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Two fascinating perspectives on Coast history

The Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) is happy to announce that Mike Simpson will be the guest speaker at its March meeting, on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Candace Campo
Candace Campo has gone virtual with her Indigenous heritage tours.

The Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) is happy to announce that Mike Simpson will be the guest speaker at its March meeting, on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Mike has been the CEO at the BC Council for International Cooperation since 2014 and has made documentaries on human rights, environment and development. Contact the ECA email at elphinstonecommunity19@gmail.com to request the Zoom code for the meeting.

SCRD director Donna McMahon will give a report and answer questions. Donna’s most recent newsletter has many interesting items, including the budget, emergency funding and of course, water. You can read it at everythingelphinstone.ca.

Recently I signed up for a virtual tour put on by shíshálh member Candace Campo and well-known Gibsons tour guide Dale Peterson. Their two perspectives of indigenous peoples and settlers of the Sunshine Coast is a fascinating opportunity for anyone interested in the history of our community. There were 18 of us sitting comfortably at our screens while Dale and Candace walked their camera through lower Gibsons – discussing historic places of interest.

Candace talked about the two sister tribes of shíshálh and Skwxwú7mesh who intermarried and their rich history and heritage as a “Potlatch People.” She shared a lot about her own background, while Dale covered a wide range of subjects like George Gibson and the earliest settlers, the fascinating Finnish community, early logging and fishing and the Doc Inglis/J.S. Woodsworth friendship that led to the establishment of the CCF (NDP) party in Canada. Both had played extras on The Beachcombers, Candace as a young girl in pigtails waving to Nick and Jesse driving by in a truck, for a scene. Their next tour will be April 10 at 10 a.m. – I highly recommend it. For info go to www.aboriginalecotours.com.

As a board member of the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association (SCCSA), a project that may be of interest to many is fundraising for a solar panel array for the roof of the BC SPCA building roof in Wilson Creek. People in our community are concerned about animal welfare and indeed the Gibsons Wildlife Rehab Centre is located in Elphinstone (so great to see Irene Davy receive recognition recently for the important work of the centre). Two SCCSA board members – mom Megan Kelso and son Cody (youth representative) are taking on the challenge of walking from Gibsons to Powell River over spring break to raise funds for both the SPCA and for the BC Sustainable Energy Association. Please consider supporting this worthwhile effort that will help reduce costs for the local SPCA, at climbforcc.org. Slow down and give them a wave if you see them while driving on Highway 101.

The solar association includes many electric car (EV) owners, as they go hand-in-hand with solar panels; not only producing absolutely no CO2, a potent GHG, but none of the other noxious pollutants so bad for our health that burning gas causes. The association is calling out to EV owners who would like to help as escort cars for any portion of Megan and Cody’s walk. Contact the SCCSA email at sunscoastcsa@gmail.com to volunteer.

Happy International Women’s Day on March 8! Send me your Elphinstone news at: author.ggneilson@gmail.com