From Our President
This was going to be a message about beginnings. About fresh starts and exciting paths forward. It still will be, but I must admit that the month of February took its toll.
The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge – a community of comparable size and scope to the one I recently joined here – made it hard to embrace the coming spring.
Shortly after that, I experienced a rather inauspicious milestone that, I suppose, any new resident must experience some day. That is the loss of a community member with whom one shared a bond.
I sat down with Doreen Ball many months ago, for a little more than an hour, before she moved to Vancouver Island to spend the final chapter of her fascinating life closer to her children.
She had been preparing for the move, clearing out her home – once best known as Hummingbird Hollow B&B – and had a stack of Pender Post Society documents, and some old issues of The Pender Post remaining from her days as editor.
I’d just been named editor myself, and she reached out to ask if I’d like them. I went over immediately and stayed longer than I anticipated. We talked about me being new to Pender Island and the juxtaposition of her leaving the place she’d called home. We talked about The Post; about the place it had in the fabric of this community. We talked about my life and her experiences with the path onto which I’d wandered.
In hindsight, I left her home with more than a stack of outdated documents and a library of old issues she couldn’t bear to recycle. I left with a connection to a legacy I had barely understood, and an appreciation that I wasn’t alone, even if she was leaving.
We traded emails frequently after that. She would reach out to lend an ear or share a supportive word. She’d remark on articles I wrote, or changes I was making.
She helped me realize that the community newsletter that had lived for 50 years before I joined the fray wasn’t a static thing. It was always evolving. It was ok to change things if they were no longer working, to trust my experience and follow my passions.
In this issue, you’ll notice some changes. We’ve rejigged our events calendar and expanded the weekly listings into a reference guide. So far, the changes have both been lauded and described as a “dog’s breakfast”. Don’t be shy; tell us what you think.
It was Doreen’s idea to write about her time running the Hummingbird Hollow B&B. I wish I could say I improved them in some way, but every submission was sent to me ready to print. She recently sent me most of the remainder of the series, for publication in the future.
Including the conclusion to the series – a recap of her final year operating her B&B.
I haven’t read it yet. I think I’ll save it for the day it is to be published. I don’t expect it will need much editing, anyway.
Cover Story
This moment of green peace along the Schooner Way Trail was taken on a wet day in late February, as I walked home after dropping my children off at the Pender Islands School. This gnarly, knotted, moss-covered tree (mid-ground right) has become a favourite landmark of mine since the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission brought the trail to life. And I’m not alone. Countless Penderites have shared similar photos with me, and on social media.
Special Notices
Annual South Pender Easter Art Walk Tradition Continues
Have you ever wondered how the Easter art walk came about? Did people actually walk to it?
I contacted Susan Taylor, one of the founding members of this event. Here’s a brief history she provided:
“South Pender’s Easter Art Walk was founded in 2000 by Susan Taylor and Frank Ducote of Blood Star Gallery to bring recognition to the growing creative community on South Pender and support to the island’s individual working artists.
The initial participants with Taylor and Ducote were Joy McAughtrie, Isabel Roberts, Vern Simpson, and Wendy Munroe. Now in its 27th year, the Art Walk showcases the works of more than a dozen island artists and artisans working in wood, glass, jewelry, analog and digital drawing, and painting.
It’s heartwarming to now be welcoming the children and grandchildren of visitors who have made the Easter Sunday Art Walk an annual family tradition for the past quarter century.”
Originally it was called a “Walk” because the participants lived close to each other on Gowlland Point Road. However, as the number of artists increased, so did the distance. But the term “Walk” sounds way more romantic than “Drive” so we didn’t change our event’s title.
While you are welcome to walk it this year, once you see the map and participating artists in the April Pender Post edition, you might reconsider your mode of transport.
Easter Sunday (April 5), 12 to 4 pm, everyone welcome!
Otter Bay Terminal Closure Rescheduled Until Fall
There have been important changes to the plans regarding the Otter Bay terminal life extension project that is currently underway on Pender Island. BC Ferries recently received a Notice of Delay from the contractor for the project affecting the planned berth closure from March 6-10, 2026. Given the timing and circumstances of the notice, the previously scheduled berth closure in March will be delayed until fall 2026.
We are working with the contractor to reschedule the five-day berth closure to allow more time for necessary construction, which includes off-site fabrication.
Preliminary discussions indicate the rescheduled closure may take place in fall 2026 to avoid peak travel season, provide time for further community engagement, and mitigate disruption on the route as much as possible.
Safety is our top priority, and we want to ensure the work can be completed safely and during a single closure period. In the meantime, we are proceeding with ongoing upgrades to the berth, which will not interrupt ferry service or schedules, and the berth remains safe to operate.
Find all project updates at https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/ob.
Invitation to Service for Dave Auchterlonie
The Auchterlonie family invites you to a church service for our patriarch, David Lawrence Auchterlonie, with tea to follow. Church service to commence at 1 pm on March 21, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, 4703 Canal Road. Tea and refreshments will be served in the church hall from 2 to 4 pm. We will have an open mic; we’d love others to share their stories of Dave.
Waitlist for G’Old Network’s ‘Plan B Workshop’
While the G’Old Network’s Plan B Workshop this month is currently at capacity, organizers encourage anyone interested to reach out and add their name to the waitlist.
The Plan B Workshop – which has been rescheduled from an earlier date – will be held on March 11 from 9 am to 2 pm, at the Anglican Church Hall. The workshop is designed to provide guidance for residents who may not be able to bank on their “Plan A” of living out their days on Pender Island.
Presentations include preparing your home for an unforeseen move, navigating the emotional challenge of moving later in life, and discussion with those who have experienced such a transition.
Those who are interested in attending can add their name to be contacted in the event space becomes available by emailing support@goldnetworkonpender.ca.
Monthly Death Cafe Moves to Anglican Church
We are hosting our third Death Cafe at the Anglican Hall on March 15, 2026 at 3 pm. Everyone is welcome. This is a safe space for a respectful discussion of all things related to death and dying.
Our first cafe was held at Slow Coast Cafe which was generously donated to us by Ally and Rob. With 27 people attending to share their thoughts, we realized a larger venue was necessary. Our second cafe was at the Community Hall. We happily welcomed 40 people, forming three groups to discuss all things relating to death and dying whether current or in the past. Guidelines are offered to hold space for one another’s experiences.
There is no expectation to share. Being present is enough.
Topics such as fear of death and love of life, living with a terminal diagnosis, living with grief and loss were expressed. People appreciated a space to share, albeit this venue didn’t offer the privacy and spatial needs, therefore we are pleased that we will meet at the Anglican Church in the future.
In Appreciation
Tim Frick and the Pender Nine at BC Winter Games
The Pender Islands School community would like to extend a huge thank-you to our local community superstar Tim Frick! Tim has given our kids his time and shared his talents with our children for many years.
Basketball and wheelchair basketball has been offered to every child that has attended our school. Every child has had the opportunity to learn the many benefits that basketball has offered. Tim, we are forever grateful for everything you do for this school. It is people like you that make the long school day easier and a more enriched experience.
Tim does so much more than offer his time to the school, and this is one of his many generous community investments. We are highlighting this effort as we plan for him to take nine of our students to the BC Winter Games held in Trail at the end of February.
Thank you, Tim, for all your support. Your efforts are appreciated.
Features
The Stories That Brought You Here: Chris Wakaluk
This gorgeous map of Pender Island was created by the amazing Shon Tam. He is one of many people who have helped me, courtesy of Chris Wakaluk
When I began my podcast in 2018, one question I always made sure to ask was, “Who on Pender has helped you along the way?”
I wanted to give guests the opportunity to highlight one or two people from the island who have really supported them. I didn’t know what I would discover from this simple question, but I knew it was important to ask. As the episodes rolled on, what guests told me about the ways they had been helped by others, truly amazed me.
A one-day outdoor festival created to support a family struggling with an ill child, offers of employment in times of need, support while struggling with addiction issues, being welcomed into a circle of older women sharing their wisdom, help building a first home, a neighbour rushing over to cut down a dangerous tree leaning over a house, an older couple taking on the role of surrogate grandparents to the daughter of a young working couple. Help with working on a boat, a car, a garden…and on, and on.
The answers were inspiring and plenty. I loved hearing them. Eventually though, I made a conscious choice to stop asking this question. The feedback I received from guests was they were worried if they singled out one or two individuals, they would definitely be leaving out so many others. To be clear, almost every guest had so much help from the island…that there were too many people to mention!
I did not know this level of care existed in our community, until I took the time to ask. Surely, I know it now. So, this is one of the many things I have learned from my friends. The reality of where we live is – an unbelievable amount of care exists on this island.
If you ever doubt this, try asking someone, “who has helped you along the way on Pender?” I don’t know what you will hear exactly, but what I do know, you will hear something special and heartwarming. I also know, the next time you see that person in the community, you will see them differently.
It has been my great pleasure to have received these stories and I wanted to reflect this obvious, but hidden truth of our island back to you.
This island, and the people who call it home, we hold each other up.
This is where we live. This is Pender Island.
With over 75 different interviews from Pender Island locals – you can listen to ‘The Stories That Brought You Here’ wherever podcasts are found.
https://thestoriesthatbroughtyouhere.podbean.com
Newscomers’ Notes: An Island Glossary
After moving to Pender, chatting with people and reading various materials, I found myself more than a little puzzled by some of the nicknames commonly used to refer to places.
Here is a glossary, for those of you who are very new here, or those still confounded by the local vocabulary:
- The Big Island refers to Vancouver Island.
- The Big City is typically used for Vancouver or the Lower Mainland.
- To go into town usually means going to Victoria, but can also mean Vancouver. (I know — sorry, not my fault!)
- The Gulf islands are typically the Southern Gulf Islands, but could include others like Gabriola, from the Northern Gulf Islands.
- The SGI means the Southern Gulf Islands.
- The Twin Islands refers to the North and South Pender islands.
- Trinco is short for Trincomali, a neighbourhood southeast of Magic Lake.
- Port Wash, short for Port Washington, is an area of North Pender, northwest of the Community Hall.
- The market would usually mean the Saturday Market at the Community Hall. (Not to be confused with the Facebook group, Online Market!)
- This one, not a place, is also good to know: the Cumby is the Queen of Cumberland, one of the ferries that services Pender. It’s older and smaller than the newer Salish class ferries like the Salish Raven, and some might say a little less… reliable.
Then there’s also the matter of referring to Pender Island or to Pender Islands, which may be a controversial topic; my goal here is not to aggravate, but to inform. Some folks and organizations use the plural to highlight the fact that a former isthmus was made into a canal decades ago, thus separating North and South Pender into two islands, joined by a bridge.
Pluralizing can highlight their two distinct identities as well. So, for now, I am leaving you with this information in an effort to ease your potential confusion. Both are used interchangeably in the local lingo, but don’t necessarily have the exact same meaning. A little something to reflect on.
Do you have any fun facts for Pender newcomers you would like to share with us? Email community@penderpost.org so we can write about it!
Hummingbird Hollow B&B
Tales of a Charmed Life (1996-1998): Pender Raises the Hall
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.
Editor’s Note: The Pender Post Society learned late last month of the passing of Doreen Ball, a former editor and long-time volunteer with The Pender Post. Doreen remained part of our team to the end, providing a nearly-complete chronology of her time operating Hummingbird Hollow for publication.
This is the sixth installment of Doreen’s “Tales of a Charmed Life” series.
I have no guest stories to tell from 1996 and 1997 as my notes have disappeared into the mists of time. Nineteen-ninety-eight was the year Hummingbird Hollow hooked up with the internet and the Kirkby boys kindly created our website. That changed things for us immediately.
In 1998, we had guests from Japan, Southampton, UK, and even Gjoa Haven, NWT (now Nunavut). There was an emergency ward doctor, a writer, a CBC producer, several disc golfers from Whitehorse, youth workers, cancer clinic technicians, nurses, teachers and others from interesting walks of life.
One young woman spent a hectic afternoon and evening driving around the islands hanging bug traps in trees. A young man from Seattle asked a lot of specific questions over the phone and then, upon a late afternoon arrival, insisted that he and his girlfriend take off and ride their bicycles down to Bedwell Resort on South Pender, where he planned to ask her to marry him. Cupid obliged, he got the girl, and, luckily, someone offered the newly engaged couple and their bicycles a ride home, because it was pitch dark when the couple was ready to leave.
In November, the B&B clientele changed from vacationers and love birds to the working crowd. With drywallers from Abbotsford, kitchen cabinet installers from Langley, and carpet cleaners from Vancouver, the breakfast quiches, crepes, pancakes, and waffles gave way to a heartier (greasier) fare of eggs, hash browns, bacon and toast.
That year we enjoyed hosting some of the musicians who came to Pender as part of the Gulf Islands Concert Series, among them Viveza, a Palm Court music group and a trombone quartet. One was the fellow who appeared in the TV commercial sitting in a bookstore playing a trombone.
Elsewhere in the community, islanders were busy with the “Raise a Little Hall” campaign which included a Variety Night, a Grey Cup House Party, a Deck the Hall event, Cast Me Off, and the Christmas Choral Concert. A large group of men were preparing to make 30 doors for the hall from cedar donated by Fred Francke of Delta Cedar Products, and the Pender women embarked on the Bear Mother Project with master carver Victor Reece guiding them.
Chuck and I had some life challenges to navigate in 1998 so we weren’t as involved in the Community Hall activities as we had been with Medicine Beach, but I do remember the day the Hall’s concrete floor was poured. Chuck was one of the thirty people who showed up with wheelbarrows to get the job done in record time.
The huge logs holding up the Hall were donated by Sonny O’Sullivan, Bert Jervis, and Norm Pennock. Many islanders volunteered to strip the bark and smooth the poles. The positive spirit created that year with so many involved in building community was infectious.
Remembering
Douglas Patterson
November 9, 1937 – January 13, 2026
Douglas Patterson has resided on Pender Island with his wife of 59 years, since they moved here in 2000. Doug passed away peacefully on January 13, 2026. He left his wife Dawn, two children, and five grandchildren.
Doug was born in Port Alberni on November 9 1937. After graduating from Mount View Secondary in 1955, Doug moved on to attend Victoria College and UBC. At Victoria College he was on the basketball team which won the Canadian championship in 1958.
Doug’s teaching career started in a one room school house located at Moresby camp for a year followed by a year in Europe and then on to Fort St. John. He then taught at David Thompson and finished his career as a school counsellor at Charles Tupper Secondary school where he also coached basketball and rugby. He retired in 2000.
Once moving to Pender, he joined the Golf Club participating as a regular member making friends and sharing his enthusiasm for golf, its rewards and challenges. He also joined the Lions Club and with his passion for education he was in charge of the Cunliffe Bursaries for those pursuing post secondary education and he linked them up with opportunities to engage in Lions activities such as the Fall Fair. He also manned the hot dog cart with other members at the Community Hall and you would see him in his purple Lions Club vest with all his badges at the Santa Ship and the polar bear swim.
Doug was a warm people loving individual who loved to be where the action is. He loved fishing, and he could be seen walking his dog waving to cars as they passed and chatting with whoever came by. He loved Pender.
Sandra (Sandy) Shreve
1950-2026
A dear friend, well-loved Pender community member, respected artist, poet and all-round extraordinary human being, Sandra (Sandy to most of us) Shreve died on Sunday February 8 at a friend’s house in Saanichton. She was interred in a green burial at the Pender Cemetery on Wednesday, February 18 where she joined her beloved husband, Bill Twaites.
Born in Quebec and raised in New Brunswick, Sandy moved to Vancouver in 1971 where she had a 30-plus year career in administration at the Vancouver Public Library, in several departments at SFU and finally as Communications Manager for the Legal Services Society of BC (now Legal Aid). Her many community contributions to the arts there included founding BC’s Poetry in Transit program.
It was in the late 1970s that I met Sandy when I joined the Vancouver Industrial Writers Union, of which she was an active member. Altogether, Sandy wrote, edited and co-edited five poetry collections, three anthologies, and several chapbooks. Her literary papers are housed in SFU’s Special Collections.
A bio that reflects her early years as a writer can be found at: https://bcbooklook.com/rip-sandy-shreve-1950-2026/
After 40 years in Vancouver, she and Bill moved to Pender Island where she immediately, she said, felt “home.” It was now that Sandy pursued her passion for painting, encouraged by local artist Judith Walker and others.
She went on to exhibit and win accolades for her visual art on Pender and around BC, while continuing with her first love of poetry. Lately she even combined the two. Her volunteer activities on Pender included driving for Meals on Wheels, helping with numerous gallery shows, working with the G’old Network and for five years organizing the Favourite Poems event at the Pender Library.
When Sandy first told me her terminal diagnosis, I wept, but she said sternly, “We’re all going to die. The question is, what do we intend to do in the time we have left?” It’s a question that perfectly shows the stern wisdom and clear vision of our dear friend.
She asked to give her heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Pender Island Medical Clinic and at BC Cancer in Victoria for their exemplary care. Also to the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) service providers who made it possible for her to die on her own terms. In lieu of flowers, donations to any of these organizations would be welcome.
Government
Member of Parliament
Troubling times
I have heard from so many constituents that they were moved, and even inspired, by the sight of all federal leaders together, holding hands at the Tumbler Ridge vigil.
The February 10 horrific shootings of innocents in such a remote and tiny community has broken our hearts. We all spoke to our grief and tried to express sympathy in Parliament in a round of speeches on February 11. Late the next day I heard from the prime minister’s office that all federal party leaders were invited to join the prime minister the next morning, on a government jet, to leave Ottawa and travel to Tumbler Ridge. The Mayor had invited us to a vigil set for Friday evening.
We all said yes. Of course, what else could we say? Whether Conservative Pierre Poilievre, with whom I have the least in common, or Yves Francois Blanchet of the Bloc Quebecois or dear friend Don Davies, interim leader of the NDP, what we all have in common is our basic humanity. We are, also, all parents. And we are Canadians. So we were packed, fairly tightly on a 10-seater plane, with Mark Carney, his wife Diana Fox Carney, and a few of the PM’s staffers for the 5 hour plus flight to Dawson Creek. From there we were moved to a few cars for the hour and a half drive to Tumbler Ridge. Arriving in early afternoon, we had many hours of just being in the town. I have never hugged and cried with so many strangers. We prayed together, and, at the 6 pm vigil, at the request of a First Nations elder, we held hands. By that point we had been joined by the Premier and members of each of the BC opposition parties, by the Governor General, the Rt Hon Mary Simon, and by our BC Lt Governor, the Hon. Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia. My right hand reached out to Diana Fox Carney and at my left, a slightly longer reach to David Eby. Through the dark, surrounded by the community, with candle light flickering, we squeezed hands, leaned into each other, and mourned.
Since that moment so many people have said how pleased they were to see Canada come together. Many constituents have mentioned to me that they could not imagine a similar moment of unity south of our border. Yes, we are in troubled times, but love is what gives us hope. And we need to hold onto that.
Thank you,
Member of the Legislative Assembly
The Future of Old Growth and Forestry
“Talk and Log” old growth, mill closures, drought, wildfires, lack of valued-added products from second-growth forests plus climate change, have shaken the very foundations of the forest sector in our Province.
Key forestry initiatives such as the Old Growth Strategic Review have stalled. Nor is the Province any closer to protecting 30% of the BC landbase by 2030; implementing the biodiversity and ecosystem health framework; the local watershed governance; or a paradigm shift to a sustainable industry that protects workers and communities.
Following the money tells the same story – the Ministry of Forests 2026 budget is $910 million, essentially unchanged from last year. No new money means no new effort to deliver on previous forestry promises.
What we know is that the current system of forest and ecosystem management is incapable of delivering the transformation in the forest sector we so desperately need. The Provincial Forest Advisory Council, an independent body, developed a road map to transform forestry management to a system that delivers stability to the sector that everyone can support. See the report at https://pfac.ca/
The BC government needs to draw on the $5 billion contingency in the 2026 Budget to quickly make the systemic changes recommended by PFAC. These are the development of accurate, trusted information on forests and ecosystems; regionalized land management with First Nations as full partners; independent non-political oversight; and a relentless focus on eliminating dysfunctional elements of programs like BC Timber Sales. This needs to be followed by transformative change to our stumpage and tenure systems.
While this work is underway, we need to use the tools and funding we already have to build consensus amongst all parties on ways to immediately protect the Walbran Valley and Fairy Creek. At my suggestion, Forests Minister Ravi Parmar started this work by establishing a roundtable and holding an initial meeting which included representatives of First Nations, environmental, and forestry organizations.
I have urged the Forests Minister to continue this roundtable so that militarized police enforcement of injunctions and protests are soon a thing of the past. I will continue to press for immediate implementation of the PFAC report, as well as previous commitments including full implementation of the Old Growth Strategic Review; 30/30; the biodiversity and ecosystem health framework; and local watershed governance.
First Nations, rural communities, forest workers, environmental groups, and forest companies – all British Columbians – have an interest in the future of our forests. The answers are in front of us. The question is whether the government has the courage and political will to lead this transformation.
The Arts
Pender Island Art Society
Pender Island Art Society (PIAS) held an art session at the Community Hall on February 5. Bev Peden and Margaret Alpen, two of our talented painters, led us in an engaging skill-building session described as the “magic of colour mixing”.
Knowing how to blend colours lets us create a wide range of colours from a limited palette. They demonstrated how to create a colour chart using two primary or secondary colours and then progressively lighten with white to the desired value. This allows for creating more subtle, nature-inspired palettes. They introduced terms such as chroma (saturation vs. greyness, hue (colour), and value (light and dark). They extolled us to always do a values sketch before committing to colour and quoted Ron Underhill, “value does the work but colour gets the glory”.
We spent the session happily experimenting and producing colour charts. We then utilized our palettes to paint a simple still life that Bev and Margaret had set up. It is always fun to “play” with a skill and apply it with guidance in a very relaxed setting.
PIAS has two art sessions planned for March.
March 5, 1 – 4 pm, Community Hall – How to Draw a Portrait using Shadows & Light (the chiaroscuro method) with Ron Underhill & Peter Pare
March 26, 1 – 4 pm, Community Hall – Follow-up session for Copying the Masters with Malcolm Armstrong
Drop-ins are welcome for a fee of $5.00.
Pender Island Community Choir Society
Welcome to March, the beginning of the Choir’s rehearsals. If you are at all interested in singing, wondering what it’s like to sing in the Choir, or want to learn and have fun singing, come find out more on Thursday, March 12 – the Choir’s Meet and Greet evening! We have a lot of laughs and we sing, too. We’d love to have you join us.
The Choir has a new Facebook page and new Instagram page. Big thanks to Carly Chamberlain for organizing and managing them for the Choir.
Returning Choir Members Note
There are changes to the rehearsal day and times. Please mark your calendar. For March, the choir will meet on the following dates at the Community Hall.
Thursday, March 12, 7 – 8 pm. Yes, this is on a Thursday and for only one hour. The first meeting is a Meet and Greet and first registration day, where our Music Director, Bruce McConchie, plans a description of the session including explanation of the theme and musical numbers and a little fun singing.
Wednesday, March 18, 6 – 8 pm. First full rehearsal, AGM, and second registration day.
Wednesday, March 25, 6 – 8 pm. Location to be decided.
From Wednesday, April 1 onwards, the rest of the rehearsals will be at the school on the stage. (The school is closed for Spring Break in March and is not available).
All rehearsals will be from 6 – 8 pm. There will be an increase in the session fee, so please be prepared. The choir can accept credit cards, e-transfers or cash.
For planning purposes, the scheduled dress rehearsal/tech will be on Wednesday, June 24, at the Hall.
As we did last Spring session, there will be 2 performances: Saturday, June 27 evening and Sunday, June 28 matinee. If we’re lucky, there will be a choir performance on Canada Day, too.
See you at rehearsals!
Pender Island Quilters Circle
As always, Quilters Circle met at the Anglican Church Hall on Monday morning, February 9. It’s a cheerful way to begin another week, gathering with friends and fellow quilting enthusiasts. We were treated to a panoply of finished and in-progress quilting items.
Jane Fleishman showed us small bags, including glasses cases, she had sewn from lovely Geisha fabric. Sue Foote made placemats and a potholder. Barb Tarris created a beautiful stained glass quilt in shades of blue, teal, and green. Charlotte Edward’s focus at this time is creating children’s items including Dr. Seuss fabric books and cute teddy bear templates for applique.
Robin Wall Kimmerer writes about the gift economy in The Serviceberry, (2024), where gratitude and reciprocity are practiced. Materials are circulated and recycled; this fosters community wellbeing. This construct fits our quilting group beautifully where we bring fabric and other quilting supplies that we are not using to give away to others. With this spirit, Sheila Veness brought fabric samples she had come across to offer to us.
Susan Underhill led today’s project which was a small landscape quilt (10” x 10”). She took us through a methodical procedure which included: choosing fabrics in landscape/seascape/sky hues (consider the reverse side of the fabric as well); cutting the fabrics in curves (hills, water, sky); applique stitching along edges to join fabric pieces; layering with batting and backing and quilt. Susan uses a frame (solid or matte board) to see if the layout is pleasing.
She also provided the handy hint of using a glue stick to adhere the fabric pieces before sewing. She showed us that we can print a grayscale landscape scene and outline basic shapes to use as templates when cutting the fabric. She made what could be a daunting task more approachable and doable.
Our March 9 gathering will feature Helen Bailey teaching us the skill of paper piecing. This is a precision quilting technique where fabric is sewn onto a paper template. It is an excellent technique for creating more intricate and complex designs with small fabric scraps.
Next Meeting: Monday, March 9, 2026, 9:15 am – 12 pm, St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall
Quilter’s Philosophy: As quilters we share patterns, fabrics, sewing tools, and notions. We also share our trials to commiserate, and our successes to celebrate. Giving and receiving with gratitude is the foundation of a caring community.
Pender Photo Club
The Magic of Wildlife Through a Lens
The Camera Club’s meeting (Monday, February 2) was outstanding as we listened to Martin Ross give a presentation via Zoom entitled The Magic of Wildlife Photography. Martin’s camera work is exceptionally good and attendance was large with many non-members coming to enjoy the presentation. We also viewed 29 of our club photos. The meeting was chaired by Urs Boxler.
Martin has exceptional talent in taking photos and also in post-processing them. He travels throughout North America to shoot amazing wildlife and nature scenes from St. Paul Island, Alaska, to the Canadian Maritimes. Of his 195 photos, some of my favourites were of grizzly bears fishing for salmon in rapids. He listed five Canadian hot spots where one can get amazing wildlife shots. Then he gave us some pointers in processing photos using Lightroom and Photoshop. I was super impressed by his knowledge, photographic skills and friendly speaking style. A photo of sea otters by Martin is attached.
The theme, Winter, for the regular club meeting, which followed Martin’s show, was challenging because there was virtually no snow this year (but lots of rain and mist). However, our members were up to the task. We viewed pictures of rain and ice on windows, ferries sailing, trees enmeshed in fog, and much more. Conversation flowed as we merrily critiqued the photos and discussed Martin’s inspiring presentation.
At our next meeting (Monday, March 2 at 7 pm via Zoom) Hans Tammemagi will present a brief overview of the town of Guayabitos in Mexico, which has a particularly long and beautiful beach.
Attendees are encouraged to submit five photos taken this month with the theme: Kitchen Utensils. All guests are more than welcome; please contact Urs for the Zoom link and instructions for photo submission (ursboxler@gmail.com).
Solstice Theatre Society
Solstice Theatre Society would like to invite you to join us for auditions for The Calling on Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm or Tuesday, March 10 at 6:30 pm, in the Community Hall lounge. Rehearsals for this fall production will begin in September, and performance dates will run from November 19 to 22.
The Calling is a bittersweet story of baseball player Randall Griffin as he chases his dreams, while fielding love and loss along the way. This three act play is set in Ontario and BC, was written by Pender Island author Ethan Smith, and is directed by Karen Parker and produced by Tania Honan.
This Canadian play has well developed characters and parts for children up to adults in their 50s. If you are feeling inspired to audition, we would love to see you. We always welcome new talent to join Solstice Theatre Society! For further details about “The Calling”, contact Tania Honan at: taniahonansmith@gmail.com
Mark your calendars in pen for Solstice Theatre’s uproarious spring comedy, Halfway There, with the talented Pender cast of Julie Brandsema, Sean Clazie, Alyson Culbert, Jane Harrison and Barb Pender.
Directed by Evan Llewellyn and produced by Joy Thierry Llewellyn, with sound and visuals by Howard Southwell, we guarantee a smile and a giggle; in fact, you just may fall off your chair laughing. Performance dates are April 23, 24, 25 and 26.
PIJazz
PIJazz Update for March 2026
Well, Valentines was a major win! The Legion exceeded itself with a fabulous sold-out dinner and much hilarity ensued. PIJazz played two great sets of danceable grooves and the dance floor was filled with the usual Pender enthusiasm.
We were especially pleased to introduce our newest members: Eileen Deros brings her stellar piano skills to the band, while Maya Cook rips it up with tenor sax and vocals. We were hoping to introduce Patrick Brown at this gig, but he was in the shop for unscheduled maintenance. Next time!
We’re always open to new members as we continue our Fall 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: Details, Details
How is it that we can enjoy a garage-rock song with all the subtlety of a kick to the sternum, then get completely lost in the minute details of a piece of Bartok? From a stripped-down William Prince song to the many layers of Pink Floyd’s The Wall? From the angry protests of rap to the angry protests of Shostakovich?
We really are weird creatures, making sense of such disparate stuff. It’s sometimes nice to fall back on information theory. Where’s the signal? Where’s the noise? Where are we introducing entropy, then cooking it down like wine into a sauce? When does a rich tone cross the line to filthy?
Speaking of filthy, messy sounds, don’t think that the classical and jazz worlds neglect them. If all we hear are pristine recordings made by the insanely skilled, we might miss out on what happens live. The ear becomes overwhelmed. The sound gains grit and unholy overtones. An orchestra that might send you to sleep with Pachelbel is also capable of a dynamic range that just plain exceeds the nervous system’s ability to cope.
Shostakovich really knew this, and you can tell most clearly in the bass section. He pushed the basses to the point that all the harmonics started doing the entropy dance, bashing into each other like a mosh pit at a DOA concert. Say nothing of the human factor where tendons scream and bows can move no faster.
Yeah, Dmitri knew. It wasn’t abuse – it was distortion. It was Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile or the organ parts on Abraxas, but as a larger team sport. And that sport is so rough they don’t even let it into the Olympics.
So enjoy your signal and your noise, your brute force and your nuance. There’s something for everyone!
Ptarmigan Arts
We have an exciting and event-filled month ahead at Ptarmigan! Join us on March 7 for our annual International Women’s Day Concert, featuring performances by Katie Cooper, Maya Cook, Sarah Smith, and Hazell Udy. Tickets are available online or at Talisman Books. You can purchase tickets in advance to receive a reduced price, or buy at the door on the night of the show.
We also invite all community members to attend our Annual General Meeting on March 3. In addition to a special performance by our Board Band, we’ll reflect on the past year, share updates on our work and create space for conversation with our staff and board. We hope to see you at these special gatherings. Read on to discover everything else we have planned this month!
Verse & Vision: A Tapestry of Words Literary Festival Event
Exhibit May 30 – 31, 2026 (Deadline to register: March 10), Community Hall
Verse & Vision is an invitation to writers and visual artists of Pender and the Outer Southern Gulf Islands to collaborate on the written word and either a 2D or 3D piece of art. The idea is that writers and visual artists make contact with one another and then work collaboratively to present their final work as a part of Ptarmigan Arts’ Tapestry of Words Literary Festival.
We are allocating a 4-foot by 4-foot space to display both the written word and art work. The Verse & Vision Exhibit will be open for public viewing from Saturday May 30, 10 am, to Sunday May 31, 3:30 pm. For those who wish, there is an opportunity to do a reading where writers can recite their work along with corresponding art pieces at 11 am Sunday, May 31. There is an entry fee of $40 for each team. Please register your team by March 10!
Ptarmigan Arts 2024/2025 Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, March 3, 7pm (doors open 6:30pm), Community Hall
We invite the community to join us for the 2024/2025 Ptarmigan Arts Annual General Meeting. Our Executive and Program Directors as well as Board Chair will give an update on our work over the past year and plans for the future. We invite all members of the public to join, but only board members will be able to vote.
Enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks, along with a special performance by the Ptarmigan Board Band featuring Brent Marsden, Lizzie Margetts, Marc Lesperance, Sarah Smith, Jonny Miller, and Heather Read. We hope you’ll join us for a fun and welcoming evening in support of bringing arts and culture to the Southern Gulf Islands.
International Women’s Day Concert
Saturday, March 7, 7 pm (doors open 6:30 pm), Community Hall
We are pleased to announce our upcoming concert, Sisterhood: A musical celebration for International Women’s Day.
This beautiful evening will feature performances from some of Pender’s (and Victoria’s) absolutely incredible musicians. The lineup of musicians is: Sarah Smith, Maya Cook, Hazell Udy and Katie Cooper. Each musician brings something unique to their musicianship, and in coming together they will be a mighty force onstage, not to be missed!
Tickets cost $25 in advance online or at Talisman Books or $30 at the door. Youth 12 and under are free. More information about the artists can be found on our website (ptarmiganarts.org).
Singing for Fun, Singing for Joy
Thursdays, March 12 – April 30, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, Fireside Room, Anglican Church Hall
Join Mary Reher for a spring session of Singing for Fun, Singing for Joy! This program is for both novice/reticent singers, and those more experienced who love to sing. All ages and abilities are welcome! Rather than working toward a performance, our aim is to have an enjoyable music experience within a small group, and to build confidence in our voices and musicianship. Singing is every person’s birthright! Weekly sessions begin with a warm up.
Designed to settle the nervous system, it assists in opening the lungs and building breath capacity. Singing in both unison and harmony can bring awesome feelings of sensory well-being, while connecting us in community. We may experience poignant, sacred, uplifting, or humorous moments, as we sing old songs, folk songs, rounds, chants, and sometimes dances. This program costs $80 for 8 weeks, subsidies are available for caregivers and those in financial need, please contact info@ptarmiganarts.org for more information.
Analogue Revolution
Sunday, March 22, 1:30 pm (doors open 1 pm), Community Hall
You’re invited to join us for the screening of Analogue Revolution – How Feminist Media Changed the World, happening on Sunday, March 22. This feature-length documentary traces the rise and fall of analogue feminist communications that preceded the MeToo era.
From Halifax to Vancouver, feminist storytellers of the 1970s to 1990s took hold of cutting-edge media technology to document everything from racism in the women’s movement, to how to insert a diaphragm. Ticket pricing is on a sliding scale starting at only $10 and goes up incrementally to $20.
Doors open at 1 pm for a light concession and the film screens at 1:30 pm. For those interested, there will be a Q&A after the show with filmmaker and director Marusya Bociurkiw. For the full film synopsis and to learn more about the filmmaker, please visit our website.
Ensemble Made in Canada
Wednesday, March 25, 7 pm, Community Hall
The Pender Island Concert Society is pleased to present Ensemble Made in Canada, a JUNO Award-winning piano quartet based in Ontario. Their program will include a mix of older and newer music, including some by Canadian composers. The quartet consists of Elissa Lee, violin; Sheila Jaffé, viola; Trey Lee, cello; and Philip Chiu, piano, and will be performing with special guest Wes Hardisty on fiddle. Tickets cost $30 for adults and are free for ages 19 and under.
Potters Meetup
Thursday, March 26, 6 – 7:30 pm, Community Hall
A monthly gathering for both experienced and aspiring potters to share, learn and talk pottery. Each month there is a new topic chosen by the group. All experience levels are welcome. Potters wishing to participate should arrive with a surface to work on, clay, and some basic tools. However, folks are also welcome to come just to learn and chat as well. This month the meeting will be a handle-making workshop.
If you have questions or want to get on the Meetup Mailing List (to hear about upcoming events and stay in the loop) you are welcome to send messages to the following – mudwarebyadrienne@gmail.com
Jr & Sr Contemporary Ensemble – Spring Session Registration Open
Thursdays, April 2 to June 4, Pender Elementary School Music Room
Jr Ensemble: 3:45-4:45pm (Grades 6-9)
Sr Ensemble: 5:30-6:30pm (Grades 8-12)
This April, Ben McConchie will continue to be facilitating two contemporary music ensembles at the Pender Islands school, designed for students who want to explore, create, and perform music from the 1940s to today. This after-school program will run on Thursdays and is open to a range of abilities, with participants grouped into two ensembles based on age and experience.
Even though this music program is a continuation of the fall and winter sessions, we encourage new students to join for our new spring session! The program’s focus will be on making music together – studying, rehearsing, and performing great contemporary songs, from jazz standards and classic rock to modern pop and indie. Along the way, students will dive into improvisation through chord–scale theory, refine playing with practical music techniques, and deepen understanding through musical and lyrical analysis.
This course costs $80 per student; for sponsorships to help with fees, please contact us at info@ptarmiganarts.org.
Weekly Community Gatherings
Fridays, 12 – 1 pm, Community Hall
Maya Cook, Pender raised musician and circus artist, blends jazz, blues, and folk with rhythms to move your body and a voice to quiet your mind. She’ll be sharing tunes with us on March 6. The Jr and Sr Contemporary Music Ensemble with Ben McConchie is performing on March 13.
They will be playing classic rock, Canadian hits, and indie favourites while developing skills in notation, improvisation, and ensemble work, through diverse, multigenerational musical styles. There will also be a 50/50 draw at this performance to raise money for the music program, so bring your toonies! Wilding Women (Ulla, Yvonne, Caroline, Shelagh and Jessie) look forward to sharing some of their music and enthusiasm with you on March 20.
On March 27, The Lake Men, who are Greg Beattie (Pender), Kenn Faris (Highlands), and Philipp Gawthrop (Nelson), will perform as we close out the month. This acoustic trio formed three decades ago as UVic students, parted ways after graduation and re-formed in recent years.
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.
Community Services
Community Hall
March marks the return of our annual Spring at the Oscars series and this year’s line-up of films looks fantastic. To continue bringing these cinematic experiences to the community, we are looking for additional film helpers: projectionists, concession volunteers, and door hosts. Training is provided, and it’s a wonderful way to be part of the movie magic.
Our Special Saturday Markets have been lively throughout February, featuring Fabric Arts Focus, Garage Sale Day, Bowl Painting, and Seedy Saturday. The themed weeks have brought energy to the market and offered a warm place to gather during the quieter winter months. In March we continue with a Youth Art Show and Sale, a special Galiano “Takeover” Market, and one final Garage Sale with a Tool Time focus.
Youth Art & Craft Show
March 6, 2 – 3:30 pm, and sale March 7, 10 am – 1 pm
The Youth Leadership Program is planning a Youth Art and Craft Show for artists aged 7 to 18. Set-up and reception will take place March 6, from 2 – 3:30 pm, with the Show and Sale during the Market on March 7; artists only put their items up for sale if desired.
This is an excellent opportunity for young creators to showcase their talents in a variety of media, including drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography, fabric arts, and general crafts. Community members are warmly invited to attend, celebrate local youth creativity, and encourage our emerging artists. Young artists who would like to display their work or assist with organizing the event can register through our website.
Café Français
March 14, 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.
Spring Break Camp
March 23 – 27 (grades K – 6)
Liam S. and Nadia C. are back to give your kids an unforgettable spring break filled with fun, adventure, and learning. Our Spring Break Camp is the perfect place for kids ages 5-12 to explore their creativity, make new friends, and enjoy exciting activities. From arts and crafts, games, baking, and more, each day is packed with something new and exciting. Camp runs 10 am – 4 pm. The cost is $200, or $50 per day; subsidies are available. Spaces are limited and early registration is recommended.
SATURDAY MARKETS
Every Saturday from 10 – 1, there will be a special reason to come out to the Market. Each week will have a different activity or focus as well as fun activities in the Café led by our Youth Leaders.
March 7 – Youth Art & Crafts Sale at the Market and Spring on the Island at the Café: Young artists and artisans will display their works during the Market; some items will be available for purchase. Young artists showing their work will get free punch from the Café.
March 14 – Galiano ’Takeover’ Market at the Market and Pi Day at the Café: A gaggle of Galianoite artists and artisans will be flocking to our market to showcase their wares at our Market. Come welcome them and enjoy a new twist on the usually exciting market. As it’s Pi Day, in the Café we will give you a free hot drink if you can recite Pi to the 10th decimal.
March 21 – Vintage Flare at the Market and Forest Day in the Cafe: The Nu-To-Yu will be back this week with specially-selected vintage collectables, jewelry and clothing. If you have vintage items you would like to sell, extra tables are available. In celebration of spring and International Day of Forests, answer three forest trivia questions and get a free iced coffee.
March 28 – Garage Sale & Tool Time at the Market, Trail Day in the Cafe: Clutter for you? Treasure for others! Get a table at the Garage Sale. We especially encourage including garden or building tools you no longer need. Buy, sell or swap. Cost for a space is $5 or 10% of earnings, whichever is lower. In the Café we will have some special treats for anyone helping with the Love our Trail Day activity.
Love Our Trail Day runs from 10 am – 12:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to pitch in to remove invasive plants, tidy the trail, plant seeds or bulbs, or repair pathways. Helpers will receive gratitude from the trail users and an ice cream or a hot drink from the Hall café.
April 18 – Volunteer Fair. This will be a mini-fair in conjunction with the Saturday Market. As there is limited space, we encourage organizations to apply early; apply through the Hall website Market link or via email.
If you would like to be a Market Vendor or have a table to sell your special weekly wares, please register on our website.
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 many 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.
Monthly Volunteer Highlight
Film Team – Join our film team and help create memorable movie experiences. Volunteers assist with selecting films, running the projection system, managing concessions, and greeting attendees as a door host. It is a rewarding way to support the arts locally and share in the enjoyment of cinema.
Pender Island Child Care Society
Dragonfly Child Care & Family Resource Centre
Spring Break Closure
We will be closed for Spring Break from March 13 until March 29, 2026. Our last day of childcare will be Thursday March 12, and we will return with Parents and Babes on Monday March 30. We wish everyone a wonderful break, and we look forward to welcoming you back.
Family Counseling Sessions, March 2 and 30, 12:30 pm
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. Participants pay $10 per session. For more information or to book a session contact Pam. Thank you to The Victoria Foundation for their generous support of this program.
Parents and Babes, March 2, 9, 30 (closed 16, 23) 9 am
Parents and Babes runs every Monday morning (closed March 16 and 23) from 9-11:30 am at Dragonfly. Pam Wadge facilitates 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. Come out and enjoy snacks, adult and child interactions, developmentally appropriate toys and the book lending library. Thanks to the Victoria Foundation and the Pender Island Child Care Society this program is free.
Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP)
March 4, 11 (closed 18, 25), 9 am, School Gym
HOP is held every Wednesday morning from 9 – 10:15 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 winter wiggles out! HOP is designed for parents/caregivers to engage in physical activities and learn new skills with their children 1-5 years. 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.
Moving Around Pender
Jaime MacLean Chairs Moving Around Pender
I’m excited to share that I’ve stepped into the role of Chair of Moving Around Pender (MAP).
In many ways, this moment feels like a natural progression. Over the past while, I’ve been actively involved with the Schooner Way – School Trail, supporting upcoming projects, and if I’m honest, spending a fair bit of my spare time scanning roadsides, gazing at the hillsides, and quietly imagining where future trails could live. So when I was asked to take on the Chair position, saying yes felt like the obvious next step.
There is such incredible momentum with MAP right now. We’re seeing, in real time, the positive impact these projects are having on our roadways and in our daily lives. Someone said recently that watching people walk the Schooner Way – School Trail gives them a sense of pride in the community, and I think many of us feel that too.
Did you know the Schooner Way – School Trail was originally spearheaded by MAP many years ago? In 2020, MAP commissioned a survey, then in 2021 had an engineering study of the route, and the groundwork was laid. But as often happens, momentum slowed in the face of real hurdles.
A major push came later thanks to Rob Fawcett, as he encouraged MAP to present the idea to the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PIPRC) and they accepted the challenge. The result speaks for itself. The trail’s success has shown us what’s possible.
There are several initiatives you may not even realize are MAP projects: the bike shelter at BC Ferries, the Car Stops, the original George Hill East Trail, the Valley Home Farm Trail, Monty’s Trail connecting the Community Hall to Nu-To-Yu, and the new Molly’s Trail looping around Karl’s working farm (plus I’m sure I’m missing a few).
Looking ahead, there is a lot happening in the world of future planning. We’re eager to unveil the next phase of trails, projects that will genuinely change how we move around Pender. Getting out of your car and choosing to walk, simply because now you can.
If you’d like to get involved with MAP, we’d love to see you at one of our meetings. If meetings aren’t your thing, there are plenty of ways to help in the field, walking the trails, picking up sticks, or joining a work party. And if you own a property where you think a connector route might make sense, but you’re unsure about the process or what it involves, please reach out. Connector routes can turn places that feel far apart by car into destinations that are just minutes away on foot or by bike.
It’s kind of wild to think about how accustomed we’ve become to driving everywhere on our super greenie island. Once these connector routes are figured out and brought to life, I suspect we’ll all look around and wonder what on earth took us so long.
Call me anytime.
Pender Island Community Service Society
Nu-to-Yu Community Thrift Store
Work on our new building at the Driftwood Centre will start soon as our contractor is now living on Pender Island, and at the time of writing, our building permit is inches away from being approved.
We’ve almost raised all of the funds required to complete our building and this spring you’ll see us out in the community endeavouring to raise the last portion required through requests for gifts in kind, at the store as usual, and also with a big vintage books and goods sale at the Winter Market at the Community Hall on March 21 from 10 am to 1 pm.
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. Recently a kind community member approached us with an idea. She’ll be gussying up small appliances and other things in the comfort of her own home, and bringing them back for us to sell when they’re ready. This was 100% her idea and we’re delighted that she approached us about it.
Perhaps you have a novel way you’d like to participate. 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 donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am and 12 pm and also on Saturdays between 11 am and 2 pm. We welcome goods in store-ready condition. For a full list of what we cannot accept, please refer to our website.
If your community organization is interested in applying for a grant, you’ve got time to put together an application. The due date for our spring round of granting is on the third Friday of March, which this year will be March 27, 2026. Please see our website for information on our granting process along with the applications. See our website for the complete list of local organizations we’ve raised money for.
Pender Roadshow
It can be said that commerce follows the cash. Whether it’s commodities or labour, over the centuries, there has been an endless pursuit of the items that fuel our societies. Globalization is a term often used to describe the interdependence between countries and industries and its impact on cultures. Globalization is not in fact a new concept; it has existed for over a thousand years.
A simple blue and white plate – (the Willow pattern) was recently donated by a kind donor to the Nu-To-Yu. Although not very old, its back story is, and a perfect example of early globalization.
We often hear comments about products from China being of modest quality compared to items from Europe or North America, and how so many of them are copies of European or North American goods. This same monologue was once used to describe products from Japan and we all know how that turned out – with Japan becoming the benchmark for quality across many industries.
In the 1700s right through to the early part of the 1900s, this narrative was reversed as the Europeans and the English in particular could not get enough of many Chinese products from silk to tea, to ceramics and porcelain.
The potteries of southern China had developed over many hundreds of years of exceptionally high quality ceramics and porcelains. As overseas trade routes became established these items became highly sought after. The first trade into Europe came from the Portuguese in the early 1400s, followed by the Spanish, then the Dutch and the English.
The simple blue and white plate which crossed the threshold of Nu-to-Yu is a symbol of that trade. Blue and white porcelain from China was of very good quality. It was almost translucent, durable, artistic, hand painted, and very expensive, and the west couldn’t get enough of it. In 1741 alone, Europe imported 1.2 million pieces of Chinese porcelain.
As with the import of sunflowers and tulips before, the earliest adopters of these exotic goods were the wealthiest – royalty, followed by the aristocracy, and eventually making its way down to the masses. It’s interesting to note that over many hundreds of years the west remained entranced by the images and icons that decorated Chinese porcelains and ceramics with little desire to supplant them with imagery generally associated with the west.
Because of the sheer volume and value of the imports from China, many European commercial potteries tried to replicate the Chinese porcelain works with limited success until they learned subsequently about the secret sauce in the Chinese clay. What did prove successful, particularly in England, was Transferware which is in essence a lithograph applied to porcelain or ceramics.
A desired image (in our case the Willow pattern) is carved into a steel or copper slab and ink is rubbed or rolled onto the slab. Then a sheet of paper is placed over it and pressed onto the inked slab transferring the pattern. It is then laid onto a blank ceramic piece. With the piece now inked, the final step is firing it in with a clear glaze overtop.
The simple blue and white Willow pattern plate that arrived at the Nu-to-Yu, can certainly tell us an interesting tale about culture, tastes, and history.
Pender Earth
On Sunday morning of Family Day, about 75 friends and neighbours walked in the name of peace along the brand new gravel under the trees of Schooner Way trail. Led by a contingent of drummers, there were elders with walking sticks, parents with little ones in strollers, and a fair number of tail wagging dogs.
Some chatted with friends, some walked in silence to mark the theme of peace, some passing cars honked in support. It seemed appropriate that our walk followed the culmination of the Buddhist monks’ pilgrimage of 109 days to promote loving kindness. In these challenging, uncertain times, gathering in the name of compassion is one thing we can do to strengthen the heart of our community.
Special thanks to Moving Around Pender and the CRD Parks for the production of this trail allowing us the ability to walk safely.
Climate Cafe will run as usual on March 6 at 9:30 am. At 11 am we will hold our Climate Action Meeting. All are welcome.
Community Conversation has been canceled for March.
Pender Island Chamber of Commerce
Like many businesses and residents, the Chamber of Commerce spent much of January preparing for the anticipated five-day closure of the Otter Bay ferry terminal, originally scheduled for March 6 – 10. With financial support promised from BC Ferries and the CRD, we had been working closely with local businesses to coordinate a Staycation promotion, an initiative designed to encourage residents to shop locally and help offset the economic impacts of the temporary disruption.
Then with five weeks to go, BC Ferries notified the community that the closure would be postponed. Their contractor issued a Notice of Delay related to fabrication work required for the terminal life extension project. While the change was unexpected, it reflects the complexity of maintaining essential infrastructure safely and properly. BC Ferries has indicated the closure will likely be rescheduled for fall 2026.
The Chamber continues to participate in BC Ferries’ Project Feedback Group and is seeking input from members to ensure business interests are represented as planning continues and dates are chosen. Although the timeline has shifted, the underlying goal remains the same: helping our island economy remain resilient during periods of disruption. We look forward to revisiting the Staycation initiative once new dates are confirmed and thank the many businesses and community groups who were ready to participate.
Advocacy continues to be a central part of the Chamber’s work. We recently submitted a letter to Islands Trust regarding their draft Policy Statement, encouraging a balanced approach that recognizes environmental stewardship, social wellbeing, and economic resilience as interconnected priorities. Protecting the natural environment, supporting essential services and housing, and enabling local businesses to remain viable are all critical to sustaining healthy island communities.
We continue to engage with Parks Canada regarding plans affecting Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. The Chamber met with Parks Canada staff late last year and will be participating in a Pender Island stakeholder group to help ensure local business perspectives are part of the conversation with the first meeting coming up in April.
We’re also very pleased to welcome three new members to the Chamber: Dave French Pest Management Ltd. (Dave French), Number 17 Solutions Ltd. (Christopher Ridge), and Vivi Coffee Co. (Chuck Elves). We encourage you to support these local businesses and join us in welcoming them to the Chamber community.
Looking ahead, this is also a time of transition and opportunity for the Chamber itself. Our Annual General Meeting is coming up on April 23, and we are currently inviting members to consider serving on the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Board members play an important role in shaping priorities, strengthening advocacy, and helping guide initiatives that support our business community.
Behind the scenes, the Chamber is also advancing strategic planning work to ensure we remain effective, responsive, and sustainable as an organization.
Island life requires adaptability, and while plans don’t always unfold as expected, the strength of this community lies in its willingness to work together, support local, and keep moving forward. Thanks for being part of it.
Pender Island Conservancy
I,ŚETEṈ E TŦE ĆESE ŚX̱ENÁṈs TENEW̱ – Walking in Two Worlds
A Film Screening and Sharing Circle
Sunday, March 15 at 2 pm, Pender Island Community Hall
Join us for a special afternoon as the Pender Islands Conservancy and the SDÁ,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle come together to screen the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board documentary I,ŚETEṈ E TŦE ĆESE ŚX̱ENÁṈs TEṈEW̱ – Walking in Two Worlds and meet film maker, Emily Olsen.
This 72-minute documentary by Emily Olsen and Benjamin Joel Cran takes us into the W̱SÁNEĆ community’s journey to take back educational jurisdiction, prioritizing SENĆOŦEN language and grounding the teachings in traditional culture and values.
One theme of the film is ĆELÁṈEN – the W̱SÁNEĆ way of caring for the environment as a way of life and a responsibility. It’s a value that speaks directly to what we do at the Conservancy: looking after this land and nurturing native plants.
The film also reminds us where we live. These islands are the ṮEṮÁĆES – the Relatives of the Deep – a name that goes back to the W̱SÁNEĆ Creation Story. We hear from SENĆOŦEN speakers and see how the W̱SÁNEĆ School Board is nurturing the next generation by keeping language, land, and culture connected.
To truly understand how to care for this place we call home, listening to those who have been its stewards since time immemorial is a good place to start.
Following the screening, you’re invited to join members of the SDÁ,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle who will lead a sharing and listening circle, creating space for reflection and dialogue.
Entrance is by donation and everyone is welcome. We hope you’ll join us.
Do You Love Birds? Then This is for You.
Saturday, March 14: South Pender Explorations
Many spring migrant birds are returning or passing through, and the island forests are alive with bird song. Join us for a South Pender birding experience, including possible stops at the Canal Bridge, Mortimer Spit, the Spalding Valley, Poet’s Cove, and Greenburn Lake. We’ll meet at the school parking lot at 10 am then carpool around South Pender to see what we can see and hear. We’ll determine our exact route once we see who all is involved and where we’d like to go.
Saturday, March 28: Saturna Island Explorations
Saturna Island is home to an amazing diversity of bird species and we know just where to go to explore some wonderful birding locations on the island across the sound. We’ll be off on the 9:05 am ferry to arrive at Lyall Harbour by 9:45 am. From there, we’ll explore beautiful Winter Cove, epic East Point, and perhaps even scenic Brown Ridge if the group is up for it. Our return trip will begin at 4:45 pm, with a direct ferry back to Pender by 5:25 pm. Please register with Steve at sdunsmuir@gmail.com to get your name on the list for this trip. We’ll arrange for carpooling to cut costs and build our Pender birding community.
Sources, Sinks and Silent Springs: A Community Call to Action (Part 1)
We’re approaching spring and another season of migrating and nesting birds, spawning frogs and newts, and gardens buzzing with native pollinators. Now’s a great time to consider what we as a community can do to support the wildlife we share this land with. Small, individual actions can have significant, collective benefits.
First, here’s some theory. In ecology, a “population sink” is a habitat where mortality exceeds reproduction (more critters die than are born). Even in these “sinks”, wildlife can be present year after year if they’re sustained by “source” habitats – areas where reproduction exceeds mortality. Pretty simple math, right? But if there are too many sinks across a landscape, or source habitats become physically separated by roads, cleared forests or housing developments, individual populations will begin to decline.
Here are a couple of things we can do collectively to ensure Pender is a “source” for wildlife populations in our regions.
Keeping cats inside, especially during the spring and summer months, is a small way to do something big for nature. We love “catios”, enclosures where kitties can experience the outdoors without killing birds, bats, rodents, and snakes. Cats evolved to hunt and kill small vertebrates even when they’re well fed.
There’s a growing body of research that shows free-roaming cats have both lethal and “sub-lethal” effects on habitats. That is, when animals sense they are being hunted, they won’t reproduce. Birds in areas with roaming cats tend to lay fewer eggs, feed their young less, and produce young that are more stressed and less likely to fledge.
Window collisions are another significant, direct source of songbird mortality. The good news is that there’s an easy fix for this! Applications of Feather Friendly window strips (available at the Nature Centre at Hope Bay) reduce bird-window collisions by up to 95%—that’s a significant number and could tip the scales from a “sink” to a “source” habitat.
With these two small actions, we’re well on our way to making Pender Island a source habitat for songbirds and avoiding a silent spring for future generations.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Sources, Sinks and Springs” next month where we’ll look at swamps and invasive species. One is ecologically valuable and one should be removed … Can you guess which is which?
Adam’s Nursery Notes: Pruning Perfection Pt. 2
And now … the exciting conclusion to February’s column on perfect pruning. Didn’t read it? Then grab the February Pender Post from the fire starter pile beside your stove and read part one. Last month, we discussed ‘why’ and ‘what’ to prune, but not how to prune.
All pruning actions can be broken down into three basic cuts: heading back, removal and reduction. A heading cut is performed by cutting a stem below a dormant node (aka bud). Reduction and removal cuts are often referred to as thinning cuts, but both have different and important considerations. A removal cut removes the smaller of two branches at a union; a reduction cut removes the larger of the two branches.
This distinction is primarily important because of the ‘branch collar’ — a specialised band of cells that surround the area where the smaller, or lateral, branch attaches to the trunk or larger branch. These cells are very good at walling off the rest of the plant when the lateral branch has experienced damage or disease.
They are responsible for the swollen doughnut of wood you can see on trees years after the lateral has been removed. It’s vitally important to identify where the branch collar ends so as not to cut into it, which will impede the plant’s ability to heal. Look for a swollen area of wood at the base of the lateral branch.
Reduction cuts — removing the larger of two branches at a union — also have several considerations. Only make reduction cuts at a union where the remaining smaller branch is at least ⅓ the diameter of the larger branch being removed. If you make the cut at a union with a branch smaller than ⅓, the flow of growth hormones will be too great for the much smaller branch and the plant will excessively sucker.
That was my crash course in pruning theory and technique. There’s so much more to say but the Pender Post editors will surely complain if I don’t end this now. Want to learn more? Come chat with me about pruning or anything else at the Pender Native Plants nursery any Friday or Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm or get in touch by email.
Your March task list:
After the risk of frost has passed, it’s time for garden clean-up. You left your perennials to go to seed to feed the birds and give insects a place to overwinter, now you can cut them back. Most bunch grasses and perennials can be cut back to the ground.
Coppice dogwoods and willows. Coppicing is an optional technique where you cut the whole plant back to a low (<6”) woody framework. This encourages fresh growth, which will have better stem colour and keep the plants manageable.
You’re still okay to prune most late-summer flowering shrubs now. They will flower on the new growth they put on in the spring and early summer.
Check for tent caterpillar nests and remove them before they spread.
Install new plant material. Fall is the safest time to plant, but spring is the second safest. Get them in asap so they can get established before summer.
Pender Island Emergency Program
Where would you go if your house was destroyed by fire or a falling tree? Where would visitors go if there was an emergency or accident and they were stuck on the island?
Hopefully you would look to Pender’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) program. In an emergency, our volunteers leap into action to help support their neighbours and island visitors. Support can be provided in the form of accommodation, food, and/or clothing and other essentials.
Pender has a small team of volunteers who support the many roles that the ESS team fulfills. In a single household fire, a pair of volunteers would assist the residents with their immediate needs; in a large-scale event, such as a wildfire, earthquake, or toxic spill, the volunteers would open a Reception Centre to look after people evacuated from their homes.
We can always use more people, as often some volunteers are off island and not available. If you are interested in learning more about the Emergency Support Services program and perhaps becoming an ESS volunteer or, even better, the Coordinator of the ESS team on Pender, you would be a local community hero! Training is provided and there is lots of support from long time volunteers. The commitment is minimal, as thankfully we do not experience many emergencies, but we like to stay sharp by meeting quarterly to hone our skills.
Are you the person who leaps into action if there is an emergency? Talk to us about becoming involved in aiding your neighbours and your community when they most need the help.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteer roles in ESS, please contact Charlene Dishaw, Deputy ESS Leader at DESSLSGI@crd.bc.ca.
Pender Island Farmers’ Institute
We held our second Fall Fair meeting of the year in February and decided on a theme and guests of honour.
Our 2026 Fair theme will be based on the UN-designated International Year of the Woman Farmer to recognize and empower women who are a major part of the global agricultural labour force. In fact, the Gulf Islands have the greatest percentage of women farmers in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Our guests of honour will be all the Pender Island women who have contributed to agriculture. Our next Fall Fair meeting will be held at the Hall in the lounge on March 3 at 4 pm. We would love to have more volunteers, and everyone is welcome.
The Pender Island Farmers’ Institute were at the Seedy Saturday on February 28. We were especially happy to support the Seedy Saturday by sponsoring Bob and Vera Duncan of Fruit Trees and More Nursery and Demonstration Orchard in North Saanich. Their nursery specializes in citrus, figs, warm temperate and Mediterranean and subtropical fruit trees. Thank you to the Gulf Islands Food Co-op for organizing Seedy Saturday this year.
Bursaries for Graduating Students
We would like to invite graduating students and lifelong learners to apply for our bursaries. The deadline through the high school is March 9. The Neptune Navy Grimmer – Ashton Ross-Smith Bursary was established in the 1980s for students intending to study in a field related to agriculture and is valued at $500. Both Nep and Ashton were active members of the Farmers’ Institute, supporting farming in our community.
The Ellen Willingham – Tekla Deverell Bursary for Volunteerism was established in 2025 to recognize students who volunteer in our community and plan to continue their studies in any field after graduation, and is also valued at $500. Both Ellen and Tekla were active volunteers for the Farmers’ Institute, participating in and organizing the Fall Fair and the Farmers’ Market for many years.
There is a new, additional separate award link to these bursaries. It is the Judy Williams-Corbett Education Award for someone who is going to study in a field related to nature and agriculture. It is valued at $5,000 per year for up to four years, with a possible total value of $20,000. The funding for the award is being generously provided by an anonymous donor. A committee has been established to administer this award.
The mission statement is to honour the legacy of Judy Williams-Corbett, a noted naturalist, farmer, and educator by providing funding and mentorship for education in these fields. The vision is to achieve long-term food security within the community.
Farmers’ Institute AGM – March 28
Please mark your calendar for the Pender Island Farmers’ Market Vendor’s Meeting and Pender Island Farmers’ Institute AGM. These will be held following the market at the Hall on March 28 starting at 2 pm.
Our guest speaker will be Tony Legault, who has been an active volunteer at our Farmers’ Market and will be our new Market Manager. Tony will be presenting at the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets Conference on March 6 in North Vancouver on the Nutrition Coupon Program and our experience with the electronic Tomat system, and he will be presenting the highlights of his talk at our AGM.
Tony and his wife Karen are recent residents of Pender, and have become a welcome addition to the community. They have visited family on Pender (Gordon and Barb Souter) since 1998, so they aren’t complete newcomers. They have both become involved with the Fall Fair, and we are so fortunate for them to bring their fair and Calgary Stampede experience to our island.
They farmed for many years in Alberta with a large sheep flock, cattle herd, market garden, and commercial greenhouse business. They operated an on-farm store and also sold at Farmers’ Markets, and to grocery stores. Tony has served on various farm organizations such as the Alberta Lamb Producers, and we hope to learn a lot from Tony and Karen.
Check out our website for more news, reports and bursary applications.
Pender Island Fire Rescue
Exit Drills In The House
Hello Pender Islands, as of February 13 our dedicated members had responded to 32 emergency calls in 2026.
I want to take a moment to recognize the tragedy that unfolded in Tumbler Ridge this past month. Our thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and the entire community. To the first responders who selflessly went straight into danger, we all thank you.
March on the island is the first big push of the year, with visitors, friends, and family flocking to share the charm and beauty of where we live. That being said, it’s a perfect time to talk about Exit Drills in the House – a Life-Saving Habit for Every Pender Island Home.
Could everyone in your household get out safely if a fire started tonight? Pender Island Fire Rescue encourages all residents to practice EDITH: Exit Drills in the House, a simple, proven way to protect your family when seconds matter most.
Why EDITH Matters
- Fires can spread quickly and produce heavy smoke in under two minutes
- Practicing reduces panic and confusion during a real emergency
- Children, seniors, and guests are far more likely to escape safely when a plan is practiced
- Smoke alarms are effective only if everyone knows what to do when they sound
How to Practice EDITH at Home
1. Make a Plan. Identify two exits from every room, if possible. Choose a safe outdoor meeting place (mailbox, driveway, tree, or neighbour’s fence). Make sure exits are clear and easy to open.
2. Practice the Drill. Test smoke alarms before starting. Practice escaping low and slow under smoke. Get everyone out and meet at your designated spot. Call 9-1-1 from a neighbour’s phone or outside—never re-enter the home.
3. Repeat Twice a Year. Practice during the day and at night. Adjust your plan if household members or mobility needs change
4. Get the Kids Involved. Let children help choose the meeting place. Turn drills into a routine, not a scare. Praise calm, quick exits – confidence saves lives.
Make EDITH a habit. A practiced plan is one of the most effective fire-safety tools you can have. Take 10 minutes this week to plan and practice – your family’s safety is worth it.
Remember to check your smoke detectors monthly.
Pender Island Food Bank Society
With the release of the BC budget this week we are increasingly concerned about folks with lower incomes and seniors who will take a disproportionate hit with taxes this year. 2025 was a busy year for the PIFB. Nationally and provincially, food insecurity and food bank usage grew significantly, such that one in four Canadians report that they are food insecure.
Editor’s Note: According to Food Bank BC’s 2025 Hunger Report, 1.3 million British Columbians, or 24.4 per cent of the population, experienced food insecurities last year. BC Food banks have seen a 79 per cent increase in the number of visits since 2019.
On Pender, food insecurity is even greater. We experienced a 34% increase in visits from 2024 to 2025 and a 211% increase since 2018 (pre-pandemic numbers). We have 176 unique individuals who have actively used our food bank in the last four months, of which 32 are children, and 144 are adults.
Some clients use the food bank weekly, but most come only periodically when they need additional help. On an average week, we are now receiving visits on behalf of 65 people, peaking at 92 at Christmas time.
While the focus of our work is on providing food to those experiencing food insecurity, we also know that it is important to advocate for remedies to the root causes of food insecurity provincially and federally. This month, a food bank delegation will join our MLA Rob Botterell at the legislature to talk about the importance of food banks and the concerns we have.
We held our AGM on February 12th and were joined by 16 guests from partner organizations (government and non-government) and individuals concerned about food insecurity. In addition to the great turnout, we had excellent discussions and look forward to exploring some of the ideas suggested in more depth over the coming months.
Two-thirds of our donations come from individual Penderites, with other donations coming from individuals across Canada (through the CBC Food Banks Day) as well as donations from Pender organizations. Only 1% of our funding comes from government sources.
Pender Island Health Care Society
Speaker Series ‘Here’s To Your Good Health’ – Women’s Health with Dr. Robyn Wiens
We’re very pleased to welcome one of our own Pender family physicians Dr. Robyn Wiens for her talk in our Speaker Series ‘Here’s to Your Good Health,’ on Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm at the Community Hall. Dr. Wiens will share information and insight into many aspects of women’s health, including perimenopause and menopause, as well as the latest research. All ages and genders are welcome. Bring your questions!
Next Month’s Speaker – Gastroenterology Fellow Dr. Estello Hill
And next month, in response to many requests for a speaker on ‘gut health,’ we’re bringing in UBC Gastroenterology Fellow Dr. Estello Hill. Dr. Hill, an Internal Medicine specialist (and elite athlete!), is passionate about bringing academic medicine into community spaces, and translating the latest evidence in digestive health, liver disease, and the gut microbiome into practical tools that improve everyday life.
The title of the talk is ‘The Aging Gut: Microbiome, Metabolism, and Preventing Digestive Disease.’ Dr. Hill’s clinical interests include inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease, motility disorders, and the brain-gut connection. He is actively involved in research on host-biome interactions and innovative therapeutic strategies. Come and gain some knowledge to support your long-term health and resilience.
Income Tax Preparation for Seniors
The Community Support Office is pleased to confirm that we will be partnering with Shoal Centre and Beacon Services in Sidney to assist in completing income tax returns for individuals 65+. To access this free service, you must have a modest income and a simple tax return. Please contact the Community Support office at volunteer@penderislandhealth.org or 250-629-3346.
Need Some Support? Easy Self-Referral for Community Support Intake
The Community Support team provides non-medical services to older adults experiencing frailty or who are feeling socially isolated. Primary care providers and other professionals can refer clients for community support services, and patients or clients can also self-refer.
There’s a simple intake form on our website, along with a list of some of the services available. Click on Community Programs, and then on Community Support Intake Form.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments about the services we provide or if you’d like to meet in person with our team for a Q&A.
Chiropractic Continuity
Chiropractor Penny Paterson has this news: “After practicing happily on Pender for the past three years, and following a long career in chiropractic, I will be retiring from active practice at the end of February.
I want to thank everyone I have met for being Lovely Human Beings. It has been my great pleasure to serve as your Chiropractor as we all go along on our Journey of Life…and I wish you all good Health and Happiness in the many years to come. Dr. Travis Cox will be taking over care at the Pender Islands Health Centre starting March 1. He’ll be practicing on Mondays and Tuesdays, and I’m confident patients will be in excellent hands.”
A warm welcome to Travis, and best wishes to Penny.
And in Travis’s own words, “I’m the owner of Gulf Islands Chiropractic, have been in practice for 17 years and serve Salt Spring Island full time, with satellite clinics on Mayne and Galiano Islands for over three years. With an evidence informed, movement focused approach to care, I help patients recover from injury and stay active in their daily lives. I and my wife Kate have three children, and with strong family ties on Pender Island, we consider it a true home away from home. I’m honoured to continue chiropractic care at the Pender Islands Health Centre.”
Subscribe to our ‘HeartBeat’ Newsletter
Never miss an issue – every three months, subscribers receive the colour newsletter straight to their inboxes. Subscribers can also receive the occasional timely update or very important news, but email inboxes will certainly not be inundated. To sign up, please visit our website. To encourage sign-ups, every month we’ll make a random pick from our email list, including new and current subscribers, to win a prize from one of our local Pender Island sponsors. Last month’s lucky person was Donna Sherman, who received a $25 gift certificate, generously donated by Petals & Paws – who knows, you could be next!
Urgent Care – What is Urgent, and What is Not?
A good question, indeed. Have a look at the answers on our website! Click on Medical Clinic and scroll down a bit for the link to an informative poster. You’ll find a good explanation and examples of “urgent” issues, and how to find urgent care when needed. We all hope to never need it, but it’s here if we do. And remember that calling HealthLink at 8-1-1 is a great resource for free, 24/7 professional health information and advice.
PIHCS Community Support Programs
Maintain Your Independence Exercise Classes
Find class descriptions and schedules in The Pender Post’s Weekly Events Listings, and all that and more on our website penderislandhealth.org under the Community Programs tab. Register in advance or pay in person for the full session or drop-in classes. 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.
Monday Activity Day at the Community Hall
See our ad on page 3 for a full schedule and lunch menus.
Weekly Activities and Exercise
MYI Classes Upstairs 9:30 – 12
Drop-in Café and Knitting and Stitching Circle from 10 – 12
Seniors Kung-Fu with Tom from 1 – 2
March 2
Book Club with Cee. This month’s book discussion is The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Relax, meet new friends, join in good conversation, and discover great books together.
Marking Time – A Year Long Stitching Project: Making a small consistent effort is one of the best ways to grow creatively. Stitch along and create a daily practice of stitching, just for 15 minutes a day. This is a slow stitch project, a way of marking time in your life and building your creative ‘muscles’. By the end of the year, you will have a visual representation of your personal 2026. All you need are some fabric scraps, a good needle, some embroidery floss or thin yarn, and small scissors. $5 If you’d like to participate via Zoom, please email fiftyfiveplus@sginh.ca to request a zoom link.
Seniors Advisory Group: Share your ideas, connect with others, and help us create Monday Activities that matter to you. Your input helps shape the activities, events, classes, and workshops offered, whether it’s fitness classes, arts and crafts, films, or social events.
Film: Sentimental Value (2025) is a poignant Norwegian drama that examines the complex, often painful intersection of art, memory, and family estrangement. The film follows two sisters navigating their relationship with a famous, emotionally distant director father who resurfaces to make a personal film about their trauma. Suggested donation is $5. Volunteers are welcome to make popcorn.
March 9
Indoor Games: Get ready for a morning filled with laughter and friendly competition as we transform the hall into a fun indoor games area. 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.
Hand Felted Mini Landscape with Monica Bennett: Let’s make mini felted landscapes together. This class will teach you how to make a wet felted landscape using a variety of materials to create texture, imagery, and scale. Also, you’ll get ideas for framing your finished piece and suggestions on other ways to use your felt imagery. Some felting experience is an asset but not required. Advanced registration is required by Friday, March 6. Kits provided, $15 class fee. If you’d like to participate via Zoom, please email fiftyfiveplus@sginh.ca to request a zoom link.
March 16
Indoor Games – morning activity, see March 9
Shabby Chic Fabric Flowers Workshop: In this fun and relaxed workshop, you will learn how to turn soft, colorful fabric scraps into beautiful blooming flowers. They are perfect for decorating hats, bags, wreaths, gift tags, or simply brightening up a room. With easy, beginner-friendly techniques and plenty of room for creativity, participants can mix patterns, layer textures, and add playful touches like buttons and ribbons. Please bring scissors and any fabric scraps and embellishments you would like to use from home. We will provide everything for you to make two flowers. Cost is $5.
March 23
Repair Cafe: Join volunteers Fix-it Peter, Tech Savvy Shon, and Sewing Expert Judy, all dedicated to sharing skills and giving new life to broken or worn-out items. Bring in your broken, confusing, or worn items and learn how to repair or use them alongside our wonderful helpers. Drop-in.
Indoor Games – after lunch activity, see March 9
Film: Poms (2019) is an uplifting, feel-good comedy-drama that follows Martha (played by Diane Keaton), a woman who moves into a retirement community and decides to start a cheerleading squad with her fellow residents. Suggested donation is $5. Volunteers are welcome to make popcorn.
March 30
Visual Prompt Writing Workshop
This two-hour workshop explores how images can serve as starting points for creative writing. Using photographs, illustrations, and other visual materials, participants will practice turning visual details into scenes, characters, and short narratives. Along the way, we’ll incorporate light, engaging exercises, quick-writes and creative challenges to keep the process relaxed and fun. The workshop is suitable for creatives of all levels who want to practice spontaneous writing. Please register ahead by emailing fiftyfiveplus@sginh.ca On Pender. If you’d like to participate via Zoom, please email fiftyfiveplus@sginh.ca to request a zoom link.
Handwoven Mini Rope Basket Workshop
In this workshop, participants will explore the art of weaving with cotton rope to create their own beautiful, functional baskets. This activity is perfect for all skill levels; no prior experience is needed. You will be guided step-by-step, from shaping the base to weaving the sides, ensuring you have a basket you can proudly take home. Advanced registration preferred as kits are provided $15.
To register for any of our programs, go to http://www.sginh.ca/seniors-program/ and scroll down to Monday Activities. You can also call (250)- 629- 3665.
Volunteer Income Tax Preparation
The Pender Islands Health Care Society, in partnership with Beacon Community Services, is pleased to offer the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) preparation for people with a modest income and a simple tax return.
Taxes will be completed and e-filed by a vetted and trained volunteer, authorized by the Canada Revenue Agency. To qualify, your income must be modest (single person, up to $35,000; couple, up to $50,000) and your tax situation must be simple. Your income source must be from employment, pension, benefits such as Canada Pension Plan, disability, employment insurance, social assistance, RRSPs, support payments, scholarships, fellowships, bursaries/grants and interest (under $1,000).
Income Tax Volunteers can file taxes up to 10 years back. Forms will be available for pick-up starting Monday, March 16 from the Community Support office at the Health Care Centre.
Acts of Kindness and Gratitude
A Passport Rescue Mission
My husband and I were preparing for a long‑awaited trip to Europe, scheduled to depart on a Sunday afternoon. Wanting a stress‑free start, we traveled to Vancouver a day early, bags packed, spirits high, everything seemingly in order.
Or so we thought.
As soon as we arrived in Vancouver, we suddenly realized what every traveler dreads: we didn’t have our passports. Through a simple miscommunication, each of us believed the other had packed them. They were, as it turned out, sitting quietly at home on Pender Island.
What could have been a full‑blown disaster quickly became a story of generosity and teamwork. My husband immediately texted his brother on Pender Island, asking if he could possibly check our house. Without hesitation, he went over and searched a few spots before finally discovering the passports tucked away in a carry‑on bag we hadn’t used.
But retrieving them was only half the challenge.
A thick fog had grounded the island planes, ruling out any quick flights. That left only one option: a late‑afternoon relay. My husband and his brother coordinated a Saturday afternoon meet‑up in Victoria, each traveling by ferry from different directions.
Once in Victoria, my brother‑in‑law had to catch the last ferry home, so he entrusted the passports to a kind BC Ferry employee, who made sure they remained safe until my husband could sprint over to collect them. With passports in hand, my husband boarded the next ferry back to Vancouver.
It felt like everything had to align perfectly… and somehow, it did. Thanks to quick thinking, generous family help, and a lot of kindness along the way, we made it to the airport in time and were able to check in for our flight.
In the end, what started as a moment of panic turned into a beautiful reminder: when people step up for one another, even the most stressful situations can transform into stories of gratitude. And for all the helping hands – both familiar and unfamiliar – we are deeply thankful.
Pender Islands Lions Club
In Memory of Doug Patterson
It is with sadness that the Pender Islands Lions Club shares the passing of long-standing member Doug Patterson, who passed away on January 13.
Doug was a dedicated Lion for more than four decades. Over those many years, he gave generously of his time, energy, and steady commitment to the community. He played a central role in organizing and running our annual Polar Bear Swim for many years and was deeply committed to administering the Club’s bursary program, helping local students pursue post-secondary education.
Doug could always be counted on to step in wherever help was needed – car shows, dog shows, pancake breakfasts, the school eye-testing program, and countless other community initiatives. When newer members joined the Club, Doug welcomed fresh ideas with an open mind and an easy, jovial spirit. His warmth and willingness to collaborate made working alongside him a pleasure.
Even in recent years, when health challenges limited his ability to attend meetings, Doug remained deeply connected to the Club. He continued to ask thoughtful questions about our events, our bursary recipients, and our school programs. His dedication to service never faded.
Doug’s presence, humour, and steady commitment will be missed by all of us who had the privilege to serve alongside him. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
Thank You, Pender — Polar Bear Swim 2026
The Lions Club would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated in and supported this year’s Polar Bear Swim on New Year’s Day.
The Polar Bear Swim is a long-standing Pender tradition and one of our most joyful community gatherings of the year. Whether you braved the cold waters, cheered from the shore, helped serve food and drinks, donated, or simply came out to enjoy the spirit of the day – you made it a success.
We would like to offer a very special thank you to Ryan McLeod, Natasha Harvey, Lindsay Louberdeau, and the maintenance team at Port Browning for their generous support. Their donations of space, tables, propane, electricity, coffee, tea, chilli, and even a t-shirt prize helped make the event welcoming and comfortable for swimmers and spectators alike. Community partnerships like this make events such as the Polar Bear Swim possible.
This year also marked the exciting return of the Chilli Cook-Off. We are incredibly grateful to the local cooks who donated both their time and ingredients to compete: Kristine Haugen, Daniel Scott, Jen Plisson, Jake Hodgson, Jesse Henderson, Niel Day, Michael Cowen, and Peter Brouwer.
Congratulations to Jesse Henderson, who after waiting several years for redemption, claimed first-place honours and received his prize with well-earned pride. The cook-off helped keep everyone well fed and warm after their ocean dip and added an extra layer of comfort and camaraderie to the day.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the local Fire Department and paramedics for their presence and assistance in ensuring the safety of participants. Their support allows this event to continue as a safe and enjoyable tradition for our community.
We are equally thankful to the many volunteers who helped with setup, timing swimmers, food preparation, coordination, and clean-up. Events like this only happen because of people willing to pitch in and work together.
Thank you as well to everyone who contributed through donations and participation. Your support allows the Lions Club to continue funding important local initiatives, including our bursary program, youth activities, and other community services.
The Polar Bear Swim is more than a quick dip in the ocean – it’s a celebration of community spirit, resilience, and the connections that make Pender such a special place to live.
Big Divot Golf Tournament – May 9
We are also excited to share that the Big Divot Golf Tournament has graciously chosen to partner with the Lions Club for a second year in a row. This year’s tournament will take place on May 9 at the Pender Island Golf Club.
The Big Divot is a fun, mixed-team tournament designed for players of all abilities. You don’t need to be a seasoned golfer to participate – it’s all about enjoying the day, connecting with others, and supporting a great cause. There will be prizes, friendly competition, and a dinner planned afterward to round out the event.
Best of all, 100% of the proceeds will go directly back into our community, supporting local initiatives and programs that benefit Pender residents.
We encourage you to mark your calendars and consider signing up to participate.
There is also an opportunity for local businesses to sponsor a hole. Hole sponsorship provides excellent visibility within the community while directly contributing to meaningful local impact. If your business is interested in supporting the event, we would love to connect with you.
We look forward to another wonderful year of service, partnership, and community spirit.
Pender Islands Museum Society
Historic Presentation Draws Crowd
On February 15, the museum welcomed 90 people to the “Otter Bay through Time” presentation at the Community Hall, including a display of related artifacts. Most intriguing, a newly discovered sign from the “Otter Bay Hall”! We now know the sign was for a dance hall at a former resort on South Otter Bay Road.
Stellar Museum Year
After the presentation, the museum’s annual business meeting featured highlights from 2025. The museum’s 20th Anniversary activities dominated 2025 while other projects focused on display changes, storage, and future exhibition renewal.
We had a record 3,561 visitors in 2025, up 54% over 2024! Various factors played into this great result: multiple special events; opening four days/week in July and August; and increased tourism, especially Canadians travelling “at home”.
The year began with the Treasures from the Museum Attic special exhibition in February. The 10-day show at the golf club featured never-before-seen artifacts in eight themed displays. Over 300 people attended.
Before the museum opened at Easter, permanent displays were simplified, grouped by theme, and given new interpretive labels. The space was opened up, providing room to include some of the “Treasures” exhibits. Returning visitors commented positively on these changes.
From July 17 – 20 we celebrated the museum’s official opening back on July 16, 2005. Over 300 guests responded, some bringing their own picnics, with the museum providing lemonade, vintage lawn games, craft demos, and music. Four historic Pender Cemetery walks during the summer/fall proved popular, with requests that they continue in 2026. From December 26 – 30, our Once Upon a Pender Christmas special event returned, with 176 visitors rounding out the museum’s memorable 20th Anniversary Year.
After years of the museum seeking off-site storage, the Wein family generously donated the use of a large container. We made the tough decision to store several large artifacts displayed for 20 years, thus allowing for new and changing exhibits.
Cataloguing the collection made modest progress in 2025, with our talented summer Museum Assistant adding South Pender School documents into the museum database, which now lists over 2,600 artifacts and documents.
Museum finances had a good year in 2025, reflecting donations from increased visitation, and one generous donation of $9,900. Some $19,000 in grants offset the costs of special exhibitions, a summer student, general operations, and a website project.
Alongside the 20th Anniversary events, work moved ahead on future museum plans. In early 2025, the museum spent $15,000 for an interpretive plan and scale model to visualize a major change in future exhibitions. We are revisiting this project scope, timing, and funding options after two grant applications were unsuccessful.
The museum had 28 volunteers in 2025, most of whom served as hosts on weekends. Coordinator Ilse Phillips managed the volunteer program with support from director Elizabeth Preston. For the eight board members, meetings, executive duties, administration, fundraising, bus/group tours, Pender Post articles, and social media totalled over 1,000 hours of work.
So, 2025 was a stellar year, but we’re not sure we’ll soon beat that record visitor count.
Seeking Summer Student
The museum is looking to hire a student Museum Assistant for up to 13 weeks from June – August. Duties include hosting visitors and group tours; helping with events; and cataloguing/researching artifacts. The job pays $21/hour for a 35-hour week. Our former students went on to higher education or landed jobs in which their museum experience made a difference.
Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission
As we Spring into the month of March on our trails and in our parks, please be aware this is the beginning of nesting season for our Pender Island resident birds. The Cliffside Trail will be closing during the nesting period due to a potential turkey vulture nest, but in reality, birds nest everywhere. Your awareness and care for their well-being is appreciated.
Spring Equinox occurs on the morning of March 20. Daylight hours will outnumber nighttime hours, so it’s time to celebrate by visiting a PIPRC park or trail. Some recommendations this month include Gowlland Point to watch the sunrise, and Thieves Bay to watch the sunset, and where there’s always a chance of seeing an Orca or a Humpback whale. In between, why not take a hike on the Castle Road trail on South Pender to the lookout area. The panoramic views are stunning, and the climb will definitely get your heart pumping.
In Commission news, the bouldering wall and batting cage projects have been recommended pending an acceptable environmental management plan. Both are slated for the Danny Martin Ballpark area to provide the youth of Pender with valuable recreation and sport experiences.
The Schooner Way Trail is basically complete, minus a few finishing touches. Coastal Wolf will be back in March to add some more safety features such as bollards and crosswalks. The video release party for the Trail is set for Bridgeman’s Bistro at Port Browning Marina on March 28 at 7 pm. Keep your eye on social media channels for the ribbon-cutting celebration.
Historically, this trail was the dream of Moving Around Pender (MAP). We are thrilled to have been able to collaborate with MAP, and since some of the MAP car stops have been moved please be on the lookout for traffic pattern changes. If you haven’t tried out the trail, march on over and give it a go.
Thanks to local businesses, and especially Big Dig’em, we were able to store the remaining crushed trail building rock at our Ketch Road maintenance area. This will allow trail upgrades in the Danny Martin Ballpark and the Disc Golf Park.
Please note that PIPRC meetings are open to the public in person or by Zoom. The March meeting is Monday, March 9 at 3:30 – 5 pm at the Community Hall Lounge. If you’ve ever dreamt of being a commissioner, why not attend a meeting to get a feel for your next volunteer role. Positions are posted in the fall in order to welcome new commissioners in January of each year.
If you see anything in our parks or on our trails that may be a safety issue, please email penderparks@crd.bc.ca with the details and we will be sure to follow up.
Finally, don’t wait for March 17 to wear green: Go green all month long by using our trails to get around the Island.
Pender Island Public Library
Attend the Library AGM
All are welcome to attend our AGM on March 11, 2026, at 2 pm in the Library. Adult residents of Pender Island with an active library card are eligible to vote on the motions. Join us as we review the highlights of 2025 and celebrate another busy and enjoyable year, including listening to our patrons and providing popular services.
Activities and Spring Events
“Landscape Reflections” by local artist Christine Elgert is on display through April. After Christine’s retirement, she moved to Pender and five years ago she began to paint (acrylic on canvas). Because she is self-taught, she joined the Pender Island Art Society where she continues to gain insights into many different types of art.
Spring Break Colouring Contest for Youth! Pick up a colouring sheet and show us your artistic talents and your love of the Library. Submit your beautifully coloured pictures for a chance to win a mystery prize (a book, of course!). We have lots of new books to enjoy reading over Spring Break, including adventurous stories, funny graphic novels, and books to learn about the world around you.
Books On Display
This month we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, 2026, a global day to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and girls, and to reflect on the work needed to achieve gender equality. This year’s theme is “Give to Gain” which emphasizes fostering a collaborative, supportive, and generous environment for women. For engaging activities, try the Victoria Women’s Expo, an annual two-day event on March 7-8, 2026, at Pearkes Recreation Centre in Saanich, with seminars, workshops and exhibitors. Come by the Library to borrow materials that celebrate IWD.
Tech Tutoring
Did you get a new cell phone, tablet, or laptop and need help getting it to work? Stop by or book a free appointment with Colette, our Library Technician who can gently help get those emails flowing again, set up safety controls, download the “Libby” app to read free eBooks and audiobooks, and get you started on organizing those photos and documents.
New Books
Adult Fiction: Sharpe’s Storm (Bernard Cornwell), Home Body (Rupi Kaur), Wild Hope (Joan Thomas);
Adult Mystery and Sci-Fi: The Devil in the Details (Vicki Delany), Local Girl Missing (Claire Douglas), The Elsewhere Express (Samantha Sotto), A Box Full of Darkness (Simone St. James), The Perfect Nanny (Leila Slimani);
Adult Non-Fiction: DrawBridge: Drawing Alongside My Brother’s Schizophrenia (Joan Boxall), Kitten Clone (Douglas Coupland), The New Alchemists (Bernie Garrett), Trixie and Katya’s Guide to Modern Womanhood (Trixie Mattell), Junglekeeper (Paul Rosolie);
Youth and YA: Lunar New Year with the Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle), Weiwei’s Winter Solstice (Michelle Jing Chan), Holi (Sital Gorasia Chapman), The Super Jump Between Worlds! (Thomas Flintham), Cooking with the Grinch (Tish Rabe), The Night of your Life (Lydia Sharp).
Library hours: Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm, at 4407 Bedwell Harbour Road. We’re open during the school’s Spring Break – come by and hang out!
Pender Island Recycling Society
Thank you to everyone who has already renewed their membership for 2026. Membership is voluntary, tax deductible, and costs only $20. If you would like to donate a larger amount, we are happy to issue a tax receipt for the full donation.
Memberships can be renewed in person (we accept cash, cheques and credit/debit cards on site), through our website listed below, or by sending an e-transfer to the email listed below. If you are renewing by e-transfer, please leave your address in the memo section so a tax receipt can be mailed. Your donations help fund ongoing operations, maintenance, and community programs, allowing us to offer services that go beyond the average depot.
This month I want to highlight our electronics, small appliances, and lighting recycling program. Last year we facilitated the collection and hauling of over eighteen tonnes of e-recycling off the island. Examples of electronics include televisions, audio/visual media players, remote controls, computers, and more. Small appliances and power tools include items like vacuum cleaners, kitchen and bathroom appliances, toys, and power tools (both battery and plug-in).
Lighting includes interior and exterior light fixtures, table lamps, and strings of decorative lights. This is not an exhaustive list – please check with depot staff or look on our website for more information. If it has a plug or runs on a battery, it can probably be recycled.
A note about computers – please take the time to remove data from your computer if privacy is a concern. We take every consideration to protect your devices but cannot guarantee what happens after your items leave our grounds. It’s also important to note that we do not recommend physically damaging items like laptops to destroy data.
Laptops contain lithium batteries and if they are damaged, they become a major fire hazard. Just recently a laptop was dropped off with a damaged battery; luckily, staff saw the damage and the computer was packed in flame suppressing material before it could become a hazard.
If you have electronics, appliances, tools, etc. that are still in good working condition, please let us know when you drop them off. Reuse is still preferable to recycling, and if possible, we will circulate your unneeded items back into our local community through the Freestore and Reshop.
Items that are not functional and covered by our recycling programs can be dropped off for free; you pay an eco-fee at purchase that pays for the cost of recycling. By recycling your electronics and small appliances you help divert items that would take up space in landfills, and ensure that valuable materials can be extracted and reused in new products. BC’s province-wide recycling programs streamline hauling and processing, as well as leveraging economies of scale that make material extraction more efficient and worthwhile. If you would like to learn more about electronics and small appliance recycling, visit return-it.ca/electronics or our website.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We strive to make your experience at the recycling depot as positive and enjoyable as possible. Feedback or suggestions from the community are always welcomed, you can reach out by phone or email using the contact info listed below, or visit me in the office next time you’re at the depot.
We’re passionate about recycling and happy to share more about the process, so you can be better informed and confident that your items are being handled responsibly.
Pender Island Scouts
February Fun, and March Adventures Ahead
February was a creative and productive month for Pender Island Scouts as we wrapped up our T-shirt screen printing project. The youth did a fantastic job bringing their designs to life. Our Scouters took on the added challenge of creating and cutting their own stencils, showing impressive patience and attention to detail. It was a great hands-on lesson in creativity and follow-through.
We also kicked off our Kub Kar builds. Beavers have been busy crafting their “Beaver Buggies,” Cubs are shaping and decorating their Kub Kars, and Scouts are building 18-wheeler trucks dubbed the “Scouts Express.” The hall has been full of sanding, painting, teamwork, and plenty of excitement as race day approaches.
In March, we’re looking forward to getting outside more as the weather improves. Plans include exploring nearby trails, visiting Medicine Beach, and possibly walking the new Schooner Trail to the ballpark. Time outdoors gives our youth the chance to build skills, confidence, and connection with the natural world.
Knot of the Month: The Square Knot (Reef Knot)
This month we’re learning the Square Knot, an important knot in first aid. It’s commonly used to tie bandages securely and neatly when providing care. Quick to tie and easy to untie, the Square Knot is a practical skill that reinforces preparedness and safety.
A big thank you to our dedicated Scouters and volunteers for making all of this possible. Your time and commitment continue to make Scouting on Pender Island such a positive experience for our youth.
Pender Organic Community Garden Society
Every time I stroll down the main path of the Pender Organic Community Garden, the wide variety of gardening styles never fails to impress me. I pause along the way to admire the diversity. From the layout of the paths and beds to the choice of vegetables, herbs, and pollinator flowers, each individual garden contributes in its own way to the beauty of the whole.
This makes me wonder how a gardener chooses what to plant? For myself, I tend towards a ‘Salsa Garden’. This means I plant loads of tomatoes along with the sweet and hot peppers, onions and herbs that make a great salsa. Some of my batches are for immediate enjoyment while some are canned for later. I find that growing only a few kinds of vegetables keeps my garden simple, practical, and personal.
My mother, on the other hand, always kept a ‘Soup Garden’. She grew primarily the potatoes, cabbage, celery, onions, carrots, beets, dill, parsley, and oregano needed to cook up huge pots of soup, some to eat for supper and lots to freeze for a cold winter’s day.
Of the many garden variations in the POCGS garden last summer, there is one I call the ‘Exotic Garden’. Here, next to a lush strawberry patch, ground cherries and asparagus, artichoke flourished. Have you ever seen an artichoke plant? The lavish and colourful foliage alone is worth the experiment. The artichoke itself is quite discrete when it finally appears in the middle of all that flash. Until, that is, it is left unpicked. Then it plumps itself up before bursting into the wildest, centre-stage flower imaginable. Such joy!
Right next door there was a 20’x 20’ plot that looked rather odd. It was bald in places and otherwise looked somewhat rough and overgrown.Turns out this gardener was focusing on improving the soil structure to support increased yields this year. That’s right, gardening is an evolving adventure over time. The health of the soil is the essential foundation of a productive crop. He had mulched certain areas with straw and planted fava beans, clover and alfalfa to “grow soil” and thereby boost the health of the soil microbiome. Problem-solving and patience become the strength of every good gardener eventually. To me this is a “Soil First Garden”.
Now here is a question for you. Take a moment right now to imagine: If you were to grow a vegetable garden, what would you grow? A “Mostly Greens’ garden with lots of early spinach, shallots and lettuces followed by a “Root Vegetable” winter garden featuring brassicas like cauliflower and brussel sprouts? Or perhaps a summer “Bar-b-que” garden for grilling zucchini and eggplant? Or something else altogether? First decide what you like most to eat. Now take the next step. Go get some seeds and begin. It is time.
Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
PIESS Blessed by Caring Support Staff
Pender’s Parent Advisory Council’s February meeting was held one day after tragedy struck the school and community of Tumbler Ridge, making it a more somber gathering than usual for the dedicated parents who volunteer their time to enhance the school experience.
Behind everything PAC does is the desire to make student life safe, valuable, and engaging for every child. That means organizing growth-minded programming like the Pender Islands School Read-a-Thon, which wrapped at the beginning of this month, or raising money so students have easier access to life-changing experiences – like the nine Pender students who participate in BC Games’ Wheelchair Basketball competition at the end of February.
Advancing these opportunities is the reason active members of PAC gather to discuss and develop such efforts each month. Anything we can do to help foster a supportive and engaged school culture for the students on this island.
At Pender Islands Elementary Secondary School, we are fortunate to have a robust and seasoned team of school-based counsellors, support, and care staff ready to lend and hand or an ear in the name of individual and group support for our student community.
Our school division has its own infrastructure of support in place, as well. And it is worth highlighting one such effort: ERASE, or “Expect Respect and a Safe Education.”
ERASE is a collection of resources available for students, parents, and school staff to help identify and address issues like mental health, bullying, and gender-based violence, among many others.
One notable ERASE program is the Report It tool, where students may anonymously alert staff to concerns about school safety or specific, individual behaviour. Check out the website below for more information.
School Fundraising Film Nights
In more positive news, the Pender school has recently secured a licence to show movies in its gymnasium. The licence, with Audio Cine Films, gives PIESS access to the largest selection of family and animated movies in Canada, including access to studio films from Lionsgate, Universal, Disney, Pixar and Illumination, to name a few, as well as new releases such as Zootopia 2.
The licence will create great opportunities to host movie night fundraisers and other student events. With the projector and screen already in place, it won’t be long until the students in your life will be asking for a second bag of popcorn.
Spring Family Fun Fair – April 16
Progress continues in planning our Spring Family Fair – this year’s iteration of our fun, festive fundraiser that is typically held in winter. Moving our Winter Carnival to the spring has renewed more than a little excitement, and the possibility of more enjoyable weather during the event hasn’t hurt either.
This year’s event – to be held on April 16 – will embrace a “carnival” theme, with a concession to be stocked with snacks from the Midway, including corndogs and a vegetarian chili from Fridge of Wonders maven and PAC member, Patricia Stimpson. The gymnasium will be packed with games and prizes for the kids, a 50/50 draw for the adults, and a silent auction that, well, we’ll just say, “stay tuned.”
If you’re a parent who has time to volunteer in organizing or running the Spring Family Carnival, or pitching in on other PAC efforts, reach out at the email address below. We’re always looking to add more mental muscle to our active team.
PenderPOD
Salish Sightings
The fog rolled out just in time to see J Pod off Thieves Bay. They were spread out, with individuals travelling on their own and some in two and threes. J27, Blackberry, brought up the rear as they headed north past Port Washington and on their way to Active Pass.
Court Ruling Could Benefit Resident Whales
Recent events may have long term benefits for the Southern Resident Orcas and Humpback whales who visit our local waters.
The fish farm company MOWI Canada West lost its appeal in a federal court, against the Discovery Islands aquaculture ban. This is a win for wild salmon on one of BC’s most important salmon migration routes. The court confirmed that conservation must come first. (From Living Oceans Society news release).
The ruling strengthens Canada’s path to end open-net fish farming across B.C. by 2029 ensuring wild salmon – vital to ecosystems, cultures, and communities – have a fighting chance to recover, according to Clayoquat Action, one of the groups working to free the Discovery Islands from open-net fish farms.
The Minister of Fisheries, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, has launched Canada’s Whalesafe Fishing Gear Strategy – a five-year plan to help protect whales and promote sustainable fisheries.
The specialized gear can help prevent whale entanglements. The program will begin on the east coast with North Atlantic Right Whales. The ministry will identify other coastal areas where the Whalesafe gear could be deployed. Let’s hope that they look to the west coast where Humpback whales are too often victims of entanglement in abandoned fishing gear.
Royal Canadian Legion
Tumbler Ridge in Our Thoughts
As I write this report, we are just one week away from the horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge and I can’t help drawing a comparison between this small northern town of 2700 citizens and Pender Island’s own approximately 2700 people.
Never in their wildest nightmares could they ever imagine that something like this could happen in their close knit community but it has and it is a harsh reality that no one anywhere is immune from this happening in their own backyard. The availability of guns in Canada is a lot more stringent than in the USA, but if someone with mental health issues has access to guns in their own home how do you control this?
More and more people seem to be suffering from these issues, but there are less and less services available to assist people in need. This is the root of the problem, but it does nothing to comfort the people of Tumbler Ridge who will have to deal with this heartache for years to come. It’s no use saying at least it didn’t happen here, it didn’t, but it could; just imagine what it would have done to us and our close-knit family.
When you only have about 2700 citizens everybody would know somebody involved. This is the harsh reality, but also the strength of a small community. When tragedy strikes, I know that Pender Island, like Tumbler Ridge is doing, would step up to comfort and assist in any way possible.
In the big city you can become just a number but one of the benefits of small-town Canada is that in an emergency you are never alone. Keep Tumbler Ridge in your thoughts and especially that young girl still fighting so bravely for her life.
In regard to young people who make you proud, congratulations to Aleytha Benson from our own little school who bested everyone from all those big schools to win first place in the junior category for Remembrance Day essays this year.
When I first read it, I thought it was excellent but to win the top prize from hundreds of entries is fantastic. “They are never coming back” is wonderful prose, from one so young. When it returns from the National competition, I will make sure a copy is displayed at the Legion so you can drop by and check it out.
Speaking of things happening at the Legion, the Resvick clan is inviting one and all to drop by the Legion on March 14 to help celebrate the life and times of Kathy Resvick. Things get underway at 12 pm. There will be food for the hungry and music by Slow Cookin’ (Kathy’s favourite musicians) for your listening and dancing pleasure. It’s a celebration of her life and I’m sure there will be some tears but also a lot of memories and joy. Come by and be part of this day for a lady who knew the value of community.
Another lady who was a big part of our community for nearly half a century was Doreen Ball. Sadly, Doreen passed away in late February. She and Chuck left a mark on this island that will be long remembered and I’m sure there will be a lot of stories to be told at her memorial, whenever that may be.
There is only one dinner scheduled so far in March, but it will be a good one. We have decided to change our March 13 dinner to Tuesday, March 17 so we can celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in style. Over the last three years, Boundary Pass Troubadour Pete Emery has entertained us royally with his repertoire of Irish standards, but this year it gets even better as Pete has joined with Frank Scanlon to become “Second Chance” and I don’t know how they came up with that name unless it’s all the chances we gave him to get “Whiskey In The Jar” down pat.
I may have to sing that one for them to show how it should be done. There’s more… joining them onstage will be that ever-popular husband and wife duo known as Willy Blizzard. It will be a night to remember with a dinner of green salad, Irish Stew (not green) fresh bread and a tasty dessert (also not green). The cans of Guinness will be popping, and the Legion will be hopping. See you there.
There will be a dinner on March 27 but I’m still working on that one – check the website for details. Another date to take note of is that bingo will be on March 7 this month because of the celebration of life on March 14, as the Legion memorials will always take precedence over everything else. Bingo things get underway at 12:45 pm.
Meat draws have continued to make the Legion the place to be on Saturdays, with big crowds and lots of fun being the norm. Another thanks to Mike Gray and Tru Value for all their support over the years. We couldn’t raise the monies we do without you, and that Spirit Board was one of the best ideas ever. The General meeting is at 2 pm on March 28. And just a heads up for April, the meeting will be on April 18 instead of April 25. I guess that’s it for now.
Outer Gulf Islands RCMP
Money Missing from Backpack at Nu-to-Yu
On January 6, 2026, the Outer Gulf Islands RCMP received a report of a possible theft that occurred at the Nu-to-yu thrift store located at 4409 Bedwell Harbour Road, Pender Island.
Following the initial investigation, it was determined that a staff member had inadvertently left their backpack unattended for an extended period. Upon returning to retrieve it, the staff member discovered that a significant amount of cash was missing. The backpack had been left in a publicly accessible donation area and may have been mistaken for a donation itself.
“It is possible that an individual mistakenly believed the item had been left as a donation. After looking through it, they would have discovered a substantial amount of cash inside. Unfortunately, the discovery was not reported and we are treating its disappearance as a likely theft,” states Sgt. Kimberly Graham, Detachment Commander for the Outer Gulf Islands RCMP.
Police continue to investigate and are requesting the public’s assistance as they work to advance the case. If anyone has information that could assist in this investigation, they are encouraged to contact the Outer Gulf Islands RCMP by calling 250-629-6171, or to report the information anonymously through the Greater Victoria Crime stoppers program.
SDA’,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle
The next STRC meeting is Wednesday March 18 from 4 – 6 pm in the Fireside Room at the Anglican Hall.
Our January meeting was held on Zoom. After welcoming newcomers we pondered the question, “How are you feeling about the state of Reconciliation?” There was concern about Residential School Denialism, and an uncertain future for the Provincial Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act DRIPA. On a personal level members expressed feeling positive about the Community to Community relationship we continue to develop with W̱SÁNEĆ neighbours.
New signage at the T Junction and the Community Hall grounds welcomes visitors to SDÁ,YES Pender Island and gives a history of W̱SÁNEĆ presence here in SENĆOŦEN and English. There will be a ceremony and celebration later in the Spring.
I,ŚETEṈ E TŦE ĆESE ŚX̱ENÁṈs TEṈEW̱ – Walking in Two Worlds
This is a film produced by Emily Olsen of Tsartlip FN at Brentwood Bay.
It tells the story of the Saanich School Board and the founding of the Tribal School after the closure of the Indian Day School there. The film is co-sponsored by the SDÁ,YES Truth and Reconciliation Circle and the Pender Island Conservancy, PICA.
Walking in Two Worlds will be shown at the Pender Island Community Hall on Sunday March 15 at 2 pm. Emily Olsen will be present for a discussion following the film. Admission by donation.
Watch for the posters!
SGI Community Resource Centre
Seeking Homes for Seasonal and Share Housing
Have you ever considered the benefits of sharing your home or property?
The Housing NOW Homeshare Registry helps connect local homeowners with carefully matched guests who are looking for safe, respectful, and affordable housing. We are currently seeking homes and properties that can offer seasonal or year round housing opportunities within allowable use.
By opening your space, you can help create immediate housing options for our much needed local workforce and strengthen the resilience of our Southern Gulf Islands communities. To learn more or to register your property, visit http://www.linktr.ee/sgihousing
The Housing NOW Homeshare Registry is designed for, and delivered by, Southern Gulf Islanders.
Sustainable Funding Initiative
Upcoming Workshop Alert. This month, the Sustainable Funding Initiative is offering an exciting lineup for SGI nonprofits and charities, including:
Project Management Part 1 – The Basics with Joyce Budnyk. Tuesday, March 3, 10 am – 11:30 am, via Zoom.
Grant Writing Fundamentals: Core skills for planning, writing, and strengthening grant applications with Taryn Danford. Wednesday, March 11, 4:30 pm – 6 pm, via Zoom.
Financial Best Practices for Nonprofits with Mamie Hutt-Temoana. Tuesday, March 17, 10:30 am -11:30 am, via Zoom.
Follow up Q&A with Mamie Hutt-Temoana. Tuesday, March 24, 11 am – 11:30 am, via Zoom.
Project Management Part 2 – From Plan to Practice: Running Real Nonprofit Projects with Joyce Budnyk. Tuesday, March 31, 10 am – 11:30 am, via Zoom.
All workshop fees are by donation ($10 suggested). For more information and to register please visit linktr.ee/sgisfi. If you have any questions please contact Jackie at islandsupport@sgicrc.ca.
Dining in the Dark
The Dining in the Dark project is expanding this spring! A new companion booklet is currently being printed to accompany the popular Dining in the Dark Recipe Book, offering practical tips for storm readiness and cooking during power outages.
A series of Dining in the Dark workshops will be running in March and April (dates to be announced) and will include live demonstrations showing that warm meals – and even great coffee – are absolutely possible when the power is out.
Food Resilience Alliance Spring
The Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) will also be launching a March/April outreach and media campaign in support of the upcoming Mobile Poultry Abattoir Pilot, expected to arrive on Pender this summer. This pilot will help strengthen local food security by supporting small-scale poultry producers across the Southern Gulf Islands. More details will be shared soon, including how producers can participate.
As we move into spring, the SGI Community Resource Centre continues to advance key programs, partnerships, and community initiatives across the islands. We appreciate the time, input, and participation of our volunteers, members, and partners who help make this work possible. Stay connected for upcoming events, program updates, and opportunities to get involved.
SGI Neighbourhood House
Epicentre Daycare – Anniversary Open House
The Southern Gulf Islands Neighbourhood House invites the community to join us at the Epicentre Daycare Open House on Saturday, March 28 from 10 am to 12 pm as we celebrate our one-year anniversary! Come tour the space, meet our dedicated team, and learn more about the programs supporting local families.
We’ll have light refreshments and a variety of child-friendly activities, and we look forward to welcoming island families and community members to mark this special milestone together.
In closing, as we head into the coming month, the Neighbourhood House remains focused on delivering responsive programs and practical support that reflect current community needs. With spring break approaching, we are coordinating regional youth activities and encouraging families to watch our website and Facebook page for schedules, registration details, and transportation information.
We appreciate the continued involvement of participants, volunteers, and partners who help make these opportunities possible.
Recreation and Leisure
CanBoat – Pender Island Squadron
Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, now known as CanBoat, evolved as a leading provider of educational services to recreational boaters across Canada. Classroom instruction was intensive due to the need to understand complex issues of manual navigation and memorizing important principles and procedures. Insurers and charter companies offered substantial discounts to boaters with CPS accreditation.
CPS Pender Island Squadron was formed in 1980 for the purpose of providing these educational services to boaters on Pender Island. This allowed islanders to participate in the training programs without the added expense of going off-island.
Today, online educational services and computer based navigational systems have developed to a point where there is no longer a need for a comprehensive national network of instructor services. This has led to a significant reduction in the ability to sustain a broad diversity of squadrons as a national organization. This has caused us to consider our long term viability as a local squadron.
CanBoat – Pender Island will hold an initial Member Meeting on Sunday, March 8 to determine our future direction. Discussions will include a potential merger with a major Vancouver Island squadron whose members frequent the Gulf Islands. Our board has contacted fellow members to advise time/date as well as providing an outline of challenges.
The session will be held at the Pender Island Legion from 1 to 4 pm with lunch provided. Timing is to provide ample time for discussions and includes an opportunity to meet our District Commander. Assessing feedback from this session will allow our Board to determine next steps.
One intriguing bit of information is that over half our squadron’s members are off-island. Member locations span all of the Gulf Islands as well as Saanich, Vancouver, and Calgary. CanBoat’s shift towards on-line courses has shifted traditional classroom course delivery to the internet, encouraging regional groupings to sustain enhancements of the on-line programs.
Details of a path forward will be shared in April’s Pender Post.
Pender Island Garden Club
Hardwood Cuttings: Making New Plants
Making a new plant from an existing plant is basically a clone. Hardwood cuttings are best made in the winter when the plant is dormant. If there are leaves and opening buds it is too late. Only take about ten percent of the original plant then it will be strong enough to recover.
Early morning is the best time to cut, then keep the piece in water out of direct sun. Use one year old wood about the size of a little finger and as straight as possible. Use sharp sterile tools and make a straight, clean cut. It will heal faster than a ragged cut.
A solution of ninety percent alcohol and ten percent water works well for sterilizing tools. Don’t use pure alcohol as it can cause the cut to crust over.
Take off any laterals, (side shoots), and don’t plant it upside down. It confuses the cutting! Make the bottom cutting at an angle, leaving a quarter of an inch between the cut and the node (bud). Make the top cut straight across then it is easy to tell the difference. The cutting needs to be long enough to have at least two nodes. The node below ground is to send out roots and the node above ground is to make leaves. More than one node below ground is fine .
Using rooting hormones is a good idea. Decant some into a separate container to not contaminate the original container. Dip the end of the cutting in the rooting hormone and dust off the excess powder. A one gallon pot will hold five cuttings placed around the outside edge and is deep enough to be a good length of cutting. Use a potting soil with little nutrient to avoid mold or algae.
Once some leaves and roots appear, a gentle broad spectrum fertilizer is fine. Make the holes with a chopstick or pencil. Insert the cutting gently to not brush off the rooting powder. Firm the soil around the cutting. Moisten but don’t drown the potting soil which needs to have good drainage. Tent with a clear plastic bag and place it in bright light, but not strong sunlight, in a warm place. Outside is fine but takes longer.
The first leaf is drawing in the energy to make roots. It usually takes about three or four months to become a plant, although some cuttings can take a year. When the cuttings have leaves and roots they can be gently dumped out and teased apart, then transplanted into separate pots. Allow them to grow into a reasonable size to go into the garden.
Willow water makes a good rooting solution. Cuttings in spring from willow soaked in water overnight can be used instead of purchased rooting powder. Then put your plant cuttings in the water overnight.
The Garden Club March presentation will be ‘Glorious Grasses’ with Mike Rogers, the grass man. Thursday, March 12, at 1 pm, at the Community Hall. All welcome to attend. $5 for non-members.
Pender Island Junior Sailing Association
‘Dr. Don’ Ends 32-Year Board Run
The PIJSA 2026 AGM was held as usual until “Dr. Don” Williams announced he was stepping down from the Board. Dr. Don had been involved with PIJSA since its inception in 1993 – that is 32 years of dedication to Junior Sailing – and has seen it grow to last year’s five weeks of courses and 106 students being enrolled.
Originally, with only a few courses being offered, a small group of volunteers was required and all would often be present for beach duty/supervision during all the courses and Dr. Don was always there. In subsequent years the courses had increased to being held for three and later on four weeks, which required more Directors in order to have at least two directors on the beach each week. Dr. Don however seemed to be still present every week!
Effective summer of 2025, PIJSA is now offering five weeks of courses and, yes, Dr. Don would ride his bike daily to our site to repair, monitor, mentor and assist daily!
Apart from always being available for work parties and advising on policies regarding first aid and how PIJSA should handle more serious events (very few), Dr. Don was an “engine whisperer” with the ability to start engines where others failed.
Dr. Don has advised that he will still help with our engines and will be available to help with other matters and, as a newly-minted society member rather than a Director, he stayed and participated in the Board meeting that followed our 2026 AGM.
The Pender community and visitors over the years have benefitted from all the years of volunteering by Dr. Don and it is unlikely that his 32 years of service will be matched by anyone else.
One of the critical issues of offering courses each year is having enough “responsible” people on the beach other than the instructors who are on the water. PIJSA needs to have a minimum of two Directors and/or members and additional volunteers each week to have four people to help assist with beach and water supervision of the students.
- Members are those who participate in the delivery of courses by helping on the beach in the summer; with boat cleaning and maintenance, particularly prior to July; and helping with events such as Friday BBQ lunches each week; the fund-raising Hackers Golf Tournament in September or the Fall Fair. Directors can be expected to be involved in all this and Board meetings; members get involved in some of the above.
- Volunteers are those parents/relatives/friends that can assist with beach supervision, weekly BBQs, etc.
The “necessary” beach duty numbers are required to deal with any incidents that may occur, which have always been very infrequent, so it is light duty and is quite enjoyable sitting on the beach. Sailing experience and/or knowledge helps, but is not necessary. The expectations are similar to what would be expected for participating with a school trip.
PIJSA would like to see more volunteers who are parents or grandparents even if they can only be present for the odd day and especially if they can let us know as we plan courses. Volunteers effectively become Members of the Society and if involved helping with the courses, will need a Police Check (a very simple process) except for parents and grandparents, who volunteer for the days or times that their children or grand-children are involved.
PIJSA will decide on the weeks it will offer courses this year by March 15, with an announcement on Facebook and The Pender Post. Registration for returning students and other household members would be on May 1. The decision in March will be about whether to offer four or five weeks of courses. The dates will likely be: July 20 – 24, July 27 – 31, August 3 – 7, August 10 – 14, and August 17 – 21 being the possible fifth week.
Currently, PIJSA does not have an instructor for advanced Level 3 & 4, but is posting for one, and several level 1 & 2 instructors are trying to upgrade. Registration, at this time, will likely be for beginners Level 1 & 2 and supervised ‘Fun Sail’ for those who have obtained Level 2.
Once a Level 3 & 4 instructor has been confirmed, the Fun Sail registrants will be taking a Level 3 & 4 course. PIJSA offers courses to all students, nine years of age to adult. Junior Sailing is historic; it refers to Flying Junior class dinghies, which were initially used. Junior does not reference age!
PIJSA has a new executive: Herman Nievaart, Commodore; Dave Harrison, Vice-Commodore; Rick Mudie, Treasurer; and Carolyn Cartwright-Owers, Secretary. PIJSA thanks Allyson Coffey, who is stepping down as Commodore and is hoping to travel next summer. Tom Caston, who was the Vice-Commodore has moved from Pender and is thanked for his many years on the Board. Dave Harrison will still be handling registration.
Pender Island Otters Swim Club
February has just flown by, but the coaches added some fun elements to the practices like “Swim-opoly”, where swimmers throw a dice to determine what they will swim for that turn.
Heavens if you throw the roll for “Go to Jail” where you have to tread water for a minute! Lots of fun was had by all ages on Friday the 13th, when Coach Laara brought the big dice out, and all groups got to see what they would end up doing for their time in the pool.
Our winter season ends a bit early this year due to overlap with School Spring break, and Panorama scheduling their annual pool cleaning and maintenance. We end on March 13, but might tuck in a ‘fun-race” day before we stop. The coaches are planning to have us all try some swim races, both individual and relay, to get folks excited about the summer meets.
Everyone did so well in the Swim-a-thon, that trying out some timed races seems like a really good idea. We hope to get lots of photos of racers on the day. Our other big event is our Annual General Meeting, which is planned for March 29 via Zoom. Members will be sent invitations to attend, as well as all the financial year end documents.
We are looking to encourage more parents to come onto the board, and are especially looking for someone to take on Treasurer. Our long-time treasurer John Cowan really would like to finally retire and is hoping someone will step forward to learn all there is to know about the job. Anyone interested in coming on to our board, please contact us at our club e-mail address [listed below].
It is true that many hands make work lighter, and more brains think up new ideas for how to improve our club, and keep the fun going. Looking forward, our summer session will be starting May 1, so registration for that will start mid-April, and be announced in next month’s report.
Lastly, we do want to send a special thanks to Mayne Island Hardware store who donated three new equipment bins for us to keep our kickboards, fins and other swim equipment dry and safe. Coach Laara, who approached them, and “swam for new bins” at the swim-a-thon, is also making new labels for the bins, and drilling holes in the bottoms to drain out any moisture. Our equipment will be a lot easier to keep sorted and dry now.
Weather Observations for January
January is usually one of our wettest months and also, on average, our second most snowy month after December. But in January 2025, we had no snow and lighter rainfall than usual; it rained every day for the first two weeks then we had a dry spell with lots of sunshine.
The temperature varies from one place to another on Pender Island and some people may have experienced lower temperatures than I have recorded; my readings are accurate for my location. Rainfall also varies from place to place and so does the wind.
As you read this, January and February weather will be in the past and spring will be fast approaching. Do not be too hasty with your plants for the new season. We usually have frosts in March and some of the new plants do not like that. Our snow season is not over and we have had some March snow in recent years, including 21 cm in 2021.
Number Puzzle
Numbers Puzzle MCA #64 March 2026
This puzzle has 27 numbers. To solve the puzzle you must add a number 1-9 in each of the fifty four remaining small empty squares, but there must not be more than one number 1-9 in any row or vertical column or in any group of nine small squares. The puzzle is medium difficult and there is more than one correct solution.