Gabriola Island Real Estate

“Be a tourist in your own backyard”

PHC Home and Garden Tour this Sunday

Derek Kilbourn
derek@soundernews.com
Tuesday, June 22 2010

Ten homes in all, with nine also featuring their gardens, have been put on the route for the 12th annual PHC Home and Garden Tour, this coming Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To find out what homes are on the self-guided tour, one must purchase a tour guide.

Kathryn Molloy, Executive Director for People for a Healthy Community said, “There are quite a few things that are different this year. I’m really excited to see an alternative home, a straw-bale hybrid, on the tour this year.

“PHC is also on the tour this year, people can come here, use the washrooms and see the gardens here at the Commons including the new food bank garden.”

Already, Kathryn has had phone calls from off-island, including one tour attendee from Ontario who has organized a vacation around the Home and Garden tour’s date.

“It’s a big fundraiser for PHC, this will help us on our year-end, for us it is general revenue, not targeted, so we can use it for the food bank which always needs funds.”

Donations for the food bank will be accepted at the PHC office, but Kathryn said she hadn’t checked with homeowners so please don’t expect to be able to drop food anywhere else on the tour.

She thanked the volunteers who make the tour happen, including “people like Diana Mumford who has done this every year as a volunteer -12 years she has organized it.” said Kathryn.

“We really want to thank her, as well as the group of 65 people who volunteer just for this event and the volunteers that take on really significant organizational jobs. For so many other organizations these would be staff jobs. Months of planning that go in to this.

“PHC couldn’t do it viably as a fundraiser if it weren’t for the volunteers because it would take so much time. We wouldn’t be able to do this were it not for the volunteers.”

There are 500 tickets for sale.

“What blows me away is these home owners are volunteering to have 500 people go through their homes,” said Kathryn.

“Not everyone makes it to every place, but we encourage people to make a day of it. You know how they are encouraging people to be a tourist in their own town? Well, here’s an opportunity to make a day of going around Gabriola.”

There is a blind auction for artwork, with three pieces up fr bidding.

The Gicle print from Sylve Milman (see left), a photo from Liz McKnight, and a crow painting from Jeff Molloy will be up for auction.

The tour will be this Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 10am - 5pm

$20 tickets are available on Gabriola at Artworks, Lockwood Garden, Wheelbarrel Nursery and Wild Rose Garden Centre. In Nanaimo tickets are available at Buckerfield’s and Dig This

For more information, contact Kathryn at 250 247 7311, info@phc-gabriola.org or on the web at phc-gabriola.org.

Proposal will require subdivision and re-zoning

Derek Kilbourn
derek@soundernews.com
Tuesday, June 22 2010

After finding that the WI Hall site will not meet the requirements of the proposed building, the Gabriola Health Care Society and Foundation has now been offered a partnership with the Coats family to construct the proposed Medical and Emergency clinic on South Road adjacent to the Madrona/old TnT property.

That was the news announced to members at the GHCS and GHCF Annual General Meeting held this past Thursday night at the Roxy.

Building Committee Chair, Ian Brownlie, explained that there were at least nine sites examined in the process of trying to find a site for the new clinic - but almost all of the sites were either too small, zoned incorrectly or unavailable for the time being.

Ian said, “One would think finding a site on an island with as much land as Gabriola would be simple - I thought so - look around you, there’s plenty of space.

“But there’s little things called zoning and when you ask the Trust what a clinic would be zoned under it is IN3.”

IN3 being ‘Institutional 3’ - required for the clinic because it includes ‘urgent care medical clinic.’

Ian explained the goal has always been to look for land close to the village centre.

But when the building committee started looked at the zoning around the village there are only a few properties with the right IN3 zoning, or large enough, to make re-zoning to IN3 potentially possible.

The Coats lot, sized at around 25 acres, is currently zoned large rural residential.

In order to have a lot subdivided off the LRR, the lot minimum size will need to be 1 ha (2.47 acres)

According to Islands Trust staff only the Trust office, the Fire Hall and the Emcon properties are zoned IN3.

The WI Hall site, offered by the Gabriola Women’s Institute last November as a site for the proposed clinic, is currently zoned IN1.

Ian explained the lot is too small to put the proposed 4,000 square foot clinic on. By the time the building and required parking were put in, no matter how the designers worked their magic, all the trees as well as the current WI Hall would need to be moved to meet the various codes.

He added that they had considered the old clinic area and house adjacent to Arbutus - but that, “was going to cost, land alone, about $400K.”

Ian said, “Thanks to the Coats family, we’ve had a really excellent offer.

“They have made a very generous offer to the society. It will still need subdividing and it will still need zoning changes.

“But it is certainly in the right place. with good access and is adjacent to the Village area.

“I think it is the best offer we’ve had to date - I thank the Coats family, particularly Clyde who is here tonight, for his generosity and his family’s generosity.”

Gabriola Health Care Society’s Brenda Fowler said in meeting with planning staff and from what she has heard from the Ministry of Transport, the site is looking good. In an ideal world, she said, re-zoning can take as little as six months, but can also take up to two years. She hopes to have the process done within about eight months.

“Currently the GHCS has a letter from the Fire Chief - he is in support of this site. BC Ambulance have been asked for a letter of support fro this site as well as GESS.

“The letters will go in with the re-zoning application package.

“I would ask if we could make a motion for this site and vote on it so that we can say this group of people have considered this site and that our two organizations are in favour of this site.”

The motion carried.

Clyde said he was happy to be working with the health care society but that, “you need to make things work for me - we need to keep the access road between telus and your lot.

“I would suggest you make the lot a little bigger than you need right now so you have the room to add on in the future.”

Clyde also offered to help with the lot getting water and he already has the site checked and knows where the sewage may be best collected.

Brenda said she wanted to make sure the Society said, “a special thank you to the Women’s Institute. Without their offer, we wouldn’t be where we are. Without their offer of the property we couldn’t answer the question of where it was going to be, or when we would finally get started.

“With that offer, we were able to turn that corner, we moved our slow moving train out of the station onto the fast track.”

Derek Kilbourn
derek@soundernews.com
Monday, June 28 2010

With the coming long weekend, Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary Chair Nancy Nevison wanted to remind the public that there are many ways to donate to the proposed emergency and medical clinic.

Along with all the specific events being planned by the Auxiliary, there are ways to donate on a daily basis.

The Co-op Gas Card - when one shops at the Gabriola Co-op gas station, if one uses the Health Care Co-op number, the membership benefits will then go to the Auxiliary. That number being 611459.

The Health Care Auxiliary has also now been approved to receive proceeds through the Village Food Market Community Card program - when one charges $100 to a Village Food Market Community Card for shopping at the store, if the Health Care Society is the charity of choice, 5% of the $100 will go to the clinic.

At the Slice of Life Gallery in Madrona Marketplace, Maarten Pererra has designated pieces of artwork with percentages of the proceeds to go to the Heath Care Society.

And then there are the social enterprises that are being run out of the Health Care Village office.

Nancy will be preparing floral arrangements for sale. Those who pre-order floral arrangements though the Health Care Auxiliary will be provided tax receipts in the amount of the net proceeds of the purchase.

Don Butt has brought in various prints of west coast photography for sale in the office, with proceeds going to the Health Care Foundation.

And starting on Canada Day, ice cream will be available for purchase at the Health Care office.

A fig tree has taken over as the tree in the ‘Branching out’ campaign in the Health Care Village Office. Added to the office is a multimedia wall sculpture - donated to the Auxiliary by a generous Gabriolan.

Originally in 1993 the unnamed donor paid $1,200, so anything over $600 will hang it in your home.

There is going to be an eclectic collection of items going up on eBay consisting of items donated to the Auxiliary.

All proceeds will go to the Auxiliary. If anyone out there has an item they would like to donate to the Auxiliary for sale, please contact the Auxiliary office.

Nancy added, “All this excitement means we need to extend our hours and that means we need more of you to volunteer a couple of hours each week.

“I will be training every day from 2-4pm – please let me know when you are available, and consider asking a friend or family member to buddy up with you. Student letters available.

“Volunteering is the best way to show your support, be informed, and have fun! CAll Nancy Nevison – Auxiliary Chair, Volunteer’s Office (250) 325-7215”

With the passing of the annual budget, the Islands Trust Council has approved $20,000 for the purpose of preparing a hazard land/slope assessment study for Gabriola Island for the Official Community Plan and revisions to the Development Permit Area regulations.

Island Planner Pat Maloney reported to the Local Trust Committee last week that having the hazard slope mapping will mean much more accurate information being available when development permits are applied for.

“We’re finding the mapping [done previously for Gabriola] was 100% accurate.

“Policies and regulations are really minimal, the mapping only deals with slopes that are 80% or more, that’s almost cliff-like.

“We want to have a little more scientific approach, checking on the soil and rock stability.”

She stressed there was nothing done wrong in the past, but modern surveying combined with the funding from the Council will allow for greater accuracy of slopes on the island.

The entire island will be mapped - survey crews will be required to get landowners permission to come on to private property.

In addition to the slopes themselves, the top and toe of slopes (the areas above and below steep slopes) will be measured.

Pat said this is of importance as, “Technically if you are 75% grade you can keep digging right up to the edge of it.

“So someone at the toe [bottom] of the slope would do some gardening and landscaping, put up a retaining wall and before you know it we’d have a slide.

“I think this is an opportunity to put in better protection around the slopes on the island.”

When the budget process started, Pat had been given a $6,500 budget to work with on the mapping.

She credited trustees Sheila Malcolmson and Deborah Ferens with going to bat at the Trust Council table to get the higher amount of money for the mapping.

Pat hopes to have the tender out for crews within the month, and is looking to bring the completed mapping back to the Local Trust Committee in September.

Sheila added that this is something that was identified two terms ago by the local trustees as a project needing to be done, saying it was also a concern of the local realtors.

Jennifer Lynch, Manager, Coast Realty

Group, Gabriola Village Ltd, said the news the mapping would be done was, “fantastic.”

“Right now what’s happening is when we have properties in the development permit area, the buyer or seller contracts a surveyor to come in and make sure that the slope isn’t 80% or greater.”

She explained the cost per property ranged from $400 to $450.

As this will cover every piece of property on Gabriola, Jennifer recommends owners allow the surveyors to do their work.

“Even if people aren’t selling right now, they’re going to need to know, if they ever put it on the market, it could be an issue.

While developed properties which are looking at making changes will benefit from this mapping, Jennifer said, “The most significant is the undeveloped properties

“Those are the ones where people are cutting down trees, for the view or something.

“This is great news, just fantastic.”

The Gabriola Sounder - April 19th 2010

The Gabriola Local Trust Committee is one step closer to meeting provincial requirements for climate change targets, after passing first readings of bylaw amendments for the Gabriola, Mudge and DeCourcy Official Community Plans.

For Gabriola, the target will be a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020 and 85% by 2050 from 2007 levels.

This is in line with the provincial recommendations, although Trustees and members of the Advisory Planning Commission have said it is difficult to really establish what the levels are without having a complete inventory of emissions to work with.

After meeting with Mudge and DeCourcy residents on March 20, the targets will now be set, per capita, in comparison with the Canadian average.

The resolutions for Mudge and DeCourcy being to achieve by 2020 and 2050, resident per capita emission levels of 50% or less than the per canadian capita average of 2020 and 2050 respectively as measured from the baseline of when the emission inventory is completed.

The change for Mudge and Decourcy came after trustees heard that for small populations such as the two islands have, achieving further reductions of GHG emissions will be difficult. The provincial requirements do permit the islands to instead have a per capita target based on averages.

Critics of the ‘per capita’ method point out measurements do not include ‘per capita’ emissions for off-island property owners emissions in whatever location they spend the rest of the year.

Trustee Sheila Malcolmson pointed out that even if island residents are living elsewhere in the province, their emission impact will be measured there by that local government.

She also pointed out that while there are some parts of the proposed amendments that are still of concern to the trustees and the APC members, “these very well may not all proceed, but we won’t know until we put them out there which are too much and which will be saved for the OCP review consultations.

“We can remove things after public hearings, but we can’t add them.”

Bill 27 requires all local governments to include greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, as well as policies and actions to achieve those targets, in their official community plans.

The province set May 31, 2010 as the deadline for the Bill 27 amendments to be in place.

The Gabriola APC had recommended the LTC seek ways to get an extension to try and get a better idea of what the Gabriola emission levels are at, but Trustee’s said the province is holding tight on to the May 31 deadline.

All three amendments will now go to a public hearing prior to second and third readings to then go forward to Trust Council prior to May 31.

Time and location of the public hearings to be announced at a later date by Trust Council.

The proposed bylaw amendments to the Official Community Plans will be available for public reading on the Trust web site at www.islandstrust.bc.ca under the Gabriola Island section.

The Gabriola Sounder - April 19th 2010

I’d like to start by remembering Lt. Tom Upton, who passed away 4 years ago last week, during a training session in Comox. Tom and his family Brenda and Zak are always on our minds. The potential for death or injury is always present for our volunteers.

I know that Gabriolans appreciate the work we do for them at all hours of the day or night. The feedback we receive is always welcome.

During 2009 we responded 265 times to callouts, some more serious than others, they break down as follows: (Calls to December 31, 2008: 197)

2009 breakdown;

10 - Alarms activated*

25 - Burn Complaints**

5 - Fire - brush

5 - Fire Chimney

6 - Fire Structure

139 - `First Responder - medical calls

15 - Hydro related

29 - Investigations

7 - M.V.A.

24 - Other - Chief/Duty Officer responses

* Something that is starting to be a nuisance and may require a charge to owners for repeat activations.

** Repeated smoky fire complaints are now forwarded to the Ministry of Environment.

We had a spike of structure fires at the beginning of the year, but they tapered off and we had a relatively quite year fire wise.

We received delivery of 2 new trucks we had on order.

A pumper #3 for Hall 2, a CAFS equipped vehicle carrying 2000 gallon of water

Tanker #2, a 3000 gallon water supply vehicle, is stationed here at Hall 1.

In 2006 we were successful in acquiring our Superior Tanker Shuttle Accreditation, which saved residential homeowners $300 - $600 on their home insurance costs.

Within the next couple of years we will be required to re-certify in order to keep this status. The purchase of the 3000 gallon No. 2 tanker, which replaced a 1976, 1500 gallon truck, was designed to ensure we could easily maintain the 200 gpm for 2 hours requirement.

Unfortunately, the F.U.S. intend’s to up the water supply requirements from 200 - 265 gpm. We will be practising to determine if we are able to still perform to the new requirement, but if not another large tanker will need to be purchased. The cost of these trucks still offset the savings realized by our community, especially compared to the installation of a water supply and a network of hydrants that cities must install.

During our current O.C.P. review there has been a lot of talk about changing the community dynamic, by allowing secondary suites to be constructed and rented out.

I would like to remind the public that our insurance rating is based on our ‘single family’ dwellings status, and a change to this would most certainly have an effect on our insurance rating.

It is important to remember that Gabriola was subdivided severely in the early 70’s, and that around 800 lots still sit empty, and there is the potential for around 800 secondary cottages on large acreages to be built. That translates to around 1600 more families and all of the impact they will bring. Allowing secondary suites without the impact of the other being known would, in my opinion, be irresponsible.

During this past year, we have received plans for the new No. 1 fire hall. The cost estimate came in higher than we felt comfortable with, and we are now in the process of finding ways to significantly reduce the cost.

We have also been approached by local groups that are working to improve an existing island infrastructure, such as the GHCS.

This brought to our Trustee’s attention that we did not have a land use policy in place to deal with such requests. The Trustees have now passed a new policy which outlines the requirements that must be met before any long term lease of GFPID property will be considered.

I would like to introduce our present Board of Trustees:

Albert Reed - in his 13th year as Trustee, is an Electrical and Fire Protection Engineer. He worked closely with me over the years to ensure our department went in the right direction to make possible improvements, like our FUS rating.

David Swanson - in his 10th year as a Trustee. Is a retired college teacher and educational consultant, and a writer. His term is up this year, and has agreed to allow his name to stand for another term.

Bob McKechnie - in his 6th years as a Trustee, is a retired Mechanical Engineer.

Al Barton - in his 6th year as a Trustee, is a retired Fire Officer from Edmonton International airport.

Jeremy Baker - in his 5th year as a Trustee, has a Master in Marine, Environmental Science, and is a local business man and well known observer of all things Gabriola. His term is up this year and he also has agreed to allow his name to stand.

Sandra Rudischer - in her 5th year as Trustee, is our local Credit Union Manager.

And finally, Mark Noyon - in his 4th year as Trustee and current Chair person, has a Masters in Environmental Engineering and is an instructor at Vancouver Island University. He was a volunteer firefighter here on Gabriola for 5 years.

I’d like to thank our board of Trustees for their dedication to this worthy endeavour.

And finally the hard working volunteer Firefighters. Thank you for your time and dedication. I am constantly impressed with how you rise to the occasion, day or night, to assist our people when they are most in need.

Editor’s note: Both Jeremy and David were re-elected to the Board of Trustees by those present at the Annual General Meeting held last Wednesday night.

The Gabriola Sounder - April 19th 2010

BC Ferries announced mid-way through last week that the MV Quinsam will be delayed in returning to service by up to four weeks due to issues with the propellors and right-angle drive units.

The Quinsam has been gone from the Nanaimo-Gabriola route since late last October when she was taken to Richmond for the second-half of her mid-life refit.

Deborah Marshall, BC Ferries Media spokesperson, said there is also some additional crew training that the corporation would like to have done, but that this will only account for a couple days of the delay.

“Right now we’re working with the engine manufacturer to adjust the pitch on the propellors. The angle of the blades are not achieving the speed that they should be, so we’re going to work with them on that.”

In addition to the propellors, she said, “there are also some alterations to make to the right-angle drive units, it’s a cooling issue there.”

Repairs will be done either in Departure Bay, Nanaimo or the ship will be taken back to the Deas shipyard in Richmond. The Quinsam won’t have to go in to dry dock. Deborah explained the ship is built so the drives can be removed either one by one or all four at once without taking the ship out of the water.

The Quinsam is now expected to return to service the week of May 17, ahead of the May Long Weekend.

Goodbye to Grey contest

Deadline April 24th, 2010

The Gabriola Arts Council, BC Ferries, and the Gabriola Ferry Advisory Committee are excited to provide an opportunity for a Gabriola Artist to showcase their work at the Gabriola Island Ferry Terminal by painting the electrical kiosk located in the ferry parking lot. The successful candidate will have included a detailed sketch of their proposal incorporating one of the following themes: a) West Coast Living; b) Marine Life ;c) Wildlife

The project must be completed or substantially underway by May 22nd, 2010.

BC Ferries has generously donated $3,000 in prize money for the winning entry. Entry forms and detailed guidelines can be picked up at the Arts Council desk in Artworks.

For further information contact Kathy at artworks@gabriolaartworks.com — please use BC Ferries Contest as the subject line.

The Gabriola Sounder - April 19th 2010

Between Earth Day (April 22) and Mother’s Day, the Get Out Migration will be walking from Sointula to Victoria to raise awareness about the state of the Wild Salmon in BC. Alexandra Morton, who is leading the migration and is a well-known activist for wild salmon and the coastal waters of BC, will be on Gabriola May 4th and 5th, before her walk to Victoria.

“I am humbled by the response from people around the world,” said Alexandra Morton, who was honoured at the 2010 WINGS ‘Women of Discovery Awards’ in New York, an event hosted by Uma Thurman.

“Governments forced this industry into places many, many people tried to protect. I think this is why this has become a movement in which individuals are forming their own migrations, like the salmon. People know wild salmon are a life-support system for First Nations, our forests, bears, eagles, orcas, communities and our local economies. As we stand up for our fish, juvenile wild salmon are running the gauntlet past salmon farms once again, and will again be burdened with disease and sea lice. Norwegian salmon farms have become the gatekeepers. The government has that said salmon farms are good for us, but look again. The way this industry has been run is a huge mistake. The government should offer a safety net for salmon farm families by moving salmon farming onto land, allowing a Canadian industry to develop. This could allow wild salmon stocks to be restored.

The tragedy of the commons is very common, but we do not have to be this tragedy.”

The itinerary for Alexandra’s visit to Gabriola to date (April 10, 2010):

Tuesday May 4th, 7pm Alexandra will give a talk at the Agi Hall.

Our Islands Trustee, Sheila Malcolmson will introduce Alexandra.

Wednesday morning May 5th about 9:45am there will be a walk with

Alexandra in the Village area. Everyone is invited to join in. The walk will leave the GES area and go up North Road to the Post Office, down South Road to Lochinvar, across on Lochinvar to North Road, and then back to GES.

After the morning walk, at about 11:30am there will be a gathering on the Silva Bay Inn lawn and a rally of boats in the Bay with banners and flags. Then the beautiful traditional wooden schooner Grail Dancer will take Alexandra to Ladysmith, with the flotilla from Silva Bay coming along at least part of the way. Departure time will be between noon and 1pm.

The itinerary for Alexandra’s entire walk from Earth Day to Mother’s Day, from Sointula to Victoria, can be found at her web site http://salmonaresacred.org.

The Gabriola Sounder - Monday, April 19 2010

On April 9^th, 2009 we hosted our 2^nd Breast Cancer Fundraiser.  What a fabulously fun night.  

The Roxy Theatre on Gabriola was the perfect venue to create a night to remember – the movie “Sex And The City” inspired the ticket buyers to turn out in their sexiest outfits that would make Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha jealous. 

The food was awesome – Sushi donated by Blue Ginger and Chocolate and Strawberries donated by Village Foods.  Another round of applause to the Surf Lodge & The Village Liquor Store for their huge donation to the making of the drink of the night -  “The Sex in the City Cosmopolitan”  and  in case you didn’t come and would like to sample one, here’s the recipe:

4 parts your favorite Vodka                                                                        

2 parts Triple Sec

2 parts Cranberry juice

1 part Lime – Fresh squeezed if possible

A handful of dried Cranberries

Cosmo rimming mix or sugar ice

Rim the glass with the lime and dip in your sugar or rimming mix.  Chill the glass in the freezer.  Pour the lime juice, cranberry juice, Triple Sec and Vodka into a martini shaker filled with ice and shake well, then pour into your chilled martini glass, garnish with a slice of lime and toss in a few dried cranberries and you’re ready to have a little “Sex in the City” of your own.  (Recipe Courtesy of www.PopArtDiva.com).

If you missed out on the first 2 functions, you will have a chance to come to our third.   And remember “It’s All About The Boobs” and Working Together To Make A Difference.

If you have an idea for a fun fundraiser function – let us know.

We have all been hearing a lot about environmental concerns and economics have certainly been taking a front seat in most discussions these days.   Earth Day Canada has pursued the mission to improve the environment since 1990.  Canadians have taken a positive action by promoting environmental awareness of ecological issues in all sectors, including Real Estate.

 As Realtors, we are taking a high priority approach in passing out information to homeowners how “the green factor” could save money by turning their homes into efficient healthy housing.  Both Buyers and Sellers will benefit using home energy conservation to reduce their cost of home ownership.

Did you know there is an “Ecoenergy” program to retrofit your home and qualify for a Grant?  On Gabriola you can call a Certified/Licensed Energy Advisor, Jeff Molloy, to book an Energy Efficiency Evaluation.  Mr. Molloy’s licensing is through Natural Resources Canada.  Call  Jeff Molloy – 250 247 0265 or email:  jeff@molloy.ca  for more information.

There are many “Energy Star” products that qualify to make improvements to your home.   These registered trademark products include heating system, ventilation system, cooling system, domestic hot water system, attic insulation, exterior wall insulation, basement or crawl space insulation, air sealing, doors/windows/skylights and water conservation.

Canadian Mortgage and Housing has information regarding Healthy Housing and recommend low emission materials and products that minimize the use of products/materials with high levels of volatile (VOCs) compounds, energy efficient rated appliances /lighting, air barrier sealing systems,  low water use plumbing fixtures/ appliances and outdoor landscape fertilization/shading/water saving/pest resistance and more.  Many of the healthy materials and products are competitively priced and have long term benefits to your family and our environment.  Visit www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca  for more information.

Be Aware, Be Smart and GO GREEN!!