Island Wheels Emergency Response INSIDE PULL OUT AND SAVE STARTS A5 GULF ISLANDS Wednesday, August 22, 2007 — YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SINCE 1960 47TH YEAR – ISSUE 34 FIRE DEPARTMENT ISLANDS TRUST Trustees Float camp to pursue returns $502,000 to court Battle of the barge fire truck continues 10-year plan set for BY SEAN MCINTYRE unveiling in September DRIFTWOOD STAFF One month after a court BY SEAN MCINTYRE injunction forcing the removal DRIFTWOOD STAFF of the floating office owned Former fi re chair Ted Hinds is concerned the and operated by Ganges Mari- fi re board’s Monday-night decision to pursue a na came into effect, a lack counter-petition process for a half-million-dollar of action has prompted the fi re truck before the release of a 10-year plan is a Islands Trust to return to the breach of proper protocol. courtroom. “Knowing what is in the plan, I am concerned,” “The structure’s size has Hinds told trustees following Monday’s meeting. not been reduced, it has not “There is a substantial amount of dollars involved been turned into a boat and it and the full plan should be presented so the pub- remains [in Ganges Harbour],” lic can say whether they agree with it or not.” said Linda Adams, the Islands “What I see happening is we are taking little Trust’s chief administrative bites here and there, and all of a sudden we offi cer Monday. “As far as we’re are going to ask ourselves, ‘What are we doing concerned, they are in con- here?’” tempt of court.” Over the past six months, Salt Spring Island Fire Adams said she expects Protection District trustees have agreed to hire an the matter will return to B.C. additional full-time fi refi ghter, an administrative Supreme Court in October. assistant and, as of Monday evening, to pursue On June 20, the Islands Trust the purchase of a new vehicle. heralded a Supreme Court According to Hinds, all three elements are PHOTO BY ????? judge’s decision forcing B&B outlined in the department’s 10-year plan. The FOOTLOOSE: Opal Close makes the most of rare sunshine to enjoy a swing in Ganges Marina Ltd. to remove FIRE DEPARTMENT continued on A2 the barge on the basis the Centennial Park. structure’s temporary-use per- mit had expired. ROBERTSON II The decision was said to have “confi rmed the ability of local governments in British Colum- bia to regulate shoreline devel- Heritage ship left to the sea after long fi ght opment with zoning bylaws.” “Naturally, I’m delighted Ship’s spirit lives on in song and urna Island pick up the foremast and raise it as ship to its birthplace as a gift to the great boat with the outcome,” said George a marker and memorial,” said the ship’s owner builders of Nova Scotia history. Ehring, trustee for the Salt salvagers’ eff orts Drew Clarke, contacted on his way home to Clarke acquired the boat free of charge earlier Spring Island Local Trust Com- BY SEAN MCINTYRE Salt Spring from Saturna Monday. “We beat our this month after former owner, Roy Boudreau, mittee, after the June decision. DRIFTWOOD STAFF brains out and used every trick in the book, but gave up on any further attempts to raise the “I know that islanders will be The Robertson II’s 60-year tale of plying the there’s nothing more we can do.” 40-metre (130-foot) twin-masted schooner. very happy to see the building world’s oceans has ground to a halt near Sat- Clarke, a Salt Spring-based tow-truck operator, Clarke and a crew of six other volunteers leave our harbour.” urna Island, despite a herculean nine-day effort hoped to restore the Robertson II to its former began their fi nal efforts to raise the Robbie II on The case dates from May mounted by volunteer salvagers from across glory with help from the federal and provincial August 11. Salvagers used airbags to lift the ship 2006, when Islands Trust coastal B.C. governments. off the reef, but couldn’t manage enough height bylaw enforcement staff asked “At this point I suggest the residents of Sat- Once complete, Clarke’s plan was to return the ROBBIE II continued on A2 FLOAT CAMP continued on A2 INSERTS INDEX North End Fitness -/24'!'%15%34)/.3 • Home Hardware Arts .................................................. B1 Horoscope............................ B22 • Ganges Village Market ASK!RLENE Classifieds ............................ B18 Letters ......................................... A9 • Ganges Pharmasave 537-5217 • Thrifty Foods Editorials .................................. A8 Sports ........................................ A21 Ferry Schedules .............. A22 TV Listings .......................... B15 Health ....................................... A16 What’s On............................. B14 ",/ *"/ email: [email protected] website: www.gulfislands.net GANGES 10% off Tuesdays Freestone approx. 20lb box Y ILLAGE ARKET SOMERESTRICTIONSAPPLY (some restrictions apply) V M WhatCanning sPeaches for Dinner? °°°Ì ÃÊÜiiÊÃiiÊ->À> ½ÃÊÀiV«iÊLimit 2 boxes LOCALLYOWNEDOPERATED 97 Over limit 12 a box $14.97Ê«>}iÊ£{ each "* Ê 9Ên>ÊÊ« A2 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2007 | GULF ISLANDS DRIFTWOOD CALL GAIL, SEAN OR STACY IF YOU ATTENTION B&B OWNERS! NEWSBEAT SEE NEWS HAPPENING - 250-537-9933 The elnapress© is back with 2 sizes to choose from. Long-term fi re plan out in September public pressure forced the unit because of its shorter ing on September 17. 20”x8” and 26”x8” FIRE DEPARTMENT cancellation of a counter- wheel base and extra safety The September meeting (with fl ip-up sleeve board). continued from A1 petition process asking for features. will also feature the offi cial 100 lbs. ironing public permission to bor- launch of the department’s pressure. $23,000 plan was initiated row funds to purchase land 10-year plan, Schubart $ 00 during Hinds’ term and and build a new fi re hall on added. Priced from 359 completed earlier this sum- Kings Lane. “There will surely be Schubart said he sees no mer. Speaking in defence of confl ict in proceeding with SAWYER SEWING CENTRE Trustees have yet to make the motion, fi re board chair some surprises.” certain elements contained 3400 Douglas • 1-888-229-2266 www.sawyersewing.com the plan public, citing the Michael Schubart said the within the plan before its need to review certain ele- purchase of a new con- TED HINDS, offi cial release. ments and select an ideal tained air foam unit is long Former fi re board chair “In the interim, the fire opportunity for public dis- overdue. board must continue to “THE LOCAL” cussions. “Tanker #3 is currently operate,” he said. As a former trustee, Hinds beyond its useful service,” he Alternative units valued at Before the plan is made Liquor Store has seen the plan. said. “I don’t feel and I don’t $436,000 (Hub Fire Engines, available to the public, the “I am really concerned think the board feels we can Abbotsford) and $445,000 board intends to deliver when I hear the board pass delay this any longer.” (American LaFrance, South press releases outlining vari- Let Julie help a motion [to initiate a coun- Of three prices received by Carolina) were deemed ous components of the plan ter-petition process].” Hinds the fi re department during inappropriate for the island’s to local news outlets. you pick out said. “Is it the board’s inten- a request for quotes, trust- curved roadways and hard- Following the release, tion to piecemeal the strate- ees agreed with fire chief to-reach properties. board members will hold a some great New gic plan before it is released Dave Enfield’s recommen- More details regarding the weekend public meeting to to the public?” dation that board members counter-petition process gauge the public’s opinion Zealand wines Hinds resigned from his select the $502,000 Ameri- will be outlined at the fire on the highly anticipated to enjoy!!! position as fire chair after can LaFrance-made custom trustees’ next public meet- plan. Clarke calls off Robbie II rescue mission ROBBIE II ed,” he said. businesses to give equipment, food continued from A1 Pender Island resident Grant Hobbs and support to the project. joined the effort to raise the Robbie II “I knew all this was going on and felt to separate the keel from the reef. on July 2, the day after the ship ran into moved by it,” Henderson said. “Before “She just wouldn’t let go. The keel a reef near Winter Cove. Hobbs said he we knew it, the whole thing started get- and that reef have a thing going on,” never thought twice about saving “a ting a lot of traction.” Clarke said, adding that salvagers treasured piece of Canada’s history.” In addition to getting air time on fi nally decided to call off the mission “I saw it the moment it went on the several television and radio stations in Locally owned & operated • open every day 9 am-11 pm early Sunday morning. rocks,” he said. “I live on an island and In Gasoline Alley 537-WINE (9463) Victoria, the song was played on CBC “It was time for people to get back to understand the significance of that Radio in Nova Scotia. their jobs and their families,” he said. ship.” Henderson and singers from Tuned “Everybody and the team was very So inspiring were efforts to raise the Air choir composed and recorded the professional and I couldn’t ask for any- Robbie II, Salt Spring musician Bill song in a matter of days upon hearing HONDA thing for a better effort.” Henderson penned a song in the ship’s Earlier this week, Clarke reported honour. of Clarke’s initiative to bring the ship TILLER SALE the Robertson II remained wedged “The idea was to have a song ready into Ganges Harbour.