Late Summer Sandspit Updates

A non-profit working to build a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable Sandspit.

Shingle Bay Update

Community News, Events & Updates

Late Summer 2023

Welcome!

Ah, we’re slowly but surely heading into my favourite time of year on Haida Gwaii. The days are warm but evenings cool, a few chanterelles are starting to pop up here and there, and thoughts turn from growing to harvesting and preserving. To me, this seasonal transition to a slower pace is a welcome change from the squeeze-every-last-minute-of-daylight pace of the summer season.

Loggers Sports Day was a resounding success last month, with excellent turnout of competitors, spectators, and vendors! So many delicious lunch choices!

This edition sees updates from our local Regional District rep, as well as news from the Moresby Market, Wild Harvest Festival, and more!

Remember, if you happen to have anything to contribute for these monthly(ish) newsletters (be it an upcoming event, a notice, a community photo, or perhaps an interesting story about the town from long ago..) please don’t hesitate to reach out!

I can be reached at info@sandspitcommunitysociety.com

Stay safe and well,

Amber

(plus Flavien, Lauren & Heron)

The Sandspit Community Society

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Wild Harvest Festival

We’re on the lookout for keynote speakers, presenters, and workshop hosts for the 7th Annual Wild Harvest Festival this October!

Do you love sharing your passion for a topic that falls under the wide umbrella of wild harvesting? Perhaps you’re not an “expert,” but you’ve got knowledge to share? Or maybe you ARE an expert in your field, and have heaps to share!

We offer stipends, accommodations and/or help with transportation (including possibly airfare if you’re coming from off island).

Please reach out to sandspitwildharvest@gmail.com for more details or to discuss if you’d be the right fit!

Stay tuned to the Festival Webpage for updates!

Electoral Area E Director’s Report

The North Coast Regional District has spent the past few months working on setting our priorities for the next few years. Our strategic plan is complete (link below).

The top priority in our strategic plan is addressing the local housing crisis. In the coming months the NCRD will continue work towards:

1. Making serviced land available for lots and/or rental housing projects.

2. Updating Official Community Plans and Zoning (after community consultation) with a focus on increasing density/housing stock and addressing the loss of housing stock to short term rentals.

3. Investigating the creation of a regional housing corporation.

4. Implementing other recommendations from our housing needs assessments, which can be found on our website.

Other priorities in the strategic plan include:

1. Continuing our advocacy and planning work related to shoreline erosion. The NCRD’s coastal flooding and erosion study is complete and can be found on our website under news.

2. Increasing investment in emergency preparedness, community wildfire prevention, and fire smart programs.

3. Investigating new shared services opportunities in partnership with municipalities and potentially band councils. An island wide bylaw enforcement service is one example of a service taxpayers can’t afford unless communities work together.

4. Continuing participation in the Northwest Resources Benefits Alliance and supporting its advocacy work to establish a natural resource revenue sharing agreement for local government in the Northwest.

5. Working towards establishing the MRDT tax on hotel/accommodation stays to help fund affordable housing and destination marketing programs.

6. Working with First Nations and govt partners to enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities. For Sandspit this will include seeking grant funding for trails, our previous grant application was turned down, but we are applying again this fall.

I am happy to discuss these priorities or your ideas/concerns, please feel free to call or text me at 250-637-1443 or email me at areae-director@ncrdbc.com and we can set up a meeting.

There will be a public consultation meeting held in the next two months; it will likely focus on community policing priorities, housing crisis ideas/solutions, and zoning/development rules. When I have dates, I will provide more information.

Evan Putterill, Area E Director, North Coast Regional District.

Relevant Links:
NCRD Strategic Plan: https://www.ncrdbc.com/governance/our-board/2023-2026-strategic-plan

Housing Needs Assessment: https://www.ncrdbc.com/development/planning/housing-needs-assessment-report

Coastal Erosion Study: https://www.ncrdbc.com/about-us/news-notices/coastal-flood-and-erosion-study-workshop-sandspit-tlell-and-towhill

Wildfire Protection Plan and Fire Smart: https://www.ncrdbc.com/services/public-safety/fire-protection

North West Resource Benefits Alliance: https://www.nwresourcebenefits.ca/

Fire Bans

As of August 21st, campfires are still allowed (not sure why) but are strongly discourage, as provincial resources are stretched so thin at the moment and the forest feels very dry.

Fire Ban in place for back yard (Category 2) and Industrial (Category 3) burning.

Campfires are currently still allowed on HG but be extremely careful if you do choose to have one and click here for regulations.

Fines up to $1,150. If a violation causes a wildfire, the person responsible may also be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

Check this page for latest updates on bans and restrictions.

Sandspit Visitor Centre

Local art and crafts, books, clothing, jewelry etc. available at our well-stocked gift shop. Come and visit us!

August Hours: Daily, 1-4pm

Stay tuned to our facebook page for any changes, updates, new products, and specials!

Loggers’ Sports Day

Huge haawas to everyone who helped make the Loggers Sports Day event such a wonderful success this year! From the main coordinator Betsy, to the dedicated volunteers, to the folks who donated money and prizes, to those who participated, to the vendors, and to those who spectated… it takes a LOT of work to put together an event like this, and it’s amazing to see it all come together.

Thanks to Marcy and her patrons, the LSD dance and beer gardens raised over $8000 for Kayla Brady and family.

ALM School Cans & Bottle Recycling Program

Thanks to all those who donated cans and bottles to the ALM school program over the summer. Young students have been busy sorting a very large volume of cans and bottles.

The program is a fundraiser for youth programs in Sandspit and at the school. It’s run by volunteers (mostly the Baran’s and Jamie Polk). Young people (aged 6-12) do all the sorting and are paid a cash honorarium each week. The remainder of money earned goes toward school activities and youth programs in town like Junior Golf.

Please be aware the program only accepts alcohol containers (wine, beer, hard liquor), pop cans (& soda water) and water bottles. Milk containers of any kind are NOT accepted (either tetra boxes or plastic bottle) due to hygiene issues. Plastic containers (laundry detergent, etc.) should deposited in the plastic area at the large recycling bin at the Super Valu parking lot.

A big thanks goes to Harvey, Dean and the crew at the store for accepting and processing the cans and bottles every Saturday morning. The program would not be possible without you!

Moresby Market

The Market is in full swing! It’s been busy with both vendors and patrons, and it’s been wonderful to have a regular supply of produce, baking, gifts and more!

Every Sunday through the summer; 11-1 at ALM School Walkway

Last Market September 3rd

The Moresby Market greenhouse project has been a great success this year:

Alex has been busy growing and selling lettuce, herbs and beans at the market, as well as at Supervalu. Big thanks to Moresby Explorers for use of their greenhouse. Yay for local food!

Willows Golf Course

The Willows Open runs the weekend of August 26th.

The tournament is open to all.

Two days of golf, 18 holes a day of stroke play.

Pre registration is preferred. The course can only hold so many people at one time, so there might be morning and afternoon tee offs if there is a lot of interest in the tournament to avoid backups and slow play.

More details/registration here.

Child Care Resource & Referral Program

The Child Care Resource & Referral Program (CCRR) provides support, resources and referral services for child care providers, parents, and caregivers in all communities on Haida Gwaii.

Moresby Trails Feature: Dogfish Bay Loop

A challenging but rewarding hike!

If you would like to volunteer to help with some trail maintenance in and around Sandspit, send an email to flavien@sandspitcommunitysociety.com

Haida Gwaii Recreation

A reminder that the Moresby Island Travel Fund is available for residents! You can use it for things like attending community soccer league, attending art workshops, going over to the Masset golf course, etc!

You can also now just send photos via email of receipts and will receive payment in return as an etransfer!

Click here for more information.

Do you have an upcoming event or information that you’d like included in the next newsletter?

Email us at info@sandspitcommunitysociety.com

This newsletter is put together by the Sandspit Community Society, a BC-registered, not-for-profit Society incorporated since 2011, that operates for the benefit of the community of Sandspit.

The SCS is run by a volunteer Board of residents,

who wish to sustain the economic and social well-being of our community.

Do you have a great idea for a project in our community (that fits with our focus areas? Are you interested in helping us with one of our projects, perhaps as a volunteer, or committee member? Please reach out!

Thank you for your support!

www.sandspitcommunitysociety.com