Gulf Islands Special Section Galiano Conservancy Regional newspaper linking south coastal BC communities since 1989 YoursToKeep! Volume 24 Number 20 October 4–17, 2012 $2 at Selected Retailers Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Photo: Henny Schnare, henny.ca Zucchini Racers at the Galiano Community Picnic in September. Gulf Islands will soon join modern grid Green candidate for Vic federal by-election? Sara Miles University of Victoria law professor Donald before that. In the 2011 Canadian General BC Hydro plans to finish the smart meter Technology (CST), is diagnosed with EHS. She Galloway announced in September that he will Election, the Green candidate garnered 11.6% installation by the end of this year. To date, just lives away from the city in a ‘wired’ home–none seek the Green Party of Canada candidacy for of the riding’s vote, or about 7,000 votes. over 1,640,000 meters have been installed in of her connections are wireless. St Clair the forthcoming by-election in the federal ‘This by-election is about one thing and one BC. The total customer base is almost attributes her illness to overexposure; she and riding of Victoria. Galloway is an outspoken thing only–how can we best hold this 1.9 million. Installation dates for the Gulf her husband were early cellular phone advocate of refugee and immigrant rights in government to account? Its policies ignore Islands, the last deployment area, will be adopters who had a cellphone company in the Canada and has worked as a professor of law scientific evidence, in Parliament they scoff at announced shortly via customer letters and 1980s. She now experiences dizziness, for over 20 years in Victoria. the democratic process, and their planning for advertisements. headaches, racing or irregular heart beat, The by-election in Victoria will be called the future does not look beyond the next Smart meters are one part of BC Hydro’s insomnia and anxiety when exposed to certain within six months by Prime Minister Harper, election,’ stated Galloway. ‘We need a strong ‘grid modernization program’, designed to radiofrequencies such as WiFi. due to the resignation of former Member of voice in Parliament that will transcend the replace aging and antiquated infrastructure. The BC Human Rights Tribunal, ruling on Parliament Denise Savoie on August 31, with petty bickering which characterizes so much of The plan to use wireless smart meters has not CST’s complaint against BC Hydro, found it Savoie citing health reasons for her resignation. the opposition parties’ input. We need a voice been popular with some, but BC Hydro reports was too ‘broad.’ The Tribunal ruled that the The riding has been held by the NDP for the that will speak up for truth, for democracy and that ‘the vast majority of customers–96%– class, as it was framed, could apply to any past five years and by the Liberals for 13 years VIC BY-ELECTION, please turn to page 3 have accepted them.’ person with a medical condition, diagnosed or As with any type of ‘progress,’ there is undiagnosed. If CST refines the class to include Fire ban extends into October considerable debate. Some groups, such as only those persons ‘allegedly diagnosed with Thinking of burning? Think again. Category 2 demonstrate the need for extreme caution. Citizens for Safe Technology, are opposing the EHS and who have been advised to avoid open fires and fireworks are prohibited within Campfires are permitted, up to 1/2-metre- installation, citing health reasons and their exposure to wireless technology’, the Tribunal the Coastal Fire Centre area until October 15, or high by 1/2-metre-wide, as are cooking stoves right to be free from wireless technologies. The will consider the complaint appropriate. St until the prohibition is rescinded. using gas, propane or briquettes. Maintain a BC Privacy Commissioner found several areas Clair said she was not surprised by this, but ‘we The prohibition applies to the burning of any fireguard by removing debris from the campfire where BC Hydro could make improvements in were trying to protect everybody. We will just waste, slash or other material piled smaller than area and keep a hand tool and water available its management of confidential customer be focusing on people with EHS now.’ 2m high and 3m wide, the burning of stubble or nearby to put it out. information. BC Hydro’s mandate to use BC Hydro says it will work with customers grass over an area less than 2,000 sq metres, Category 3 open burning for resource wireless, instead of wired meters, has been to address their concerns about potential and the use of any fireworks or burning barrels. management is allowed. Anyone conducting an challenged, too. impacts of wireless meters. It says meters can The Coastal Fire Centre covers the entire open burn must first obtain a burn registration The Right to Refuse Wireless be moved away from the house (at the area west of the Coast Mountain range from the number by calling 1.888.797.1717. Citizens for Safe Technology is proceeding with customer’s expense), and installation can be US/Canada border at Manning Park to the The prohibition covers BC Parks, Crown and a class action, advocating through the BC delayed. Cindy Verschoor, Communications northern border of South Tweedsmuir Park, the private lands, but does not apply within the Human Rights Tribunal for the rights of those Manager for BC Hydro’s Smart Metering Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver boundaries of local governments that have diagnosed with electromagnetic Program, is ‘confident’ that the meters do not Island, Gulf Islands and Haida Gwaii. forest-fire prevention bylaws and are serviced hypersensitivity (EHS) to not have wireless transmit 24/7. ‘There is a lot of misinformation Warm, dry fall conditions continue to dry by a fire department. Please check with civic technologies at their homes. out there,’ said Verschoor. ‘Unless you are forest fuels. Recent blazes in Saanich, authorities for any restrictions before lighting a Una St Clair, founder of Citizens for Safe SMART GRID, please turn to page 4 Shawnigan Lake, and on Saturna and Galiano fire. More info at: www.bcwildfire.ca. 0 is at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes outside or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—VI Conference Centre Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—Beaufort Centre Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Avenue Nanaimo—Crnr Island Hwy @ Hammond Bay Rd Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd CO-OP Campbell River—Willow Point Village Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, October 4, 2012 MARJORIE BAILEY 1911–2012 On September 1, family and friends paid a final tribute to Soon after moving to Pender, Marjorie also became Marjorie Bailey in a moving ceremony at St Peter’s Anglican secretary of the Pender Post Society, and subsequently she Church on North Pender Island. Five years earlier Marjorie served as vice-president, president, and off-island subscription AT POINT ATKINSON herself had drafted the format of this service, thoughtfully chair. OCTOBER selecting the hymns and readings. At that time she had no idea As a devoted member of the Anglican Church, Marjorie Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. that the Church of the Good Shepherd, her chosen place of served with the Women’s Guild (ACW) and worked with other 0057 4.6 1.4 0118 11.5 3.5 worship, would be closed down, but she had nevertheless parishioners to design and create both the Memorial Garden 0748 13.8 4.2 0737 6.2 1.9 written in her notes, with characteristic thoughtfulness and at the Church of the Good Shepherd on South Pender and the WE3 1319 9.5 2.9 11TH 1430 13.8 4.2 1834 13.1 4.0 2056 7.9 2.4 consideration for others, that ‘St Peter’s would be more walkway garden at St Peter’s on North Pender, as well as 0131 4.3 1.3 0230 12.1 3.7 convenient as people may come from Sidney and it saves supporting every Parish activity and endeavour with both her 0837 13.8 4.2 0834 6.6 2.0 travel’. She also would have had no inkling that well over 100 shared wisdom and her physical effort and example. TH4 1401 10.2 3.1 12FR 1502 14.1 4.3 1900 12.8 3.9 2130 6.9 2.1 people would attend. She was also a member of the Farmer’s Institute and its Marjorie was born in Armstrong, BC, on June 13, 1911. Early offshoot, the Flower Growers Group, later to become the 0207 4.6 1.4 0328 12.8 3.9 0931 13.8 4.2 0923 6.9 2.1 in the 1920s, the Bailey family moved to Vancouver, where Garden Club, of which she was president and for many years FR5 1452 10.5 3.2 13SA 1532 14.4 4.4 Marjorie completed her high school education. She went on to an executive member. She also served on the Pender Island 1929 12.5 3.8 2206 5.6 1.7 the University of Manitoba, achieving her bachelor’s degree in Recycling Society Executive, and was a founder of the Floral 0247 4.9 1.5 0422 13.8 4.2 1028 13.5 4.1 1010 7.2 2.2 home economics, and then returned to Art Group. In 1995, she was SA6 1559 10.8 3.3 14SU 1602 14.4 4.4 Vancouver to pursue a teaching career.