We’ve had our share of challenges on the Sunshine Coast this summer. Between the Old Sechelt Mine Fire and the drought that led to the SCRD declaring an outdoor watering ban on Aug. 13, the forces of nature have not exactly been treating us with kid gloves. During the past week, however, we have seen a refreshing turnaround.
It started with the rain – 200 mm, or almost eight inches, fell on Chapman Lake over five glorious days. The Stage 4 outdoor watering ban is being lifted and SCRD officials are even considering a return to Stage 2 (wouldn’t it be great to see kids running through front-yard sprinklers again?). Our supply is restored to May levels, some gardens will make it after all, and the public is more water-wise than ever before, promising a truly engaged community discussion about the way forward from here. And while the rest of us on the system are not quite out of the woods yet, an added bonus for Gibsons aquifer users is that council has decided they will not revert to Stage 4 again this year. The reasoning is brilliant: because they don’t have to and never did.
This week also saw some inspirational news from the heart of shíshálh Nation territory – record pink salmon returns. The number of pinks returning to spawn in the major waterways off Jervis, Narrows and Salmon inlets is so huge that the area was opened to commercial fishing last month for the first time in half a century. Chief Calvin Craigan and resource director Sid Quinn credit the vision of the elders for the decades of stewardship that resulted in this amazing comeback. That’s a serious legacy, and everyone in the territory should be thankful.
Though not exactly a force of nature, BC Ferries gave us a third reason to smile this week by reinstating its early Sunday round-trip sailing on the Langdale to Horseshoe Bay run. The move will make life a lot easier for Sunday travellers during the off-peak season and reflects positively on BC Ferries management, who recognized the adverse affects of the April 2014 service cut. The 50 per cent discount for walk-on passengers on select sailings until Oct. 15 is also good news. Now if we can only get a late-night sailing and a 25 per cent fare reduction, we’d be sending CEO Mike Corrigan an embroidered Christmas card.
All in all, it was a good week on the Sunshine Coast.
