these, your public assets, the gems of your coasts, the Lighthouses.
Our concern is not for our jobs. It is for the continuation of the service that Canadians want, expect, and deserve to have.
Call and write your representatives.
Respectfully,
Steve Bergh – President BC Lightkeepers Local 20232 PSAC
Alice Woods – Vice President
Chatham Pt Lt Stn
Box 187 Campbell River, BC
V9W 5A7
250 203 2421
newdawn@lincsat.com
