The Daily Gold

Emergency Benefit For B.C. Workers: Apply May 1st

People who are losing income because of the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a one-time $1000 tax-free payment - part of BC's COVID-19 Action Plan. Applications for the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers will open on May 1, 2020 at www.gov.bc.ca/workerbenefit. Learn more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/22068

Island Tourism resiliency program being expanded province wide

April 25, 2020

Tourism Vancouver Island is expanding its Tourism Resiliency Network to help tourist businesses around the province survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program was created to help companies on Vancouver Island source and access economic assistance programs available to Canadian businesses.

The TVI resiliency program also provides advice on survival strategies during the total shutdown caused by the pandemic and can set up one-on-one meetings for tourism businesses with an advisor.

TVI CEO Anthony Everett says the provincial government has been “very supportive of our resiliency program.”

He adds that the resiliency program is “going province-wide with government support.”

Everett says TVI continues to push for more provincial support for the sector, as well as having changes made to existing programs to make them more suitable for the tourism sector “given the seasonality of these businesses.”

He says the bottom line is that some tourism-related businesses are adapting, but many more are struggling in these difficult times.

A Message From The Mayor

April 25, 2020

To the Residents of Gold River
I moved to Gold River almost 38 years ago with my wife, our young son and another child to arrive soon. Our plan then was to stay for a couple of years and then move on. We were welcomed with open arms from residents, saw how compassionate, caring and friendly everyone was. We got involved in the Community in many ways and fell in love with Gold River. Yes, we felt we had everything we needed here for our family to grow but the number one reason we stayed is the people, our friends and neighbors.
There have been many changes the past 38 years, and there will be more changes in the future of Gold River.
Over the past couple of years through retirements there has been staff changes at the Village office. With these retirements goes many years of knowledge. In the last couple of weeks I have heard and read comments regarding the staff changes at the office, many of those comments are inaccurate.
I have heard that we have hired three people to replace the former CAO and that there’s nine people working out of the office now and that the new CAO is an empire builder. These comments are absolutely incorrect.
I want to be very clear, the CAO takes his direction from Council. He will, provide us with information and we (Council) will either approve or not as a group.

As far as the CAO being an empire builder, well comments like that go with the job.

Council hired him, and he and his family made their decision to move here, buy a house and to be part of our Community even his in-laws moved here. Why??

Council is 100% in support of the CAO and the staff that he has put together to help move our Village forward. If you have questions, please ask.
We all know the world is not the same as it was just a couple months ago.
Now more than ever, this is the time to for us to show how caring and compassionate we can be.
Please
Be kind Be safe,
Mayor
Brad Unger

What Does A 7% Tax Increae Mean To Residents Of Gold River?

Videos from Mayor and Council regarding the 2020 Budget can be found by clicking the link below.

 

Click Here

 

Village Of Gold River Taxation Plan

To get the full report on the 2020 Financial Plan Please click the red link below.
Setting the tax increase is not a very pleasant exercise recognizing that we are faced with increased taxes and user fees to maintain our service levels in these difficult times. As part of the Sustainability Study done by BDO our tax rates were looked at in comparison to other communities. This study showed residential taxes compared to service levels, distribution of taxes between classes, and impact of taxes on economic investment of businesses. With the completion of this independent review Council can move forward and develop a tax strategy for the future by evaluating the ability of our community to fund our services.

 

CLICK HERE

 

Anyone Up For Free Salmon! Thank You Grieg Seafood!

Hello from Marilyn of Grieg Seafood. I hope that Gold River and Tsaxana residents are staying well.

Grieg would like to donate 15 cases (360 cans) of salmon for anyone in the community who would like to add to their pantry. The tins of salmon will be distributed from a table outside the food bank by the public library from Noon to 4 pm Friday April 24. Bring your own bag to carry them. If you can’t come on Friday, call Heather Warwick at (250) 283-7319 and she will arrange a specific time for you to come on another day.

Thank you to the Gold River Food Bank and Heather Warwick for helping us get the word out.

RESIDENTS RALLY OVER PROPOSED TAX INCREASE

Submitted By Suzanne Trevis:

More than 60 residents showed up in front of the Village Office tonight in advance of the regular council meeting.  Although the public was not permitted to attend the meeting due to Covid restrictions, people wanted to let council know they are not happy about the proposed 7% tax increase that was voted on and approved for first reading, at the last meeting.

 

Our community, its businesses and its residents,  have already suffered severe hardship over the last year following the eight month strike at Western Forest Products, and now the current Covid crisis. And we all know this is not something that is going to be resolved soon.  There will be no tourist season this summer and some of our businesses are already in danger of not reopening. Even so,  staff saw fit to propose a 9% increase, which council turned down. They went on to approve an increase of 7%, more than three times the normal annual cost of living increase. 

 

Keep in mind that the pool has already closed early this year, providing a savings of $73,700, and they will not be opening the info centre, another $20,000 savings.  We’ve not seen any major infrastructure jobs in the works, in fact, most capital jobs previously proposed for the coming year have been put on hold, because of Covid, so where is all this money going?

 

Mayor Unger came out and addressed the crowd with a short prepared statement.  He thanked people for coming saying “we see you, we hear you”.  When he was asked what it was they “see and hear” we were told they were not taking any questions at this time and he went back inside.  People were not happy and many stayed around chatting and comparing notes for some time, while adhering to social distancing rules. 

 

The Village advised residents earlier this month that the public would no longer be able to attend meetings, but they had assured us that “During this event, we will be taking any measures available to the Village to ensure that the information is made available to the public in a timely manner.”  This, however does not seem to be the case as minutes from the last meeting are still not available on the website, (the only way we could have know about this proposal and the vote) and if one of the village’s employees had not given everyone a heads up on facebook this weekend, most people would know nothing at all about this decision until it was a done deal and too late to address.  We definitely would not have known in time to attend tonights meeting.

 

Apparently the village will be releasing information and some short videos over the next few days explaining the budget and all of its implications. I  will do my best to continue to provide information to residents as it becomes available

 

 

 

Petition For Village To Freeze Property Taxes Has Been Started

This Petition on behalf of the property tax payers of Gold River regarding the proposed tax increase for the 2020 budget

Due to the past 8 months of employment loss to the vast majority of local residents and the current Covid-19 concerns of health and economic uncertainty. We are requesting that the Gold River elected council members consider freezing tax rates at the present level for the current year 2020.  We propose you revisit the tax rate increase next year for the 2021/22 period. To sign the petition click the link

 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN

 

97 Covid Cases On Vancouver Island

Here you will find the latest data on COVID-19 cases in British Columbia.

• 87 recovered in BC

• 81 deaths in BC

• Cases by region:

  • 680 in Fraser Health

  • 150 in Interior Health

  • 97 in Island Health

  • 34 in Northern Health

  • 686 in Vancouver Coastal Health

COVID-19 Dashboard

Visit the BC COVID-19 Dashboard or click on the image below for the latest case counts and information on recoveries, deaths, hospitalizations, testing and more. (Internet Explorer users: please use the Internet Explorer version of the BC COVID-19 Dashboard.) 

The dashboard is updated Monday to Friday at 5 p.m.

Hospital Home Away From Home facility approved by SRD

New accommodations are in the works to host visitors and families to the North Island Hospital in Campbell River.

The Strathcona Regional District recently approved a bylaw establishing a service to build and fund the facility. The Home Away From Home model allows patients and their families to have a place to stay while they are in the hospital, taking away the stress of finding and paying for transportation and accommodation.

The project first came to the board’s attention when the Children’s Health Foundation, who are building the Qwalayu House for expectant mothers in Campbell River, approached them looking for a group to take on a project to build and run a facility to house families of people using the hospital for non-maternity reasons.

RELATED: Qwalayu House in Campbell River to be North Island families’ home away from home

“The regional district thought that was an interesting project and has tentatively partnered with the Campbell River hospital foundation to work towards fundraising the capital costs of the facility and also work towards having operational donations to have the facility’s long term operational costs covered through donations from the community,” said SRD chief administrative officer David Leitch.

“You’re coming from up north or one of the islands and you have medical issues, the last thing you want to do is worry about accommodations and transportation,” he added. “We’re trying to simplify that all together.”

This bylaw was given three readings at the March 11 SRD board meeting. Originally, SRD staff were planning to reach out to partners including the Campbell River Hospital Foundation and other regional districts and governments to hammer down details and secure more funding, but the process was slowed due to the COVID-19 virus, which was declared a global pandemic on the same day.

“This COVID-19 thing happened at a peculiar time. We were on the cusp of the hospital foundation working towards a committed partnership with us to do fundraising for it,” Leitch said. “Everything still looks fairly positive, but it happened right before the pandemic started, so we want to hold tight for a tiny bit here until the dust settles and find out if we’re still on track with the hospital foundation.”

Leitch said that he had reached out to neighbouring jurisdictions including the Regional District of Mount Waddington to discuss becoming funding parters on the project. North Island Hospital is used by communities other than those in the SRD, and Leitch said bringing on other governments will help lessen the impact on SRD taxpayers. The adoption of the bylaw cements the position of the SRD board, and shows negotiations to proceed in earnest with other partners.

One of the conditions that the SRD board agreed to was that any capital costs would be covered by donation, and that the SRD would fund a portion of the operating costs after the facility is built. However, according to a staff report on the issue, “Based on the experience in other areas of the Province it is anticipated that the annual operating costs of maintaining such a facility in the long term will be supported fully by private donations.”

Leitch estimated that capital costs would be between $1.7 to $2 million.

The bylaw allows a maximum requisition of $.023 per $1,000, or roughly $228,000 per year if the funding is required. The staff report said the Regional District of Mount Waddington was considering a similar requisition level. Although the project will have to go through a voter approval or an alternative process.

RELATED: A home away from home for Campbell River Hospital patients in the works

 

Box Meat Packages Available At The Ridge

We have worked with our suppliers to put together a terrific selection of meat boxes to purchase.

There are 5 boxes to choose from, the  boxes offer a variety of meat items that include steak, hamburger, pork chops, chicken and much more. Boxes start as low as $65.  Get your order in for next week delivery and click the link for the full description of what is available.

 

Click Here

 

 

Transition society there for domestic abuse victims during pandemic

There’s a support system available for women and children looking to escape domestic abuse across the North Island.

The Campbell River & North Island Transition Society says it’s offering safety beds as well as a 24-hour crisis line. 

The numbers are:

• 24-hour helpline: 250-286-3666 or toll free, 1-800-667-2188

• There is also a new, 24-Hour text-only help line at: 250-895-1773.

You can also access the society’s website here.

The society’s public relations and economic development coordinator, Diane Palmer, said the pandemic heightens the risk of domestic abuse.

“I think with the isolation the way that it is right now, it does create the potential for women to be home with their abusers and therefore there can be a risk,” she said. “And we would like women to know that we are still available and our services are still here for Ann Elmore House if they still need them, as well as the women’s centre.”

Adding to the challenge is the extra precautions being made to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Palmer said these current times have “absolutely alters how we do things.”

“Some of our services are reduced and some of our services have been suspended due to the COVID (pandemic),” Palmer said. “We do still have the women’s centre intact as we feel that’s an essential service that needs to be available for women in the community, and the Ann Elmore House safety beds are also still available and the support line, but our other services have been altered.”

The society’s Transitions thrift store, a key source of funding, has had to close its doors because of the pandemic.

However, Palmer said the best way to help the society is by getting the word out that it is available for victims of domestic abuse.

“If anybody has an opportunity for us to place information in their business or somewhere where people are still able to access, we would love to be able to get those numbers out there to let people know, and also, sometimes just recognizing the signs of abuse and being able to support someone during that time, and guide them in the right direction for help is essential, as well,” she added.

 

Attention Gold River Pet Owners

As the weather gets warmer, the Village of Gold River would like to remind dog owners that all dogs need to be licensed and on leash when out in the community. The Village Bylaw Officer will be out on patrols speaking with pet owners and ensuring that their pets are both licensed and on a leash. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. Should you have any questions about the bylaw, or concerns about dogs at large, please contact the Village of Gold River at 250-283-2202 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday

Vancouver Island MP joins growing call for ban on non-essential BC Ferries travel

A Vancouver Island MP has penned a letter to the prime minister and B.C. premier asking to restrict all non-essential travel on BC Ferries amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Manly, MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, says he is concerned about reports of a spike in ferry traffic over the Easter weekend.

“There can be no justification for a rise in ferry ridership during a long weekend in a public health emergency,” he wrote.

“This can no longer just be a request for people to stay home. The government needs to restrict travel and enforce that restriction.”

READ MORE: BC Ferries to start screening passengers for COVID-19

An online petition calling for a ban on non-essential travel has garnered more than 37,000 signatures as of Monday afternoon.

 

Petition asking to restrict travel to Vancouver Island garners thousands of signatures

A petition asking that access to Vancouver Island is limited to essential services, supplies and residents only during the COVID-19 pandemic has garnered thousands of signatures.

“Vancouver Island residents are worried about their safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re still seeing tourists from other provinces and the U.S. driving on our roads here,” the online petition says. “We need to be proactive and protect our residents.”

As of Sunday afternoon, more than 28,000 people signed the petition and the number was still increasing on the website. The petition calls for BC Ferries to limit travel to essential services and “implement restricted access for residents who are trying to return home to their families.”

Community Unity Parade

Let's support our Emergency services and make some noise!

We're having a parade starting at the Info Centre April 13th at 7 p.m.

Two ways to participate , jump in your car and lineup at 6:45 and follow the fire truck or

wave and yell from the street when the parade passes your house.

 

A Message From Our MLA- Claire Trevena

Friends,

As we head into the first long weekend of Spring I wanted to thank each and every one of you for the part you are playing in the fight against Covid-19.

We all know someone who is there on the frontline; the checkout clerks and shelf stackers in stores, the bus drivers, care home workers, truckers delivering essential supplies, those working in pharmacies, paramedics, nurses and cleaners and doctors at hospitals. Thank you.

We most likely all know someone who has lost their job or whose business is at risk. Our government is trying to assist, whether it is with rent or financial support. A $5 billion package was announced a couple of weeks ago, and we are continuing to find ways to fill in the financial gaps. But thank you for your patience.

And we all know that there are stresses from continually being at home, not seeing friends and not being able to do what you normally do. This is Holy Week for Christians, Passover is upon us, Vaisakhi is celebrated Monday and Ramadan is a couple of weeks away. These are usually times people come together. Thank you for not doing so.

And for those without a faith it is simply Spring, with the joys and anticipation of the outdoors that usually brings. So, I know in North Island the closure of all provincial parks will be felt particularly hard as good weather and time off beckons us towards them.

But as Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry has said time and time again, and as Health Minister Adrian Dix has echoed time and again: we cannot let up now. We have to keep our distance; we have to stop the spread. By doing this we are all saving lives.

To all who live and work in the North Island. Thank you.

Stay safe.

Claire

 

B.C announces 23 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, no new cases on Vancouver Island

April 08, 2020

here are now 1291 confirmed COVID-19 cases in British Columbia.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced 23 new positives this afternoon.

The total on Vancouver Island still sits at 79 with no new cases reported.

Four more deaths have been announced, bringing the total in the province to 43.

Dr.Henry says with the long weekend ahead, and with many people in the province celebrating, it’s important to stay home.

“This is also a time when many people are thinking of travelling and going to perhaps holiday homes or smaller communities around the province. I really am imploring people, this is not our time to do that right now.”

“We need to avoid all non-essential travel, and it’s important that we don’t go to communities where we might not have the resources to support us if we become sick or if there’s a medical emergency. Now is the time to stay home, to stay connected with our family, to stay connected virtually.”

Of the 1291 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the province, 805 people have received back to full health.

 

Use Caution When Handling Your Garbage Containers-Covid

The good people who collect our garbage every week touch over 600 garbage cans, so remember when you bring your cans to the curb,...wash your hands before and after.  Might be a good idea to disinfect the handles as well.

Gold River Encourages Visitors To Stay Away

Gold River council has issued a public statement encouraing would be tourists to come to Gold River- later.

After this pandemic is over. To see the letter issued click the link.

 Just a reminder that with the long weekend upon us, everyone is encourage to stay strong and stay home.  

 

Click Here

 

BC Ferries to bring in health checks as feds restrict marine travel due to COVID-19

Travellers using BC Ferries will see significant changes starting Monday (April 6) after the federal government announced new measures to fight COVID-19.

As part of new measures announces Sunday, Transport Canada has issued guidelines for screening all passengers boarding sailings longer than 30 minutes. The rules will apply until June 30.

“Vessel operators should, where possible and practical, observe and do a health check of all passengers before they board the vessel,” it reads. The guidelines include a questionnaire with four questions to be asked of travellers by ferry operator employees.

If a passenger is seen to have COVID-19 symptoms or their response to health check questions indicates a need to deny boarding, the vessel operator should refuse to allow that person on board for 14 days, or until a medical certificate clearing the patient is presented.

The new rules say that if it’s not possible to deny boarding, operators should take steps to ensure impacted passenger should be self-isolated, for example, by staying in their vehicles during the whole trip.

“If the passenger must travel for the purpose of receiving needed medical services, they should take precautions to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 such as staying in their car as much as possible, wearing a mask and maintaining a minimum of two metres from any other passenger,” Transport Canada said.

The coming health checks are part of a series new rules effective Monday starting at 9 a.m. local time. They state that operators of vessels carrying more than 12 passengers must immediately reduce sailings by 50 per cent of the maximum number of passengers to help with physical distancing or implement alternative practices consistent with Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines.

According to the guidelines, ferry operators “should, when feasible” notify passengers before boarding that they may be subject to a health check to prevent the spread of COVID-19, have the crew (or crew members) read out the announcement (or post signage) and conduct the health checks.

The new regulations also include a ban on Canadian cruise ships entering the Arctic.

 

Gold River Golfing-UPDATE / CLUBHOUSE IS CLOSED TILL FURTHER NOTICE

CLOSED:  CLICK LINK TO FIND OUT MORE

​

 

Click Here

 

 

Worried About Rent? Read This

Are you or someone you know having difficulties making rent due to COVID-19? BC Housing has an excellent FAQ on the new BC Temporary Rental Supplement which provides up to $500 per month for people who’s income has been affected by #COVID-19.

https://mcusercontent.com/…/2a7bf5…/BCTRS_Simplified_FAQ.pdf

 

A Fabulous Birthday Idea

If you have little ones who are having a birthday, call Lisa at the Fire Hall to arrange a birthday parade.

We can't have birthday parties right now but we can have a parade.  And, of course, everyone is invited to join the parade.  Let's make some noise Gold River!  Call (250) 283-2522.

Job Opportunities At Grieg Seafood

Grieg Seafood currently has two job openings relating to the Gold River area: a Hatchery Technician, and Casual Aquaculture Labourers (needs no previous experience in aquaculture). Please see our Careers page and find the job descriptions there.

 

Click Here

 

Campbell River distillery producing sanitizers for frontline workers

Editor's Note:  Let's remember this guys when things get back to normal.

​

Shelter Point Distillery is supporting the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

It temporarily stopped its distilling operations and is now making medical-grade sanitizer.

Manager Jacob Wiebe says staff at the distillery are doing anything and everything they can to help.

“We’ve completely shut down our whisky production over the last couple weeks and we’ve been mass-producing hand sanitizer and all-purpose sanitizer,” Wiebe says. “Last week, we did a thousand litres, this week we did 4,000 litres. By the end of next week, we should be around 30,000 litres of hand sanitizer.”

The distillery revamped itself, going from single malt to sanitizer in just days.

The sanitizer is being put into 750-ml bottles and 20-litre containers.

Distillers from Shelter Point will be working double shifts over the weeks and months ahead to make enough sanitizer to supply as many health authorities, hospitals, medical centres, municipal and provincial services as possible. 

It’s number one priority is to ensure that first responders have enough supplies “so they can do their jobs and save lives.”

“Really, the front lines were getting it first. The medical clinics, the fire departments, the police stations. The people who aren’t able to stay home during this time. We wanted to make sure that they were able to be as safe as possible. They got the first opportunity for the hand sanitizer,” Wiebe adds.

The distillery has also supplied thousands of bottles to local communities in Campbell River and the Comox Valley.

As the current need is “extraordinary,” it’s doing the best it can to produce as much as possible.

Thousands of litres of grain neutral alcohol, containers and ingredients have been ordered which will allow staff to continue to make sanitizer to an approved World Health Organisation formulation.

To stay updated on the work Shelter Point Distillery is doing, visit its Facebook page.

 

Groclery Service Update

The Grocery Service Update:

We are now ready to take your order for grocery items that will be available for Monday.  Please place orders between 10-3 Sat and 10-1 on Sunday.  Our deadline to get the order in to our supplier is 1 p.m. Sunday.  All  products come directly from our wholesale suppliers and are  premium quality, far superior to what you will find at a national chain store. For the first week we are able to provide you with fresh produce, meat and dairy products.  Other items may also be available, call Jerad for pricing and ordering information.  Call (250) 283-7526.  This  number is reserved for orders only. This is new to all of us and put together very quickly, your patience is greatly appreciated.

 

Provincial Open Burning Ban

The Province has issued an open burning ban that includes the Village of Gold River. The ban is in place until 9 a.m. on April 15, 2020. Open burning includes any backyard burning and open fires (camp fires).

 

Let's Make Some Noise Gold River-Every Night at 7 p.m.

Grab a pot, a drum, a noise maker of your choosing and head outside and make as much noise as you can in appreciation for the doctors, nurses and others who are working the front lines in our fight against Covid-19

Confirmed case of COVID-19 at Campbell River retirement home

There’s now a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Campbell River.

Berwick Retirement Communities says one of their residents has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  That person has been self-isolating in their room at Berwick by the Sea since Tuesday.

Sales and Marketing Director Lesley Sikorski says it’s “working with Island Health to take the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of all residents and staff, as well as those in the broader community.”

Island Health has confirmed that those who came close to the individual have been notified and all necessary steps are being taken.

If you have not been contacted by Public Health, you are not considered at risk of exposure to this individual.

“All of Berwick’s leadership teams are working hard to closely monitor the situation at Berwick by the Sea,” Sikorski says. “All Berwick communities have been diligently preparing for this situation and outbreak protocols have been in place since last week out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff.” 

She says steps are being taken to ensure the virus is contained.

“Berwick Retirement Communities is working rigorously around the clock with Island Health to control and contain the virus. Berwick is also communicating daily with the Communicable Disease Nurse.”

As all staff within the Berwick by the Sea community

 

Western Forest Products temporarily closing mills due to COVID-19

Our battered forest industry is taking another hit.

Starting today, Western Western Forest Products is closing its manufacturing facilities in British Columbia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It’s scheduled to last for up to one week. 

During this time the company says it will re-evaluate business and operating conditions “to determine when these manufacturing operations will resume.” 

“The health and safety of our employees remain our top priority,” said the company’s president and Chief Executive Officer, Don Demens. 

“Western has taken steps to mitigate potential exposure to COVID-19 throughout our operations by implementing strict health and safety protocols. The decision to temporarily curtail manufacturing operations in British Columbia is necessary as we respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation. We will continue to monitor market conditions and government directions in the jurisdictions where we operate and adjust our business as circumstances change.” 

The closure comes roughly a month-and-a-half after the company and the United Steelworkers Union reached a deal, to end the nearly eight-month-long coastal forestry workers strike. 

Packaging and shipping of lumber products will continue to meet customer requirements. 

The company’s Cowichan Bay and Ladysmith sawmills are expected to stay closed into the second quarter due to limited log supply and weak market demand. 

Western will also take steps to minimize its planned capital expenditures in 2020. 

The company plans to incur only safety, environmental and committed capital expenditures in the near-term. 

Going forward, WFP says discretionary capital will remain on hold “until there is greater operational certainty.”

COVID-19 screening clinics open in Campbell River, Comox Valley

COVID-19 screening clinics are now open in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.

They’re by referral and appointment only.

That means you don’t call or go to the clinics unless you’ve been referred by a doctor or an 8-1-1

nurse. 

The  BC Centre for Disease Control says that you should be tested if you have respiratory symptoms and are:

• hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized;

• a health care worker;

• Live in a long-term care facility;

• and part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak.

You don’t need to be tested if you don’t have symptoms, have mild respiratory symptoms that can be managed in self-isolation at home, and are a returning traveller with no symptoms or mild symptoms.

If you have a new fever, dry cough, difficulty breathing, or are worried that you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, the BCCDC has an online self-assessment tool. You can find it here. 

You can also call your doctor or call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to be assessed. 

At the clinics, a triage nurse will assess referred patients over the phone to see if an appointment is needed.

If you are healthy make sure you’re washing your hands frequently, staying home as much as possible, and maintaining a distance of about six feet from others.

You can find more details on the BCCDC’s website or Island Health’s website

Message From Our Mayor

Food Security

In the last couple of days Village Staff have been in contact with most of the grocery stores in Campbell River to discuss this very important issue. They all realize at times over the next few weeks that they may not have everything you need, but they have assured us that they continue to receive inventory as fast as the product can get to them.

As we continue to deal with COVID-19 and we all respect Social Distancing if you are going into town for groceries or another reason, please talk to your neighbors, friends see if there is anything you can pick up for them.

Bob from Highway Delivery has posted he will continue to serve Gold River on Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

Take care everyone!       

 

EDITORS NOTE: Many of the Campbell River Grocery stores and Pharmacies are open early  and restriciting the first hour of business for senior citizens onlly.     

​

Brad Unger, Mayor

Nootka Sound RCMP Update

RCMP operations are at as we head into another week of uncertain times.
1. Our front desk is still closed but our civilian employees (the backbone of our office) are still working answering your calls and questions;
2 Our police officers are still responding to calls for service and where operationally feasible we will call you rather than come to your home. However if there is a danger to life or property we will be coming straight over.
3. We are still enforcing road and public safety statues. So please follow the rules of the road so we can limit how many people you interact with in a day. Win win for all of us 😉
4. The Health Authority has set down some very serious public orders. They are police enforceable so please take them seriously. I can guarantee that neither me nor my colleagues fall into the “Nurse Nightengale” category and our “sick room” is not comfortable. #stayhome
5. Finally - you are all our neighbors and people we care about. If you need us, call us. Stay safe, stay positive and stay connected
Have a safe week everyone

B.C. liquor, cannabis stores still operating, cut hours

It’s business as usual at government-run liquor and cannabis stores.

However, British Columbia Liquor Distribution Branch spokesperson Viviana Zanocco said there have been a few changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve initiated reduced hours for liquor stores yesterday and reduced hours for our cannabis stores today,” she said. “We’re working very hard to make sure that they stay open throughout the COVID-19 situation.”

All B.C. liquor stores across the province will be open from 11:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday and 11:00am to 6:00pm on Sundays. 

On the cannabis side, the store openings are 10:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Saturday and 11:00am to 6:00pm on Sundays.

Zanocco said steps are being taken to protect staff and customers from the virus.

“We are implementing signage and procedures around self distancing, so in cannabis and in liquor stores, there will be dots set out to the lineup for the till. So the person has to stand on the dot and that ensures that there is adequate space between each person in line for service.”

She added that staff are following enhanced cleaning procedures, so there are more frequent wipe-down of such things as door handles, pin pads, and cashier desks.

She said the biggest priority is the safety of the employees and customers.

“To that end we’ll take whatever steps necessary and follow whatever direction (provincial health officer) Dr. Bonnie Henry sends down to make sure that everybody stays safe.”

Zanocco said demand jumped at stores as bars and restaurants started closing, which has been a challenge for staff.

“That’s partly one of the reasons why we took the necessary steps to reduce hours,” she added. “We just didn’t have enough time to stock things. Where we need to, we also have to limit the number of people in the store. That’s part of the social distancing but also part of just, order. We want to make sure we serve people appropriately and well.”

As far as supply, Zanocco doesn’t foresee any disruptions anytime soon.

“We are working with our business partners, suppliers and stakeholders to ensure all our supply chains are not disrupted.”

A Message From Seawatch Medical Clinic Campbell River

Many will agree --we all know it's here!! It's almost a ridiculous conversation. We know because our friends, neighbours, colleagues, and family are among the positive. We hear about cases involving hairdressers, miners, travellers, etc..

But what we don't know is where is the planning for profound measures in an organized community manner. Individuals taking steps for themselves and their families is outstanding, responsible, and necessary...however sadly insufficient.

We would love to see this galvanizing conversation re: official confirmation of positive infections in Campbell River be put to rest and the leadership and decisions necessary to keep us all safe take ACTION. Every day that goes by, risk to health care workers increases. That means nurses everywhere on the front line, our ER docs, our beloved Specialists...and your very own family doctor and MOAs...and every other provider who supports your health. Every day that goes by, the chances of losing someone you love increases.

Campbell River physician needing to remain anonymous to avoid repercussions...does that seem odd to you? If you have had a positive test OR were told by public health you must isolate due to exposure to a positive test and are willing to speak up...please do so!!! Go to the paper. Make it official. LETS MOVE ON!!!! LETS GET MOVING!!!

Please share as you feel comfortable...lets do this!

 

Province launches COVID-19 online assessment tool

The Ministry of Health has launched an online assessment tool for the COVID-19 virus.

It’s designed to determine whether or not you need further assessment or testing. 

You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else if they can’t.

Click here to do the assessment.

It includes questions about symptoms such as severe difficulty breathing, fever, severe chest pain, and trouble waking up, among other things.

It also asks:

• Did you develop symptoms within 14 days of travel outside Canada?

• Did you provide care or have close contact with a person with COVID-19 (probable or confirmed) while they were ill (cough, fever, sneezing, or sore throat)?

• Did you have close contact with a person who travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days who has become ill (cough, fever, sneezing, or sore throat)?

The province urges anyone who has symptoms including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing to self-isolate for 14 days. 

To protect yourself while out in public, wash your hands frequently and maintain a distance of about two metres from others. 

For more information on COVID-19, refer to HealthLink BC’s COVID-19 website.

Vancouver Island doctor wants locations of COVID-19 patients made public

CAMPBELL RIVER -- B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Bonnie Henry continue to stand side-by-side to give daily updates on the growing COVID-19 situation, but at least two health professionals on the mid-island are calling for more transparency.

A Courtenay physician, Dr. Tanja Daws, posted information on her Facebook account over the weekend to provide her facts on the quickly spreading virus and to dispel some commonly held myths.

She also confirmed that the Comox Valley had at least one person who has tested positive for COVID-19, something that hasn't been divulged on official channels.

As of Monday, the B.C. government said that there were eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Island Health region but did not specify where.

The provincial government has said that it does not divulge precise locations of positive tests due to concerns over patient confidentiality. Additionally, the Health Ministry says that people who are self-isolating are no longer a danger to their communities so their locations are not important.

But Daws believes if members of the public know the virus is in their community they will take the matter more seriously.

"The evidence we have from Italy, Korea and China is that people should self-isolate and every day we wait, there's a 40 per cent higher rate of people who get the virus," Daws said.

Daws believes that if more people know the virus is active in their community, they will do more social distancing – something people may not yet be doing because they don't think their community is affected.

That's a sentiment echoed by a Campbell River Hospital worker who reached out to CTV News, frustrated that locations are not being given out.

The worker, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job, says there was a positive COVID-19 diagnosis on Thursday in Campbell River. However, the patient's doctor and hospital staff were told not to talk about it.

"He was shut down and was told he's not allowed to speak of these things and everyone who was involved in that case was also told that their jobs could be at stake if they were informing the public that we now have the coronavirus here in town," the source said.

The hospital worker says confirmation came through a staff meeting at the Campbell River Hospital Monday morning, where staff were told that there were many cases on the North Island but that those involved were all self-isolating.  

Island Health launches new visitor restrictions amid coronavirus

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow across B.C., Island Health has launched a new series of restrictions at hospitals and health care facilities.

Effective immediately, all patients, families and Island Health staff are being asked to abide by the provincial health officer’s recommendations of social distancing and visitors at health facilities are asked to come in small numbers.

“We understand the importance of visits from family and loved ones to our patients and long-term care residents and we appreciate your support in helping to keep everyone safe,” said Island Health in a release

Monday.     

Besides limiting the number of visitors at health facilities, Island Health is completely restricting anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or who has been in contact with someone who was infected with COVID-19 in the previous 14 days from making visits.

Additionally, anyone who is feeling ill is asked not to come to any health facility, especially if symptoms include: fever, cough, runny/stuffy nose, sore throat and/or diarrhea.

Island Health’s new visitor restrictions are:

•  1 adult caregiver/support person at hospital emergency departments, intensive care/critical care areas

•  1 adult caregiver/support person at perinatal units

•  2 adult caregivers/support persons at neonatal ICU

•  2 adult caregivers/support persons at inpatient pediatric and adult areas

•  1 adult caregiver/support person at inpatient areas, with additional precautions in place

•  1 adult caregiver/support person at primary and urgent care centres

•  1 adult caregiver/support person at outpatient clinics

•  2 adult caregivers/support persons at long-term care homes

•  Patients and family members can arrange special accomodations with Infection Prevention and Control for people in palliative and end-of-life care

Island Health says that signage will be placed at the entrances of all health care facilities so that visitors know what restrictions are in place, depending who they are visiting.

“While there are confirmed cases in the province, the risk to British Columbians and Vancouver Islanders remains low,” says Island Health.

 

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Ridge Free In-Town Delvery Wednesday March 18th

It's Chinese Food Night tomorrow night ( march 18) at The Ridge And we will be offering free in-town delivery for Chinese food and all menu items. Free delivery between 5-8 p.m., for trips out of Gold River, there will be a small delivery fee.

 

Latest Jurassic World movie lands in Vancouver Island park for filming

A movie production unit for the next Jurassic World sequel captured aerial scenes amid the giants of Cathedral Grove last week while letting no moss gather underfoot.

Word of the location shoot spread quickly after notices were posted in the park Wednesday advising that some trails might be briefly closed to the public “if a drone is in use.”

Gramercy Film Productions has begun shooting scenes for Jurassic World 3 in various B.C. locations over the next few weeks. One of the company’s mobile units had a two-day park use permit for the Vancouver Island provincial park.

“They’re here,” a Nanaimo fan, Neesha (@akajb84), tweeted. “Not much to really take pics of. Saw the drone. Would love to fly one of those.”

Gramercy maintains what is known in the industry as a “closed set,” meaning no media coverage is allowed anywhere near production activities. Evidently, the shoot also had a tight time frame because crew and signs were gone without a trace by Thursday morning.

Starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, Jurassic World 3 goes by the working title of Arcadia on Creative B.C.’s list of all current film and TV projects in the province.

This will be the sixth sequel in the long-running Jurassic Park franchise. The Jurassic World series began in 2015 and this last film in the trilogy is headed for release in June 2021.

In an interview Wednesday with Ellen Degeneres, Pratt revealed three members of the original 1993 Jurassic Park cast — Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum — reprise their roles in this sequel. Colin Trevorrow returns as director and executive producer alongside Steven Spielberg.

Production moved onto the B.C. Interior on Thursday. An open casting call was issued earlier this month in Merritt for area residents to play “workers, fishermen and townsfolk.”

While Gramercy obtained a special permit, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are not normally allowed in provincial parks. UAV operators have to obtain permission to take off or land in any B.C. park or protected area.

Joan Miller, director of Vancouver Island North Film Commission, consulted with the movie’s publicist Friday and confirmed she cannot comment on the production at this time.

Controversy grows as Vancouver Island’s herring fishery approaches

Anticipation is growing in French Creek’s harbour as herring boats began to fill it Wednesday ahead of the fishery opening. The opening could be any day. Fisheries and Oceans test boats have already recorded herring returning to spawn. “Could be any minute now, you know Mother Nature is temperamental,” said Captain of the Pender Isle Jason Roberts. “I’m a third-generation [fisherman] and I love it. I came back to do it and here I am and herring fishing means a lot to us.”Roberts is one of the hundreds waiting anxiously to start fishing.

 

A group is organizing against the herring fishery as well, due to declining salmon stocks and the dire state of the southern resident orca population. Herring Aid is planning a rally to oppose it on Sunday in Qualicum Beach. “It once was a celebration and we all enjoyed watching the fish boats and the fishers go out,” said Herring Aid member Sheri Plummer. “And I think at some point we realized that this was not sustainable.”

“I think DFO is failing us in this instance,” aid Herring Aid member Rich Ronyecz.

 

“They’re not using precautionary measures to protect chinook salmon, and the orcas and their food supply which is herring,” he said.Since the salmon fishery was so dismal in 2019, both sides of this debate say the stakes in the herring harvest are higher than ever. “Family at home depends on it,” said Roberts.

“Got a lot of skin in the game and if the fishery doesn’t happen, I might lose everything.”

 

Telus Brings New Wireless Service To Gold River & Tahsis

Vancouver, B.C. – TELUS has invested $2 million to build two new cell sites in Gold River and Tahsis, bringing vital wireless voice and Internet services to these west coast Vancouver Island communities for the first time. In addition to this investment, TELUS is collaborating with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation to upgrade wireless services in the community of Tsaxana later this year.

​

“Tahsis and Gold River are vibrant communities with an entrepreneurial spirit – they are gateways to West Coast adventure that welcome visitors from all over the world,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and MLA for the North Island. “This technology is important for our coastal communities and their strong tourism sectors. Improved connectivity will also help businesses.”

“Gold River is very excited to finally have cell coverage,” said Gold River Mayor Brad Unger. “This will definitely increase Tourism and business opportunities in the future. It will also be a huge benefit for our protective services (Police, Fire, Ambulance and Health Clinic). We have worked with TELUS for many years to achieve this strategic priority. Thanks for your investment in Gold River TELUS.”“Tahsis is celebrating the arrival of cell service as increased connectivity is central to promoting our community’s economic development, especially tourism. TELUS heard our pitch for cell service and delivered,” said Mayor Martin Davis of Tahsis.

 

Tiny Homes For Gold River? An Idea To Be Considered?

The small town of Stephenville in Newfoundland has been embraced the idea of small homes.  

Stephenville town council only had to change the wording to "smaller than 750 square feet" to allow Hickey to build tiny homes on his 13 tiny lots.

Property taxes are lower, but the mayor hopes this trendy living idea will attract new people to the area.

"That's good revenue to the town. It's bringing in new people and bringing attention to Stephenville, and I think it's the right thing to do," said Rose.    Read the full story here  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/tiny-homes-turn-tiny-town-into-a-trendy-place-to-live-1.4828752?fbclid=IwAR0dv1nOM8YmX1nmqXwP9Ns3KLc9tUcH_7sdhTUvx6xmGeNoZFYIa2tGyJs

 

Support your fellow villager and vote for Nikida Donaldson

Nikida wants to be Ink Magazines Cover girl but she needs your vote.  Vote now and vote often.

 

Click Here

 

 

City of Campbell River to host family events leading up to Hometown Hockey Tour

The City of Campbell River and several community organizations are hosting family fun events leading up to the arrival of the Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour.

And, it’s all free.

The tour is making a stop at the Maritime Heritage Centre on the weekend of Mar. 21st and 22nd.

“Everyone is welcome to get involved by joining in on pre-festival activities and events,” says Mayor Andy Adams. “This is a great opportunity to get together with family, friends and neighbours to celebrate our shared passion for hockey and sport in general.”

There will be a game of pop-up road hockey, musical entertainment at Spirit Square, as well as a free swim and skate at Strathcona Gardens on the Friday of the festival weekend.

Beginning Mar. 9th, you can register your family, school or workplace for the Paint the Town Red contest.

Prizes include VIP passes to tour the Rogers Sportsnet Mobile Studio for families and workplaces.

For schools or classrooms that participate, a pizza party will be awarded for up to 30 students at the Strathcona Gardens pool or arena.

“We encourage everyone to start thinking about how to show off your hockey spirit as part of this contest. Get creative with sports jerseys, hockey sticks and re-usable materials in all colours, and especially, lots of red,” Adams adds.

The city will be sharing more details about the contest in the near future.

Campbell River’s local organizing committee involves Minor Hockey, the Chamber of Commerce, School District 72, Strathcona Regional District, Destination Campbell River as well as the city.

Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour will visit 25 communities this hockey season and Campbell River is its only stop on Vancouver Island.

To learn more about the upcoming tour, visit this website.

 

Click Here

 

 

Aquaculture vessel to remove sea lice from farmed salmon

A new 70-metre vessel equipped with technology to remove sea lice from farmed salmon has arrived in B.C. from Norway to work for Grieg Seafood B.C. Ltd.

The Ronja Islander is moored at Ogden Point near Victoria and will service Grieg’s Atlantic-salmon farms around Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

Lice occur naturally in the environment, but farm critics worry they multiply at fish farms and put wild stocks at risk.

“It is our responsibility to make sure we do not allow [sea lice] to harbour on farm sites and increase in number,” said Dean Trethewey, Grieg’s seawater production director. “Because when the smolts are ready to go back out to the ocean in March, April, May and June, we need to make sure our [sea lice] numbers are very, very low.”

The ship – a kind of closed aquarium – will be doing battle with parasitic lice latched onto farmed salmon.

Huge hoses will suck salmon out of net pens into the ship’s hold to be immersed in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and sea water for 20 minutes, before being flushed back into pens.

About 90 to 95 per cent of lice will be removed, Trethewey said.

Ultra-fine filters capture lice, which will be incinerated on board.

The entire process will typically take about two hours. It was designed to be as gentle as possible on fish, he said.

The latest technology is used on the custom-built 2019 vessel, which Grieg has chartered for five years, Trethewey said. That includes ultraviolet light to disinfect the water and kill viruses – a major concern among fish-farm critics.

About 50,000 fish can be treated at the same time in the hold, which has a capacity of 1,800 cubic metres, he said.

Expedition to probe Pacific salmon survival

An international scientific expedition aimed at unlocking the hows and whys of Pacific salmon survival in the Gulf of Alaska amid fears for their future is sailing out of Victoria in March.

“While we recognize that ocean and climate conditions are major factors regulating salmon abundances, the mechanisms regulating abundances in the ocean are not known,” B.C. scientists Richard Beamish and Brian Riddell said in a January report outlining this year’s cruise plan.

Ocean ecosystems are changing — the Blob has reappeared, bringing warm water to the Gulf of Alaska.

Don’t mistake this expedition for a luxury cruise. Winter storms and high seas are expected in the north Pacific Ocean.

Scientists are seeking to provide more accurate forecasts of salmon returns during what Beamish and Riddell say might be the most difficult time in recent history for stewardship of Pacific salmon. They want to understand what affects salmon out in the ocean, where they spend three-quarters of their lives.

The survey takes place as B.C. fishermen fear disastrous returns this year following poor returns for much of the coast last year.

The Pacific Salmon Commission said the 2019 Fraser River sockeye return of 485,000 was the lowest in recorded history. Numbers were far below the 2009 collapse which sparked the Cohen Commission.

The chartered 37-metre commercial trawler Pacific Legacy No. 1 will carry 12 scientists from Canada, Russia and the U.S. It leaves Victoria on March 11, returning April 4.

This is the second such survey. The first international expedition took place early in 2019 and a third is set for 2021.

Following the first survey, “What we did see was very consistent with what came back in 2019 for the adult returns,” Riddell said.

For example, when it came to chum salmon, “by country of origin and by age, our samples were exactly consistent to the lack of return in B.C.,” he said.

Scientists will be testing hypotheses as they collect a wide range of data, including ocean conditions, the depths at which salmon are found, and the types of tiny ocean creatures they consume. The latest survey will help confirm and build on interpretations from the first, including understanding how the winter ecosystem affects B.C. salmon numbers, the report said.

Scientists will be looking to identify rearing areas for different species of Pacific salmon and their numbers.

One objective is to study juvenile salmon in their first winter at sea.

“What we are learning is that [for] a fish to get out there and to survive that winter out there, it has to have an energy store that it would pick up in the early marine periods,” Beamish said.

Last year, they learned that young sockeye in their first year in the ocean will migrate out into the middle of the North Pacific, a distribution similar to steelhead.

DNA testing showed that a sockeye caught out in that area in February had made a mind-boggling journey.

That fish originated from Chilko Lake on the Chilcotin Plateau, Beamish said. It would have crossed the Chilcotin to Williams Lake where it joined the Fraser River.

The survey’s catch of Fraser River sockeye in their second (spawning) year were “very poor, possibly an indication of the resulting historic low return,” the expedition plan report said.

Beamish, emeritus scientist at the federal Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo, and Riddell, science adviser for the Pacific Salmon Foundation in Vancouver, have raised more than $1 million in support for the upcoming survey from the provincial and federal governments, U.S. and B.C. seafood sectors, fish farmers, and non-profit groups, such the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the Salmon Foundation, which is managing the financial end.

Individuals donating to this year’s effort include Catie Bursch, of Homer, Alaska.

Every season, Bursch, her husband and two adult daughters travel 560 kilometres to fishing grounds in Bristol Bay on the eastern edge of the Bering Sea to go after red salmon — what we know as sockeye.

A desire to protect Pacific salmon and to give her daughters a future prompted Bursch to donate a percentage of her income after she flew to a Seattle conference and heard Beamish speak to industry. She’s keeping the total confidential.

“They’ve lost salmon everywhere and so if we do everything the same we are just going to lose them,” she said.

“But now we have climate change, too. For sustainable salmon, we’ve got to know what the changing ocean is going to mean to them.”

 

North Island MLA says throne speech ‘builds upon work’ NDP government started

February 16, 2020

North Island MLA Claire Trevena is pleased with the province’s latest throne speech.

The speech marks the start of legislative sessions in B.C., and details the government’s accomplishments and plans.

Trevena said the speech builds upon the work that the NDP government started two-and-a-half years ago.

“Really focusing on the people of British Columbia and trying to make life better for them,” Trevena said. “I think that people are starting to feel that difference of a government that puts people first and I think that will just continue on some of that work.”

The speech said that since July 2017, the government has moved forward on 13 hospital projects, and opened 12 urgent and primary care centres.

Trevena said these centres take the pressure off hospital emergency rooms, where people oftentimes don’t have their own doctor.

“They’ll go straight up to an emergency room and that really does cause problems for the healthcare system, so (with) these emergency, urgent care centres, you can go, you can get diagnosed and know whether you do need to go to hospital or not go to hospital. It is really a way of triaging for many people and a really excellent way of quick intervention.”

Also in the speech was our cellphone costs. It says that later this month, B.C. government representatives will travel to Ottawa to fight for more affordable cellphone plan options and transparency in billing.

Trevena said cellphone bills are a huge issue for British Columbians.

“You see the massive bills, you see different contracts offer different things, and nobody really knows what they’re getting, in addition to the fact that in Canada, we pay some of the highest cellphone fees pretty well anywhere,” Trevena said.

“So what we’re looking at is how we can make sure we have transparency so we know what’s happening so we can really start that next step to make sure people get a fair deal on their cellphone.”

The speech also spoke about the LNG Canada project – the largest private-sector investment in Canadian history.

It went to say that while work on the project gets underway ‘this government is seeking ways to reduce emissions overall.’

“We are committed to the project that we have for LNG, for the province,” Trevena said. “When proponents come forward it’s going to be really making transformational change for the province. The investment that we will be making there… it will bring literally billions of dollars to the province which will fund healthcare, it will fund education, it will fund all the things that people really depend on in British Columbia.”

She said having a “massive private sector development like this will really ensure that will go forward.”

Trevena said another topic of the speech, reconciliation, is a “very long process.”