Dee Smith ~ 2016 Recipient of the Candlestick Award

Congratulations, Dee!

Late in June, Dee was surprised at a small gathering of all the previous recipients of this award.  With all she does in our community, she was still very surprised that she would be chosen.  This seems to be a common refrain from recipients.

The Candlestick Award was initiated by Barbara Williamson in the early 2000's to celebrate women who quietly volunteer within our loving community.

Orienteering, Fish Prints & Bird Song ~ Last Day at Ocean LearnFest

Wow, we can't believe Ocean LearnFest is almost over!. Friday's your last day to get out and explore Thetis Island with some great resource people.

When we say explore, we mean it. Orienteer your way from Forbes Community Hall to the Community Dock Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. with the intrepid Redmans, Ken and Genny.  Compasses will be provided but bring your own if you have one. $10/person. 

Bird song, songbirds. Bring your binoculars and tune up your ears and hike the Lawrence Community Trail and the proposed new Lawrence Nature Walk with ornithologist James Clowater. We hear there might be some surprise birds on the nature walk. Meet at 9:00 a.m. at the end of Mission Rd. $10/person

You may have seen ThINC board members sporting beautiful and fashionable fish print t-shirts this week. Bring a light-coloured t-shirt to the community dock Friday morning between 10:30 and 12 and make your own with artists Suzanne and Celine. $10/person. 

Ocean Learn Fest 2016 is brought to you by the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy with partial financial support from the Thetis Island Community Fund.

Ocean LearnFest Day 3 Photos up

Another great day for Ocean LearnFest ~ thanks again to Kelly Bannister for the wonderful photos.

Click on image to go to gallery.

Ocean Expedition, Wiggly Fish, and Bird Song at Ocean LearnFest ~ Thursday

The Learn To Canoe group is going on a final paddling expedition from Pilkey Pt on Thursday from 8am to 10am and you are invited.

Meet them with your canoe or kayak and explore the nooks and crannies of North Cove and surrounds by water with biologist Ricky Belanger. Who knows what we may find? The event is $10 per person, children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Do you have a shell and gravel beach near your house? Did you know there might be fish eggs living in the gravel? Marine biologist Ricky Belanger knows who those eggs belong to and why the eggs, the wiggly fish and the beaches are so important to larger species like salmon. Meet Ricky at Sunrise Pt beach at 2 pm and get the scoop. $10 per person. Beach shoes or rubber boots recommended.

Have you ever wondered the name of that bird who wakes you up at sunrise? Or the one who's calling in the woods when you're walking your dog? Are you curious about why birds sing and why their songs are so different? Ornithologist and educator James Clowater has an ear for bird song and he'll be sharing his avian knowledge with a free audio-visual presentation Thursday at Forbes Hall at 7:30 p.m.  This evening event pairs perfectly with the Friday morning bird song walk with James starting at the end of Mission Road at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Ocean LearnFest 2016 is brought to you by the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy with partial financial support from the Thetis Island Community Fund. For a full schedule of events go to www.thetisislandnatureconservancy and click on Current Projects/Ocean LearnFest 2016.

Ocean LearnFest Day 2 Photos

Another busy day for LearnFest, canoeing & eel grass classes!

Click on image to go to gallery.

Photos by Kelly Bannister

Bee Inspections

Hello Thetis Island BeeKeepers

I hope you and your bees are doing well .

This message is to let you know that either David MacDonald or I will be on your island-Date-TBA

If you would like your apiary to be included in our inspection tour, please let me know !

Kind Regards

Wendi Gilson

BC Ministry of Agriculture - Apiary Inspector - 250 882 2852

Ocean LearnFest ~ Wednesday

Paddling Cufra and Tips for Fishermen at Ocean LearnFest Wednesday

Never been up Cufra Inlet? Do you love to canoe or kayak? Are you curious about eelgrass habitats? Want to do some eelgrass science? Bring your canoe or kayak down to Pilkey Pt on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and float up the inlet on the rising tide with eelgrass expert Nikki Wright from Seachange Marine Conservation Society. Everyone is welcome. $10/person. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Did you know that the waters off the entire west coast of Thetis and Penelakut are designated as a Rockfish Conservation Area? What is a Rockfish Conservation Area? What does it mean for you if you like to fish? One of BC's most famous fish biologists, our own Andy Lamb, will be sharing his top secret Tips for Fishermen while he tells us about Rockfish Conservation Areas at Forbes Hall on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.  Admission is free.

Ocean LearnFest 2016 is brought to you by the Thetis Island Nature Conservancy with partial financial support from the Thetis Island Community Fund. For a full schedule of events go to www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org and click on Current Programs/Ocean LearnFest 2016.

Meet Ricky Belanger

Ricky Belanger is a marine biologist who is working for ThINC and the Cowichan Land Trust this summer on the Canada Summer Jobs program. Ricky graduated with a BSC from UVic in June and will be working towards a Master's program in the fall.

Ricky is helping ThINC with Ocean LearnFest the week of July 4-8 and over the rest of the summer will be creating a shoreline monitoring protocol for Thetis Island that can be used on other islands. If you meet him around and about on a beach near you, say hi, tell him some history about your favourite Thetis Island beach and hey, (I'm sure he wouldn't mind) invite him for dinner. We're thrilled to have him.

The ThINC board

jollity FARM ~ Open Wednesday, July 6th

What's fresh at jollityFARM?

Open Wednesday 10am to 1pm

Organically grown veggies:

Mixed kale bunches

Pre-washed mixed salad greens

Red skinned potatoes

Plums

Broccoli

Fresh Garlic

Kohlrabi

Did you know?

Kohlrabi is a fun looking member of the Brassica family. It's good for you and yummy too! High in Vitamin C and all the other phytochemicals like other members of the Brassica family.  If you haven't tried it before, pick up some kohlrabi at the farm this week and try one of these delicious recipes:

Kohlrabi & Herbed Yogurt Salad

Kohlrabi & Potato Pancakes

Kohlrabi & Leek Soup

Kids Items for Sale

Kids Wet Suits Message: 2 kids short sleeved/legged wetsuits. Lightly used and good condition. Size 8 and size 12. $20 each.

Boys bike – 5 gears. Ages 8-10 years. Lightly used – good condition.

Call Janice at 204 293 2557 before July 15.

Day One ~ ThINC's Ocean LearnFest Photos

Click on image to view gallery of today's event.

Today Oceans LearnFest got under way at the Community Dock.  Looks like many folks of all ages had a great time! 

Photos courtesy of Kelly Bannister & Ann Eriksson

Seal Pup ~ just doing what comes naturally...

This little guy was found on the beach under the dock on Thetis. He was breathing and making small movements. He didn't look injured, but there were worries that he was orphaned or abandoned so the Vancouver Marine Mammal Rescue Centre was called to get him some help. The lovely people at the rescue center examined the photos that were sent them and established that the little guy seemed stable. They explained that it's very common for seals to leave their babies on the beach for a few hours at a time while they went away looking for food. Everyone was so relieved to know that this cute little baby seal was not in trouble. 

Andy Lamb and Peter Luckham also told us that little pups like this one commonly get left in the sun while mom goes to feed...

Courtesy of Mary Forbes & Marjan Jackman