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Date: Jan 4, 2010

Entry: Each Sunday in a tennis court hidden amongst the forest in Roberts Creek, a group of men (women are welcome) show up for round of street hockey. This tradition has been going on for years. In the summer of 2009 the seniors of the group, The Creekers, decided to try out their skills in the Play On! Street Hockey Tournament held on the streets of Vancouver in the warm July sun. Though formidable opponents abound, they were no match for The Creekers that also sported the eldest player in the history of the tournament; they took the Legends Championship title home to the Sunshine Coast!

Play On! Legends Champs - The Creekers

Date: Oct 7, 2009

Entry: The Town of Gibsons has been recognized as a leader in sustainable planning and development by the Community Energy Association (CEA), which honoured the Town on Thursday, September 30, 2009 with an Energy & Climate Action Award for Community Planning and Development.

The award was presented to Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk, during the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Vancouver, by the Honourable John Yap, Minister of State for Climate Action, and Richard White, Co-Chair of the CEA. The award celebrates the Town’s sustainable initiatives as included in the Upper Gibsons Neighbourhood Plan and the Geo-exchange District Energy System.

The Upper Gibsons Neighbourhood Plan incorporates guidelines for the conservation of energy, water and land; promotion of alternate forms of transportation and social interactions; and allows for a wide cross-section of occupants in terms of age, incomes and stages of life. The planned Geo-exchange District Energy System – the first of its kind in North America – will capture renewable energy from heat exchangers in the ground on municipally owned green space. The system will pump heat from the ground to residential and commercial buildings.

Gibsons receives award for "Green Initatives"

Date: Sep 11, 2009

Entry: The Burnaby Express skated to a 5-2 win over the Powell River Kings in front of more than 500 hockey fans at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre last Thursday (Sept. 3). The exhibition game showcased the Coastal Conference rivals from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in one of the last pre-season tests for both clubs before the regular season starts this weekend.

Biggest game to hit the coast

Date: Sep 11, 2009

Entry: SCRD Recreation has something for everyone this fall!!
Visit us at www.scrd.ca click Recreation to view our brochure online
http://www.scrd.ca/index.php?page_id=238

Community Recreation Opportunities

Date: Sep 11, 2009

Entry: The Gibsons Pigs and Vancouver Legends took to the pitch at Shirley Macy Field on Sunday, Aug. 30 for an exciting Old Boys rugby match.

Old Boys Rugby match

Date: Sep 11, 2009

Entry: Decorated fish by many local artists, amateur and professional, line the Gift of the Eagle Gallery ready for this Saturday September 12th Salmon Festival in Gibsons Landing.

A group of women, local business owners who are part of the Gibsons Landing Business Association (GLBA), surround a metre-long painted salmon hanging in the Gift of the Eagle Gallery and ponder the image. It shows paddlers, perhaps the outriggers, stroking furiously in the harbour, and it has been painted on plywood by one of the approximately 150 people who submitted their salmon creations for the fourth annual Salmon Festival in Gibsons this Saturday, Sept. 12.

Super Salmon Soiree

Date: Sep 11, 2009

Entry: Mr. W and Mr. C kick off the Youth Showcase in Winegarden Park Saturday, Aug. 29.

You never know who will show up to the Youth Showcase, say the two experienced organizers of the summer Music in the Landing concert series. They seem fine with this spontaneity — perhaps because they are both musicians themselves.

Ms. W and GW have been bringing musical acts to Lower Gibsons for seven years now. When the season wraps up as it did last weekend (Aug. 28 to 30) they will have organized 41 different shows in this season alone, all with local musicians, on most every summer weekend, in the wharf gazebo, Winegarden Waterfront Park, the Sunday market and by the Visitors Centre.

They both have special moments to remember: Ms. W recalls Juno-nominated CM, a brilliant instrumentalist, in the small gazebo one drizzly evening. As the audience squeezed in around him, he visibly warmed to his performance and told the delighted crowd that though he had just returned from touring at Stratford, this concert in his home town was the most enjoyable ever.

GW considers that the hula dancers were a highlight, although he was dubious at first. DB’s hula students danced with drum and a cappella accompaniment.

“It had a spiritual aspect,” he explained.

Not only has the music been highly entertaining, but it’s been a free program sponsored by the Town of Gibsons. (The first few years were backed by an anonymous donor, inspired by the haunting bagpipes of musician EM.) Each musical act is paid a small honorarium, plus they can pass the hat, busker style. Even though some of the musicians are professionals — LO and JS performed last weekend — the money is not totally the thing.

“The money makes them feel respected, but most musicians love to play here,” GW said.

GW and Ms. W, chosen for their experience in founding and co-ordinating the Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival, are paid by the Town for this weekend job. They don’t just choose their favourites. Musicians must apply each year. Ms. W does most of the booking and tries to co-ordinate the gigs with the musicians’ schedules.

“We have to be sensitive,” she said. “We can’t have a loud rock band playing here.”

As organizers, the two constantly do the most arduous part of the job — hefting equipment around town. While GW introduces the acts, Ms. W rearranges the lawn umbrellas in the park to give the audience some shade. It’s all part of the service and one that is enjoyed by visitors. One guest from North Vancouver arrived by boat last weekend and couldn’t believe her good timing. A group of wedding guests milled about the park for picture taking. “Nice to have the music,” remarked one guest, smiling.

“It’s good for us to find out who’s in the audience,” Ms. W said. “We’re ambassadors for the town.”

Others are regular fans.

JC, who lives nearby, walks down for the music every weekend. As she sat by the Visitors Centre to listen to Soupbean Katie and the Cornpones last Saturday, she realized this was the last weekend in the program. “I’ll miss it terribly,” she said.

The annual Youth Show-case takes place in a blue tent in Winegarden Park. The first act was a winner — Mr. C, the dancer, sings and plays with Mr. W on cover tunes from Foo Fighters.

“I’m always embarrassed when the kids are better than me,” joked GW. “I missed my chance to be a prodigy.”

A variety of youthful musicians took to the stage with fiddles, sax, drums and keyboard. Teen Emily Cardinall and tiny RC sang Mama Mia, and WH closed the show with a few original numbers.

“I don’t know how to say it without being sappy, but when I see kids like the two girls earlier who played the fiddles, it makes me feel that everything’s all right with the world. The music is in their souls,” Ms. W said.

After eight weeks of organizing duties, Ms. W will have a brief rest before launching the fall monthly series of the Artesia Coffeehouse held at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt. The first one is on Sept 25 at 8 p.m., and it will focus on piano. The unique J.J. Wagler performs, ED plays his original compositions, AL represents jazz, and the Gemini twins, V and R, present classical selections.

Ms. W, who is often seen in action with her camera, makes a collage poster for each coffeehouse based on the many photos she gathers throughout the year. More than 250 musical acts can be viewed on slideshows, and Ms. W regards this archiving as her community contribution — and an important legacy.

Making Music Happen

Date: Aug 30, 2009

Entry: Just over a year ago I moved so I could be closer to work. Instead of a 50 minutes in the car 5 days a week I now have a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute bike ride to and from work. Also I bought a hybrid bicycle that helps me up the really big hills. I still have to pedal and I get a good work out and I can keep going up the hills without having to get off the bike and push. I can also ride longer distances and ride for longer periods of time. Life is fun!

Date: Aug 30, 2009

Entry: Just over a year ago I moved so I could be closer to work. Instead of a 50 minutes in the car 5 days a week I now have a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute bike ride to and from work. Also I bought a hybrid...more

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Entry: More than 60 players from the tyke to the midget divisions hit the ice this week at the fifth annual Summer Hockey School.

Put on by the Sunshine Coast Regional District at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre, players were treated to five days of on-ice and off-ice training.

There were 17 players in the tyke/atom division and 25 players in the peewee/bantam division with another 20 players in a night camp for bantam/midget players put on by a former Sunshine Coast minor hockey star.

The head instructor returned this week for his second year at the school. He said he was thrilled to come back after a successful first year.

“I think it was an awesome thing that we did last year,” he said. “It’s great coming up here and working with the kids.”

Aiding the instructor was an assistant, who also helped during the two-day camps, ex-minor hockey player, who is getting set to start his first year at Elmira College in upstate New York, and another minor hockey alumni, who is starting his second year with the Notre Dame Hounds in Saskatchewan.

Dryland training, consisting of soccer, baseball, ultimate Frisbee, swimming and hockey specific training.

“It’s great for the community to have so many guys help out and lend their skills and expertise,” said the head instructor. “You have a couple of guys here who have gone on to junior and college hockey and to have them come back and give back to the community will only make a hockey school like this one stronger in the future.”

He said the school is a great way for the players to get in shape and improve their skills for the upcoming season.

“A lot of the kids remember me from last year and they know how I run the drills,” he said. “You work hard, you have fun — that’s the only to help the kids in the long run to make them better hockey players. I think nowadays our whole emphasis is on games. What’s really important is to have these kids work on their skating, have them work on puck control. It’s going to be tough because I know a lot of these kids haven’t done a lot of work over the summer, but the kids are all working hard.”

One instructor said he is thrilled to be involved in the hockey school, helping out during the day, and he is equally excited about hosting his own camp at night.

“He approached me about working at the school. It’s something I always wanted to do, so of course I said yes. Once I started looking into it, I noticed there wasn’t a bantam/midget section, and for me that’s the kind of group I want to work with. They’re the kind of players who want to follow the college route or the junior hockey dream like me. He approached me and asked me whether I wanted to put it on myself. I went ahead with it and I have 20 guys signed up.”

He was a bit nervous on Monday night when the camp started, but he was bolstered by the commitment and enthusiasm of the players.

“Every drill that I’m doing is a drill that I did in junior and college. Kids have never seen drills like this. They are fast tempo, they have a lot of thinking and reacting. Then we took them on the field for some dryland and it was a lot different than doing a bicep curl in a mirror,” he said. “This is serious hockey training. We have speed ladders, agility boxes, you name it. They probably all had ice baths Monday night to heal up and get ready for today, but it’s a conditioning prep camp, that’s what they signed up for and that’s what they’re getting.”

He hopes the players and the parents get something out of the week that will help them during the season and beyond.

“I just wish that something like this was around when I was that age,” he said. “It gives the kids also someone to talk to who has been through it. I told them if they have questions, need some advice, ask me because I’ve been around, and I’ve talked to a lot of people and made a lot of contacts, so I can answer a lot of those questions. It can only help them in the future.”

Super skills at summer school

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Entry: The 34th annual Sunshine Coast Open (formerly the Gibsons Open) served up an ace last weekend.

A total of 63 competitors were entered in the six main draws — a 40 per cent increase from last year! The youngest competitor was 10 and the most senior was 75 (still playing singles, no less). The four-day event took place at three venues: Hackett Park in Sechelt, the Suncoast Racquet Club and Gibsons to accommodate all the draws.

Tennis enthusiasts were treated to some first-class men’s singles action in a hard-fought final, with the defending champion prevailing for his tenth men’s singles title and his sixth in a row.

A Texas man teamed with his local nephew, to capture the men’s doubles trophy against a father and son team.

A mother and son team of captured the mixed doubles trophy in an exciting three-set final.

After a four-year absence, the women’s singles came alive as six energetic women fought for the title.

It was great to see new faces getting involved in the tournament this year. Sunday was a full day of tennis held at the Eric Cardinall courts in Gibsons. Sunshine, a wonderful barbecue and lots of tennis fans watching the finals made for a great atmosphere to end the tournament.

34th annual Sunshine Coast Open (formerly the Gibsons Open) served up an ace last weekend

Date: Aug 14, 2009

Entry: We live in such a beautiful place with so many hiking trails available. My favorite spot is Soams Hill, commonly referred to by locals as knob hill because of the view coming into Gibsons from the ferry.
I have two dogs that also need a work out every day. So I combine my dog walk with my work out by bringing weights with me on my hike. I do a routine at my car in the parking lot, one at the top, and one when I am back at my car. Believe me, when I am done, I am done!
The view at the top is incredible. You look out over Keats Island, the back of the Lions Mountain on the North Shore, and down into Gibsons Harbor. Not only is it extremely good cardio, it is also very therapeutic.
If you should try this on your own, be sure to put your bear bell on your dog and enjoy the walk.
Anytime I have friends in from out of town, I take them up Soams Hill.

Soams hill with weights

Date: Aug 14, 2009

Entry: 2009 Gibsons Golden Girl Ms. H waves to the crowd during the Sea Cavalcade parade on Saturday, July 25 in Gibsons.

To say Ms. H is tickled pink by all the Golden Girl fuss being accorded her is a massive understatement. From start to finish, this past weekend’s Sea Cavalcade is one she’ll remember for a long time.

“I do want to thank all the people who made it so special for me. It was a real honour,” Gibsons’ latest Golden Girl enthused. “This could never have happened in Vancouver [her home for 44 years before moving to the Coast in 1998]. It’s the community and the closeness here that is really lovely. I’ve never been sorry I moved here.”

And that’s a compliment returned by her adopted community. Since moving here, the 83-year-old senior has more than filled her days with good works.

She “plunks” on the piano at Christenson Village for folks not fortunate enough to share her good health.

“I plunk and they sing,” she said.

Recently she’s upped the tempo of the music particularly for the people living in the dementia cottages at the care home.

“They like it lively.”

Not unlike Ms. H herself. Another of her volunteer duties is teaching line dancing at Harmony Hall (the seniors’ centre in Gibsons). In fact she is so busy on the days when she is teaching and plunking that she doesn’t even have time to visit old friends in the home.

Another of her loves is the Gibsons United Church where she heads up the In Touch group.

But Ms. H is quick to tell everyone that she’s only part of the programs at Harmony Hall and Gibsons United.

“Nothing I do is by myself, everyone helps. I love the people,” she said.

While Ms. H is a relatively new resident of the area, she’s no stranger to Gibsons. She and her sports fisherman husband spent over 40 years on the water including many stops on the Sunshine Coast.

After years as a stay-at-home mom, Ms. H went on to a career at TD Bank until retirement.

Ms. H had always said that the only way she was going to leave the house where she lived in the city would be feet first. However, her daughter Ms. M’s move to the Sunshine Coast changed her mind. The owner of a Pancake House, Ms. M is delighted to have her mother and her famous green thumb at hand.

And the feeling is mutual.

“It’s a piece of heaven up there [the B Heights part of Elphin-stone],” Ms. H declared.

As is to be expected, Ms. H has some health issues mainly a challenge with hearing lately, but it doesn’t seem to slow her down at all. She takes each day as it comes and refuses to live in the past.

“This is now and that was then — move forward,” is her motto.

And the woman who makes life better for many people especially wants to thank those who made her weekend a joy. She sends reams of gratitude to Mr. C for the wonderful boat cruise, the pipers who honoured her on July 24, Ms. N, Ms. P and the Sea Cavalcade people.

It’s a sentiment richly returned by anyone who knows this upbeat marvel. Ms. H adds gold everywhere she goes.

An attitude of gratitude and a heart of gold

Date: Aug 14, 2009

Entry: The Gibsons Midget AA all-stars recently finished their summer campaign compiling a record of 4-6.

The final game in the Gibsons Midget AA all-star season epitomized what this team is really about.

With eight regulars and Bantam sensation H in the line-up, the Dodgers pushed the top ranked Vancouver Mounties into extra innings, narrowly missing a berth into the provincials.

The tense game began with crushing hits from Mr. C and Mr. K, putting the Dodgers ahead early on.

With Mr. M pitching and Mr. B catching, Vancouver hitters and base runners were severely limited. As the game progressed, clutch hits pushed the Dodgers further into the lead. Amazing defensive plays from kept Gibsons up 6-3 going into the final inning. However, Vancouver managed to advance three runs to tie the game.

The Mounties brought in reliever after reliever to quell the Gibsons offence. Moving into the eighth inning, Vancouver scored three runs to go ahead 9-6. In the Dodgers last at bats the boys battled through exhaustion to push in three runs until the third and final out — a heartbreaking 9-8 loss.

Regardless, coaches and parents were extremely proud of the boys’ herculean efforts. “Although a loss, this was by far their best game of the season.

Special recognition goes to team leader,” said the coach. “He was the foundation of this team game in and game out and will be sorely missed next year.”

The Dodgers ended with a 4-6 record. Provincials weren’t in the cards this season. However, with 11 of the 12 players eligible to return next year, and eight eligible for two more seasons, the future looks bright for this stellar group of players, the coach said.

Gibsons Dodgers take Mounties to the limit

Date: Aug 10, 2009

Entry: The Trail Active Hiking Series kicked off in June with a hike in to beautiful Triangle Lakes in Halfmoon Bay. The hike series is part of a BC wide physical activity initiative focused on promoting healthy, active living by organizing free outdoor recreation activities. Trail Active offers up free guided hikes on some of the Sunshine Coast's most popular hiking trails. The summer hiking series wraps up on August 22nd with hikes to both Sprockids in Langdale & Soames Hill in Gibsons.

Trail Active Hiking Series

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: Mr. B and Coaster Mr. D (left) have been riding across Canada in support of the Ronald McDonald House charity. Their ride ends on Sunday, Aug. 9.

On day 75 of his 6,680-km cross-Canada cycling trip, Gibsons-raised Mr. D, 26, is about done with his bike.

“People ask me what I’m going to do when I get home and I say, ‘I’m gonna take my bike to the end of a pier and heave it off,’” he said with a laugh.

But behind the epic journey of eight to 11-hour days on the road, covering up to 200 km a day, is another story: Mr. D’s quest, along with teammate Mr. B, to raise money for sick kids and their families, through the Ronald McDonald House charity.

A few years ago, at a friend’s suggestion, Mr. D started volunteering with Ronald McDonald House B.C. The House offers free accommodation to families with sick children who have to travel into Vancouver for medical treatment. Many of the children have cancer, and their families are there for extended periods.

As a volunteer, Mr. D does everything from basic administrative work to admitting and discharging families to making meals, playing video games or just hanging out with kids and their families. Often, he said, he’ll spend Mr. Be with a sick child’s sibling, who may be feeling forgotten with parental attention focused primarily on the sick sibling.

“It’s just been a really humbling, rewarding experience overall for me,” Mr. D said. “You go in there and you see what these families are going through and it just really opens your eyes to what’s important in life.”

Last year, Mr. B dreamed up the cycling trip as a means to raise money for the kids and their families.

“It was kind of a no-brainer,” Mr. D said. “I said, ‘Let’s go for it.’”

They put together a fundraising proposal, mapped out a course on Google Maps, and set a fundraising target: $100,000.

Three weeks before leaving in May, Mr. D, who hadn’t ridden a bike since elementary school, bought a bike and started going for daily bike rides — mostly, he said, “to get my butt used to the seat.”

On the flight out to Halifax, he had some butterflies.

“I thought, ‘Oooh, this could be the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever decided to do, and I’ll have to fly home a couple of days later,’” he recalled.

But the trip has gone remarkably smoothly, and he and Mr. B have managed to keep to their schedule without any serious mishaps or delays.

So far, they’ve raised about $30,000, and expect to see that figure grow when they complete their ride on Sunday, Aug. 9.

And while the money will go straight to Ronald McDonald House B.C. to be used as its administrators see fit, Mr. D said he hopes it may help kickstart a new campaign to build a second facility in Vancouver to deal with high demand.

“We definitely do see a need as volunteers. I can recall Mr. Bes when I’ve gotten a call and it’s this mother or father at the hospital, inquiring about a place to stay and I’ve had to turn them away, and that’s just a terrible feeling,” Mr. D said.

But beyond the fundraising goal, Mr. D said he hopes the expedition will raise the profile of what Ronald McDonald House does and who it can serve.

“I think it’s important for people on the Sunshine Coast to know what it is because the Ronald McDonald House is definitely a place that somebody from the Coast might need to use one day,” he said.

Gibsons Local rides for sick kids

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: The Gibsons Paddle Club (GPC) celebrates its 10th anniversary on Aug. 23 with a celebration from 10 a.m. to noon at Porpoise Bay. To learn more about the club, see www.gibsonspaddleclub.ca.
After completing the VisionQuest journey in 1997, retired RCMP officer Mr. H returned to the Sunshine Coast with an interest in bringing canoeing to the community. When he contacted Western Canoe and Kayaking in the spring of 1998 they told him they were looking for a location for outrigger racing.
The community stepped up to organize that first race and included the community races, to give Sunshine Coast residents an opportunity to participate.
The first Howe Sound Outrigger Race and Corporate Challenge Race took place in July of 1999. Along with that first race began the Paddle Club’s tradition with the devil’s club necklace.
On the VisionQuest journey, a First Nations’ spiritual woman/elder presented each paddler with a necklace made from the wood of the devil’s club plant. The elder gave the paddlers specific instructions that the necklaces were to be worn when paddlers are involved in any functions pertaining to ventures on the water. Along the journey the paddlers would meet someone they connected with and in the spirit of giving they would pass on the protection of the devil’s club, telling the story of the necklace. The necklaces that are given away have found their way to all corners of the paddling community.
After that first Corporate Challenge race, community members decided they wanted to keep paddling and form a paddle club on the Sunshine Coast with outrigger canoes. They gathered interested parties, formed an interim executive and elected Mr. L as the interim president. With true dedication, they began negotiating for a canoe, set up financing, arranged insurance and wrote the first club policies. On Aug. 26, 1999, the GPC was formally incorporated as a non-profit society.
With the support of the Sunshine Coast Credit Union (SCCU) and the community, club members were able to purchase their first canoe (Sound Traveller) in February 2000 and their second canoe, Ch’atiyay (the Squamish Nation word for devil’s club) later that year. With the acquisition of the second canoe, members could now race against each other, and membership grew.
With the support of SCCU, Community Futures, Rotary Clubs and Target Marine, the Paddle Club was able to purchase four Malia outrigger canoes in 2002. Outrigger canoeing expanded, with one Malia going to Powell River and a second Malia going to Sechelt, providing the opportunity for more people to paddle. The club also added one (OC1) and two (OC2) man outriggers.
The GPC has grown from 77 members in 1999 to 207 members in 2004, ranging in age from 15 to 75. That year the club added two six-man outrigger canoes and a four-man outrigger canoe. MacKenzie’s Marina in Sechelt provided the space for the canoes in Sechelt while Gibsons Marina provided the space in Gibsons. The Ritz Motel supported the club by keeping the VHF radios charged and taking care of the canoe sign out book and keys.

Celebrating 10 years of paddling

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: If you want to visit artist Mr. C’s studio in rural Gibsons, you may have to go eye-to-eye with an emu. The big birds play in a paddock near his rustic studio and like to engage guests in staring matches. A mother guinea hen, peacocks, ducks, a cat and other creatures hum or squawk in the prolific gardens surrounding the farmhouse style home of Mr. C and his green thumb wife Mrs. M.

This is the artist’s gorgeous setting for the summer months. As an elementary school teacher in North Vancouver, he commutes most of the year, but still finds time to paint at least a bit every day, even after arriving home on the ferry.

“If you don’t, you get rusty,” Mr. C said.

In summer his studio is open by appointment and he hosts his annual studio show and sale. This year it took place July 11 and attracted close to 100 guests who bought 16 of his paintings. Some of his work has graced the fine interior design of show homes, causing his paintings to appear in such lifestyle magazines as Coast Life and Canadian House & Home. As soon as his recent show came down, Mr. C participated with a group of Coast artists who displayed their work in the garden of Linwood House in Roberts Creek on Sunday, July 19, with part proceeds as a fundraiser for the work of the organization’s ministry.

Mr. C will also be teaching an oil painting class for beginners, aged 16 and up, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre, July 25 to 26, during their summer art school sessions.

In August he plans to build a second floor on his studio so he has removed all the artwork temporarily to the farmhouse’s tiny living room. It makes a charming gallery. Somewhere in all this activity, he’ll still find time to paint. As he puts it in his succinct artist’s statement: “I paint because it forever challenges me and delivers great satisfaction. Besides, one can only do so much gardening.”

The Mr. C style is difficult to describe.

“I always reference nature in some form or other,” he said. “Some of it is literal, some abstract.”

His landscapes are initially recognizable as such but may transform into impressions.

“It may look like trees when I start to paint, but it evolves on its own,” he said. “Then I go with it. It just depends on what’s working.”

Although Mr. C is no longer represented by the Westwind Gallery in Gibsons, preferring to do his own marketing, he is still part of a critique group who met through Westwind — all local artists who gather to evaluate each other’s work.

“Critique from peers, that is so helpful,” Mr. C said. “We support each other that way.”

Since making art by oneself can be a solitary pursuit, he enjoys the camaraderie of the group as well. Of course, when working at home, he also has emus for company.

Art among the Emus - rural Gibsons

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: Among the 1,400 athletes and 400 coaches at the Special Olympic Summer Games in Abbotsford, July 9 to 11, were 13 athletes and four coaches from the Sunshine Coast.

Sunshine Coast athletes participated in swimming, track and field, basketball and softball.

The three swimmers all came back with medals - one cleaned up at track with four medals. The single basketball athlete, had a great time playing on a North Shore Team — one of two girls on a team of really tall guys.

According to M, coach with Sun-shine Coast Special Olympics, the basketball team didn’t win a game, but showed spirit throughout the competition.

The softball team were joined by four players from Vancouver/North Shore. The softball team tied for third, but missed the medals by a hair as the team they tied with had won the head-to-head game. The team’s proudest moment was winning against Burnaby that ended up winning the gold medal.

The city of Abbotsford was out in full force, with 1,000 volunteers helping to make the event a huge success. The opening ceremonies included all 1,400 athletes entering the stadium by region.

The Premier, chair of Special Olympics B.C., head coach of B.C. Lions (and honourary head coach of the 2009 Summer Games.), the mayor of Abbotsford and other dignitaries were on hand to open the games.

After two full days of competition, the games ended with closing ceremonies and a dance. Volunteers, coaches and athletes all celebrated their achievements in the great Canadian tradition — party-on!

Special Olympic athletes shine

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: The Knabe concert grand piano, now at the Heritage Playhouse, has been thoroughly welcomed into its new home.

At a two hour plus concert last week, organized by Ms. M, a wide range of performers gave the full house a stellar show. Though the audience may have been grey-haired, many of the performers were youthful, from the youngest, 7, to the older teens.

Piano technician Mr. D told the crowd that “an older piano [1923], like older people, has certain characteristics.” He called the Knabe “mellow, sonorous and mid-range. It’s aged well, like fine wine.” Then, in the latter half of the program, Mr. D expressed his emotion in a non-traditional arrangement of Cry Me a River.

Cello and piano opened the show with a slow, lovely and difficult Jewish prayer, Kol Nidrei. Mr. M, who leads two choirs on the Coast, reappeared to accompany vocalists who sung a delightful piece from Godspell. Several of the award winning performers from last April’s music festival took turns. It was refreshing to see teenagers playing classical and jazz numbers composed long before they were born. Former band leader Mr. H returned from his world tour to pick up the sax.

Pianist Mr. A gave the piano a virtuoso workout while keeping up a reputation for selecting little known pieces of music. He had transcribed two Japanese pieces for piano, excerpted from animated films. He and EL on violin closed the first half with the sublime Meditation.

Fundraising for a concert grand piano began many years ago with a benefit performance from Mr. A and friends. Its realization owes a lot to the Rotary Club of Gibsons, the SC Music Society.

Concert Grand celebrated by locals

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: This year’s Sea Cavalcade Thistle Race was smaller than expected due to skippers with other commitments, but the little fleet had a great time with light shifting winds changing with every race.

Three triangle races were run from Gibsons Harbour, around Protection Island, across to Soames Mark and back to Gibsons Harbour, with RB and crew on DandyLion being the easy winners of all three races.

The battle for second place was a very close match between KL and crew on Aunt Ruby, GB and crew on GoHaywire and GK and crew on Buluga shifting back and forth with every race. End results were DandyLion, followed by Aunt Ruby and GoHaywire in third.

“We are a small racing fleet [of seven] of trailerable one design 17 ft. Thistles that race in Porpoise Bay on Wednesday’s from 3 to 7 p.m.,” said event organizer GB. “We also participate in other weekend events on the Coast. We welcome crew and interested sailors. Used boats can be bought from $500 for a winter project to $3,000 for one in racing condition.”

Changing winds make for challenging event

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: Look out Richmond, Sunshine Coast swimmers are going to make some waves at this year’s B.C. Senior’s Games.

The Games are set for Sept. 16 to 19 and will feature six swimmers, three female and three male from the Sunshine Coast on the zone four team.

Zone four is the largest zone in the province comprised of athletes from Burnaby, Delta, Ladner, New Westminster, North and West Vancouver, Richmond, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast.

A total of 36 members are on the swim team, meaning the Coast is providing 17 per cent of that team.

“Our success is due to the dedication of the swimmers, but also due to the splendid support which the Sunshine Coast Regional District has given us at the pools, during our training sessions,” said M who organized the team with the assistance of the SCRD in April.

Masters Swim team set to make some waves

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: Mr. D is the first one to admit he’s had a troubled past.

A life of crime and many bad choices shone the spotlight brightly on Mr. D, in a negative way.

Years later he’s trying to change those negative perceptions inside the ring turning to mixed martial arts (MMA) as his saviour.

“I was always in the life of crime and doing the wrong thing,” Mr. D said.

“I needed that excitement in my life, but I was doing the wrong things with it. After I got out of jail, I met some guys who trained in the martial arts and all of a sudden it just overwhelmed me.”

That was three and a half years ago, and now he feels he’s on the right path.

“All I wanted to do was train and push myself to the next level,” he said. “The whole sport took my time away from the bad things. It was a life changing experience.”

Mr. D starting fighting at 205, but soon realized being the biggest guy in the ring doesn’t necessarily translate into victories.

“I was tough because I would dominate, then I’d get tired really quickly and I realized that I was a long way away from being a top fighter,” he said. “That kind of motivated me, so I really started training, upped my conditioning, and now I’m fighting at 155.”

Mr. D first started training in North Van-couver, then met a promoter in Edmonton, who became his mentor. Mr. H, the current North-west Canadian heavyweight champion, is a person Mr. D looks up to and who he said has really helped his budding career. Mr. D has now set up a home gym at his home here on the Coast and is training with his friends.

“I’ve dedicated my life to this sport. I have no need for the other things that used to dominate my life,” he said.

His ultimate goal is not unlike any MMA fighter — the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) — but Mr. D knows he has a long road ahead.

“That’s a far-off dream for sure,” he said. “The Northwest Canadian Lightweight belt is certainly a goal. I think the promoter likes me and I think I have a pretty good shot at that.”

Mr. D won his last fight at the 25th North American Challenge in North Vancouver, bringing his overall record to 4-3. All seven of his fights were sanctioned and several were with King of the Cage and other organizations. He’s also featured on the promotional video and DVD from North American Challenge that is available for sale at Seaside Video in Trail Bay Centre.

A further movie career might also be in the future as he’s been contacted by several producers from locally shot television shows in the Lower Mainland to appear as a stunt man.

“I’m meeting with a producer next week. It would be exciting to be in a movie, do some fight scenes and stuff,” he said. “I’m just taking fighting and each fight one at a time. It’s the type of sport where you have to keep battling. I’ve had a rocky road, but looking back on things, I’m happy with where my life is at now and where I’m heading.”

Turning his life around in the ring

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: Gibsons man won The Wally, drag racing’s most sought after trophy with a recent race win in Ashcroft.

Obalek feeding his a passion for Racing

Date: Aug 7, 2009

Entry: The Nauti’Gals all women’s dragon boat team finished second in the women’s B division at an event in Harrison Hot Springs on the July 25th weekend.

Nauti'Gals Dragon Boating second in Harrison

Date: Aug 6, 2009

Entry: SCRD coordinated a Youth Tournament for 9-10 year old Atom players held April 18th & 19th. Forty participants enjoyed a great weekend of Hockey each players guaranteed four games and a Saturday afternoon Lunch.

SCRD Youth 7-a-side Tournament for 9-10 year olds

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