From Our President
Traditions dating back to when Pender was only known as SDÁ,YES, others established with one wave of settlers or another. The Pender Island Farmers’ Institute’s Fall Fair has been a foundational event for over 90 years. The Nu-to-Yu has been fundraising and repurposing our old items since the early 80s. The island’s society-managed health centre was built more than 25 years ago.
I see this firsthand as we create The Pender Post – a monthly community newsletter that itself has been publishing for 55 years. We receive a robust collection of submissions and event listings each cycle highlighting the impressive collection of social events and collective projects for Penderites new and old to consider joining, or with which to consider investing their time and resources.
There’s something for everyone, and the work is already in progress.
This past month, however, I was honoured to do something a little different. I got to help start something. Pender Radio went live in May, broadcasting from the silver Airstream next to the Community Hall and streaming on penderradio.ca.
I was honoured to play a small role in bringing this project to life, joining long-time Penderites Laurie Storrie, George Fowlie and Jaime MacLean, as a dream long in the making became a reality. Check out the introduction from Laurie, Pender Radio’s technical director, in the June issue for more on the excitement from Launch Day.
We were joined by more than 30 of the island’s most talented and creative members and it quickly became clear the team was building something special. Show hosts, behind-the-scenes hustlers, and a raft of technical experts all pitching in to create something uniquely Pender. It is a resource for the community, sharing The Pender Post’s interest in connecting the island, giving it a voice, and a place to share it.
It is a vehicle for swapping stories, spreading news and creating art. It is itself a public art project – to borrow the words of a wise woman – and a launching pad for untold ideas and opportunities. New members will be growing Pender Radio for years to come.
The experience has made me stop and take stock. Because Pender Radio isn’t the only new addition to the island in my short time here. The Schooner Way – School Trail – an idea long ago conceived and now a reality – seems like just the start of bringing new pathways to Pender… Einars Hill appears to be next! Even the decades-old efforts of our community thrift store will soon be moving to a new location, and an entirely new building.
The recently-unveiled Pender Island Foundation (not to mention its inaugural fundraising event this month) is another dedication to this theme, and more proof than anything else that anything is possible on Pender.
To borrow more words, these from another wise person:
“I believe you can make any dream come true if you try hard enough, I also know you can’t do it alone.”
Cover Story
Thank you to Myles Clarke, photographer extraordinaire, for this gorgeous shot of one of Pender’s flighted friends. Myles is a frequent visitor to Pender, and his work has been appearing on our cover page since The Pender Post Society introduced colour photography. We very much appreciate his continued support.
Announcements
A Note to Readers
A reader recently sent The Pender Post an email asking for the results of the annual Christmas bird count. We announced it would be happening (in our December 2025 issue), but the reader could not seem to find a follow up on the results. I reached out to head bird-counting honcho Steve Dunsmuir and, rather than sharing the provided update with one curious reader, I present it below for all of them. – Editor
Pender Island Christmas Bird Count Results
Thirty-three intrepid birders walked close to 50 kilometers over 47.5 hours in very blustery and moist conditions on Sunday, December 14, to count over 3000 birds! Identifying 75 species, our counters scoured the beaches, trails, mountains, ridges, meadows, ponds and shorelines of North and South Pender to generate important data that will help paint a picture of bird health across Canada.
A lone turkey vulture was spotted high above Magic Lake, while over 230 common mergansers patrolled the waters off of our coast. A barred owl was heard during the count week, though none turned up on the day. It is nice to know that there are at least 19 bald eagles and 19 black oystercatchers on the islands, while dark-eyed juncos seem to rule the region with over 230 reported.
Our data will merge with the counts from Mayne and Saturna Islands, then be submitted to the provincial coordinators who will then submit to the national people. A full report is generated, along with an overview for each region.
Good food and tall tales were shared at the potluck gathering following the count, and we are very grateful for everyone who took part in this event for their dedication, thoughtful observations, and speedy delivery of data.
Special Notices
An Invitation to Pender’s Annual Ecumenical Service
Members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church extend a warm and sincere invitation to all who might be interested in joining us for an Ecumenical Service on Sunday June 7, 2026 at 10 am, at 4703 Canal Road on North Pender, followed by a fully hosted lunch party.
There is a long tradition of annual ecumenical services on Pender Island, each hosted in turn by one of the faith communities, and this year it is the Anglicans’ turn.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “ecumenical” as “fostering unity among different Christian denominations”. While ecumenical services aim for unity, they are not intended to erase the unique traditions of each denomination, but rather to celebrate them together.
So we invite you to come and share a service of music and scripture with us, to celebrate and promote the tolerance, friendship and love we experience within our own small island community, and, in this particular time of world upheaval and turbulence, to pray for continuing efforts to bring peace and harmony.
Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning – Summer Earth Education Program
The Gulf Islands Centre for Ecological Learning (GICEL) is once again offering its popular Summer Earth Education Program for Pender Island children and visiting families.
Blending wilderness skills with ecological education, the camp is designed to help children build confidence, comfort, and connection in the natural world through hands-on, place-based experiences. Campers will explore the forests, freshwater habitats, shorelines, and marine environments of the Pender Islands while learning practical outdoor skills such as food gathering, water sourcing, first aid, and map-and-compass navigation.
Participants will discover local ecosystems while learning about animal and bird behaviour, food chains, food webs, and ecological relationships. Children also take part in journaling and self-reflection activities, while specially designed games bring concepts to life through role-playing as predators, prey, pollinators, salmon, orcas, and more.
Working together in small groups, children develop teamwork, resilience, curiosity, and environmental awareness while discovering the gifts of nature on the Pender Islands.
Led by dynamic leaders and youth mentors, the camp offers an engaging and memorable way for children to experience the natural beauty and ecological richness of the islands and aims to inspire eco-literacy, environmental stewardship, and a lifelong appreciation for the natural world.
Registration forms can be found at http://www.gicel.ca/programs. For more information or to register email pender@gicel.ca.
Wilderness Skills Day Camp, August 24 – 28
10 am to 4 pm daily, Children ages 6 to 12, $250
If the cost poses a hardship, GICEL has limited funds for financial assistance.
In Appreciation
Congratulations to the DeVries on 73 Years of Marriage
The Pender Post Society would like to wish Frank and Celia DeVries a wonderful 73rd wedding anniversary. The DeVries were long-time residents of the Trincomali neighbourhood and attended the Pender Island Community Church during their time on Pender. Frank and Celia, who celebrated their anniversary on May 20, now live in Surrey. Congratulations on a wonderful, long-running union.
Features
Pender Interview: Watching Whales with Janine McNeilly
Raincoast’s Cetacean Research Program, tracking from Oaks Bluff. Photo courtesy Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
Janine McNeilly is a research scientist for Raincoast’s Cetacean Research Program. A lifelong whale lover, Janine is working to help us understand the effectiveness of Vessel Restricted Zones in Southern BC.
Her fieldwork takes her to the rugged coastlines of Pender Island, where she observes whales from a bluff overlooking the Salish Sea. Janine sat down to chat about cetacean conservation, community science, and her favourite whales.
Where did you grow up, and where are you living now?
I’m from Coquitlam, which is a suburb of Vancouver in British Columbia. I’m currently on Pender Island, one of the Southern Gulf Islands between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Tell me about your current project.
We monitor the Pender Vessel Restricted Zone (VRZ), which is a seasonally enforced vessel-free area in the Southern Gulf Islands. There’s one off Pender Island, and one off Saturna Island. These zones were put in place to try to protect the Southern Residents from the physical and acoustic disturbances caused by vessels. These two small strips of ocean were chosen because, historically, there have been a high number of Southern Resident sightings in these locations. When the whales come into the Salish Sea, they have a little protected zone that they can swim through.
I stand on a cliff, and I look out over the ocean. I have this cool instrument called a theodolite that allows me to track the exact locations of any whales or boats that go through the study area. I track Southern Residents, Bigg’s (transient) killer whales, humpback whales, and any other whale or dolphin that pops up. I also track all the boats that transit through the area, which helps me determine the compliance rate with the VRZ.
This project allows us to determine what types of whales are common in this area, how boaters behave around whales, and whether whales are using the zones. There’s a lot going on.
What’s your impression of the compliance rate? Do you feel like people are generally respecting it, or is it the wild west?
It’s the wild west for sure. Commercial vessels tend to respect the zone because they have AIS transponders on their vessels. If you have AIS and you go into the zone, you’re automatically reported to Transport Canada. The zones are also pretty close to shore, so really big commercial ships typically wouldn’t enter them. Small recreational vessels sometimes do.
Last year, we reported over 800 infractions in the Pender VRZ. There’s obviously more that we don’t see that happens after monitoring hours or on days we’re not working. There’s also just so much vessel traffic in the area; we probably tracked multiple thousands of boats last year. So overall compliance is hard to tell, but it’s not perfect.
Do you see whales most days? Or is that more of a rare occasion?
I’m up there from May through October, so it varies depending on the time of year or even what year it is. May is a big humpback month; we had humpbacks almost every day during the second half of May in 2025. We also had a lot of Bigg’s killer whale sightings last year, way more than we had in 2024. I would guess we see whales about every three days, give or take. But there’s always a harbour porpoise! They’re there if you look hard enough.
Thank you to the Raincoast Conservation Foundation for providing this excerpt. For the full interview with Janine McNeilly, scan the QR code below.
Newcomers’ Notes: Getting to Know SDÁ,YES Glossary
Students from the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board performing at the Pender sign unveiling last month. Photo by Matthew Coutts.
As a born-and-raised Québécoise, something that made me fall in love with my new place of residence – at the time Vancouver, located on the ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations – was the prevalence of Indigenous heritage and art around me.
It seemed nearly everywhere to me: from airport installations to street banners – even on viaducts! – and it impressed me to no end. It is beautiful, and completely different from where I grew up. The city offered me many opportunities to learn about Coast Salish peoples, and the concept of unceded territories, as a newcomer, and to try to weave this new knowledge into my new life as I settled. Luckily for me, there was openness to this in my unrelated work and in my social circle.
Moving to Pender Island, over four years ago now, I wasn’t sure what I would find here and how I might continue, or perhaps deepen, my learning journey. Turns out there was a lot here, provided I made an effort.
I mentioned in my last column how it took me two years to really find The Pender Post after settling here; it would have made my search to find our local Truth & Reconciliation Circle much easier earlier, but I digress.
I learned the basics: the Southern Gulf Islands are part of the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich) people since time immemorial, whose traditional language is SENĆOŦEN, and that Pender Island is called SDÁ,YES (pronounced st-AY…us). I read books, visited our museum, and joined a few community-based groups.
In my role as board member for The Pender Post Society, I dedicated some time to making sure we were using the proper spelling for SDÁ,YES in our publications. I am still grateful to Monica Petrie for providing help, and to Elders SELILIYE (Belinda Claxton) and J,SIṈTEN (John Elliott) for discussing this and sharing their knowledge.
Fast forward to early 2026. I opened The Post’s March issue at home, and read my lighthearted column “An Island Glossary” in print. Right away, a mix of guilt, disappointment, shame, and frustration at myself arose.
I had forgotten to include SDÁ,YES in my glossary! But how? I could easily give my ego a win and blame my ADHD for this one, but the bottom line is I know better. Maybe I want it to be second nature to do better, but I still have some ways to go.
My blunder didn’t go unnoticed – and that’s a good thing. I was graciously asked to include the name, which is especially timely with the recent unveiling of gorgeous artistic and SENĆOŦEN additions to the island’s welcome sign, found at the intersection of Otter Bay and Bedwell Harbour roads, and new historical signs on the Community Hall grounds. An unveiling ceremony I attended, too, and by which I was deeply touched.
So, this month of June, National Indigenous History Month, I’m sharing with our readers a brief glossary of SENĆOŦEN and English names relating to the land and waters we call home, SDÁ,YES or Pender Island, and our Indigenous neighbours. (Note: pronunciations are approximate English guides only.)
- Located on W̱SÁNEĆ people’s ancestral homelands, pronounced somewhat like “wh-SAH-nuhch”. W̱ is a wind sound “wh”, and Ć is a “ch” at the front of the mouth.
- The Emerging People and Salt Water People both refer to the W̱SÁNEĆ people.
- Their language is SENĆOŦEN, pronounced “sen-CHOH-thun”.
- SDÁ,YES is Pender Islands’ name, translates to “a happy place to wind-dry fish” and refers to the practice of hanging salmon to dry in the island wind. Pronounced “st-AY…us”. The “…” for a pause like in “uh-oh” in English.
- SX̱IX̱ŦE is a sacred, ancestral reef-net fishing site near Bedwell Harbour, off South Pender. Pronounced “skw-ee-skw-ee-th-uh”.
- QENEṈ,IW̱ is the name of the ancient permanent village buried under Poets Cove Resort on South Pender, and of the adjacent reserve at Hay Point. Pronounced “kw-un-un…EE-wh”.
- SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout) and W̱SÍḴEM (Tseycum) are the two resident First Nations with recognized legal and ancestral ties to the reserve. Audio pronunciations of subtleties are available at https://niltuo.ca/community-names.
In the course of writing this glossary, I came across new-to-me information: six Hul’qumi’num-speaking Nations have deep historical ties to our island. I learned that both the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations and the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group hold inherent ancestral stewardship over these lands and waters.
It is a fascinating part of local history which I will, of course, be exploring further. For starters: Hul’qumi’num is pronounced “huhl-kuh-MEE…num” and Pender Island is called St’eyus, a shared name for a shared seasonal site for Coast Salish mariners.
Hummingbird Hollow B&B
Tales of a Charmed Life (2002): Battle of The Monologues
More than a dozen homes hosted tourists and visitors during the bed and breakfast heydays of the 1990s, including Doreen Ball and Chuck Harris – who ran the Hummingbird Hollow B&B from 1990 – 2015. This is the ninth installment of Doreen’s “Tales of a Charmed Life” series, published posthumously.
This instalment which includes the story of a very interesting night definitely comes with a PG rating.
In March 2002, the Pender Women’s Institute bravely sponsored a performance of The Vagina Monologues by three Saltspring women. At the time we had two couples staying with us.They all decided to attend the performance upstairs at the Community Hall.
It was an exciting stormy weather night. The performers wanted to come over in the afternoon and return to Saltspring after the performance, and so, to make it work, they had arranged to travel to Pender on Gene Bellevance’s landing barge. They made it, but just barely.
I would describe the male host of Hummingbird Hollow as a fairly enlightened, liberated man but The Vagina Monologues was more than he could handle and he left shortly after the performance began. I thought he would go home.
About twenty minutes before the monologues ended, the power failed and we had the chance to see if the emergency backup lights in the Hall would work. They did. Nobody got up to leave, the performance carried on and the emergency lights went out just as the final applause faded. Candles lit the stairs as the audience filed out.
The B&B guests headed home while we Women’s Institute members tidied up by candlelight. The performers were delivered to the landing barge at the Port Wash dock, and because the wind had died down, made it safely back to Saltspring.
I thought that Chuck would be home lighting candles so our guests would be able to find their way in and get settled for the night, but I was wrong. He had gone to the pub. When I got home, I gingerly knocked on our guests’ doors and asked if they wanted candles or extra comforters. It was a new experience for me to be putting a comforter on a bed with a couple IN it! The power was still off in the morning. Breakfast was poached eggs and burnt toast prepared on the woodstove. The guests were good sports and took it all in stride. It took a while for Chuck to redeem his way out of the dog house.
Later in the year the very funny Saltspring Geezers, Arvid Chalmers and Sid Filkow, brought their “The Scrotum Dialogues” to Pender. The two men dressed as testicles and bemoaned the tribulations of “the big guy upstairs” who was represented by a flexible duct pipe about six feet long which periodically gave “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to comments made through the dialogue. Chuck said, “Unlike The Vagina Monologues, it was funny.”
In August a couple came by bicycle to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Chuck had picked up dinner for them from the deli. They were having a romantic evening sitting on the dock waiting for the sunset when the woman decided that it would be nice to have dinner out in the canoe. She got in, but when her husband tried to step in, the canoe tipped, spilling both them and their dinner into the lake. They had a good laugh and the next morning, he was out with his pants rolled up looking for cutlery. “It’s all part of the adventure.”
In October Otter Bay ferry dock closed for repairs for ten days. The replacement was a water taxi for foot passengers and a landing barge brought grocery supplies for the store twice a week.
Remembering
Colette Emerald Clarke (née Helm)
November 23, 1988 – May 12, 2026
It is with profound sadness and broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Colette Emerald Clarke (née Helm) at the age of 37.
Colette was the beloved daughter of Craig Helm (Ladeane) and Laura-Lee Vaughan (David), cherished sister of Christopher Helm (Chelsea), and loving step-sister to Devon and Aaron. She was a devoted and loving mother to Sadie and Sawyer, who were truly the center of her world. Colette was also a proud aunt to Pearce, Brooks, and Winslow, and a lifelong friend to Annabelle and Tanya.
Colette was a beautiful, carefree soul whose laughter, kindness, and adventurous spirit touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. She lived with an open heart and found joy in family, friendship, nature, and life’s simple moments. Her warmth and compassion made people feel welcomed, understood, and deeply loved.
She was a dedicated employee at the Pender Island Library, where she took great pride in serving her community and sharing her love of books, learning, and connection with others.
Colette was a cherished niece to Howard Helm (Kathy), Loren Ferguson (Gary), Patrick Corcoran, Daniel Corcoran, and Timothy Corcoran. She was predeceased by her grandparents, Fred and Lyn Gunther of Mississauga, Ontario, and Sally and Leo Corcoran of Toronto, Ontario.
To know Colette was to know kindness, laughter, and unconditional love. She had a gentle heart, a free spirit, and a remarkable way of bringing light into even the darkest moments. Her love for her children, family, and friends was immeasurable, and the memories she leaves behind will be treasured forever.
Though our hearts are shattered by this loss, we take comfort in knowing that Colette’s beautiful spirit will live on through the love she gave so freely and in the countless lives she touched.
She will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.
Celebration of Life for Colette Clarke
The passing of my dear friend and work colleague, Colette, is the saddest time. Colette brightened our days for so many years, as she was such a big part of The Pender Island Public library family, the local community, and my personal friend.
In 2019 I hired a bright young woman, Colette, without hesitation, having a gut feeling that she would be a good match for our library and for serving the community, and this certainly came true and more. Colette grew into her role as Library Technician extraordinaire, taking on every new task and challenge, fixing problems, and becoming my right-hand woman in all matters related to library operations. She worked with people every day, as she liked people, and they liked her.
She generously helped countless people with Tech Tutoring, including with all those complicated new devices that folks got as Xmas gifts. She helped people with those darn online government forms. Colette was a team player, helping to select new books, and choosing titles that made her laugh like “Birds Aren’t Real” and many others that she thought would appeal to readers. She efficiently catalogued every new book into the library computer system. She hung out with our teenage student helpers, teaching them the tricks of the trade when shelving books “the right way”, impressing me every time with her memorization of the Dewey Decimal categories. She met people at the service desk with a smile, connecting with kids, teenagers, parents, and seniors, and found answers for so many questions, including “if she could find that book with a blue cover that they really liked”. Colette travelled monthly to Saturna and Mayne Island libraries to support our staff there and to help patrons, and her loss is felt over several islands in the Salish Sea.
Colette was a hard worker, with strong values of dedication, integrity, and empathy. Empathy was Colette’s go-to response, and she had a purple t-shirt with the logo “Empathy is the Answer”, a philosophy that she held dear. She was empathetic to many people’s situations and often saw the best in folks when they needed help.
Over the years, Colette became my sounding board, and she always shared her fresh perspective as the young, cool, funky character that she was. She had her own style, with her favourite sweaters, ripped jeans, sneakers, and beaded bracelets that she made herself.
She was an authentic and creative person who freely gave generous gifts of baking, thoughtfully painted stones, and beautiful watercolour paintings of flowers, cats, and her favourite theme, mushrooms. I loved Colette’s awesome and funny mushroom costume last Halloween, it was classic Colette. Purple was Colette’s colour, and any purple pens at work became exclusively hers. The small but special things in life brought her a lot of joy. Like the many drawings and photos of her kids by her desk. She liked funny and witty jokes, clips, and photos and often shared them among library staff, bringing a smile to our days.
At her core Colette embodied the values that libraries promote — being welcoming and inclusive of all people, sharing her love of books, and pursuing lifelong learning. I invite everyone to come down to the library, a place that Colette held dear and she would’ve loved to see you there.
Colette was a kind person, and I’d like us all to keep that part of her going and share kindness with others. To her kids Sawyer and Sadie, you are “library kids” coming by every week, and I hope you come see us lots and lots, as part of Colette will always be part of our library. I will miss Colette so much with her caring nature. I wanted her to be with us for so much longer. She’ll forever be in my heart.
Elizabeth “Dianne” McAuley (nee Davis)
March 12, 1938 – May 12, 2026
Dianne passed away peacefully at age 88 in Sidney, BC on May 12. She is survived by Walter, her husband of 65 years, by her daughters Corinne (Alan), Patti, and Maureen, and by her beloved granddaughter Sarah “Sky” Warren.
She was predeceased by her four brothers, Doug, Geoff, Bruce, and Norm, and her sister Barbara. She will be missed by her many nieces and nephews.
Born in Nelson, BC, she spent her childhood in South Slocan, near Nelson, until she met a dashing young RCMP officer. They married June 18, 1960 and built a life together.
Dianne worked in banking as well as in many different medical offices as they traveled for Walt’s work. They lived in several lower mainland locations, and spent four years posted in northern Canada, two in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and two in Pangnirtung, Nunavut in the eastern Arctic. Prior to their arrival in Pangnirtung, she was required to order enough food to feed their family of five for one year.
She would joke later about how she ran out of flour in the first six months but still had sugar to use up ten years later.
Shortly after Walt retired, they bought and ran a delicatessen in Coquitlam. After selling the deli, Dianne went back to work in medical offices until they decided to fully retire.
Walt and Dianne built a house on Pender Island and became part of the vibrant community. Dianne spent much of her time volunteering, serving many years with the Lion’s Club, including time as President.
She also spent several years volunteering for the library, where she took a term as President as well. Dianne became an active member of the golf club and spent time as Ladies Captain, on the ProAm Committee as Treasurer, and on the prize committee.
Dianne played Euchre with a group that met regularly, and became a member of the quilters’ group. She will be missed by her many friends.
Her fascination with all things medical continued throughout her adult life and her final wish to donate her body to the UBC Faculty of Medicine has been fulfilled. No service is planned. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimer’s Society of BC.
Jan Huk
June 7, 1948 – May 4, 2026
We are sad to announce that Jan Huk passed away of heart failure in Nymbruk Hospital in Prague on May 4th, 2026. He was born June 7th,1948 in Vinohrady, Prague. Jan was the proprietor of the Renaissance Studio here on Pender Island.
At the age of 16, Jan was already making a living by supplying cartoons, jokes, drawings and poems for the Czech Newspaper, Mlada Fronta DNES. In August 1968, Jan and his friends fought against the Russian Tank Invasion in Prague, but after his friend died in his arms, Jan made the decision to leave his country and thus ended up in Canada.
He arrived in Toronto, where the arts and crafts scene was very active. He opened up a weaving art school named The Village Weaver. Jan soon became the largest wool and Leclerc loom supplier in North America. With his own tapestries on exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, he was proclaimed by the Japanese architect Raymond Junichi Moriyama as “the biggest talent of Canada”.
Jan’s passion and knowledge of art, history, and chemistry, along with his drawing and painting skills, led him to open up a successful Art Restoration Studio in Toronto. Soon he gained the trust of clients like Lord Thomson, an art dealer at the time, and did restoration work on paintings by Lorange and Devoe. Jan also worked with the immense art collection of Canadian artist John Wentworth Russell.
After moving to Pender Island in 1989, Jan and his wife, Milada, again started traveling to their home country each year to connect with Jan’s family of glass-makers. They brought beautiful pieces of art glass back with them to Pender Island. Many pieces were designed and made by Jan, and were showcased in the first Studio he and Milada opened in 1994 on Cannon Crescent in Magic Lake.
Proud of his Czech heritage, Jan was a talented artist, and a kind and caring father and husband. He will be missed by many friends, both local and international, and most of all, by Milada and their son, Christopher.
Representatives
Saanich North and the Islands MLA
No, First Nations Don’t Have a Veto
This is a challenging time for reconciliation.
Over the 25 years I provided legal representation to First Nations, I helped negotiate treaties and agreements ranging from forestry, to resource management, to governance.
When the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) passed unanimously in 2019, it was a win for First Nations and British Columbia – and a promise that First Nations and the Crown would come to the negotiating table, rather than the courtroom.
The framework sets the table for meaningful collaboration with First Nations on decisions affecting their lands and rights. But there’s a growing narrative, both in the legislature and outside, in the province that DRIPA has handed First Nations a veto. The courts are not ruling the same way.
In the 2025 Kebaowek decision, the Federal Court addressed the issue of a “veto” directly. Justice Julie L. Blackhawk clarified that free, prior and informed consent – the basis on which DRIPA operates – is “a right to a robust process […] not a veto or a right to a particular outcome.”
That distinction matters. The court case settled in ink what I know: that DRIPA does not give First Nations unilateral authority over projects or policy outcomes. DRIPA, as intended, is the interpretive aid for courts that require them to consider UNDRIP when applying B.C. laws and Section 35 of the constitution.
The issue I see is that the work to respect the minimum standard for DRIPA – the duty to collaborate and resolve key issues – is not getting done. And, the current misinformation from opposition and delayed action from the government has created a far greater climate of fear. Despite this, a majority of British Columbians have not given up. According to a recent poll, more than half actually want more action on reconciliation.
So, rather than amend or repeal DRIPA, we must do what Chief Justice Antonio Lamer, who authored the landmark Delgamuuk case, said over 30 years ago: “[I]t is through negotiated settlements, with good faith and give and take on all sides, reinforced by the judgments of this Court, that we will achieve […] the reconciliation of the pre-existence of aboriginal societies with the sovereignty of the Crown.
“Let us face it, we are all here to stay.”
CRD Electoral Area
Equity
Sparse title isn’t it? Well, the subject matter also alludes to sparse, very much in respect of what our electoral area receives through the CRD in two crucial areas, health and housing.
In the Webster-Merriam dictionary, “equity” is defined as “fairness or justice in the way people are treated”. Pretty simple.
At the CRD, the Electoral Area Director (for Salt Spring, Southern Gulf Islands, and Juan de Fuca) requested CRD staff prepare a report showing funds provided to the CRD (tax requisitions) as against benefits received (funds, or their value received) in the two areas of health and housing.
The impact of grants was also considered. As expected the report concluded that over the 15-year period reviewed, there was a marked difference in what was provided by CRD as compared to the benefit received, which was less. Not a surprise.
What was a bit of a surprise was how the two “dispersed” Electoral Areas fared. By “dispersed” I’m referring to our five Southern Gulf Islands, close in proximity but extremely difficult to physically connect between the islands given very infrequent ferry sailings. And then there is the Juan De Fuca, an area of 1,502 square kilometers with a population of 5,500, with small population centres like Otter Point, Shirley, Jordan River and Port Renfrew, plus scattered peoples elsewhere.
Serving dispersed communities like these two electoral areas with health facilities or housing is way more difficult and costly than a single island (Salt Spring) with more than double their population. But does that mean they shouldn’t have any return on their contributions? Looking at the CRD report, it appears that way.
Salt Spring with 12,000 residents has a hospital (Lady Minto) with millions in contributions through the CRD and over 150 units of affordable housing to which CRD was involved. But in looking at the SGI’s and JDF we’ve seen zero units of affordable housing. With respect to health/hospital funding the SGI’s and JDF have provided over $19 million in requisitioned taxes and received $200,000 in return for renovations to the Galiano Health clinic, a program no longer available.
This needs some explanation, as it’s not simply a CRD problem, and there is some benefit to our health/hospital funds that are requisitioned. Firstly, those $19 million plus goes to pay a portion of Island Health capital expenditures in the region, 30% of major capital and 40% of minor capital. We do have the benefit of access to hospitals like Vic General, Royal Jubilee, San Pen and Lady Minto, but they aren’t easy for us to access. They are of much greater benefit to those in the urban core or on Salt Spring, being a short drive/bus ride away.
On the SGI’s we rely heavily on our island clinics. Unfortunately, Island Health “policy” only allows funding “designated health facilities”, to which the Pender Clinic has the only such designation on the islands.
More recently (two months ago) we learned the Island Health “policy” does not allow funding major or minor capital to the Pender Clinic, because it is a society. But, Island Health does lease space in the Pender Clinic, paying $4 per square foot. But only for primary care, nothing for the acute care space.
What now? Well, if Island Health won’t provide funding with CRD contributions to the Pender Clinic for its capital needs, we’re going to test if CRD (or more appropriately the Capital Regional Hospital District) can directly fund the Pender Clinic or will policy or a lack of Board support undermine that initiative.
We won’t stop. And we’re not stopping on the housing file. We are building on Galiano to the extent of the Provincial Growing Communities fund grant and the Federal Community Works grants, which total close to $3.5 million. We’re getting started and we’ll be the most shovel ready project out there. Progress, not policy and not process.
Arts and Entertainment
Pender Island Art Society
Creations from Margaret Alpen (left) and Christine Elgert (right) were among those at the Spring Art Show. Photos courtesy of PIAS.Pender Island Art Society (PIAS) held its annual Spring Art Show at the Community Hall in May. There was a variety of artwork by the members for sale, as well as prints and cards.
We also included “not for sale” artwork by our members and the Pender Sketchers, an informal sketching group facilitated by Ron Underhill. The NFS work on display was the result of our monthly afternoon art sessions.
Two of the sessions were Copying the Masters, led by Malcom Armstrong. Each participant chose a renowned painter and replicated their work. They may have used a different medium, such as substituting acrylic for oil paints. The exercise gives an appreciation of the artistic talent of the master. The Group of Seven, Impressionistic painters (Van Gogh), and renowned European painters (Vermeer) were some of the choices of our painters.
We received two grants this year to support the activities of PIAS. The first was a $1,000 grant from Pender Island Parks and Recreation to support our art sessions, workshops, and shows. The second grant was a $1,000 grant from Pender Island Community Service Society (Nu-to-Yu Thrift Store) for the purchase of new show lightning. The new lights were installed on the art boards and provide direct illumination to the artwork. It gave the show displays the ambience of a gallery. We are deeply appreciative of these grants.
Our shows are a benefit to our members, an opportunity to display and sell their work. We are thankful to our members and other volunteers who helped with the setup and take down of the show equipment and taking work shifts during the show. We thank our member artists who participated and displayed their wonderful art work. We are also grateful to community members and visitors for viewing the art show during the weekend.
We have one regular session left in the current year (September to June). This will be held on June 18 and will be an end of year gathering with a creative activity. Our members will receive information about this wind-up session.
Our new membership year starts September 1, 2026. We will share registration and program information in the September Pender Post issue and to our members by email.
“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.” John Updike
Ptarmigan Arts
Last year’s Mosaic Arts and Music Festival, photo courtesy Ptarmigan Arts.This past month, we released Early Bird tickets for the 2026 Mosaic Arts & Music Festival, available online and at Talisman Books until June 6! We’re counting down the days until we can share this year’s incredible lineup of musicians. Trust us… you won’t want to miss what’s coming to the pines this summer. Keep your eyes peeled for our lineup announcement on June 7!
We also wrapped up our second annual Tapestry of Words Literary Festival. It was a wonderful weekend celebrating storytelling. This year’s festival featured a special presentation from Susin Nielsen, our first-ever Pender Reads event, a collaborative showcase between local artists and writers, an author meet and greet, and more! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us to share in the joy of stories and connection. We’re already looking forward to doing it all again with you next year.
Jr. and Sr. Contemporary Music Showcase
Saturday, June 6, 6:15 pm
Community Hall (upstairs)
If you didn’t get a chance to see the Jr & Sr Contemporary Music Ensemble directed by Ben McConchie at our previous Community Gatherings, come see them play their final year-end showcase on the big stage upstairs at the Hall. There will be a concession, 50-50 raffle, and tickets by donation at the door. All proceeds will go towards instrument upkeep and next year’s program. So bring your toonies, tell your friends, and come support our students!
Summer Events Coordinator Applications
June 27 to August 28, 2026
We are looking for someone to join our team, part-time this summer! The role of Summer Events Coordinator will be 35 hrs/week at $20/hr from June 27 to August 28, 2026. The Events Coordinator will assist Ptarmigan staff with a wide variety of arts education and community outreach arts projects, including summer arts workshops, camps, the Mosaic Arts & Music Festival, art and live music events, and organizational operations. Applicants must be between the ages of 15 and 29. For the full job description and to apply, please visit ptarmiganarts.org/jobs.
The Luckies
Friday, June 19, 7:30pm
Community Hall
Ptarmigan Arts is excited to sponsor a special concert at the Community Hall with The Luckies, who are Shari Ulrich, Hilary Grist, and Jeanne Tolmie. The Luckies were born in July 2022, when Shari’s original project fell through just days before the famed MusicFest in Comox, BC, leaving her without the two powerful female singer-songwriters she had planned to bring. Faced with replacing such remarkable artists, she immediately thought of Hilary Grist and Jeanne Tolmie. Both were an instant yes! They were only able to convene just a few hours before their MainStage set, and hit the stage with a miraculously polished performance, complete with gorgeous three-part harmonies on all the songs. It was exhilarating, exciting, and unimaginably fun. Join The Luckies for an evening of great music and energy. Tickets are available in advance for $30 (online + Talisman) and $35 at the door, free for ages 12 + under.
Art + Circus Camp – Registration open
July 13 – 17, 10 am – 4 pm
Community Hall
Ptarmigan Arts is proud to announce its very first Art and Circus Camp! Ilse Phillips will lead campers each morning for a week of art discovery with projects ranging from clay art sculpture and platter making to 3D painting and miniature shadow boxes. The afternoon will feature circus workshops led by Maya Cook. Activities with Maya will include stilt walking, juggling, beginner acrobatics, a focus on flexibility and strength, body awareness, circus games, mask-making, and more. This camp will culminate with an art show and short circus performance for parents and caregivers on the very last day. Registration is $250 (with a $50 sibling discount), which includes materials.
Mosaic Arts & Music Festival
July 31 – August 2
In the pines behind the Community Hall
Our beloved festival in the pines is back for another year! Join us July 31 to August 2 for a vibrant weekend of live music, activities for the whole family, yummy food, beer garden, games, camping, and more. Early Bird tickets are on sale until June 6th, online and at Talisman Books. Early Bird pricing: $30 Friday Pass, $100 Weekend Pass, $200 Family Weekend Pass (only available at Talisman Books. Valid for 2 adults and 3 children 18 and under), children ages 12 and under are free. If cost is a barrier, consider applying to volunteer in exchange for a weekend pass. Mosaic wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team of volunteers.
We’re also excited to bring back the Artisan Market, which will be woven throughout our food market featuring a diverse range of vendors selling handmade goods, art, and live demonstrations.
For all the info, volunteer applications, or to apply to be a vendor, please visit the mosaicfestival.com.
Last year’s Camp Create brought the best out of campers, photo courtesy of Ptarmigan Arts.
Camp Create – Registration open
August 10-14, 10 am – 4 pm
Community Hall
Camp Create (ages 6-9) is back this summer with an inspiring week of activities with our talented facilitators Ripley Stafford and Ben McConchie! Kids will enjoy art in the mornings with Ripley, and after lunch, they’ll spend the afternoon immersed in the world of music with Ben. On the last day there will be an art showcase and musical performance for parents & caregivers.
The registration fee is $250 which includes materials, with a $50 sibling discount.
Band Camp – Registration open
August 31 – Sept 4
10 am to 4 pm (Mon-Thurs) and 4 pm to 9 pm (Fri)
Community Hall
Band Camp returns! Join facilitators Sarah Smith (vocals), Dan Weeks (drums) and newcomers Ben McConchie (guitar), Audrey Coates (keys) and Charlie Knowles (bass) for a week of jamming, music mentorship, performances and songwriting and sound recording! Jonny Miller (Peach & Quiet) will be recording each of the bands live-off-the-floor so all campers can bring home a physical souvenir of a life-changing week. Each camper will select their role as either bass player, guitarist, keys, drummer or vocalist for the week! Throughout the week, campers will get to learn many songs with their band, have masterclasses to learn their instrument with one of our musical mentors, learn how to write a song, have the chance to record themselves, and perform in front of the rest of the campers daily. On the last day, there will be an evening performance showcase at the Community Hall. The registration fee is $360/camper.
Potters Meetup
The Potters Meetup will be taking a break this summer! Check back in September, when they’ll resume meetings on the last Thursday of each month.
Weekly Community Gatherings
Fridays, 12 – 1 pm
Community Hall
Katie Johnstone will be performing on June 5. With a love for storytelling and song, Katie’s performances weave together original music and beloved songs by other artists. On June 12, David and David (Wright and Scanlan) will be playing a mix of originals and cover tunes. David sings and switches between guitar and mandolin while Dave sings and switches between guitar and bass. Brad Prevedoros, Western Canadian Music Award Nominee and Monday Magazine performer of the year, will share Popular, Latin, Folk, and Original instrumentals for solo guitar on June 19. Finally, on June 26, we’re joined by Taeven Lopatcki. Taeven is a fiddler, banjo and guitar player, and songwriter whose music is inspired by storytelling, activism, love, hardship, and the beautiful earth.
Join us for live music and fresh soup. This long-standing community program is a partnership between the Community Hall, Ptarmigan Arts and the SGI Neighbourhood House.
All tickets and program registrations are available at ptarmiganarts.org. For assistance, please contact info@ptarmiganarts.org. You can also find us on Instagram and Facebook at @ptarmiganartsbc and Ptarmigan Arts.
PIJazz
It sure is a joy to be a part of a diverse, talented, flexible community band. People can be so fearless, especially with new music, new members, and new performing venues. There’s a bunch of bands out there that stay on the same repertoire for decades, and that’s not us. Just because we play styles that go back to the 1920s doesn’t make us crusty. Well, except maybe Bob, but he makes us laugh every time.
We’re always open to new members as we continue our season: You know who you are. Give us a holler at brycewoollcombe@gmail.com with any questions. Keep up-to-date at http://www.ptarmiganarts.org/programs. We hope to see you soon.
Musical Musings: Obligate Cantovore*
You likely know there’s only one thing I can write about these days and, with your indulgence, I will. Don’t worry – there will still be music.
Colette, whose death is very recent, bare, and painful, had a soundtrack to her life. I’d like to share it with you if that’s ok.
One of our first fun realizations was that we’d each named children with a strong nod to the Canadian music we love. Sadie (The Sadies), Sawyer (Tom, from Rush) and Grace (from the Hip song Grace, Too). That was one of those weird kismet moments that felt really, really right.
The band Future Islands got me in hot water for sure. I like the band, but the track Seasons has vocals that are just a bit too smarmy and croony, and I said exactly that. Don’t be like me! When someone loves a band, discretion is the better part of valour! Also, she proceeded to put that song on every single one of her playlists, especially when I was around. Serves me right. As soon as I started thinking of it as a musical theatre piece, I enjoyed it. It’s on my playlist now, too.
There was no contention with Boy Golden. We heard he was playing Victoria, and we had the tickets booked within minutes. As I’ve written before we had a fabulous time, including observing the intergenerational weirdness. Her favourite song of his is KD And Lunchmeat, and I fully concur.
The Cat Empire is an Australian jazz funk ska monstrosity that has been going for 27 years and is as good as their years of commitment would suggest. Colette loved them, but I’d never heard them. What a joy! They have so much diversity and groove that if you need an eight-hour playlist with only one band on it, they’re a solid choice. Kudos to the folks at Soph and Juicy’s house for the fine tunes. Cat Empire played the Commodore recently and, if you went, I’d love to talk.
And she came out for ‘my’ music, too. All the singer / songwriters like William Prince and Donovan Woods, PIJazz dances, and Irish trad music were never her usual bag, but her foot got to tapping and she sure loved the community at local gigs. We had no trouble agreeing on Sarah Smith or the Weathervane Jesus project or Peach and Quiet’s Lion’s Club juggernaut: community, love, and great tunes are a magical combination.
Let me say it again for the kids in the back: Community, Love, and Music. You can find all of it here, and it’ll get you through. Trust me.
*One who only eats songs. It’s a real word now, I swear.
Solstice Theatre Society
The award-winning cast of Halfway There. Congrats on a great run! Photo courtesy of Solstice.
Pender Production Wins Big at Theatre Competition
The road trip is over, the champagne finished, and the confetti has been swept up.
A round of applause to our great Pender Island audiences, we had four wonderful performances here on Pender before taking our Halfway There show on the road, first to Saturna, then Mayne and finally to Ladysmith for the Theatre B.C.’s South Island Zone competition.
Evan Llewellyn won the award for Best Director, Joy Llewellyn won for Best Backstage Cooperation, Alyson Culbert won for Best Supporting Actor in a Female role, Sean Clazie won for Best Actor in a Male Role. For his technical prowess Howard Southwell won the Outstanding Projections award, Julie Brandsema won for the Outstanding Debut Performance, Jane Harrison won the Best Set Decorating Award, and Solstice Theatre won the Best (Runner Up) Production Award – a lot of bling.
The cast and crew would also like to acknowledge Barb Pender’s fabulous work including the toughest monologue in the entire play and her exquisite delivery of numerous saucy lines – even without a pole. The adjudicator for the competition was theatre specialist Sarah Rodgers from Vancouver who offered each production valuable suggestions after their performance.
In attendance for our Ladysmith show were two of the founding members for Solstice Wendy Soares and Jacquie Main. Solstice has been in existence for 35 years now – thank you, Pender Island for your continued support. For our performance on Mayne Island we were happy to have in the audience our costume coordinator Helen Lemon-Moore. Helen worked her magic on this production to make us all look great.
Special thanks go out to Judy Tipple who helped coordinate our show on Saturna, and Justine Apostolopoulos who coordinated our show on Mayne. Paul Brent graciously helped us secure very comfortable accommodations while on Saturna and on Mayne Island Eden Buday, Helen O’Brian and Michele Steele kindly supplied us with accommodation.
The next production from Solstice is already in the works and will open in the fall. The Calling is written by Pender’s own Ethan Smith, directed by Karen Parker with production by Tania Honan. The Calling is a bittersweet story of baseball player Randall Griffin as he chases his dreams, while fielding love and loss along the way.
Three on the Tree Production Society
Youth Dance Classes Return to Hope Bay
Three on the Tree has had a wonderfully creative spring with a variety of programs for youth and a couple of all ages circus workshops. We were lucky enough this past month to start our dance classes again at Hope Bay with Jean, for 3-5 year olds. After a bit of a pause over the last year this is an extremely exciting offering to be able to bring back to the community.
Maya Cook, who is a local musician and circus performer and longtime TOTT supporter and performer at our Lantern Festival, has been providing open Circus Gym Sessions for older youth and adults at the Community Hall. So far she’s run three workshops over April and May and we’re looking to keep this going since it’s been a fairly popular event. The concept is to have an open space for drop ins where people can practice aerials, stilting, juggling, balance and anything else they would like to personally bring to the event.
Things that we’re looking forward to over the next couple of months include the wrap up and presentation of our tile mural project. This was created in concert with the Pender School and is looking at being installed at Magic Lake Park in June. This is 64 tiles made by students at Pender School that capture the native animals in Magic Lake.
We’ll also be back in the school with Gabriella Kardosi who will be leading pottery workshops with a number of classes. Our own Liis Graham will be working alongside the Grade 6/7 class to create and install the hearts on the hearts project. After a year’s hiatus due to challenges with the timeframe of Parks Canada, we’ll have a new set of painted hearts for those walking the trail to learn facts about the circulatory system and heart health and messages from the heart to strengthen the mind/body connection.
We’re also gearing up for our Summer Theatre Camp running July 6-10 for ages 6-12. This will include games, theatre crafts and a final performance. For info about that or any of our other programs please reach out or find us on Instagram for photos of our recent programming @threeonthetreeproductions.
Pender Island Community Choir Society
All-Canadian Concert: June 27 & 28
The Pender Island Community Choir is in full gear, preparing to perform. We’ve learned the words and the notes, and are now concentrating on bringing some wonderful Canadian content to life.
Bruce McConchie is a gentle commander who keeps us laughing as he makes us work, and Eileen Deros guides us with her sensitive accompaniment. Rehearsals are a joyful learning experience.
Our concert will celebrate our culture, our Canadian heritage, at a time when it seems particularly important to do so. We are a country of cultural icons, among them Oscar Peterson, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, each of whose music takes a place in our repertoire.
The songs we’re singing take us across the country from Newfoundland to the Yukon. We dream of mountains and rivers, and we battle the black flies.
Join us for our concert at the Community Hall on June 27 at 7 pm or June 28 at 2 pm as we take you on a journey from sea to sea to sea. Share with us our joy and pride in being Canadian.
The Pender Highlanders
Welcome to new Drum Sergeant, Richard Welsh. Photo courtesy of the Highlanders.
The Pender Highlanders at the May Long Weekend Farmers’ Market, photo courtesy of the Highlanders.The Pender Highlanders are very excited to announce our new Drum Sergeant, Richard Welsh. We’ve been hard at work together over this past spring, preparing for the opening ceremonies at the May Long Weekend Farmers’ Market, where Welsh made his debut in full highland dress. We eagerly look forward to our next performance together at the Canada Day Celebration, and we hope to see you there!
The band would also like to congratulate our youngest piper, Jack Martin, on his excellent results at the 163rd Victoria Highland Games. Martin earned 1st place in the MSR, 2nd place in the Jig, and 3rd place in the Piobaireachd competition.
Sincerely,
Your Pender Highlanders
Pender Island Concert Society
Alec Pearson at his Pender concert last November, photo courtesy of Pender Island Concert Society.
Ensemble Made in Canada and Wesley Hardisty performing on Pender this past March, photo courtesy of Pender Island Concert Society.We’ve now wrapped up our 2025/26 season, which included a wonderful mix of music. We started way back in August with Diana Cohen on violin and her husband Roman Rabinovich on piano, and followed that with a solo concert by classical guitarist Alec Pearson. The spring brought piano quartet Ensemble Made in Canada with special guest, Dene fiddler Wesley Hardisty, and our season finished with Solidaridad Tango, an all-women’s ensemble accompanied by a pair of dancers. Which one was your favourite?
Subscriptions are now available for our 2026/27 season. A subscription includes four flexible tickets for $90 if you get it before the end of September, at which point the price goes up to $100. Single tickets are $30, so this is a great deal. Note that you don’t require a subscription for youth under 19, who always get free tickets.
You can find our subscription form in the June issue, which you can drop off in the Concert Society folder of the Community Box outside Dockside Realty with a cheque. If you’d prefer, you can email us the info on the form along with an e-transfer. New this year: you have the option of already indicating which concerts you’d like tickets for, since your four tickets can be applied to any of our shows, or you can leave that decision for later.
We have some fantastic artists lined up for next season, and we hope you’ll come check them out. The Penderecki String Quartet (http://www.ps4.ca) will be stopping here on their 40th anniversary tour to kick off our season on Tuesday, November 24.
On Saturday, January 23, we’ll be hosting pianist Sarah Hagen (https://sarahhagen.com) for a solo concert entitled “Wonder Women”, featuring entirely women composers. Morgan Toney (https://www.morgantoneymusic.com), a Mi’kmaq fiddler and composer, will be performing for us with his trio on Sunday March 7. Our season finishes on Tuesday, April 13 with Farhad Khosravi (https://farhadkhosravi.com), a Persian santur player and composer, who will be performing with a percussionist.
We’d like to extend another big thank-you to all the generous supporters of our 25/26 season: BC Live and the BC Arts Council for the grant; our donors, Ann Coombs and Karen & Tom Bell; our sponsors, the Pender Island Legion, the GreenAngels Woodchoppers, the Pender Island Pharmacy, and Ptarmigan Arts; our billet hosts, George, Eileen, Dana & Bruce, Mary & Andy, Judith, and Jason; Colin Hamilton and Brandon Leavins for their support with tech and setup; Andrea Mills for her help with Hall bookings; and Cheryl Boland and her students for running our concession.
Thank you also to all the board members for their work throughout the season, and especially for running what I heard was an excellent tango concert while I was away. And of course, thank you to every single one of you who attended our concerts last season and made our visiting artists feel so welcome.
If you would like to support our work, we are always grateful for donations, which can be made by e-transfer or cheque. We’re looking for donors to underwrite each of next season’s concerts, so if you’re particularly enthused by one of the groups described above and want to support that one specifically, we’d love to hear from you. Ptarmigan Arts has generously offered to receive donations of $500 or more on our behalf, making them tax deductible.
Joining the board is another great way to support what we do. The time commitment can range from very minimal to quite involved, depending on what roles you’re interested in helping with. The board is responsible for things like selecting and contracting artists, managing tickets and subscriptions, advertising concerts, fundraising, organizing refreshments and billeting, and of course running the concerts themselves.
If you’d like to help with one or more of these tasks, we hope you’ll attend our AGM and consider running for a board position. Our AGM usually takes place in late July (exact date TBA) and everyone who held a subscription last season is a current society member and eligible to vote.
Pender Island Quilters Circle
A hand-made quilt recently presented by Erica Wicke. Photo courtesy Quilters Circle.
Hands Across the Water
We’re almost there! We’re in the final stage of planning for our big event on June 8, “Hands Across the Water”. This is the annual gathering of regional quilt guilds and will include quilters from Galiano Island, Mayne Island, and Cowichan Valley. Saturna Island quilters are not able to join us this year.
Our event includes morning refreshments, visiting and perusing the vendors. We have three fabric and quilting supplies vendors this year, including our own Kelly Dine. We continue with lunch and an opportunity to visit and get to know each other. There is a program after lunch which includes introductions, sharing guild quilt projects and draws for gift baskets.
Our May meeting focused on planning the HAW event. We have started to plan our Fall monthly sessions and will share this with our members and in our next Pender Post article.
Quilter’s Philosophy: Planning an event takes us through stages from the fun of dreaming, to the work of organizing, to the effort of fulfilling, and finally to relaxing and reflecting. We experience a multitude of emotions, ranging from anxiety and worry to enjoyment and the satisfaction of successful completion.
Pender Photo Club
Sunny Days are Here by Jean Moore.
Blossoms are Bursting Forth
The Camera Club’s May meeting was pleasant as we saw the results of our assignment, Blossoms. Fifty-nine club photos in total were presented at the meeting chaired by Urs Boxler.
We viewed extraordinary pictures of flowers that have sprouted in our gardens and also a few wild ones that we see as we stroll through the woods. Colourful tulips, hibiscus, Christmas cactus, swamp lanterns (occasionally called skunk cabbage) and more, often in vases and occasionally made into abstract forms, greeted us. (It’s amazing how nature can make so many flowers whose names none of us know.)
Conversation flowed as we merrily critiqued the ephemeral beauty of the many flowers that burst forth in spring.
The meeting closed with a presentation by Urs of a trip he and Judy took through southeast Alaska in a 46-foot sail boat in 2012. The 47 pictures were a delight to see, and included snow-covered mountains, calving glaciers, grizzly bears, sea lions and occasional commentary by member Joe Kashi, who attended the Zoom meeting while he was in Alaska!
For the next meeting, attendees are encouraged to submit six photos with the theme: Fences, focusing on the many shapes (sometimes odd) that only human construction can bring. All guests are very welcome; please contact Urs for the Zoom link and instructions for photo submission (ursboxler@gmail.com).
Community
Pender Island Foundation
Set to Support a Thriving, Healthy Community
News about a “Pender Foundation” being set up is spreading!
While the foundation is in the very early stages of development, it is an exciting concept for Pender Island. Modelled after other community foundations across Canada (think Vancouver Foundation, Victoria Foundation or, closer to our experience, the Salt Spring Island Foundation), the Pender Island Community Legacy Foundation aims to enhance the health, wellness and vitality of our community.
A fund will be established to support projects and initiatives in the community that add to the physical, mental and social well-being for all residents. This will primarily mean financial and other types of support for existing organizations, and will be managed to ensure it is not a competitive fundraising vehicle.
The foundation may also initiate new projects such as the Run, Walk, Wheel for Wellness event on Saturday June 20 which aims to give Penderites the opportunity to collectively experience the beautiful new Community Trail that opened recently. For more information and to register for that event, please visit pifoundation.ca.
Over the next several months, the Pender Foundation will be exploring its options for becoming a community foundation including completing registrations, establishing a business plan, etc. A founding board has been set up with George Leroux, Chair; Dave Harrison, Treasurer; Jennifer Kaila, Secretary; and directors Linda Oglov and Marty Swan.
Leadership and guidance is provided by George Fowlie, as well as Rob Fawcett, Interim Founding Executive Director (rfawcett@pifoundation.ca) and Melody Pender, Interim Managing Director (mpender@pifoundation.ca).
Tour des Îles
Discover Your Island Neighbours
When was the last time you spent a day exploring one of your neighbouring Southern Gulf Islands?
On June 20 and 21, Tour des Îles returns with an invitation to Pender Islanders: leave the car behind, hop aboard a passenger boat, and discover what makes all of our Gulf Islands special.
For 2026, exploring is easier than ever. An all-day passenger vessel will circulate between Hope Bay, Pender Island, Horton Bay on Mayne Island, and Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, with free shuttle buses waiting at each destination to take visitors to community events, nature and cultural sites, markets and more.
The weekend coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day with a remarkable range of Indigenous cultural events throughout the islands.
In SYOW̱T / Ganges on Salt Spring Island, Indigenous Peoples Weekend has grown into a four-day gathering featuring Elders, Knowledge Keepers, artists, musicians, storytellers, cultural workshops, Indigenous vendors, and community gatherings centred at the Farmers’ Institute – with the tagline, “Learn. Discuss. Share. Eat. Dance.”
Visitors can explore the month-long Indigenous Art Show at ArtSpring, attend artist demonstrations at Mahon Hall, experience the immersive Thu-it exhibit sharing Quw’utsun history, and enjoy performances, workshops, discussions, crafts, food, and cultural teachings throughout the weekend.
On SḴŦAḴ / Mayne Island, with KEŚENTEL, which means “Walking Together, Standing Together, Supporting One Another”, W̱SÁNEĆ artist Chris Paul is providing curatorial tours at the Library between 11 am – 4 pm both days, and you can also visit their new ethnobotany garden and extraordinary village art and interpretive panels, nearby.
On Swiikw / Galiano Island on Sunday afternoon from noon to 3 pm, National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations will feature Indigenous musicians, drumming, storytelling, children’s activities, art, and opportunities to learn about Coast Salish culture while enjoying one of the most beautiful islands in the Salish Sea.
And on ṮEḴTEḴSEN / Saturna Island, visitors can explore dramatic coastal landscapes, visit East Point Lighthouse, turn the Coast Salish prayer wheel overlooking Boundary Pass, and enjoy the island’s uniquely relaxed atmosphere.
Tour des Îles began in 2015 as a grassroots effort to reconnect these Southern Gulf Island communities that once enjoyed more frequent ferry and community links with one another, before BC Ferries changed their focus to Vancouver/Victoria visitors. Since then, the festival has facilitated thousands of inter-island journeys while celebrating local music, culture, food, and sustainable transportation.
A Coast Salish name for the Southern Gulf Islands is TETÁĆES, often translated as “relatives of the deep.” It’s a fitting reminder that these islands are connected communities sharing a greater ecosystem, history, and future.
This June, why not spend a day discovering your neighbours? Bring your bicycle if you’re heading to Mayne or Saturna? The adventure begins on SDȺY¸ES / Pender, just down the road at Port Washington, X̱EL¸ISEN¸ / Port Browning, or in TELOSEṈ¸ / Hope Bay. Buy your boat tickets at http://www.tourdesiles.ca.
Pender Tour des Îles Travel Guide
Saturna Depart 9:15 am from Port Browning; Arrive 9:40 am at Lyall Harbour
Galiano Depart 9:15 am from Port Browning, transfer at Saturna; Arrive 10:45 am at Sturdies Bay
Salt Spring Depart 10:10 am from Port Washington; Arrive: 10:50 am at Ganges Harbour
Mayne Depart 10:15 am from Hope Bay; Arrive 10:40 am at Horton Bay
Upon arrival on each island you will be met with regular free shuttles. Return details at tourdesiles.ca.
Pender Radio
Laurie Storrie, George Fowlie and Jaime MacLean celebrate the launch of Pender Radio on May 16, 2026. Photo courtesy of Rebeccah Nelems.
‘Pender Radio is on the Air’
Greetings from Pender Radio! First off, thank you to The Pender Post for being one of Pender Radio’s day‑one sponsors — and what a day one it was.
Starting a community radio station has been a dream of mine for more than a decade and, while I like to believe you can make any dream come true if you try hard enough, I also know you can’t do it alone. So with that said, a few thanks are in order.
Pender Radio would absolutely not be possible without the 18 months of hard work, inspiration and resilience from George Fowlie, Jaime MacLean and Matthew Coutts. Then, of course, the social media team, the web team, and the 20 DJs we launched the station with.
In late 2024, George approached me with a plan. Beyond overcrowded bulletin boards and complicated Facebook groups, he had a vision for a centralized, one‑stop source for community news and events – a source that was informed, updated daily and, most of all, fun.
Outside of construction and bike repair, I also work as a tour booker and promoter for bands across the country, and the opportunity to share the music I love with my community had me hooked from the start. As we spread the word and gathered interest, we quickly realized how many skilled, passionate and knowledgeable Penderites were looking for an outlet to share what drives them.
On May 16, we flipped the switch and Pender Radio went on air, broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from our Airstream at the Community Hall. We are proud to say we have live morning hosts from 7 to 9 am every weekday, a live show every Saturday at the farmers’ market, and more than a dozen other shows throughout the week – from poetry and live book readings to podcasts and interviews.
Our deck at the Airstream doubles as a stage where we can host bands while livestreaming their sets, and we also have a mobile broadcasting console so we can plug in and broadcast live from concerts, events and sports games across the island.
Head over to penderradio.ca to listen live, learn about our DJs, check out our ever‑expanding schedule of shows and, if you want to get involved with Pender Radio, find our contact form.
Pender Radio: Famous First Words
“Good morning, my name is George Fowlie. I am extremely proud to have been a member of the team of Laurie Storrie, Jaime MacLean and Matt Coutts who, together with an enthusiastic group of multi-talented Penderites, brought community radio on Pender from an idea to reality.
“I am honoured to be asked to be the first voice you are hearing over the airwaves. And I’m thrilled to announce that live, from our vintage Airstream studio at the Community Hall, Pender Radio is on the air!”
Community Hall
Pender Island Recreation and Agricultural Hall Association (PIRAHA)
Summer is almost here and we are busily getting ready for our summer camps and programs. I’d love to introduce you to our Summer Programs Coordinator and Children’s Program Leader.
Liam Sigurgeirson is returning as Summer Programs Coordinator after spending the colder months living in Victoria and working as an Education Assistant at Reynolds Secondary. He is excited to support our team and create fun and inclusive camps at the Hall this Summer.
Jane Elliott said she’s feeling very lucky to be the Children’s Program Leader at the Community Hall this summer. During the year, she’s a student at Dalhousie University in Halifax and for the past few years has been working as a section director at a YMCA camp in Nova Scotia. She’s looking forward to living on the west coast and getting to know the island and leading some exciting programming at the Hall.
The “All Camps” summer poster will be out soon, or may already be out by the time you receive this Pender Post. Keep an eye out if you are planning summer activities for children and youth.
We still have three positions available for summer staff. Our Summer Interns gain hands-on experience in areas such as camp leadership, activity programming, event leadership, volunteer engagement, facilities and trades (including maintenance and repairs), culinary and food programs (kitchen skills and food systems), and community programs and outreach (supporting activities for youth and seniors).
Summer Internship at the Community Hall
Are you interested in building skills, gaining experience, and contributing to your community? We are seeking creative, organized, and enthusiastic individuals aged 15-30. Positions are flexible and tailored to each person’s interests and skills, with opportunities in maintenance, food and farm programs, youth leadership, volunteer engagement, activity leadership, camp support, and more. Staff receive training, mentorship, and ongoing support throughout the season.
These positions are funded through grants and are therefore limited to applicants aged 15-30. Full job descriptions are available at.penderislands.org/opportunities/employment or you can stop by the Hall to speak with Andrea.
CHILD AND YOUTH PROGRAMS
To register, go to: http://www.penderislands.org/registrations
Hall Heroes Club
Ages 7+ (5 & 6 with a big buddy)
Fridays 10 am – 1:30 pm
Guided by Hall Leaders, each week is a new adventure: help in the café, serve lunch, make decorations, share a skill, mentor a younger person, help lead an activity… Younger heroes, ages 5 – 6 will need a big buddy; bring your own or check to see if we can pair you with one of ours (limited availability). Registration required. Free.
Friday Kids Club
Kindergarten – Grade 6
Fridays 1:30 – 4 pm
Every week brings a mix of hands-on fun. Registration required. Suggested $5-$10 per day.
Youth Culinary Skills Training
Ages 12 – 18 (10+ if child has a Food Safe Certificate)
Thursdays 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Gain hands-on kitchen skills, work as a team in a supportive environment. Bring an apron. A snack will be provided. Registration required. Free.
Youth Leadership Program
Ages 10 – 18
Learn how to run the Community Café, assist at special events, design posters, help maintain the Hall, support activities, mentor younger children and assist with technology, photography and many other areas. We provide a welcoming environment where youth gain real-world experience, confidence and teamwork skills. Interested youth are invited to drop in on a Friday or Saturday between 10 am and 1 pm to speak with Andrea. Free.
SUMMER CAMPS AND PROGRAMS
July 6 – 10, 20 – 24, 27 – 31, August 4 – 7 (TBC) and August 17 – 21
Ages 6 – 12, 10 am – 4 pm
Hallside Explorers
Every week is a new adventure! Explore the outdoors, try creative crafts, join fun games, and go on exciting excursions; all while making great friends and memories. Cost: $200 (5-day camps), $160 (4-day camp). Day rates available if space allows.
Pre-camp Care from 9 am – 10 am is available for our own camps and the Ptarmigan, Three on the Tree and Conservancy camps. July 13 – 17 Pre-camp Care is available even though we aren’t running a children’s camp this week.
Leaders in Training Camp (ages 13 – 18)
July 2 – July 3, 10 am – 4 pm
Step into leadership! This hands-on camp is perfect for young people ready to inspire and make a difference. Through workshops, games, and team challenges, you’ll build confidence, learn how to lead with heart, and gain real tools for working with children. Join us and become the leader you were born to be!
TBC Surprise Camp (ages 13 – 16)
July 10 – 17, 10 am – 4 pm
We are still checking in and working with our Youth Leaders about what they would like this camp to look like. If your teen is interested in suggesting something, please let us know and we will let our planning team know!
Community Quest (ages 10 – 16)
August 10 – 14, 10 am – 4 pm
Ready to step up, give back and have a blast? At this camp, you’ll learn about what makes for a great community through workshops and hands-on experience with local non-profit groups. Along the way you’ll learn what it means to be a leader, discover how communities work and find out how you can make a difference. There will also be plenty of games, activities, challenges and time to relax and connect with friends. Cost: $150 (ages 10 – 12), $50 (ages 13 – 16).
Fall Fair Leadership
August 25 – 28, 10 – 18 years
Love a party, teamwork, and getting creative? Help bring the Fall Fair to life! You’ll create decorations, play games, organize and lead special events, make tasty treats for you and your crew, and get behind-the-scenes experience organizing a real community celebration. Wrap up with a bonus sign-up day for the big event! Cost: $150 (ages 10 – 12), $50 (ages 13 – 18).
Other Summer Youth Activities
Treasure Market – Wednesdays from 3 – 6 pm, we encourage youth to sell their wares at the Summer Treasure Market. Youth Vendors, Artists, Artisans and Garage Sale space will be available each week from July 8 to August 19.
Youth Night – Wednesday from 6 – 9 pm there will be different activities each week. We have already had some amazing suggestions for activities from the youth, but if you have ideas too we would love to hear from you. Ages 13 – 18 (11+ if child has a 50 hour Youth Leadership Certificate or similar).
Youth Culinary Skills – Thursday nights the Youth Culinary Skills program gets together to make a meal for the community; participants gain hands-on kitchen skills and work as a team in a supportive, fun environment. Bring an apron, a snack will be provided. This program is run in partnership with the SGI Neighbourhood House. Registration is required but weekly attendance isn’t necessary. Ages 13 – 18 (10+ if child has a Food Safe Certificate or 50 hour Youth Leadership Certificate).
Youth Leadership Program – Every week there will be options to get involved in the community: Summer Camps, special events, café or event hosting, helping with workshops and activities. This program is for youth aged 13 – 18 years (11+ if a child has a 50 hour Youth Leadership Certificate or similar).
ACTIVITIES
Café Français
June 20, 12:45 – 2 pm
A conversation group for intermediate or higher conversational French speakers. Let us know if you would like to be added to the online discussion group.
Carpet Bowling
Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:30 pm
Australian rules Carpet Bowling offers mild to moderate exercise, a bit of friendly competition and great fun. No special clothing is needed except clean flat soled shoes. This activity will be taking a break over the summer. Recommended drop in is $2.
Friday Fun for Everyone
Fridays 10:45 – 11:45 am
Led by the Youth Leadership Program, Hall Heroes and guest volunteers.
June 1 – Make Cards
June 12 – Kite Building
June 19 – Make Slime
June 26 – Learn to make Bubble Tea
FILMS
In search of more film helpers: projectionists, concession and door helpers. These volunteers help make sure we are able to continue to bring films to the community.
Matinee: Rocketman
Monday June 1, 2:15 pm
Experience the spectacular musical journey of Elton John’s rise to stardom, featuring all your favorite hits from the 1970s and beyond. This uplifting film follows a shy piano prodigy as he transforms into a global icon, discovering the power of love and self-acceptance along the way. Enjoy a vibrant, nostalgic celebration filled with incredible music, dazzling costumes, and a triumphant true story. Doors open at 2 pm, film starts at 2:15 pm.
Film: Wuthering Heights
Saturday June 13, 7:15 pm
This striking new adaptation of Wuthering Heights brings Emily Brontë’s classic novel to life with bold visuals and powerful performances from Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The film leans into the story’s sweeping emotions, love, longing, and the wildness of the moors, all while giving the material a fresh, contemporary energy. Atmospheric and beautifully crafted, it offers a cinematic experience that feels both timeless and newly alive. 2 hours 16 minutes. Doors open at 7 pm, film starts at 7:15. $5 – $10 suggested.
Film: Rose of Nevada
Saturday June 20, 7:15 pm
A mysterious boat returns to a village 30 years after vanishing. Two men join its crew hoping for better fortune. After one voyage, they find themselves transported back in time, mistaken for the original crew. 1 hour 55 minutes. Doors open at 7 pm, film starts at 7:15 pm. $5 – $10 suggested.
Family Matinee: How to Train Your Dragon
Friday June 26, 2:15 pm
On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader. 2 hours, 5 minutes. Doors open at 2 pm, film starts at 2:15 pm. $5 – $10 suggested.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are at the heart of many of the programs and activities offered at the Hall. Whether you have an hour a week or just once a month, there are ways to contribute. We are always on the look out for people to help with films, in the Comfort Center, with advertising and office support, as activity leaders and Youth Leadership Program Mentors, cleaning and so many more areas. All training is provided. If you are interested in helping somehow or need more information, please email or stop by for a conversation.
Trades Skills Mentors – Would you like to share your practical knowledge with young people eager to learn about trades? We’re seeking tradespeople and handy people to volunteer to offer short workshops or one-on-one mentorship in areas like home repair, carpentry, small engines, painting, bicycle repair, gardening, and more. Opportunities can be as simple as a 1-2 hour workshop or mentoring our youth summer maintenance worker.
Chamber of Commerce
A candid shot of attendees at the Chamber of Commerce 2026 AGM, photo by Matthew Coutts.
Photo courtesy of Sandra TretickThe Chamber held its Annual General Meeting on April 30 at the Legion, with about 40 members and guests gathering for dinner, conversation, and a look back at another busy year for the organization.
The meeting included a recap of 2025 activities, from advocacy work around BC Ferries and Parks Canada, to visitor services and tourism promotion, member mixers, organizational development and strategic planning, and ongoing efforts to support local businesses year-round. It was a full year, and one that highlighted both the challenges and resilience of doing business on an island.
One of the biggest moments of the evening came with the approval of a special resolution that will allow the Chamber to transition from registration under the federal Boards of Trade Act to the BC Societies Act.
While that may sound like dry paperwork, it’s actually an important step forward. The federal legislation dates back more than a century and no longer fits the realities of running a small modern chamber with limited staffing and volunteer capacity. Transitioning to the Societies Act will give the organization more flexibility, simplify administration, and help modernize governance while still keeping the Chamber focused on its core purpose: local businesses working together to promote each other and the Pender Islands.
Looking around the room that evening, it was a good reminder that the Chamber is really about people showing up for the community. Businesses supporting businesses. Volunteers stepping forward. And a shared belief that even on a small island, working together matters.
The evening also featured plenty of door prizes, generously donated by local businesses and members including Dog Mermaid Eco Excursions, Kayak Rentals & Retreats, Housing NOW, Hurricane Home Services, Lightning Taxi, Lisa’s Nails & Esthetics, Pender Island Pharmacy, Petals & Paws, Ptarmigan Arts, and VIP Relocation Services. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Members also acclaimed ten directors to the 2026/27 board: Noémie Crépeau, Daunne Hall, Melody Pender, Mary Elizabeth Carlson, Sherry Moir, Carolyn Bell, Joyce Budnyk, Matthew Coutts, Kye Nahanni, and Heather Regan. Following the AGM, the board confirmed Noémie Crépeau as president, Daunne Hall as vice-president, Melody Pender as treasurer, and Mary Elizabeth Carlson as secretary.
A sincere thank you goes to outgoing directors Thandi Williams, Sara Miles, and Carolyn Danco for their time, energy and contributions to the Chamber over the previous years.
We’d also like to welcome our newest member, the Pender Islands Foundation, and give a shout out to our first two Chamber Champions: Pender Island Pharmacy and Urban Roots Build Co. Ltd.
The new Chamber Champion membership category was introduced this past year as a way for businesses to provide additional support for the work of the Chamber while receiving enhanced visibility and promotional opportunities in return. This extra support aims to strengthen advocacy efforts, visitor services, tourism promotion, and business programming that benefit the wider community. We’re grateful to our first Champions for stepping forward and helping get the program off the ground.
Finally, congratulations to everyone involved in the official unveiling of the updated Welcome to Pender sign and the interpretive panels at the Community Hall on May 7, including the addition of the SDÁ,YES place name and SENĆOŦEN greeting, ÍY, Ȼ EN S,TÁĆEL, roughly translated as “it’s good that you’ve arrived.” It was a meaningful moment for the community and an important reminder that welcome can be both warm and respectful. There’s more on that elsewhere in this month’s Post.
We’re also working on our next Chamber mixer and business networking event. A date is still being finalized, and we’ll share details soon through the Chamber’s social media channels.
Pender Island Public Library
Tribute to Colette Clarke
The Pender Island Public Library would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Colette Clarke (née Helm), our lovely Library Technician of many years. We are very saddened by Colette’s sudden passing as she was a dear friend and one of the anchors that kept library services flowing smoothly to the community. The Library will be open on reduced hours as we work through this difficult time; thank you for your understanding.
National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, a time to recognize the rich history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. As part of our Library’s work to advance the goals of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, over the years we’ve built up a rich collection of books for adults and youth by Indigenous authors, illustrators, and publishers. We recently launched a new display area with a wide variety of adult books by Indigenous authors. Come browse this wonderful collection, open to all those who want to gain a better appreciation and understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ histories, cultures, and experiences.
Kids’ Summer Reading Club
The awesome 2026 BC Kids Summer Reading Club is launching at end-June. This year’s theme is “Under The Sea” featuring artwork by illustrator Haley Lowe, from Vancouver, BC. The BC Summer Reading Club is a free literacy program designed to engage children ages 4-14 with libraries and reading throughout the summer. Come register and get a free reading record, bookmarks, fun stickers, a Reading Medal, and special ocean-themed activities.
We’re pleased to host our 3rd annual Kids’ Magic Show on June 1 with magician Leif David, for students at the Pender Island School. This event is funded through generous support by IslandLink Library Federation. The Summer Reading Club program is sponsored by the British Columbia Library Association and your local public library, with the generous assistance of the Public Libraries Branch, BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs, and CUPE BC. Get ready for a summer of adventure!
Library hours: Open reduced hours, please see our Facebook page for updates. Located at 4407 Bedwell Harbour Road. Email: libraryhelpdesk@crd.bc.ca or call 250-629-3722 for friendly help.
Nu-to-Yu Thrift Store
Pender Island Community Service Society
If you drive by Driftwood Centre, you’ll see that our building site is moving along quickly and there is progress every day. As I write this, Davis Owen and his crew are stacking ICF (insulated concrete forms) before they’re filled with concrete. Once they’re stacked, braced and filled with concrete, these blocks become a strong, well-insulated foundation wall for the new building. Framing is expected to start in mid-June.
Behind the scenes, they are also providing updates about the build on their Instagram page, so if you’re interested in following along, visit phoenix.west.construction on Instagram.
While our new store is being built, we’d like local artisans to know we have several nice big cedars that were felled in order to make room for our store. We would love to have them turned into benches and/or other landscaping features for the outdoor area. If you work with wood, please consider this project. You could do anything you like with them and sign them with your name for exposure. The finished projects would be a testament to your craftsmanship and dedication to the community.
Members of the Pender island Online Market on Facebook will have noticed that the Nu-to-Yu has started posting unique items for sale online. So far, we’ve had a really good response so thank you for your interest.
In the interest of drumming up interest in our building project and raising some funds, we have agreed to arrange the concession snacks and beverages for the upcoming Pender Island Community Choir performances on June 27 and 28 at the Community Hall. Join us there!
Contributions to the new building fund can also be made through e-transfers to nutoyudonate@gmail.com
Another great way to contribute to our new building is through Tru Value’s Spirit Board. When you’re checking out at Tru Value, consider donating your 1% to #33.
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer? We have openings for sellers and sorters. If you’ve got something specific you’d like to do, let us know. If you’d like to join us, head down to the store on a Tuesday or Thursday morning where you can talk to Debbie, our store manager and vice president, or Manfred, the president of our organization.
Nu-to-Yu is our community thrift store. We raise money to give back to the community. Your donations are what keeps our store stocked with great items. We accept your washed, unbroken and store-ready donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 and 12 and also on Saturdays between 11 and 2. We welcome goods in store-ready condition. For a full list of what we cannot accept, please refer to our website.
Pender Roadshow
An example of “Trench Art” that came into the Nu-to-Yu, photo courtesy of Sean Clazie.A small brass ashtray arrived in the basement of the Nu-To-Yu Thrift store recently. Ashtrays were once a utensil that adorned every lobby, waiting room (including doctors’ offices), and every mode of transportation (including airplanes). Now, because of the associated health risks (of cigarettes not ashtrays), they are almost universally absent from public spaces. When this ashtray was made in the First World War, the greatest health risk at the time came from the weapons of war, the very thing from which this ashtray was made, an art form known as Trench Art.
This small ashtray was skillfully crafted and bears the insignia of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in the center captioned below with the name “Vancouver” delicately punched in by nail (most likely). The Canadian Expeditionary Force operated from 1914-1919.
Trench Art is war art and an ancient form of art. The palette if you will, for Trench Art is the discarded materials of war – everything from shrapnel to armour to artillery shells.
When the Greeks defeated the Persians in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC, they melted the Persians’ bronze armour and created the Serpent Column now in Istanbul. The fact that an art form has evolved from the most devastating of living conditions speaks to the power of both expression and ingenuity.
In the First World War, trench warfare was primarily on the Western Front and in Belgium’s Flanders region. Literally hundreds of kilometres of trenches were dug all the way to the coast of Belgium. Trenches were dug in a zig zag pattern to limit the blast radius of artillery air bursts and to prevent the opposing army shooting straight down the trench. Trenches were narrow, deep, with little or no drainage. Walls were sometimes braced with wood to prevent collapses. Trench foot was common for troops, a result of limited mobility and skin that’s constantly wet which led to swelling, infection and rot.
During the war there were lengthy impasses for both sides, gains sometimes measured in mere metres month after month. The byproduct of months of spent munitions were large quantities of scrap metal. In Ypres alone, the site of five major battles in the First World War, over a million lives were lost. Lengthy waits between advances offered soldiers distraction time to create art from spent armaments.
It wasn’t until late 1918, under the direction of Canadian Sir Arthur Currie, that major Allied advances were made on the battlefield. The Hundred Day Offensive, under Currie’s direction, is now considered to be the pinnacle of Canadian military achievement in the first war.
Over 600,000 Canadians fought in the First World War (my grandfather included). From nearly every corner of the country and from nearly every ethnic group, Canadians played an integral part in bringing the First World War to an end.
A great deal of trench art was crafted from brass and copper. Aluminum, scarce and very expensive in the First World War, was more commonly used as a trench art material in later wars. In the First World War, nails, screwdrivers or straightened bed springs were often used to produce designs in brass shell casings. In 1914 the Duchess of Baden presented wounded soldiers with bullets taken from their bodies set on silver mountings.
Trench Art as souvenirs became very popular after the First World War as people visited the sites of many battles and bought artifacts commemorating those who had fought or fallen there. Metalworkers from numerous industries displaced by the war pivoted to making quality souvenirs for departing soldiers and post war tourists.
Much of the early Trench Art we encounter is unsigned as the spent munitions were still considered government property. Pieces that were signed tend to be tourist pieces sold after the war and engraved with the name of the purchaser. During the war, items were mostly made by soldiers, POWs and interned people. After the war Trench Art tended to be done by civilians and commercial firms.
A small round piece of brass is now engaged in the theatre of history. Thank you to our donors. I’d also like to thank Harold Skaarup, Former Honorary Lieutenant Colonel for 3 Intelligence Company of the Canadian Armed Forces for his assistance in identifying the exact badge that was used in the making of this Trench Art piece.
For more: silverhawkauthor.com/about-author.
Pender Island Recycling Society
Summer is just around the corner and the recycling depot is ready for another great season. I’m writing this after a busy Tuesday shift where we collected and baled around 1500lbs of cardboard in one day. These are impressive numbers for an island of our size! Thank you for taking the time to recycle your items at our depot – each item you divert from landfill creates positive change.
Thank you for your patience when our parking lot is full, and thanks also for following the directions of the staff members. Sometimes we can find a parking spot for you even if it looks like there is no space. If you’re looking for a quieter day to recycle, Fridays are generally the least busy day of the week.
The Recycling Society has created a survey to help gauge the islands’ needs and community awareness of recycling programs. Paper copies are available in the depot office, or you can use the QR code below to complete the survey online. Thank you for your input; we appreciate you taking the time to share your opinions and recycling habits with us.
I had a great conversation last month with a member of the local fire department about battery safety and smoke detector recycling. Most of you are familiar with Pender Fire’s informative and often hilarious videos highlighting the importance of replacing batteries every six months and smoke detectors every ten years.
Once you have completed this important task, please bring your old batteries and smoke detectors to the depot for recycling. Neither batteries nor smoke detectors should go into the garbage – they contain materials that can be toxic if leached into the environment.
By bringing these items in for recycling you are helping keep the environment and also sanitation workers safe. Lithium batteries are especially dangerous if placed in the garbage, and the new smoke detectors with long lasting batteries that don’t need changing often contain lithium.
The recycling depot is a participant in Call2Recycle’s battery recycling program, and all staff are trained on how to properly handle and prepare batteries for shipping. Please ask for help if you are unsure of the chemical composition of your battery, and especially if you have a lithium battery that is damaged. Damaged lithium batteries need to be handled carefully and placed in a bin of fire-resistant material before shipping.
Any lithium battery that is showing signs of damage such as cracks, swelling, heat, strange smells or sounds should be removed from your house, kept dry, ideally stored in a material such as sand, and then disposed of safely. These batteries are very common and used in a number of different applications, and are safe if used properly, charged with approved chargers, and not showing signs of damage.
Thank you again for all of your support, and enjoy the great weather.
Pender Islands Museum Society
Pender’s first census in 1891
During the first year of each decade, Canadians participate in a major census, followed by a mid-decade update, the latest of which took place last month.
Pender’s first census in 1891 included just 23 names. Early North Pender settler Washington Grimmer was the enumerator, rowing to collect statistics for every household on Pender, Mayne, Saturna, and Galiano.
Here are a few iconic photos of some of the people on that list who would go on to shape life on our island.
The Other Names on the 1891 Census
- Leonard Higgs was living on Saturna in 1891, but would settle on South Pender when his wife Emma and son Tommy arrived from England.
- Charles Bleazby was among the first of several young Brits who helped the Spaldings on the farm.
- Hugh Hamilton and John Liddle began working on Alexander Hamilton’s 160 acres at Browning in 1888 while Alex worked off-island as a stonemason. The Hamiltons settled permanently on Pender in 1898.
- Robert & Sweaney Colston and their widowed mother, Frances, settled near Hope Bay in 1890. In 1896 they took in Florence Phelps (née Colston) and her five young children when she was abandoned by her husband, resulting in “a fine family”.
- The Hoosons acquired 140 acres on Navy Channel ca 1885. Skilled stonecutters and bricklayers, their talents would find their way into many local fireplaces and chimneys.
- Lawrence & Helen Auchterlonie’s son James, age 24 in 1891, would go on to have four children who continued the Auchterlonie name. James died in 1912, leaving his wife Jennie to raise their family.
- We don’t know much about James Dakers, a “lodger” working for the Auchterlonies. He would show up later as a hired hand on Saturna.
1891 census; 8 names for South Pender; 15 for North Pender.
{British émigré Arthur Spalding (seated 2nd from right) was the first settler-era resident of South Pender in 1886. When this photo was taken in 1889, Charlie Longe (far left) and Arthur were partners, but Longe returned to England in 1901. His brother Arthur (far right) is also listed in the census.
Lilias MacKay (light dress) and Arthur married in 1889. In 1891, their three-month-old daughter Helen is listed as age “3/12”.}
{(Above) On North Pender, siblings Helen Auchterlonie and Rutherford Hope inherited a large landholding in 1881 when their brother died. Helen, her husband Lawrence (inset), and two children came to Pender where their descendants would people the island.
Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Washington Grimmer in 1885, joining the first two settler era families on North Pender, shown here in 1929 with their extended family.
In 1886, daughter Nellie Pender Grimmer (back row, 3rd from right) was the first white child born on the island. Three years later, Elizabeth gave birth to son Neptune (back row, far left) in a rowboat enroute to the midwife on Mayne Island.}
Royal Canadian Legion
I am sitting here on a sunny mid-May afternoon contemplating the arrival of yet another busy summer. In some ways it is a relief to have the pressure of planning yet another Friday night dinner done with until the Fall.
Unfortunately, it also means getting those summer BBQs set up. We seem to have created a bit of a monster! Since the inception of these bi-weekly events on our new patio, it has been a resounding success. With live music and a selection of fully dressed (including cheese) beef, chicken, salmon, or veggie burgers with two choices from potato salad, coleslaw or chips for only $20 tax included at a fantastic venue, there is no finer or more affordable place to be on a Friday night than the Pender Island Legion.
These events do not just happen though, without the dedication of our great crew of volunteers. I would like to acknowledge our cast of characters who have been the heart of our Friday night dinners (some of them for many years).
Pamella Smith, Teresa Dyck, Diane Cuthbert, Art Van Vliet, Allyson Coffey, and our rookie Priscilla Maki all were important contributors to the success of this year’s dinners. It’s a great group and though we all work hard to make the evening a success I feel that the laughter and camaraderie is the spice that makes the meal and the evening a hit! Thanks also to our guest chefs, Jon Grelik, Randy Lockhart, Barbara Pender, Daniel Scott and that other guy who hangs around the kitchen and pretends he knows things.
In addition to our Friday night dinners, look for your favorite Legionnaires cooking up a storm at the Show and Shine on July 11, Art Off The Fence on July 18 and 19, and of course the Fall Fair on August 29.
We will also once again be front and centre for the Canada Day celebrations down at the Driftwood Centre. Join us for free cake, live music and a rousing speech that is sure to raise your appreciation of all things Canadian… well, at the very least there’s free cake! We will probably need a few extra volunteers for some of our events so drop us a line if you want to become part of our volunteer family.
We lost another member of our Legion family this past week with the passing of Butch Nelson. He and his wife Carol are relatively new Legion members but have quickly made their presence felt at many Legion events. Carol is also a valued member of our volunteer bartending crew. Being part of the Legion means we will always be here to assist you in any way we can during this difficult time.
Another long time Legionnaire is currently on the disabled list and residing at Vic Gen Hospital. Jim Swanson has been a Legion legend for close to 40 years (the king of the meat draw). If you have some time, please drop by and wish him well.
Elsewhere with the Legion, June 13 will be the grand finale for our bingo this year. It’s sure to be a big crowd, as the Grand Jackpot will be given away, no matter how many numbers we have to call. The meat draw is still attracting big crowds every Saturday night at 4 pm and those aforementioned Friday night barbecues get underway on June 5 between 5 and 7 pm with yours truly on the grill. To be followed on June 19.
I hope to be cooking for that one as well, as long as I get back from camping on time. Come by and listen to some great Pender Island musicians, and enjoy a pretty good burger, if I do say so myself.
Speaking of fancy pickers, the Legion will be holding a fund-raising Concert in recognition of the 100 Year Legion Anniversary on Friday July 17 with an All Star lineup of Pender’s finest musicians. Look for details in next month’s Post. You won’t want to miss this one.
I guess that’s it for now, but have a great summer and be careful out there!
Post Script: It is with great sadness that we share the passing of long-time Legion member Jim Swanson, who passed away May 19, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was a valued friend and member of our Legion community and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, my friend.
Pender Islands Lions Club
Congratulations to this year’s tournament champions Shane Greenall, Ken Pelley, Charles Baker, and Brad Villness, photo courtesy Pender Lions Club.”What an incredible day at the Big Divot Golf Tournament! On behalf of the Pender Islands Lions Club, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a success.
Thank you to all of the golfers who came out to play, laugh, and support a great cause. The energy and community spirit throughout the day reminded us once again just how lucky we are to live on Pender Island.
A very special thank you goes to our generous hole sponsors: Braedon’s Big Dig Em Trucking and Excavating, Poets Cove Resort & Spa, Dockside Realty, Cocker & Co. Contracting Ltd., Port Browning Marina, Pender Pharmacy, Macdonald Realty, and Pender Island Heating and Cooling. Your support helped make this tournament possible and we are deeply grateful for your continued investment in our community.
We would also like to recognize the many businesses and individuals who contributed cash and prize donations including Tad’s Roofing, New Moon Lodge, Looking to Sea, Kyle Jones’ Comedy Series, Bee Wild Distillery, Vivi Coffee, and Truss Farm Food. Your generosity added so much to the event and helped make the tournament extra special for all involved.
A huge thank you to Andrew Dimech for preparing the delicious dinner that capped off a fantastic day on the course. We would also like to thank the Lions volunteers who kept the BBQ going throughout the day serving hot dogs and helping keep golfers fueled and smiling. Even Roary the Lion made an appearance on the course to boost morale, share laughs, and help keep the spirit of the day lighthearted and fun.
We would also like to recognize the tremendous effort of the tournament co-organizers Dean Canadzich, Jesse Francis, and Randal Klippenstein. Thank you for the countless hours of planning, organizing, and hard work that went into making the event run so smoothly.
A special thank you as well to Loreto Tolosa, who spent the entire day stationed at the 6th green as the official witness for the $10,000 hole-in-one challenge. Unfortunately nobody struck gold this year, but we remain hopeful that one day someone will walk away with the big prize.
Thank you as well to Michelle Hiebert, Bob Lee, the greens keepers, and the entire team at the Pender Island Golf & Country Club for their hospitality, generosity, and hard work in preparing and maintaining the course for the tournament. Events like this truly take a village.
Congratulations to this year’s tournament champions Shane Greenall, Ken Pelley, Charles Baker, and Brad Villness, who earned themselves the 2026 bragging rights after shooting an impressive 7 under par (61).
Most importantly, because of the incredible support from our golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and community, we were able to raise over $2,800 for our local food bank to help feed people in need on Pender Island. That is something everyone involved should feel proud to have contributed toward.
Finally, thank you to all of the Lions volunteers who helped with setup, fundraising, cooking, and keeping the tournament running smoothly throughout the day.
Pender never ceases to amaze us with its generosity, kindness, and willingness to show up for one another. Thank you all for helping make the 2026 Big Divot Golf Tournament such a memorable success. We look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year for another fantastic day on the course.
Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission
The view of Boundary Pass from Gowlland Point cannot be topped. Photo courtesy PIPRC.June on Pender Island is a magical time. The long daylight hours give us more time to visit our parks and trails and to enjoy the varied ecosystems: The Pender Islands are home to many plants, animals and insects. For a magical and memorable walk, become a citizen scientist and download the Free iNaturalist app (inaturalist.org). Wouldn’t you like to know who else lives on SDÁ,YES?
June also means more hours to look out over the Salish Sea for whales. This area is home to J, K and L pods, our resident orcas. Whale Trail signs are located at the best spots for seeing whales and other cetaceans. At the top of the list is the Gowlland Point beach access due to its proximity to the expansive Boundary Pass area (see above photo). The beach access stairs are showing their age and are being constantly repaired, but rest assured that access will be maintained and eventually upgraded.
Oaks Bluff offers great views down Haro Strait and while there you can chat with whale researcher Janine, who will share what data she’s recording during the spring and summer months. Many of our eighty-plus trails or parks offer an opportunity to view a part of the Salish Sea, thus increasing your chance of seeing whales. Another favourite would be to enjoy Thieves Bay park and then head down to the marina breakwater to watch the whales glide by.
June is an important time for PIPRC recreation grants. Grant recipients are reminded to file their reports by the end of June. Applications for the next round of grants are also due at that time. Application details and forms can be downloaded from the CRD website (navigate to Pender Islands Parks and Recreation). Reports and applications should be emailed to penderparks@crd.bc.ca.
June tends to be sunny and hot on Pender Island. Residents and visitors are encouraged to be aware of the increased fire risk during June and throughout the summer months. While enjoying our parks and trails please be vigilant. If you see something that is potentially dangerous, it can be reported to penderparks@crd.bc.ca. If you see a fire, call 911!
On June 20, the Pender Island Foundation is hosting the Run, Walk, Wheel for Wellness and the Pender Pursuit Trail Race. The newly minted Schooner Way – School Trail will serve as the venue for both events and more information can be obtained from the pifoundation.ca website. This PIPRC sanctioned event is designed to connect our community and celebrate our thriving community spirit.
The PIPRC is a volunteer commission tasked by the CRD to support parks, trails and recreation on the Pender Islands. The public is invited to attend the next regular meeting of the Commission at the Community Hall on June 8 at 3:30pm.
Moving Around Pender (MAP)
Let’s Build: Einars Hill Trail
We’re excited to announce a major new project Moving Around Pender is taking on this summer: the Einars Hill Trail.
This notoriously difficult stretch for pedestrians has been a long-standing concern in our community – and we’re proud to say we now have a plan to fix it. Thanks to the Davies and Moir families for their support in building this trail across their land.
With the support of Pender families, local operators, and community organizations, we’re moving forward with a thoughtfully designed trail, similar in spirit to the Schooner Way–School Trail. This project will improve safety, accessibility, and enjoyment for everyone who uses this route.
We’re committed to doing this the right way – by employing local contractors, sourcing local rock wherever possible, and building something that will serve Penderites for generations.
The total project cost is expected to exceed $100,000. Thanks to strong early support, we’ve already secured in-kind contributions and are pursuing grant funding. Now, we’re launching a community campaign to raise $25,000 to get this project underway.
If you’re able to contribute, we’d be grateful for your support. Every dollar brings us closer to making this trail a reality.
Let’s make it happen, Pender.
Dragonfly Child Care & Family Resource Centre
Dragonfly Family Picnic and AGM
Please join us on Sunday, June 14 at 2 pm at Thieves Bay Park for our annual family picnic. We will have hot dogs, juice, bubbles, and sand toys to share. Please bring a potluck dish to share and your own dishes and cutlery. Our AGM will begin at 3:30 pm where we will discuss all the wonderful things we did this year. We welcome our membership to share their own ideas or to join our board of directors. Come play and celebrate as we wrap up another wonderful year! If you are interested in joining our board of directors and are unable to attend the AGM please reach out to Dragonfly ahead of time.
Summer Closure
We will be closed for Summer Break from June 26 until September 8, 2026. Our last day of childcare will be Thursday June 25, and we will return with our Childcare Open House on Tuesday September 8. We wish everyone a wonderful summer, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the fall.
Family Counseling Sessions
June 8 and 22, 12:30 pm
Dragonfly Centre
Twice per month Geneva Jacobs offers one on one counselling services for parents and caregivers raising young children. Sessions are held in a confidential space while your child/ren is cared for by an educator. Geneva brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as she accompanies you towards a more fulfilling and empowered life. We will have our last session before summer break on Monday June 22. Thank you to The Victoria Foundation for their generous support of this program.
Parents and Babes
June 1, 8, 15, and 22 9 am
Dragonfly Centre
Parents and Babes runs every Monday morning from 9-11:30 am at Dragonfly. Pam Wadge and Rowie Symons facilitate this free drop-in program for parents, caregivers and their young children. This program is a great way to meet other young families on the island in a cozy and welcoming space. Our last session before summer break will be Monday June 22. Thanks to the Victoria Foundation and the Pender Island Child Care Society, this program is free.
Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP)
June 3, 10, 17, and 24, 9 am
School Gym
HOP is held every Wednesday morning from 9-10:15 am in the school gym. Come on out and join facilitator Kristin as she sets up new activities each week; from tunnels and crash mats to climbing equipment and obstacle courses this program will be sure to get those spring wiggles out! HOP is designed for parents/caregivers to engage in physical activities and learn new skills with their children 1-5 years. Our last session before summer break will be Wednesday June 24. Thanks to the Pender Island School and the CRD, this program is free.
If you would like further information on any of our programs please get in touch with us on our website, by email, or give us a call.
Pender Island Scouts
Pender Scouters after placing 4th at the annual Spring Challenge at Camp Bernard in Sooke. Photo courtesy Pender Scouts.
Spring adventures are underway for Pender Island Scouts!
Spring has been a busy and exciting season so far for our Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts. We continue to meet every Wednesday afternoon, building outdoor skills, teamwork, and confidence while exploring all that Pender Island has to offer.
Congratulations to the Scouts Troop
In April, our Scouts travelled to Camp Bernard in Sooke to participate in the annual Spring Challenge, alongside 15 other Scout troops from across the region. Throughout the weekend, youth competed in a variety of outdoor skill challenges that tested teamwork, leadership, navigation, problem solving, and Scoutcraft abilities. We are incredibly proud to share that our troop placed 4th overall! The Scouts represented Pender Island with great enthusiasm, determination, and sportsmanship, and it was wonderful to see all their hard work and training pay off.
May Activities
In May, the warmer weather brought us to the ballpark for an enthusiastic baseball game and out onto the water along the shores of Port Browning. The youth were introduced to water safety, paddling techniques, and basic canoeing and kayaking skills. Everyone had a fantastic time building confidence on the water while learning the importance of safe boating practices. Looking ahead, we hope to plan some canoe camping adventures as we continue to expand our outdoor program.
Registration
Registration for the September 2026 – June 2027 Scouting season is now open! We are welcoming new members in all sections:
• Beavers (ages 5–7)
• Cubs (ages 8–10)
• Scouts (ages 11–14)
We are also always looking for new volunteers to support our amazing leadership team. Volunteering with Scouts is a rewarding way to connect with the community, support local youth, and help create memorable outdoor adventures. Whether you can help regularly or occasionally, we would love to hear from you.
Shout Out
A big thank you to all of the volunteers, parents, and community supporters who help make our programs and adventures possible. Your continued support allows our youth to experience incredible opportunities throughout the year.
Additionally, we would like to thank the GreenAngels for their generous donation, which will help us expand our equipment and support a spring/summer camping trip.
Pender Island Girl Guides
The Pender Island Girl Guides participated in the Beltane celebration at the start of May, joining other May Day celebrants at Browning Field on May 1, 2026. Photo by Matthew Coutts.
Ellen’s Group
Summer Pause for The Listening Post
Ellen’s Group, a group formed early this year made up of volunteers who are trained to offer home visits and pastoral care to any member of the community who is facing difficult times, including end of life, grief and loneliness, will pause its Listening Post for the summer months.
One of the group’s first initiatives, The Listening Post offers a sacred, safe space where all are welcome to step away from daily life into a contemplative atmosphere to listen to the voice of wisdom within and to be offered a listening ear. It is a place where all who enter are welcome and received with respect. Two volunteers serve as listeners and offer every guest a compassionate, spacious, attentive presence while respecting adherence to privacy and confidentiality.
Sandi Smoker, the group’s team lead, says the first few monthly sessions of The Listening Post provided an opportunity for Ellen’s Group to assess the needs and effectiveness of the sessions. Over the summer months, Ellen’s Group will reflect on its next steps and announce them in the fall.
Ellen’s Group, “Serving our Community with Compassion”, was created to help fill the void created by the unexpected death in 2022 of Ellen Willingham, whose long-time support of individuals and families who were struggling, isolated, grieving or facing end-of-life transitions, was highly valued in our community.
Pender Island Farmers’ Institute
The Pender Island Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday at the Community Hall from 9:30 am to 1 pm, and will continue until Thanksgiving weekend.
The market is a wonderful community gathering place, where you can pick up the freshest local produce, plants, eggs, flowers, meat, baked goods, honey, and locally created artisan goods. A member of the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets (BC Farmers’ Markets), the Pender Island Farmers’ Market is in its 48th year.
This year we will again be part of the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program with our community partners the Food Bank, Neighbourhood House, and Dragonfly Daycare. Our Wednesday food-only market that operates out of the Farm Food Hub located in the Farmers’ Institute barn behind the Hall will start June 10.
The Farm Food Hub has been operating year round on Saturdays during the markets, and is the place for farmers to sell their farm products through our volunteers and staff, just by dropping off their items for us to sell. If you are not able to sell at the Saturday market yourself, but would like a venue to sell from to help boost your sales, this could be for you.
We welcome growers of any size, including homeowners with extra fruit or herbs. We love to encourage new farmers. Details are on our website. Potential new vendors are encouraged to apply by going to our website at http://www.pifi.ca where you will find information and applications.
Everything at our market is made, baked, and grown on Pender Island. We will also be exploring opening up the market to off-island Gulf Island and South Island vendors who sell items that we do not have at our market currently – on a limited basis, with applications reviewed by the board and the market manager.
The music at the market is provided by Ptarmigan Arts and invited artists. Buskers are also welcome. Our market manager is Tony Legault, who is an active volunteer at the market. For information email Tony at penderislandmarket@gmail.com or go to pifi.ca.
Pender Island Fall Fair: Celebrating the International Year of the Woman Farmer
This event is the largest on Pender Island with a long standing tradition as an agricultural fair which began in 1932. Our next fall fair meeting will be Tuesday, June 9 at 4 pm at the Community Hall lounge.
We are looking for volunteers in some key areas – no experience needed, just enthusiasm. If you would like to convene a section of the fair, help in the beer garden, help set up the tents and tables, we would like to hear from you.
We are looking for wine and beer, and photography section conveners. We also need volunteers to help with registration on Friday, with managing the trophies, and volunteering in the beer garden. We are looking for food vendors as well, especially with vegetarian options. Do you have anything to suggest? Let us know.
If you want to start working on your entries, last year’s catalogue is listed on the website. We are working on this year’s catalogue which will be out soon, and Assist Expo is open for our entries. We are very grateful for the community groups, individuals, and businesses who support the fair by generous sponsorship donations, helping provide and serve food and drink, donating raffle prizes, helping with set up, organizing, and lending a hand wherever it is needed. The fair has been run by a volunteer committee of the Farmers’ Institute.
We would especially like to see all of our farms involved, because it is a great way to let the community know what you are doing. If you would like to know more, check out our website pifi.ca, or contact Barbara Johnstone at penderislandfallfair@gmail.com or 250-222-3817. We are a member of the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions (BC Fairs).
Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership
For years, the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership (SGITP) has worked closely with the local hotels, resorts, and commercial inns. They are a vital part of our community, but they only represent one piece of the puzzle.
Today, I’m reaching out because we want to connect with the rest of that puzzle: you.
If you are a local host operating a legal short-term rental – whether through Airbnb, VRBO, or an independent site – I want to hear from you. We recognize that the way people travel is changing. Many of our visitors aren’t just looking for a room; they are looking for the unique, personal experiences that only private hosts can provide.
Currently, our relationship with the private rental sector is limited, and we want to change that.
My goal is to ensure that the SGITP is supporting all facets of our tourism economy. By building a bridge between our organization and local hosts, we can:
● Understand Your Needs: I want to know what challenges you face and how we can better advocate for you.
● Support Our Visitors: By working together, we can ensure our visitor demographics are getting the high-quality, authentic island experiences they crave.
● Share Resources: We are actively looking for ways to provide value, whether through marketing support, local insights, or community resources.
We are keeping an open mind. Whether you have a clear idea of how we can support you or just want to introduce yourself and your property, your voice is welcome.
If you are a host and would like to connect, please reach out.
Pender Island Conservancy
Celebrating a hard day of work at Kingfisher Wetland, photo courtesy of Pender Conservancy.
Film Screening: Shared Waters, Shared Crisis
On Friday, June 5, to celebrate Ocean Week Canada, the Pender Conservancy and Pender Ocean Defenders are co-presenting a film screening of Shared Waters, Shared Crisis, followed by a Q&A with whale biologist, Janine McNeilly, and salmon biologist, Misty MacDuffee, from Raincoast Conservation Foundation. Join us at 7 pm at the Community Hall for an exploration of the intertwined futures of Southern Resident Killer Whales and Chinook salmon. Admission $10 or pay what you can. Refreshments will be served.
Life Returns at Kingfisher Wetland
Something is stirring at Kingfisher Forest — and it’s worth celebrating.
Over the past few months, the Conservancy has been hard at work building a wetland where there was once a road at the heart of this nature sanctuary. A fence now protects the sensitive wetland area from deer browse, giving newly planted vegetation a real chance to establish. So far, 500 native plants have gone in the ground across two community planting events, with watering and mulching underway to help them through the dry summer.
The results are already showing. Chickadees, ravens and song sparrows have been spotted visiting the pond for water. Small aquatic beetles and damselflies have taken up residence, and a garter snake was even seen snorkeling about. These are early signs that the ecosystem is coming back to life.
We’re grateful to everyone who has rolled up their sleeves for Kingfisher. Stay tuned for more planting and mulching opportunities this season.
Recapping the Ursula Poepel Memorial Broom Bash
Participants of the Ursula Poepel Memorial Broom Bash, photo courtesy of Pender Conservancy.Every spring, Scotch broom erupts across Pender in a blaze of yellow – and every spring, a dedicated crew of islanders heads out to fight back.
This May, the Conservancy’s annual Ursula Poepel Memorial Broom Bash returned for another season of community‑powered invasive‑plant removal. The results were impressive. At Oaks Bluff Community Park, a team of nine volunteers tackled the broom head‑on, cutting down swaths of plants in full bloom before they could set seed and spread further. Overhead, turkey vultures traced lazy circles in the sky – indifferent witnesses to the hard work below.
The Broom Bash doesn’t stop at organized events. Islanders took the mission to their own properties and neighbourhoods and will continue to pull broom throughout the season, until it goes to seed. Every corner of Pender restored to native vegetation is more habitat – more food for pollinators, more shelter for birds, more resilience in our local ecosystems.
Together, we’re making room for what belongs here. Well done, Pender – Ursula would be proud.
Mark Your Calendar: Conservancy AGM — June 27
The Pender Islands Conservancy Association’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Saturday, June 27 at 5 pm at Studio B at Hope Bay and this year, we’re making a day of it.
Join us at Hope Bay throughout the day for guided nature walks, a native plant demonstration and a kids’ scavenger hunt. The AGM follows in the evening. It’s a great chance to connect with fellow islanders who care about this place.
Want to have a say in how the Conservancy is governed? If you’d like to nominate yourself or someone you know for a board seat, please email president@penderconservancy.org before June 10, 2026 to be included on the voting roster.
Conservancy Nature Centre Summer Hours
Whether you’re looking for locally-made handcrafted goods, unique gifts, or just a reason to learn something new about the island you love, the Conservancy Nature Centre Shop is worth a visit. We’ve got an ever-growing selection of t-shirts and hats, stuffed animals, books and education materials and body care essentials in stock, alongside displays and resources exploring Pender’s remarkable ecosystems. Stop by and say hello – we’re open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm all summer long.
See You at the Farmers’ Market this Summer
We will be at the Farmers’ Market every Saturday this summer. Each market, our team will be ready to show you displays featuring local wildlife, plants and ecosystems that make the Gulf Islands so special. Stop by and say, “hi”.
Moon Blooms: Creating a Garden that Thrives at Night
Across the Northern Hemisphere, gardening season is underway. As we refresh beds, plant containers, and dream up backyard projects, why not ask a new question: Does my garden support life after dark?
Many gardens are designed for daytime beauty, filled with color, texture, and pollinators like bees and butterflies. But sunset brings a second shift of wildlife. Moths, bats, beetles, fireflies, and other nocturnal species emerge to feed, pollinate, and move through the landscape. A garden planned with the night in mind can become a refuge for these often-overlooked creatures.
Design tips for a night-friendly garden
● Plant white or pale flowers that reflect moonlight
● Include fragrant blooms that release scent after sunset
● Add layered shrubs and trees for habitat
● Leave some wild corners for insects and shelter
● Provide shallow water sources for wildlife
● Avoid floodlights and decorative uplighting
● Use timers and motion sensors instead of lights on all night
Excerpted from darksky.org. To learn more about night gardens, go to darksky.org/news/create-a-garden-that-thrives-at-night.
Check out Pender’s Native Plant Nursery for some plants to include in your night garden.
● Philadelphus lewisii – white flower, strong scent
● Achillea millefolium – silvery foliage catches moonlight, white flower
● Anaphalis margaritacea – moth host plant, white flower
Adam’s Nursery Notes: Do-It-Yourself Water Features
At the time of writing, we’ve been without rain for four weeks and there’s no relief in the forecast. This makes natural water sources like rain drops on leaves, shallow pools of water and seasonal ponds hard to come by for the critters in our gardens. This month I’ll focus on ways we can bring some relief for the wildlife in our yards.
I’ve had a small pond and stream (three feet by two feet) for years now. I bought a little pump for $30 that’s been working non-stop for more than three years. Water movement is vital. It oxygenates the water, which promotes beneficial bacteria, reduces algae growth, stops mosquito breeding and prevents stagnation. I lined my pond with a scrap of pond liner (you can also use old shower curtains or a vapour barrier) which means it will rarely need to be topped up. I love to sit on the patio with a tipple during sunset and watch the birds bathe and drink from my cheap little pond.
There are other, easier ways to provide a water source for critters. Fill any shallow container with water and a few rocks/pebbles or sticks as these give them a place to land and drink from. You can hang a container with a small hole that drips slowly into the dish as birds are attracted to moving water. Keep in mind that if you don’t have a way to move and oxygenate the water, you’ll need to empty and clean the container periodically. Empty the dish and scrub with diluted white vinegar.
Small ponds or pools are a great potential food source for birds. Water brings so much life, including insects, which will feed the birds. Watch as you develop your own little ecosystem. Dragonflies will soon come to feed on the smaller insects. If the water is deep enough, Pacific Chorus Frogs may join the party, too.
These are just a few easy, inexpensive ways to provide water to the garden critters we all love. Come chat with me about this and any horticulture topic at the Pender Native Plants nursery any Friday or Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm at 4506 Bedwell Harbour Rd.
Garden Tasks for June:
● Keep wildlife water sources filled and clean.
● Prune June Plum and Tall Oregon Grape if you want to keep them in control (or let them go wild). Remove 25% of the oldest stems at the base.
● Water newly installed plants.
● Collect seed from spring-flowering plants (columbine, lupin, etc.).
● Stake floppy perennials which can be damaged in the wind.
Pender Organic Community Garden Society
After a slow, cool start to spring this year, May blazed in like summer, and gardeners were either scrambling to catch up or holding back from planting for fear their tender seedlings would fail in the sudden heat.
By the first of June, most of us have our gardens fully planted with an array of vegetables. Some gardeners specialize in roots and cabbages that will tide their families over the winter, and others go full Mediterranean with tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, dreaming already of those bright summer salads. Some plots are laid out in tidy rows, each plant spaced perfectly – a delight to the eye. Others are shaping up to become productive jungles.
Whatever the style, it’s inspiring to walk the length of the garden and see how people are going about growing their food.
Sometimes, when I know I have to get out to the garden to water or otherwise tend my plants, I feel reluctant to get in the car and drive anywhere. This is the downside of having to garden away from our own property.
But once I’m out in my plot, working the soil in that peaceful setting, a kind of serenity comes over me that I rarely feel anywhere else – even though I live on beautiful Pender Island. I might plan to spend an hour, but that often stretches out longer because it’s such a joy to be there. Yes, I have to remind myself of that some days – the drive is worth it.
We are currently building a waitlist for the garden so that, in the case of an unexpected departure of one of our members, no plot will be left unused for the season. If anyone is interested, here are some considerations:
- Plots are about 20 feet by 20 feet (six metres by six metres).
- The soil is excellent, needing only light annual amendment with compost or manure.
- The garden is sunny and well fenced.
- Water is supplied by pond water, with a spigot at each plot.
- Larger tools such as spades, rakes and wheelbarrows are available to share.
- Fellow gardeners are friendly and helpful.
- The current fee is $65 per year, which covers maintenance, our lease, insurance and various emergent needs.
If you think you might be interested, please contact us at the address below. Signing up does not commit you to taking a plot – it just keeps a door open for you.
Pender Island Garden Club
Basil can be easy to grow, as long as it has adequate warmth and light. Photo courtesy of Vivian Mitchell.I thought a discussion about the lovely herb, basil, would be appropriate for this time of year as our trip to Finnerty Gardens was canceled.
Basil is both a delicious and beneficial member of our gardens. It grows profusely in the warm months of our coastal climate. Basil can protect against pests, contribute to soil health, add flavour to plants like tomatoes, and liven up cooking. It can be grown indoors or outdoors and in hydroponic setups. As long as basil has adequate warmth and light it is easy to grow.
There are several different types of basil. Genovese is the classic. It goes in salads, pesto and even in a sandwich instead of lettuce. Thai basil has bold flavours, slightly spicy and an anise-like flavour. It can be used in curries and stir fries. Lemon basil has a refreshing citrus-like note that can go in summer salads or lemonades. There are more types but these are readily available. If you see a different basil, give it a try.
Basil benefits the garden in several ways. It helps to retain moisture in the soil and enhances soil quality. It helps stimulate soil microbes that encourage nutrient cycling. Basil can contribute flavour to the plants as well as resilience to pests. Tomato plants matched with basil and marigolds are a well-matched trinity. Basil serves as a repellent to squash bugs, flea beetles, aphids and even some nematodes. They also attract good insects like hover flies and ladybugs, helping to maintain a balanced and healthy garden.
There are a few exceptions where some plants do not do well next to basil. Sage, cucumbers, or other vining plants due to competition for resources and pest pressure.
Basil attracts pollinators. When in flower it produces nectar which attracts bees, butterflies and more, a boon to both insects and plants.
Basil grows in containers, raised beds, in-ground, and indoors with adequate light. Growing from seed indoors requires decent lighting and a temperature of 18 to 29 degrees C. A heat mat can help. Seeds typically sprout in five to 10 days. Wait until the night temperature is a steady 10 degrees C. The plants need warm, well-draining soil to do well.
Basil can be dried, frozen in bags, or blended in oil and frozen in ice-cube trays for use in the winter. Basil can also be brought indoors in a pot and will produce quite well in a warm, sunny window.
The weather should be good to plant warm season plants like cucumbers, beans, squash and others.
Enjoy your gardens.
June is the month for our garden tour. If non-members would like to join the tour, please contact me for more information.
Pender Earth
Don’t you find that this island is hopping with things to do these days? Lots of gratifying events, and here is another for your consideration.
Climate Cafe! Usual time, usual place, first Friday of the month, so June 5, in the lounge at the Community Hall. We are experimenting with viewing links to climate related audios or videos to jumpstart our discussions. This month it will be the David Suzuki Foundation’s session about Community Resilience to Escalating Climate Threats.
It will be broadcast on June 3 at 12 pm. This is really helpful for those of us who can’t hold things in our heads for more than a couple of days. You can register here: https://tinyurl.com/tju3x6et.
Hope to meet up with you!
Pender Ocean Defenders (POD)
Recently David Greer, a friend of Pender Ocean Defenders wrote a letter to the editor of the Globe and Mail newspaper regarding the following:
“Ottawa favours southern route for new Alberta-B.C. pipeline” (April 21): Bottom line: the choice of route will be based on the five named criteria in the Building Canada Act: “strengthening Canada’s security, providing economic benefits, advancing the interests of Indigenous communities, respecting climate change and ensuring any project has a high likelihood of successful execution”. His letter was not published.
David’s letter stated “respecting climate change” is a curiously meaningless phrase, and probably deliberately so, but at least climate gets a mention, unlike endangered species that might be driven to extinction by a major project.
Ensuring species survival and ecosystem integrity used to be a big deal when Canada became the first industrialized country to sign the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, in 1992, and a decade later enacted the Species at Risk Act.
SARA lists the southern resident orca (current population 74, down from over 200) as in danger of extinction and legally prohibits destruction of its critical habitat, the heart of which is the proposed southern route through the Salish Sea, already Canada’s busiest shipping route.
Orcas rely on echolocation to find their prey (chinook salmon). Ever-increasing ship noise effectively destroys their critical habitat by blocking not only their echolocation capability but also their ability to communicate with other members of their pod.
Ocean pollution and the collapse of chinook salmon stocks have severely disrupted the recovery of southern resident orcas. Greatly increased tanker traffic could very well be the final nail in their coffin.
A Guardian newspaper article quotes Raincoast’s Salmon Director Misty MacDuffee on a concern that a Federal Policy discussion paper may bypass the “jeopardy test for species at risk test” which requires regulators to ask whether a project would jeopardize the survival or recovery of a protected species.
“In practical terms, this provision is intended to prevent projects from pushing endangered species into extinction. Weakening this safeguard has direct implications for southern resident killer whales and their protection under [the Species at Risk Act],” said Misty MacDuffee, a biologist at Raincoast Conservation Foundation.
“As the federal government has acknowledged in its imminent threat determination, these whales face extinction under the existing conditions.” Further comments in the article come from Environmental Law charity Ecojustice and Nature Canada.
The proposed changes are open to public comment until June 9. See links to comment here:
On a happier note there have been several sightings this month of familiar Humpback whales Big Mama and Zigzag with their calves plus some Humpbacks that are new to the SGI Sighters Network.
SDA’,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle
Students from W̱SÁNEĆ Tribal School at the sign unveiling on Pender last month. Photo by Matthew Coutts.Youth from two schools met at our Community Hall to participate in and witness the unveiling of the SDÁ,YES panels. It was a historic moment for both the W̱SÁNEĆ and Pender Island communities, an understanding that the Truth of Colonial displacement of Indigenous families from the island must be acknowledged before Reconciliation can proceed in a meaningful way.
Among the Elders present were two from TSAWOUT Village, W̱IĆKINEM Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey and Elder SELILIYE Belinda Claxton, who remember food harvesting as children at the canal and the reef net fishing site on South Pender. They were honoured guests at a luncheon hosted by the SDÁ,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle for over sixty people, including teachers, parents, and school children from both communities.
After lunch the Pender students gave an impromptu music concert with their teacher Ben McConchie and the W̱SÁNEĆ Youth from the SENĆOŦEN Immersion program at the Tribal School danced, while teachers drummed and sang in celebration.
Many Pender residents joined in witnessing as Elder J,SIṈTEN John Elliot said a prayer in SENĆOŦEN and English, acknowledging we are “walking forward together”. Artist Addie Elliot spoke about her illustrations for the panels – the importance of the four species of Salmon to her people and their traditional way of life on their Island Homelands. The important thing about witnessing such an event is that you tell others what you heard and saw.
Our next meeting will be on June 17, 2026 from 4 to 6 pm at the Anglican Hall. All are welcome.
Monica Petrie
ṮEṮÁĆES Restoration Initiative
Tsawout Elder Belinda Claxton (SELILIYE) explaining the cultural importance of the SENĆOŦEN name for Pender Island (SDÁ,YES), which means a happy place for wind-drying salmon.On May 7, the W̱SÁNEĆ Elders (SELW̱ÁN) and youth returned to their SDÁ,YES Homeland for an important cultural event — the unveiling of the three-panel installation at the Pender Community Hall.
The three panels illustrate the cultural roots of the W̱SÁNEĆ People in ṮEṮÁĆES – the Southern Gulf Islands – and speaks to some of the important truths that precede reconciliation.
The event also included recognition of the new SDÁ,YES Welcome sign at the T-junction.
Tsawout Hereditary Chief Eric Pelkey (W̱IĆKINEM) welcomed the large gathering to a midday feast at the Community Hall catered by the ṮEṮÁĆES reconcili-action team and the SDÁ,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle.
The unveiling, which was attended by over 50 islanders, was preceded by a traditional blessing in SENĆOŦEN from Elder John Elliott (J,SIṈTEN) and followed by a cultural dance and song presentation by students and teachers from the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School. The Pender Island Grade 3-4 students also took part in the program.
Tsawout Elder Belinda Claxton (SELILIYE) explained the importance of building respectful relationships between our communities. SELILIYE shared an important traditional story for the youth of the importance of respect for nature that nourishes us all.
The artist W̱SÁNEĆ Addie Elliott (STOLȻEȽOT) who created the images for the signs shared some of the inspiration that went into the creation of the panels.
This project was supported by grants from the Victoria Foundation, the Real Estate Foundation of BC and the Island Trust Heritage Fund. Members of the boards of the Pender Chamber of Commerce and the Community Hall, both of whom supported the project, were in attendance.
The project is one of a series of cultural installations on SDÁ,YES to illustrate the important Cultural history of the W̱SÁNEĆ People in their traditional unceded Homeland (ÁLEṈENEȻ).
PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ Foundation
Volunteers removing Daphne from the land, photo courtesy of Madeline Emery.
Join in at Community Days at QENENIW
SDÁ,YES/Pender residents are once again invited to join in ecosystem restoration activities at QENENIW (Hay Point Reserve adjacent to Poet’s Cove) with PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ (pepakenhautw.com/qenewiw-restoration-project).
This Foundation collaborates with WSANEC communities to heal the land at specific locations, including QENENIW. PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ has a meaningful agreement with TSAWOUT Nation to work in a culturally sensitive way to remove invasive species at QENENIW and protect the cultural heritage of this important village site.
Learn more about the significance of QENENIW and of the traditional reef net site across Bedwell Harbour at panels at Poet’s waterfront and also at the new panels at the Community Hall. Following a memorable celebration last month of the new signs at the Community Hall, these volunteer days are another means of Reconcili-Action. Hope to see you there!
Please RSVP to madelin.emery@gmail.com for details and what to bring.
The first of three events is June 12 from 10 am – 2 pm. If you are unable to join in June, two more dates are planned for July 24 and October 9.
No cost to join and we always gratefully welcome donations of “snacks and refreshments” for our break, or you may also make a monetary donation directly to PEPAKEN_HAUTW.
Our Community Days are co-sponsored by the Pender Islands Conservancy, Raincoast Conservation, Parks Canada and SDA’,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle.
Health and Security
Pender Island Health Care Society
Fancy a round of Operation? Visit the PIHCS table at the Farmers’ Market. Photo courtesy PIHCS.
June 20 – Health Centre Open House
Yes, it’s that time again! Everyone is warmly invited to our Open House on Saturday, June 20 from 11 am to 3 pm. It’s a rare opportunity for behind-the-scenes tours, chatting with health and wellness service providers and learning more about Health Centre operations and future plans. There are some changes since last year’s Open House, and we’d love to share them with the community.
And of course, no Open House would be complete without snacks, prizes, goody bags and treats. The Pender Islands Lions Club will be on hand with their famous barbequed hot dogs. Bring the family – there will be something interesting for everyone.
Also on June 20 –Walk for Wellness
The new Pender Islands Foundation is hosting a community fundraising walk along the new trail from Danny Martin Park to the school. This year, the Health Care Society is the lucky beneficiary of all funds raised from this 2K walk. And the Foundation is matching those funds, so the benefit and impact of each registration is doubled. Get some fresh air and exercise with the family, and finish up at the Health Centre Open House! Details at http://www.pifoundation.ca.
Welcome New Facility Manager Jason Wissink
We’re very happy to announce that the Health Centre has a new Facility Manager, as our much-appreciated Liam Husk leaves for eastern shores. Jason Wissink will take over this important role, bringing a broad range of experience and skills that meet the complex needs of the buildings and property. Jason has a strong connection to Pender, has raised his family here over the last several years, and is a very welcome addition to the team.
Travel Assistance Program – A Reminder
The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) is run by the Ministry of Health and helps with transportation costs for BC residents who must travel within the province for eligible services that are not available in their own community. Here on Pender, it is typically used on BC Ferries for medically necessary travel to and from Victoria; for example, referral to specialists, diagnostics and treatment centres. For details about eligible services, please visit http://www.gov.bc.ca and search for TAP BC.
Pender patients who are registered at the Medical Clinic or emergency care patients requiring further care may request a TAP form from the Medical Clinic. They may be picked up during office hours, 9 am to 12 pm and 2 to 5 pm. Patients should complete the form well before the day of travel, by calling the TAP automated service line (1-800-661-2668) to receive a confirmation number.
Please note that the Travel Assistance Program is limited to services insured by MSP, and does not cover optometry, non-hospital-based dentistry, physiotherapy, massage therapy and others. TAP does not reimburse for travel already taken.
Island Health Rural Travel Assistance
Do you need help such as ground transportation getting to your appointments in Victoria over and above just a TAP form? Island Health has an additional Travel Assistance program for those of us who live in rural and remote communities including the Gulf Islands.
This service may be able to help if you need to travel to a non-emergency medical appointment in Greater Victoria and are having difficulty arranging or paying for a ride on your own. Your appointment must be with an Island Health facility or affiliate site and may include specialist appointments.
Island Health will arrange for one of their contracted transportation services to pick you up at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal and take you to your appointment and then get you back to Swartz Bay terminal. The service is free of charge if needed.
For more information, please visit: islandhealth.ca/travel-support, or call 1-844-940-6617.
The Health Care Society plans to be at the Farmers’ Market every Saturday. Photo courtesy PIHCS.
Weekly PIHCS Info Table at the Farmers’ Market
Curious about what the Health Care Society does, or what programs are on offer? Perhaps you have an experience to share, an observation, or a suggestion. To serve the community in the best way possible, we want to hear feedback about how well services, supports and programs are meeting your needs. Stop by our table at the Farmers’ Market (we plan to be there each Saturday) and chat with volunteer directors.
Strategic Planning and Collaboration
PIHCS recently completed an informative and structured two-day planning workshop. The time was used to re-vision and temporize our Strategic Plan for the next five years so that we can move forward in confidence. It was an excellent opportunity to develop as a team, working towards supporting health care on the Pender Islands. The official Strategic Plan will be available on our website later in June.
As well, operations staff and representative board members from all the Outer South Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender and Saturna) spent a day on Pender reviewing our common goals, wants and needs as small island communities. These sessions help us grow and develop common themes and inform discussions with funding and working partners such as Island Health, the CRD and the Primary Care Network.
Did You Know?
The Medical Clinic is closed from 12 – 2 pm Monday through Friday. This allows the providers and staff to catch up on administrative duties and have a lunch break. There is usually a Medical Office Assistant at the desk. But they could also be called away or be short staffed. It is best if you avoid visiting the Medical Clinic during this time unless you have a scheduled appointment. The phones are not answered between 12 and 2 pm unless staff is waiting for a particular call back on an emergency or urgent case.
Apart from time for a quick bite of lunch, those two hours are consumed with meetings, charting, administration, re-stocking, outgoing phone calls and a myriad of other duties that keep the clinic running smoothly.
Mental Health and Wellness Survey
One of our working partner organizations, the Rural and Remote Divisions of Family Practice, is conducting a survey on mental health and substance use support resources on the Outer South Gulf Islands. This is not a PIHCS initiated survey, but the results will be shared with us, and we hope to use the information to work towards addressing gaps in services and access to care. We encourage you to use the attached QR code to access the survey.
Volunteering is Good For Your Health
The Health Care Society welcomes dedicated volunteers with diverse backgrounds and experience to join us in addressing Pender’s health‑care needs.
Nominations are now open for directors on the board. We are an active, working volunteer board, making significant time commitments to projects and committees, and we are looking to broaden our generational diversity. Younger members of the community, including parents with school‑aged children, are invited to inquire about how they might contribute — either as a board member or as a volunteer on a committee.
Committees include Building, Communications, Finance, Fundraising, Governance and Health Services. For more information, please contact the nominations chair at Peter.Pare@hli.ubc.ca.
Community Support Programs
Maintain Your Independence (MYI) Exercise Classes
Find class descriptions, schedules, and payment details on our website penderislandhealth.org under the Community Programs tab. Our summer schedule will be posted by mid-June. Register in advance or pay in person for the full session or drop-in classes. Monday and Wednesday classes take place at the Community Hall, while Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday classes are held at the Anglican Church. If cost is a concern or you need assistance with registration, please contact Marcella in the Community Support office. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission for the MYI program.
Mondays
Community Hall
Strength Training for Overall Health with Stacy Packford
9:30 – 10:30 am
This class will focus on building strength in your body to improve overall health. There will be a variety of exercises for all levels designed to build strength, balance, and confidence in movement. Wear comfy clothes and bring a water bottle. Resistance bands provided.
18 Postures with Judith Young
11 am – 12 pm
Three sets of gentle exercises are designed to support seniors’ health and vitality. These movements combine slow stretches, mindful breathing, stimulation of acupuncture points, and techniques to improve balance and posture. It is a martial art similar to tai chi performed to music.
Tuesdays
Anglican Church, Fireside Room
Moderate Yoga with Mia Klassen
9:30 – 10:30 am
This moderately paced class teaches foundational yoga shapes, introducing breath and the ability to flow from one posture to the next. With a focus on alignment, pranayama (awareness of breath), guided meditation, and a rooted sense of Joy and Play. You will build strength and mobility, flexibility and balance, while gaining range of motion in your joints and spine.
Chair Yoga with Mia Klassen
10:45 – 11:45 am
Chair Yoga offers a gentle, accessible way to ease stiffness, reduce chronic pain, and improve strength, balance, and flexibility – all from the comfort of a chair. This practice weaves together gentle stretching, strength-building, breath awareness, and moments of meditation to support both body and mind. Ideal for those with limited mobility, injuries, health conditions, or anyone who spends long hours sitting, Chair Yoga helps you reclaim confidence and vitality while fostering brain-body connection.
Wednesdays
Community Hall
Strength Training – Supplemental Class with Stacy Packford
9:30 – 10:30 am
This class is designed for those looking to further support and enhance their strength training. Expect a full-body workout with an emphasis on multi‑joint exercises. Come prepared to work and bring your water bottle!
Thursdays
Anglican Church, Fireside Room
Moderate Yoga with Candace Aldridge
9:30 – 10:30 am
(See Tuesdays for descriptions)
Chair Yoga with Candace Aldridge
10:45 – 11:45 am
(See Tuesdays for descriptions)
Fridays
Anglican Church, Fireside Room
Yin Yoga with Candace Aldridge
10:30 – 11:30 am
Yin yoga is a functional, floor-based practice where shapes are held for 2-5 minutes. Using props for support, we nourish joints, ligaments, bones, and fascia while settling into stillness. This stillness becomes a gateway, bringing awareness inward and anchoring us in the body. Through mindfulness, breath, and sensation, we develop interoception—the ability to turn inward, integrate, and explore our shadow. This practice expands our capacity to be fully embodied, releasing the need to do, be, or look like anyone else, embracing ourselves exactly as we are.
Monday Activity Day at the Community Hall
Weekly Activities and Exercise
MYI Classes Upstairs 9:30 am – 12 pm
Drop-in Café and Knitting and Stitching Circle from 9 am – 12 pm
June 1
Book Club with Cee
This month’s book discussion is A Snake and a Feathered Bird by Angie Ellis. Relax, meet new friends, join in good conversation, and discover great books together.
Introduction to Cellphone Photography with Ellie Martin Part 1
Are you ready to take better photos with the phone you already have? Join local photographer Ellie for a fun and relaxed introduction to cellphone photography! While Ellie loves travelling with her DSLR, she’s mastered many creative tricks using everyday smartphones. In this beginner-friendly session, you’ll learn simple tips to improve your photos, explore your phone’s camera features, and build confidence capturing everyday moments. Ellie can help with both Android and iPhone devices, and she’ll be happy to answer all your questions along the way.
Buttery Baking Powder Biscuits
Quick and easy, so delicious! Learn the tricks to make soft, fluffy biscuits, perfect for Strawberry Shortcake season. Bake your biscuits and take them home for tea. All ingredients provided. $10. If you are on another island and would like to participate, it’s free. Please email for a zoom link and the recipe.
Film: Rocketman (2:15 pm showtime)
Experience the spectacular musical journey of Elton John’s rise to stardom, featuring all your favorite hits from the 1970s and beyond. This uplifting film follows a shy piano prodigy as he transforms into a global icon, discovering the power of love and self-acceptance along the way. Come enjoy a vibrant, nostalgic celebration filled with incredible music, dazzling costumes, and a triumphant true story. Suggested donation is $5. Volunteers are welcome to make popcorn.
June 8
Repair Café
New hours are the 2nd & 4th Monday of each month. The Pender Island Recycling Society will be hosting a raffle table. All Repair Café participants can enter for a chance to win a gift certificate from a local business. As a heart-felt thank you, volunteers receive a gift certificate or a complimentary lunch. Our Repair Café is supported by friendly volunteers skilled in appliance repairs (Peter), tech repairs (Shon), and sewing repairs (Judy), all eager to share knowledge and help extend the life of everyday items. We also warmly invite new volunteers with specific fixing skills to join us regularly or as a guest volunteer and be part of the Repair Café community.
Introduction to Cellphone Photography Part 2
Take your cellphone photography to the next level with Part 2 of Ellie’s class. Building on the basics, this session dives deeper into creative techniques and handy tips to help you capture stunning images. Ellie, a local photographer with a passion for travel and exploration, will share some of her favorite tricks for making the most of your smartphone camera. Whether you use an Android or iPhone, she’ll guide you through new features, composition techniques, and answer any questions you have. If you’re ready to “up your game” and have some fun with photography, this class is for you.
Sense of Smell & Brain Health
Join Jonathan Askholm to discover how your sense of smell can be used to improve memory and brain health. In this interactive session, you will learn how smell connects in the brain, and the fascinating ways it can promote health throughout the lifespan. Take brain and memory health into your own hands with your sense of smell. Aromatherapy kits will be available for purchase.
June 15
Outdoor Games
Get ready for a morning filled with laughter and friendly competition. Come try your hand at Corn Hole, Lawn Darts, and Ladderball. They are all easy to learn, gently active, and perfect for players of every skill level.
Flowerpot Decoupage
Transform a terracotta pot into a beautiful summer decoration. Join us for a relaxing workshop and learn the art of decoupage with delicate paper napkins, paper imagery, and vibrant tissue paper. Learn how to prep, apply, and seal your pot with a durable finish, perfect for succulents, herbs or a handmade gift. Pots, papers, brushes, and sealer supplied. Register in advance by Thursday, June 11th $10. If you are on another island and would like to participate, it’s free. Please email for a zoom link and the instructions.
English Country Dancing
Dearest Gentle Reader,
We invite you to join us June 15, 22 and 29 for an afternoon of country dancing with a measure of ballroom and contra dance thrown in. If you can walk you can dance – no prior experience or partner being necessary. Every dance is taught and prompted by our callers. It is the perfect way to meet new people, participate in gentle aerobic exercise engaging both body and mind. Experienced dance instructors Brian, Brenda and Bernard from Mayne Island will be teaching us. Enjoy wellness through dance at these free events – see you upstairs at the Community Hall from 1:00-3:00 pm. All ages welcome, come alone or bring a friend.
June 22
Repair Cafe
See June 8 for details.
Macramé Flowerpot Hanger Workshop
Discover the art of macramé in this beginner‑friendly workshop. Learn simple knotting techniques as you create a plant hanger sized for a 4‑inch pot. All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with a handmade piece ready to display in your home or garden. Enjoy a relaxed, social experience while exploring your creativity. Please register in advance by June 18. Cost is $10.
English Country Dancing
See June 8 for details.
June 29
Arranging Your Summer Blooms
Capture the wild beauty of summer! Bring a favourite vase, some garden greenery, and whatever is blooming in your garden and learn to design a pleasing arrangement with your own flowers. We share tips and tricks on vase preparation, colour and texture pairing, and conditioning secrets for maximum bloom life. Register in advance by Thursday, June 25 to secure your spot, $5. If you are on another island and would like to participate, it’s free. Please email for a zoom link and the instructions.
English Country Dancing
See June 8 for details.
To register for any of our programs, go to sginh.ca/seniors-program/ and and click on the Registration link. You can also email fiftyfiveplus@sginh.ca or call (250)- 629- 3665.
Acts of Kindness/Gratitude
This month, I had the pleasure of participating in a support training workshop where we explored the importance of listening, especially when someone is going through a difficult time. Feeling heard is often the first step toward healing when we are navigating troubled waters.
As our group paused to reflect on what it truly means to be present and to really hear another person, I found the experience both enlightening and humbling. I was reminded that supporting someone isn’t about fixing their problems or offering quick encouragement. Instead, it’s about staying present, acknowledging their experience, and giving them the space to find their own path forward in their own time.
We were invited to choose a quote about listening that resonated with us, and I’d like to leave you with a few that I found especially meaningful.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia
“When you talk, you are repeating something you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.” – Dalai Lama
“People start to heal the moment they feel heard.” – Cheryl Richardson
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.” – David Augsburger
“The word ‘listen’ contains the same letters as the word ‘silent’.” – Alfred Brendel
Do you have an act of kindness or a gratitude story you would like to share? I would love to hear from you.
Pender Island Fire Protection Society
Pender Fire Chief Announces Retirement
Happy retirement, Chief Dine. Photo courtesy PIFPS.Fire Chief Mike Dine has announced he will be retiring as Pender Islands Fire Chief in September 2026.
Mike began his fire service journey in 1998 on South Pender; a year later assuming the role of South Pender Fire Chief. In 2004, North and South Pender departments amalgamated and Mike became the Deputy Chief of Pender Fire/Rescue.
Mike was also instrumental in bringing the National Fire Protection Association firefighter training program to the Penders. As an extensive professional training program, it serves to keep our firefighters and community safe. This step changed the look and feel of the department from a group of volunteers who were “doing their best” to a professional, fully trained team able to respond to any emergency.
In 2005, Mike, with the support of the Pender Island Fire Protection Society, initiated the bi-annual Cadet Camp which is designed to inspire youth. His desire to enhance training of firefighters and cadets was instrumental in the creation of Pender’s own training centre; the red and grey building on the hill.
Over the years, Mike developed programs to encourage members of the public to serve their community; volunteering in truck checking, culinary assistance, and grounds maintenance. He also initiated a summer Friday fire safety awareness program at the Swartz Bay ferry terminal, and youth summer employment; just two more of his many community achievements.
In 2018, Mike accepted the position of Fire Chief of White Horse and then Deputy Fire Marshal of the Yukon. The draw of Pender brought him back, and in 2020, Mike was offered the job of Chief here. Since his tenure, the department has continued to grow; advancing the levels of professionalism that the people of the Penders have come to expect.
Mike has served in the fire service for 28 years, 26 of those in this community. His business leadership, acumen and communication skills have made Mike an exemplary leader.
Our firefighters “run in when most are running away”. Mike ensured that when someone was in need, there would always be someone at their door who knew what to do.
If you see Mike out and about, stop and tell him how much you appreciate his years of service in an effort to keep us all safe.
Captain Bulled Wins Provincial Award
Captain Bulled named 2025 Public Educator of the Year by the Fire Prevention Officers’ Association of BC. Photo courtesy PIFPS.PIFPS Board would also like to extend their warmest congratulations to Captain Todd Bulled on being honoured with the 2025 Public Educator of the Year Award. Presented by the Fire Prevention Officers’ Association of BC, this award recognizes outstanding achievement and dedication in the area of Public Fire & Life Safety Education.
This acknowledgement speaks volumes about his exceptional dedication, innovative social media campaigns, and the profound difference he has made in the lives of our community and our firefighters. Thank you, Captain Bulled for your inspired creativity, humour, and hard work!
Pender Island Fire Rescue
Hello, Pender Islands. As of today, May 17, PIFR crews have responded to 105 emergency calls this year.
May saw above‑seasonal warm weather, and the Province of B.C. shut down all outdoor burning. The following week, it rescinded the campfire ban, so as of writing, campfires are still permitted with a permit. However, this can change at any time, as we use the wildfire threat ratings provided by Parks Canada — and we are fortunate to now have a weather station here on Pender to support this rating.
A reminder that a campfire is 1.5 feet by 1.5 feet. Burn barrels, incinerators and backyard burns remain banned until Oct. 31, or until the province lifts the restrictions. Be sure to visit our website, penderfire.org, for the most current burning restrictions before you light your campfire.
Pender Fire is partnering with Call2Recycle, Canada’s leading battery collection and recycling organization, to raise awareness about battery safety through its national initiative, Protect What Matters. Be Battery Safe. This collaboration aims to prevent battery‑related fires and protect people, property and the environment by promoting safe, responsible battery‑handling and recycling practices.
Lithium‑ion rechargeable batteries power a wide range of everyday devices — from laptops and power tools to toys and e‑mobility devices, including e‑bikes, scooters and hoverboards. While they bring incredible benefits, they are causing more fires across Canada, endangering lives, communities and the environment.
We’re seeing a concerning rise in lithium‑ion battery fires across the country, which pose a significant threat to our community and our firefighters. We urge community members to take the time to adopt safe battery practices and recycle their used batteries through the Recycle Your Batteries, Canada! program to protect themselves and our community.
When batteries reach the end of their life, recycling is critical to keeping our communities safe, addressing climate change and building a strong circular economy. By responsibly recycling batteries, hazardous materials are kept out of the garbage and Canadian landfills. Recycling also enables the recovery and reuse of valuable resources, which can be used to manufacture new products, such as stainless steel or even new batteries.
Pender Fire urges residents to collect, protect and drop off to “Be Battery Safe.”
Never throw away batteries in the garbage or blue bins.
• Collect batteries in non‑metal containers and store them safely.
• Protect batteries by covering exposed terminals with tape or bagging them before storing or dropping them off for recycling.
• Drop off batteries for recycling at the Pender Island Recycling Depot (Tues., Thurs., Fri., Sat., 10 a.m.–3 p.m.) or find a location near you at recycleyourbatteries.ca.
Remember to test your smoke alarms monthly, as they do save lives.
Pender Island Emergency Program
Earthquakes Happen!
The Pender Island Emergency Program invites you to attend a free public forum on our risk of a major earthquake, at the Community Hall on June 3rd starting at 7 pm.
The Southern Gulf Islands, lying within Canada’s most seismically active zone, are at high risk for a major earthquake. Experts estimate a roughly 30% chance of a highly damaging earthquake occurring in this region within the next 50 years, driven by three main tectonic threats including the Cascadia Subduction Zone which is located just off the west coast of Vancouver Island. This fault line is capable of producing a megathrust earthquake up to magnitude 9.0.
Learn more about the risk of a major earthquake from Dr. David Lumley, Professor of Sustainable Earth Systems Sciences. He’ll share the most recent science for the Cascadia Subduction Zone, its potential to generate a massive earthquake and what that means for our islands.
You’ll hear from CRD Protective Services on their Response and Recovery planning efforts, and Pender Island Fire Rescue will provide an overview of their “on the ground” efforts, including rapid damage assessments, fire suppression, medical response, search & rescue, and hazmat control. Then hear what you can do to help mitigate damage to your home, what steps to take when you feel an earthquake, plus tips on preparing to be on your own for up to two weeks.
Remember, earthquakes can happen at any time and can’t be predicted. Take action – learn more by attending the free EARTHQUAKES HAPPEN Public Forum. We’ll see you there.
SGI Community Resource Centre
Housing NOW Expanding Across SGI
Housing affordability and availability continue to place increasing pressure on rural and island communities across British Columbia, including throughout the Southern Gulf Islands.
Limited rental inventory, rising costs, workforce shortages, and changing demographics continue to impact workers, seniors, families, and young adults trying to remain in the communities they call home.
Housing NOW continues to work with local organizations, employers, service providers, and residents to explore practical, community-based housing solutions across the region, including homesharing opportunities, housing navigation supports, and partnership development.
This summer, the program will begin building a new Community Referral Network designed to strengthen connections between community organizations and create clearer pathways for housing support, referrals, and shared resources.
New website content launching in June will also provide improved access to:
Housing resources and supports
- Homeshare information
- Referral pathways
- Community partner information
- Upcoming engagement opportunities
Community engagement sessions, outreach events, and presentations are also planned across multiple islands in the coming months as Housing NOW continues gathering local feedback and exploring collaborative solutions to the region’s housing challenges.
Housing NOW is also encouraging residents to consider whether they may have a room, suite, cabin, or secondary space that could support a seasonal worker, student, or community member in need of housing. One open door can change a life while also helping strengthen local businesses, services, and the long-term resilience of island communities.
Organizers say sustainable housing solutions must be rooted in community relationships, local knowledge, and regional cooperation. More information and upcoming event announcements will be shared through Housing NOW social media and partner networks throughout the summer.
Dining in the Dark Expands
The supplemental Dining in the Dark booklet is officially off to the printers, and organizers are excited to launch the next phase of this growing community project.
Residents can watch for the Dining in the Dark team this summer at the Pender Island Saturday Farmers’ Market, where new bundle packs will be available featuring:
● The original recipe book
● The new supplemental preparedness booklet
● A custom-designed tea towel
The project continues to blend emergency preparedness with community connection, practical skills, and a little creativity – all tailored to Gulf Island living.
Planning is also underway for Cooking Without Power events this September and October across several islands. The events will feature a local chef and local coffee master leading participants through practical and enjoyable approaches to preparing food and coffee during power outages, along with special guests, demonstrations, door prizes, and community conversations around resilience and preparedness.
Organizers encourage residents to watch social media channels for confirmed dates and locations in the coming months.
Food Resilience Alliance Looks Ahead
After months of exploration and outreach, the Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) has decided not to move forward with the proposed Mobile Abattoir Pilot at this time due to insufficient community participation levels needed to support the project long term.
While disappointing, organizers say the process highlighted an even larger conversation that needs to happen across the Southern Gulf Islands around agricultural sustainability, food resilience, and rural economic development.
In response, FRA will now begin developing a regional producer engagement survey aimed at gathering feedback from farmers, growers, processors, and producers of all types and scales across the islands. The survey will focus on identifying:
● Current barriers facing producers
● Infrastructure and service gaps
● Opportunities for collaboration and diversification
● Regional food security priorities
● Economic development supports needed for long-term sustainability
Organizers say the goal is to better understand what systems, programs, and partnerships are truly needed to strengthen local food production and support island agriculture moving forward.
FRA encourages producers throughout the region to participate once the survey is released later this year. More information will be shared through partner organizations and social media channels.
Sustainable Funding Initiative
Interested in grant writing? Whether you’re an experienced writer or just starting out, the Sustainable Funding Initiative’s Grant Writers’ Hub could be a great fit for you. This growing network connects writers with opportunities to support local projects and organizations.
If you’d like to join the list or are a nonprofit or community group in need of a grant writer, reach out to our Grant Hub Coordinator at islandsupport@sgicrc.ca today.
Summer Job Opportunities
The Community Resource Centre is hiring. We have two positions available for this summer. We are looking for a Pender Island Ambassador working along the Pender Island Chamber supporting local business and tourist information; and a Community Development Associate to work in food security and local food systems support. For more information please see the website sgicommunityresources.ca/jobs.
Summer in the Southern Gulf Islands is a time to slow down, explore the unique charm of each island, and enjoy everything our local communities have to offer. Whether you’re visiting the island next door, shopping at local markets, or taking in the waterfront views, every visit helps support the people, businesses, artists, and farmers that make our islands so special.
SGI Neighbourhood House
Southern Gulf Islands Community Justice Program
The Southern Gulf Islands Community Justice Program is committed to promoting circle conversations as an effective way to have productive conversations about challenging topics.
Over the last year, we hosted community circle conversations about mending frayed relationships and growing relationships across differences. We’ve had conversations about the impact of social media and distance communications on maintaining healthy relationships and how to grow resilience and stay sane in a world that sometimes feels crazy.
As we continue with our regular monthly Zoom circles, we will be hosting more conversations around our relationship with nature and our connection to the larger living systems we are a part of.
If you are interested in learning more about the SGI CJP and circle conversations, email us at CJP@SGINH.ca to join us for our regularly monthly Zoom circles (the third Wednesday of the month at 7 pm) or explore how a facilitated circle conversation might help you, your organization or project.
55+ Seniors Program
Computer Savvy Seniors: If you’re 55 or older and experiencing any kind of computer, phone, or technology-related issues, we offer a free service where a tech expert can come to your home and help troubleshoot. Please call our office at 250-629-3665 to book an appointment.
Summer Job Opportunity
The Neighbourhood House is hiring. We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator, and a Multigenerational Youth and Senior Coordinator. For more information and to apply, please see the website sgicommunityresources.ca/jobs
The Southern Gulf Islands Neighbourhood House supports a wide range of programs and services across the islands, including seniors programming, food security initiatives, youth and family supports, community wellness projects, and volunteer-driven community initiatives. As a registered charity, community donations help us continue and expand this important work, and charitable tax receipts are provided for all eligible donations. To learn more or make a donation, please visit sginh.ca/donate-now.
Recreation and Leisure
Pender Island Golf Club
Junior Golf Program photos courtesy of Dana McConchie.
Golf Course is in Great Shape and the Restaurant is Now Open
Our staff and volunteers have worked hard this spring on the course and their efforts are showing. The pro shop is stocked with a wonderful array of clothing and all the little bits you might need to make for a great day out on the course. We encourage you to come out and play.
The restaurant is now open from Wednesday through Sunday and holiday Mondays for the golf season from 10 am to 6 pm. Ross Danford has named his food service Pendogs at the Course and has a starting menu of gourmet organic smoked beef and vegetarian hotdogs with all the fixings, plus chips, protein bars, fruit, coffee, tea and pastries. Our patio is a great place to relax, enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine and simply take in the beauty of the view overlooking the course.
Junior Golf in Full Swing!
Thanks to the guidance of our volunteer member coaches we’ve been able to offer a 10-week program learning the basics of golf to over 20 youngsters. Our sessions run from 4 to 6 pm every Monday in May and June.
Many thanks to the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PIPRC) for their grant which helped enable us to add more appropriately sized clubs for our rapidly growing young golfers.
Ladies Introduction to Golf
In conjunction with the Pender Island Community Support program, a group of our lady members are offering three sessions in June to introduce ladies to the game of golf. We are amateur golfers who want to share our love of the game. The sessions will take place on Sunday from 4 to 5:30 pm on June 7, 14 and 21.
The fee is a total of $60 which includes ladies club rentals from the golf club. We will be using the practice green area, starting with the basics of putting and chipping, working up to a full swing and learning how to play. Pre-registration is required by contacting Marcella Reay in the Community Support office. marcella.reay@penderislandhealth.org or call 250-629-3346.
Special Membership Promotion
Due to the success of our Spring promotion, we are extending it until June 30! New members signing up can opt to receive a $250 discount for immediate payment of the Initiation fee ($1,250 instead of $1,500) or pay the fees over up to 36 months.
2026 Annual Dues for new members will be $850 (regularly $1,036).
For more details, please email membership@penderislandgolf.ca or pigolf@shaw.ca. You can also call the golf shop at 250 629 6659 and our wonderful staff will be happy to help you.
Why become a member? There are lots of advantages in being a regular member, with flexible golf booking times and merchandise discounts to name a few. Full details are available by contacting our pro shop. There is also lots of valuable information on our webpage – penderislandgolf.ca .
In Memoriam
It is with sadness that we acknowledge the recent passing of former long-time members of our club: Doug Patterson, Monti Maxwell, Wayne Wright and Dianne McAuley who contributed a lot to the success of our club during their time with us and they remain an important part of our club’s history.
Pender Island Otters Swim Club
Patti Babcock swimming (and posing) with the Iceberg race team in 2011. Photos courtesy of Helen Lemon-Moore.We are now a month into our summer season, and have a good number of swimmers still joining us.
Our first meet of the summer was on the May 30-31 weekend, but as that has not happened yet as I write, I will just say we hope to have a few swimmers out to that meet, and maybe take part in the “Arctic Dash Relay”.
This sounds a bit different than the one they used to do, which was the Iceberg relay. In that one, a team of four swimmers would have to get a styrofoam “iceberg” from one end of the pool to the other, and trade off without using hands. No hands to hold it while swimming either!
It was really fun to attempt to do, and Coach Laara did something similar with us on our Fun Swim Meet day back in March where we had to move a ball down the lane and pass it between two swimmers — and that is harder than you think, wherein you can’t use your hands either.
Just to bring back a few memories, and partly as I haven’t got new photos yet, I will share a fond memory of Patti Babcock swimming with our Iceberg race team back exactly 15 years ago at the Duncan meet with the iceberg in her mouth. One with her swimming it, and the other with the team of little girls who are now all young women.
Now looking forward, we have more meets this summer to look forward to: Oak Bay Orcas meet on June 20 and 21 at Commonwealth Pool, Victoria, and the Nanaimo White Rapids meet on June 26-28 at the Bowen Park Pool in Nanaimo. So more chances also into July and August, but I will report on them next month.
Anyone interested can still join us for the summer, and please feel free to contact us for more information about our programs for the summer.
Pender Island Pirates Baseball
Those who attended the Pender Pirates home opening game at Danny Martin Park in late April were treated to the commemoration of two of Pender’s most dedicated volunteers. Coaches Danny Martin and Kevin Marsden have dedicated 60 and 30 years respectively to training and mentoring youth baseball players in our community.
The Pirates, which play in BC’s Peninsula Baseball and Softball Association, received a letter from the Toronto Blue Jays, thanking the two coaches for their dedication to the game of baseball. They presented the letter to Danny – the ball diamond’s namesake – at their April 25 game.
“I think I have more fun than (the kids),” he told the crowd. “And I am just so grateful they let me come and play with them, that’s the way I look at it. So let’s get back to the ball game.”
Pender Pacers
New Race a Treat for Island Runners
I still remember the first time I heard of the Pender Pacers — we were living in Edmonton and visiting friends on Pender. While I munched on breakfast, I flipped through The Pender Post and stumbled upon a photo and brief blurb about the Pacers. I remember thinking, “Seriously, these folks run 10 kilometres on a Sunday morning like it’s nothing? That’s crazy!”
Fast forward about five years and we found ourselves preparing to move to Pender at the height of the pandemic. In the intervening years in Edmonton, we connected with a free fitness group that became one of our most beloved communities – wonderful humans encouraging and inspiring us toward movement, health and meaningful connection. Two‑kilometre (mostly walking) runs somehow morphed into five‑kilometre (half walking) runs that eventually became 10‑kilometre (actual) runs.
I even got tricked into running a half‑marathon distance one Sunday morning (that’s a story for another time). Sunday morning runs became part of our weekly routine and, during the pandemic, an essential component of maintaining our sanity.
I truly can’t overstate how critical running became to my mental health during the pandemic – it was one of the few activities I could do with other humans that provided the connection, movement and fresh air I needed to make sense of life as a health‑care provider, mom and self‑professed extrovert.
We were thrilled to discover the Pender Pacers were still gathering Sunday mornings once we moved to Pender. We were even more thrilled to discover they were just as welcoming and inclusive as our Edmonton run crew. It’s neat to look back on our interprovincial move and realize that one Sunday we were running in the Edmonton river valley and the next we were chasing Herb Katz up and down the hills of Canal Road.
Through the Pender Pacers, Jorgen and I completed our second, third and fourth half‑marathons; enjoyed too many delicious Slow Coast lattes to count; and found our fellow swim buddies on island.
Fast forward another five years and we find ourselves preparing for the inaugural Pender Pursuit 5/10K trail race and 2K Walk for Wellness, happening June 20, 2026.
Start time for the 2K walk/roll/stroll is 8:30 a.m. at Danny Martin Park, and start time for the 5K and 10K races is 10:30 a.m. at Pender Islands Elementary and Secondary School. Walking to the 2K start line is encouraged for Magic Lake residents, and carpooling is encouraged for the 5K and 10K races as parking is limited at the baseball diamond and the school.
We hope to keep updating the Pender Islands Foundation website with more information about the race, so keep checking pifoundation.ca for updates. (That’s also where you can find the link to register for the various walk/run distances.)
And we’ve started training runs on Tuesday nights. Meet at Danny Martin Park at 7 pm to check out the 5K and 10K routes, connect with other runners on island and get those legs hill‑ready. The training runs are open to everyone – you don’t need to be registered for the race to attend (but we’ll certainly try to convince you to register if we find out you aren’t yet, LOL).
If you had told this prairie‑born‑and‑raised girl 10 years ago that someday I would be a gasp runner living on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean, designing and directing a fundraising trail race, I would never have believed you — but here I am.
So the real question is: what is stopping you from registering for the Pender Pursuit. You never know what adventures, friendships and new beginnings such a simple decision might lead to down the road (or trail, as it were).
We hope to see you soon on the trails – moving and connecting within our beautiful little community.
Let’s Go Walking Group
Interested in getting together with others to explore the roads, trails, beaches, and viewpoints of Pender? Do you have company coming and want to take them on a hike, but are not sure of the best places to take them?
Well, you may be interested in joining the Let’s Go Walking Group. We meet every Monday and Friday at 9:30 am at a place we’ve agreed on during our previous walk. Typical walks are one-and-a-half to two hours.
On occasion we will go off-island, an example being an early ferry to Mayne with a walk to the lighthouse, or to their beautiful Japanese Gardens. Because we do not have a fixed meeting place, if you are interested in joining us please contact Carol at 250-629-9959 or cjd4@shaw.ca, to get on our e-mail list. Thereafter, you’ll receive notices on Thursdays and Sundays as to where we are walking and our meeting place the following day. Lace up those shoes and come walk with us!
Keep reading for some of the history, comments, and memories of the early beginnings of the group.
From Louise Baird: The Walking Group was founded in 1994 by Louise Baird, Muriel Kenyon, and Phyllis Jones. Louise remembers trips to Galiano Island, and Salt Spring Island on a water taxi. She recalls 30-35 walkers turning out for walks. Coffee at Florence and Dave Davidson’s house at Roesland – now the National Parks building. Florence and Dave ran the Roesland Resort until 1991 and continued to live there for a while after that.
From Isabel Hansen: Gordon and I moved to the island in 1993 and joined right away in order to meet people. I clearly remember our first walk down to Beaumont Park on a beautiful morning, and I really thought I had found paradise.
We used to meet at the school until we moved to St. Peter’s Church and decided where we would walk that morning. People then didn’t seem so busy, and we always took a snack and had a break and a mid-walk visit.
When Tex and Cathy walked with us, Cathy helped us with a bit of Tai Chi! Initially we walked only once a week, then added a second. We were very social. There were arranged pot luck events, a big one at the yacht club and several at peoples’ homes. A swimming party at the Emmings’ and off island trips to all the other Gulf Islands.
Even further afield were three trips to the U.K. with two to Yorkshire and one to Cornwall which Gordon and I enjoyed. Phil Newell looked after all the details on those trips. The fondest memories are of the people – Geoff and Molly, Muriel and Tom, who can forget dear Laine, Phoebe, Charlie, Keith, Haldor and Therese, Anne and Murray, Sylvia, Diet, and Lenora (of the coffee/lunches), still alive at 100.
Of course there were many others. Happy days!
CanBoat
We held our final AGM on Wednesday, May 1 to approve the prior month’s Board meeting minutes, reconfirm the merger, and approve our audited financial statements. This is our last major action in the merger process and the transfer of CanBoat-identified equipment. Alas, our Pender Bridge team will soon disband and doubtlessly assume other roles on Pender or elsewhere.
A huge level of appreciation is directed to David Kirsop as our Commodore, Helen Lemon-Moore for her ever faithful and timely minutes, Dr. Gerry Moore for his background support, Marty Swan for faultless financial numbers, and Phil Ireland for the consistent membership tally and follow-ups. It has been a delight working with each and every one of you! To both Kori and Roy – my thanks for coming to our AGM meeting and providing valuable insights, and – most importantly – our tolerant spouses (Kathy, Christine, Sheila and Faye) whose forbearance we have appreciated.
For the past few months, we have been primarily focused on the merger process and ensuring our Pender School Grade 9 students’ water safety program’s continuance. Both items have received much-appreciated support from Gail Silvestrini – Oak Bay’s Finance Officer – as well as George Silvestrini, our District Commander.
Given Oak Bay’s dedicated training staff and the squadron’s familiarity with the Southern Gulf Islands, they are the right squadron to guide our future direction. Drop by Port Browning Marina for their annual Labour Day rendezvous to introduce yourselves!
On behalf of the Pender Squadron, a huge thank-you to our 33 current members. In a testament to “Island Living”, we have members in every one of the Gulf Islands. We may not have met, but we all share the same concern for boating safety and responsible piloting in our fragile waters.
Stay safe and happy waters in 2026.
Pender Island Junior Sailing Association
Since our last publication in the May 2026 Pender Post, we’ve made an amendment to our 2026 summer courses schedule.
CanSail Levels 1 and 2, CanSail 3 and 4 and/or FunSail will be offered for each of the following weeks:
- July 20 – 24
- July 27 – 31
- August 3 – 7
- August 10 – 14
- August 17 – 21
CanSail Levels 1 and 2 students must be nine years old to adult and they will be sailing in Pirate boats with three students in each boat or two adults in one boat.
CanSail Levels 3 and 4 students must be 12 years old to adult. The students will be sailing on Lasers and Bytes.
It is not unusual for a student to fully complete all the components of a CanSail level in one or more weeks. There is no Pass or Fail in a course – the requirements are to be able to complete all the sailing components within that sailing level before being able to advance/move to the next level. Adults do take all the courses but should be aware that sailing small dinghies requires some physical flexibility.
All students must be able to swim with the aid of a PFD (personal flotation device/life jacket), which is provided if they do not have their own. Students in the Level 1 and 2 course must participate in a capsizing exercise on day two in order to continue in the course.
As in previous years, registration for the courses began at 8 am on May 1, 2026 for returning students and other household members, and on May 15 for new students. Registration is an online process required by BCSail accessed through our website: penderislandjuniorsailing.com. The cost of each course is $250. Payment is made through the registration site. Enquiries should be sent to infopijsa@shaw.ca or hermanfma@shaw.ca.
We are able to offer courses at a reasonable cost due to ongoing support from the Tru Value Spirit Board, CRD Parks and Recreation, Pender Island Yacht Club, Pender Island Legion, Browning Harbour Pub and Marina (Mill Bay Marine Group), Pender Island Golf, and other organizations from time to time.
As this is an Island Community Non-Profit Association, we always welcome volunteers to come and join/assist us with students on the beach each lesson week or with the Friday lunchtime BBQs.
You will have fun! If you are a parent/relative/friend of a sailing student(s) and would be interested in volunteering, please reach out and let us know – you would be extremely welcomed and you would really enjoy being there. If you are “other than a parent/relative/friend” but are a boater, interested in sailing, islander or just enjoy watching and would like to join us on the beach, you would also be heartily welcomed – please just send us an email to let us know!
We welcome all and you would be quite surprised how much enjoyment you will experience just by being there.
Happening On Pender
Weather Observations for April
| Magic Lake Weather Station – April 2026 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Avg. Daily Temperature (°C) | Extreme Temperature | |||
| Max | Min | Mean | High | Low | |
| Magic Lake | 15.6 | 5.3 | 10.5 | 25.0 on 27th | 1.0 on 15th, 16th |
| Normal | 15.5 | 5.6 | 10.5 | 27.5 in 2016 | -1.0 in 2002 |
| Location | Rain (mm) | Snow (cm) | Total Precip (mm) | ||
| Magic Lake | 16.4 | 0.0 | 16.4 | ||
| Normal | 49.0 | 0.0 | 49.0 | ||
We have survived winter and are now well into spring. The grass is growing like crazy and needs cutting every week (but doesn’t always get it). Most trees are sprouting green leaves, and the fruit trees are in blossom. Most of our birds should have returned from their winter holidays in the tropics, but the numbers of swallows are down – or they’re very late. It’s a busy time in the garden. The chances of snow are very slim in April, and I’ve only recorded April snow on two occasions on Pender in 38 years.
Temperatures in April 2026 were right on average, but precipitation was very light. In fact, rain was the third‑smallest amount for April in 38 years. The garden is doing pretty well, but it could use a little more rain.
You’ll be reading this in June, the month of the summer solstice, when the sun is as far north as it comes. It’s fire season, and there’s a ban on all outdoor burning. We must all take great care to avoid starting any outdoor fires. It’s not our driest month, but it’s summer, so we can’t expect much heavy rain.
Numbers Puzzle
Comments on puzzle MCA #67
This puzzle has 27 numbers. To solve it, you must add a number from 1 to 9 in each of the 54 remaining small empty squares. There must not be more than one number from 1 to 9 in any row, vertical column or group of nine small squares. I found this puzzle started off easy and then became moderately difficult. There is more than one correct solution. Let me know how you get on with it.