2011 in Review

Nature Reserves: The Islands Trust Fund has proposed that its three east-side nature reserves on Gambier Island have conservation covenants for future protection. The Conservancy has been working towards being joint covenant-holders with the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association (SCCA). The process is well underway with both groups agreeing with the latest draft of a Memorandum of Understanding and the Islands Trust Fund is in the process of preparing the covenants.
On 16 April, Peter Scholefield from Gambier Estates accompanied Tess Johnston from the Sea Ranch, Jason Herz and Angela Kroning from the SCCA and Doug Hopwood, Islands Trust Fund consultant (left to right in the photo) on the annual site monitoring visit to the three nature reserves. This visit included the installation of a variety of signs supplied by the Islands Trust Fund. On 10 July, a crew of three engaged by the Conservancy, spent a long day cleaning up the remains and debris from an old fire watch station within the Mt Artaban Nature Reserve at the peak.
Those who want to hike to the top of Mt Artaban on the trail up the south side can now more easily find their way to and from the public docks at Camp Fircom and at the Halkett Bay Marine Park. Developer, Jim Green, has installed numerous signs at relevant locations throughout the Fircom Plateau subdivision, including on sections of dedicated trail rights of way through some of the subdivision lots.




Directors: On 15 May, at its Annual General Meeting, the Conservancy was pleased to welcome two new directors; James Fralic and Mike Stamford who were elected along with President, Peter Scholefield, Treasurer, Wolf Wiedemann, Secretary, Kathy McTaggart and Directors-at-large, Maria Van Dyk and Wendy Graham. On 26 August, the Conservancy was saddened by the death of one of its founding directors and long-time treasurer Wolf Wiedemann. His contribution to the Gambier Island Conservancy was exceptional and will not soon be forgotten.

Lois Kennedy bequest: At the invitation of the Island Trust Fund, Maria Van Dyk and Peter Scholefield attended a board meeting in Victoria on 26 May. The purpose was to inform the board on the Conservancy's suggestion for what property on Gambier island would be most suitable to acquire using Lois' bequest to the Islands Trust Fund of $100,000 for acquisition of land for protection. Following the decision of the AGM on 15 May, they proposed that the first priority should be Muskeg Lake, one of Lois' favourite spots. Lost Lake and Gambier Lake were suggested as second and third priorities respectively. They further suggested that property be acquired through the free crown grant process, which would allow for a larger piece of property to be protected. The Board directed staff to review the possibility of utilizing the Free Crown Grant process to acquire land on Gambier Island and to report back to the Board. It was mentioned that it may not be possible to proceed for a couple of years due to another free crown grant application that has precedence.

Feasibility of a National Park Reserve on Gambier Island: This topic arose at the AGM from local interest in the feasibility study being done with regard to establishing a national park reserve on Bowen Island. It was decided that the Conservancy should contact Parks Canada to explore the possibility of establishing a national park reserve on Gambier Island. This possibility seems more enticing now that Bowen Island property owners voted, on 19 November, against Parks Canada continuing with its feasibility study which has resulted in Parks Canada terminating its project on Bowen Island.

Gambier Island on Google Maps