[George Prevost]

I’m interested.

[Former Member]

OK folks. Remember to bring your loonies. The showers will be open on the island and the concession as well. Ice cream!

[Quirine Schuyff]

I would definitely be interested. I always have to decline due to work but being a casual worker now, with advance notice I can now just book it off.

[Former Member]

Great Thom! I’ve heard on back-channels from more people too that would sign up for our Labour Day Weekend if we run it.

I think we might even be able to have a potluck! If anyone has ideas for group activities, post them here. We could do a boat packing clinic or show-and-tell your camping gear.

[Former Member]

For anyone that is interested, the Broken Group Islands are open for the 2021 season.   Check out the Parks Canada website for more information:

https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/pacificrim/activ/camping/activ4

“The Broken Group Islands will be open to overnight visitors from June 4 to September 30 in 2021, as provincial health guidelines allow.
Reservations will open on May 31, 2021 at 8am PDT. Campers can book their adventure by visiting reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-RESERVE (1-877-737-3783).
Camping availability will be reduced in 2021, and advance reservations are required (no overnight guests without advanced reservations will be allowed). ”

The Broken Islands Lodge (formerly Sechart Whaling Station lodge) is also open for business for the 2021 season.   Check out their website for more details: https://www.brokenislandslodge.com/ .   The lodge has a water taxi that can pick you up at Bamfield (South side of Broken Group).   If the Secret Beach Marina (North side of Broken Group) opens up later in the year they will be able to arrange a pickup there as well.

PLEASE NOTE – The Lady Rose service into the Broken Group is cancelled for the 2021 season.

 

[Former Member]

Susan Johnson & Thom Kline would be interested in going. Thanks  Allan for putting this together. Cheers Thom & Susan

[Former Member]

Hello all. It has been a SKABC tradition for a number of years now to have a club camp-out on Labour Day Weekend. In recent years we have reserved one of the group sites on Newcastle Island in Nanaimo harbour. This location is one that allows our members to access the BC Ferries on a holiday long weekend by walking their boats on/off. Base camping on the island offers paddling options around the area, hiking on the island, and more. As a result, this is one of our most popular events of the year.

The natural question: is there enough interest for us to hold this event this year? I will point out that last year, even with the pandemic restrictions, a handful of us camped at Newcastle and had a very enjoyable time.

We don’t need hard numbers yet, but some idea of interest at this point will be welcome to Trips and the Social Committee!

[Sarka Lhotak]

I am thinking of going to Desolation sound next week, Monday to Friday. I am an independent paddler, often going on solo trips. However, paddling life is easier and more interesting with other people around. I am looking for a self-sufficient paddler(s) who bring all their gear, food and navigation aids as if going solo so if need be we could be independent.

Sarka Lhotak

[Nick Heath]

We’ve waited at least 2 years for this, after a meeting with BC Parks and others in Victoria. I’d hesitate to call it a plan, never mind an ‘Action Plan’, since it lacks specifics or time frames. Without measurable objectives, BC Parks  can continue puttering along doing just what they please! What other organizations would get away with such slackness?  (Other governments I guess, to answer my own silly question!). Someone tell me I’m wrong, please!

[George Prevost]

Here’s a link to the latest BC Marine Trails newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/c9ed155e1933/bc-marine-trails-welcome-to-the-new-year-13381599?e=d7737f0aa8

[George Prevost]

Some of you may be interested in this which came to my inbox via the BC Outdoor Recreation Council to whom it was originally sent.  I didn’t receive the attachments that it refers to, but perhaps they can be accessed elsewhere.

Good Afternoon,

I am reaching out to you today to update you on BC Parks’ Marine Recreation Action Plan. For those who participated in one of the workshops, Sydney Martin – Manager of Visitor Programs – led in January and February 2020 with Indigenous Peoples and key coastal marine recreation stakeholders, this initiative will be familiar to you. These feedback sessions informed the content of this plan that will guide marine recreation management in BC Parks over the next five years. While we all continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to getting this plan into operation and working with you and other interested groups through its implementation. 

Update

Firstly, I would like to thank you for attending these engagement sessions. Your feedback was an invaluable part of the plan’s development and highlights from these Marine Recreation Engagement Sessions (2020) (Attachment 1) show where several key aspects were incorporated.  
Further input was gathered from multiple BC Parks focus-groups. This input strengthened the marine-specific actions to be as achievable as possible over the next 5 years. Many thanks are due to an Internal Marine Recreation Working Group comprised of many staff that you know and work with on a regular basis – for their part in conducting these meetings and helping refine the plan. Please see Appendix 1 of the plan for a complete list of the members of this group.
The Marine Recreation Action Plan – May 2021 (Draft) (Attachment 2) reflects the significant time invested by coastal Indigenous Peoples, key marine recreation stakeholders and staff: attending workshops, sharing ideas and supporting BC Parks’ marine protected areas.
We are also excited to announce annual funding for the plan from the BC Parks’ Licence Plate (LPP) Program. $100K was allocated to stern tie/mooring buoy plans and benthic assessments as well as marine recreation attendance and gap analysis research in 2021/22. While the timing of the LPP program this year required an expedited process focused on a few existing priorities, issues and opportunities, we encourage you to reach out to BC Parks with your ideas on implementing the plan’s actions in future years with this new funding source.  
As well, I’d like to bring to your attention our new A/Executive Director of BC Parks’ Provincial Services Branch, Rumon Carter. We are pleased to have him aboard and his support on the plan’s next steps.   
 Next Steps

While very little went as planned last year – we are eager to work with you again. Having completed multiple internal and external feedback sessions, we are now looking to move into the implementation phase of this staff plan. If you find significant omissions or errors in your review of the attached draft plan, please reach out to your local BC Parks’ contact(s) or email lynn.bremner@gov.bc.ca. We are asking for feedback by June 30, 2021.    
While the Marine Recreation Action Plan is an internal document, we will provide you with the final version. Continued collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and stakeholder engagement will be key to its implementation.
As you’ll note, the plan is purposely designed as a ‘menu’ of actions which allow the flexibility to establish local and Indigenous priorities and gather the available support needed to initiate projects and activities in coastal marine protected areas. Please reach out to BC Parks’ staff in your area for more in-depth discussions on the plan’s implementation. 
 

Note: As we implement BC Parks’ Marine Recreation Action Plan, we are happy to see the growing focus on BC’s coastal marine environments through the recent commitment in the mandate letter for the Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resource Operations for a new coastal marine strategy. 

Thank you for your time and we look forward to continuing to work with you.

    Jim

Jim Standen                

Assistant Deputy Minister

BC Parks & Conservation Officer Service

Telephone: 250-387-1288

jim.standen@gov.bc.ca
 

[Susan Servos-Sept]

Went and checked the site out. Looks like you can drive right down to the water as the ground is firm / gravel like substance. I was there a a relatively low tide. If that is the case, tide won’t matter. Helen, will let you drive on it first incase my car sinks. Smiles!

[Lorraine Sharpsteen]

Hi Theresa, I haven’t been out for a year and would love to join you Saturday for a day trip.

Lorraine Sharpsteen

lsharpsteen@gmail.com

[Bob Maher]

I also joined up for the Rolling Clinic, Bob Maher

[Theresa Davies]

Weather looks great end of week. Anyone up for a quick getaway Thursday to Saturday this week- June 17-19?

If that doesn’t happen, I’m available and ready to do day paddles- Widgeon Creek, Indian Arm, Howe Sound, etc.

 

[Author]

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