On Being a Good Citizen

We are ready for a break! The years roll around and around and it seems like
we are climbing uphill on a treadmill. The challenges are different but they
are the same too. We finish our summer season always confronted by a
backlog of bookkeeping and paperwork, a huge list of weather dependent
maintenance projects, pressure to publish next year's summer season
programs and calendar, marketing decisions, ads, website changes, brochure
design -- and our seasonally-neglected community responsibilities. This
September saw our proposal for Raven Bay regional park ready for final
approvals and we were happy for an easy victory there. Except it hasn't
turned out that way: our omnipotent Ministry of Forests has decided this
lovely little site would be better as a log dump -- and we're now throwing
ourselves at yet another brick wall of bureaucratic wrangling and rules
written by the MoF, aka ministry of accelerated resource extraction. Read
Island is also in turmoil with the centre of the island being decimated by
private land logging: multinational interests pillaging the lands along the main
road and southern portion of the island. Community environmental and visual
concerns are consistent but Brascan (formerly M&B, then
Weyerhauser, then Island Timberlands and supposedly about to morph
yet again) offers polite disinterest and then a blunt reminder that they own
it and they'll decide how to log it. Additionally, provincial forestry regulations
are undergoing yet another round of changes this time to facilitate
"performance-based" logging which means the public will henceforth be
excluded from consultation about logging on public lands ˆê once we finish our
token opportunity to "participation" in the process now nearing completion.
This is a redesign of previous public-approved plans to define new "outcomes",
ie. general principles that licensees will be required to adhere to as they log
on public lands. The plan and the process is (what's new?) hugely biased to
the forest industry. Opportunity for input from the public and other economic
users (ie. tourism or other business dependent on forests) is limited to
identifying recreational sites and places with visual sensitivity and MoF
makes the final decisions. We (and others including Quadra Island Trails
committee, Sierra Quadra, and the Discovery islands Chamber of Commerce)
asked for 100 metre visual buffers along the beautiful forested roads and
trails on Quadra Island. MoF says they don't have any more land to give away
as compensation to the woodlot licensees. The licensees suggest we (tourism
operators) sell tours of logging operations they seriously believe that they
create an environment that tourists would appreciate! AAAGGHH!!!

And none of this goes beyone the small world of the Discovery Islands what
about the bigger issues that face our bigger community? About social services
and other environmental issues, the struggle for fair trade and peace and
harmony in the world? We dutifully try to make waves in provincial politics,
contribute to organisations that work for positive change in the world. We
try to read and understand current events and what needs to change for a
better future. But we are overwhelmed and ready for this holiday.

We are leaving the kids happily busy at University of Victoria and taking
off on an us-only adventure first in a long time! We are heading to visit my
brother Steve and Rachel who live in the tiny village of Tenakee Springs
about 500 miles north as the crow flies. It will be great to be visitors in
another place. Check in later for our thoughts and adventures on a
November holiday in (chilly, rainy, dark) SE Alaska.

A Winter At Coast Mountain

People often ask us what we do in the ’Äúoff season’Äù. This year our ’Äúoff season’Äù began when our last last Xwemalhkwu bears trip ended on September 17th.. For us, the season never really ends since we really just change gears and activities. Does life slow down? Well sort of but we do put long hours in front of the computer designing ads, re-writing websites, and re-designing brochures.


You might be surprised at the list of office jobs there are to do. The first thing we have to think about is next years calendar of trips. This takes a minimum of a full day. Then, we have three websites each of which, needs to be updated to reflect the new calendar. Sites are re-optimized, revised where necessary and improved with new images. Next on the list are the printed ads which need to be designed and submitted to various magazines and tourism publications. Then we need to check and update about 10 directories on the internet. Coast Mountain prints 3 different brochures each year: One to promote our multiday trips, one to promote accommodation and daytrips, and a condensed 3 fold which promotes all of our offered activities (for wider distribution).

Then, there are the ’Äúto do’Äù lists, After all the kayaks and equipment has been washed and put away, we go into repair mode. This means replacing anything around the two lodges and Hill Island which might be unsafe during the up coming season. These include upgrading or replacing walkways, bridges and decks. Improving trails. We have over 20,000 square ft of wooden decks, floats, and walkways which constantly need attention.

We use 9 buildings which need maintenance as well as renewable energy systems which need to be checked and upgraded. This year we’Äôre building a new AC hydroelectric system and installing 2 new solar water heaters. Then, there are the boats’ĶBottoms need to be scraped and painted, as well as top sides. Then there is engine servicing like oil changes, filters etc, or major repair when necessary.

All the while there are inquiries which need to answered. Before we know it, it’Äôs spring and its time to plant the garden. The lists are never finished but we manage to prioritize the important stuff and at least that gets done.

In May,our first lodge based programs begin. By late June, we’Äôre back to running 2 multiday trips per week as well as running Discovery Islands Lodge.


There you have it, A year in the life of Ralph and Lannie at Coast Mountain!