A pod of killer whales were sighted on Saturday in Howe Sound.
This is incredibly exciting as news of the big, black fish spread throughout social media.
For our First Nations people, this is a spiritual sign, a connection to the ancestors and a reminder of where we come from.
Environmentally, it is a possible measure of improvement and I hope I do not get too much flack for being optimistic. For most people it is just positive to see the increase in wildlife. Mind you when we ran into a cougar last June in Hotham Sound I wasn't counting my blessing - it was more of a prayer to see another day.
For tourism on the Sunshine Coast, we also need the wildlife to bounce back. Sustaining indigenous plants, salmon, herring and even cougar populations are key. Having plenty of herring and salmon is vital to the circle of life.
Improved herring stocks in Porpoise Bay has increased porpoise, dolphin and whale migrations back into Sechelt Inlet. I'm not a scientist, but I know this to be true.
I was born and raised in Sechelt and I truly love Gibsons. Did I just admit this in our community newspaper? I guess I did!
The beach in Gibsons called Chaster or is it Bonniebrook is where my brother Jonathan and I go when we wait for the ferry to head back to North Vancouver. We sip coffee and we talk about our work week up the Inlet. What went well and what we can do differently next time is always an important chat for two siblings who run a kayak company together.
Our discussions float in and out from raising teenagers, discussing client needs, dreaming about where we will be in the next five years and whether the boat motor will last or if we need get the Inlet Rose, our 14-foot skiff, named after our mother, a new motor. She needs a new motor.
We laugh about the nuances of the trip. We laugh about how after a four-day trip of 16-hour days our 20-year-old guides are running up and down the beach effortlessly and planning their evening and we, now in our 40's, are happy to finally sit and relax, sip coffee and enjoy the sunset.
Editor's note: Candace Campo writes twice a month in Coast Reporter about the history and events of the Sechelt First Nation.
