From Our President
I gave myself an impossible task last month, and I knew from the start it was doomed to fail.
As we finished September’s issue of The Pender Post – an issue I’ll acknowledge only after the fact had a rather auspicious number – I was reviewing the Calendar of Events.
Last month, Pender had some serious events. There were gatherings with our provincial and federal representatives just days before they went back in session to help shape our path forward. There were Islands Trust meetings and town halls, community workshops, board meetings, markets and movie nights.
Burger nights, Bingo, and coffee dates. BC Ferries came to Pender Island to talk with us directly about shutting Otter Bay Terminal down for five days some time next year.
It would be quite a feat to participate in everything that happens around this place. There’s no way someone, even an overenthusiastic newbie, could manage to. Attend. Them. All.
Impossible, you say?
Yes, I agree. Between prior commitments and time off-island, and my glorious duties as doting father and supportive partner, there was no chance I could manage it. So, I settled for doing my best.
I first attended the South Pender Local Trust Committee meeting, but missed the public forum portion when it was rescheduled to the afternoon over a missed ferry. I joined conversations with MLA Rob Botterell and MP Elizabeth May at the Community Hall, and even got to attend the opening of the Magic Lake trail. I trained to be a projectionist and presented a matinee of Lilo and Stitch.
I realize now how absurd it was to even consider Attending. Them. All. There’s just too much happening around here. Too many passionate people doing interesting things. Too many groups working hard to make amazing things happen here. So much going on, on Pender Island.
That’s a good problem to have.
This month, I will not try to Attend. Them. All. I will settle for doing my best. And I’ll rely on the dedicated contributors to the pages of The Pender Post to keep me in touch with everything else.
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Special Notices
David Ohnona Wins Two Gold Medals at BC 55+ Games
David Ohnona at the 10th hole at Bowen Park. Photo: C. Headey.
The 55+ BC Games took place in Nanaimo September 9-13. Our own David Ohnona entered Disc Golf in the Senior Men’s Division for men over 65. There were 26 competitors registered in all divisions and nine registered in Senior Men’s. In addition to the Low Gross Score, there was a Skills Competition. On Wednesday, September 10, play got underway at 2 pm under mostly sunny skies and a temperature of 15 degrees with competitors playing 18 holes at Bowen Park in Nanaimo. David finished the round with a 61, which was 7 over par, and that put him in fifth place in his division. Thursday morning was the Putting Component of the Skills Competition.
Senior Men’s 65+ Disc Golf Singles Medal Winners: Bill Humby (Silver), David Ohnona (Gold), Ernie Klassen (Bronze). Photo: K. Reimer.
The competitors returned on Thursday afternoon to the same course and with similar weather conditions. David was paired up in a different foursome for this round and was able to improve his score from the previous day by throwing a 55 which was 1 over par, putting him at 116 over two days and tied for first place with Ernie Klassen from Dawson Creek.
Friday morning there were the two remaining disciplines of the Skills Competition: Accuracy and Distance. David threw 310’ for his Distance Throw and won Gold in the Senior Men’s 65+ Skills Competition. On Friday afternoon, the competitors were gathered at Bowen Park for their final round of 18 holes for the competition.
Again, the weather conditions were near perfect with mostly sunny skies, a temperature of 15 degrees, and a very light breeze. David was teamed up with Ernie Klassen, Bill Humby and John Atchison for the final round. David played superbly, only throwing one bogey – and three birdies – for a final score of 52. This gave him a score of 168 for the Tournament and the Gold Medal, beating his closest competitor by five strokes over 54 holes of disc golf.
Congratulations David Ohnona on your two Gold Medals at the 55+ BC Games and for representing Pender Island.
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Bouldering Wall
As some of you may have heard, there is an ongoing project to have an outdoor bouldering wall built on the school grounds! This four-sided structure, located next to the outdoor classroom, will have permanent fall protection in place, making it usable at all times. It will be for the students during school hours and open to the community outside of those hours at no cost to the users.
What is Bouldering you ask? It is a type of rock climbing that is done on short walls (in this case, 10-12 ft tall), so no ropes nor harnesses are needed. It is a full body workout that focuses on intricate movements and problem-solving skills. Enjoyable solo or as a group, it is an inclusive activity for all ages and levels of fitness. Sounds pretty amazing right? By building this structure, we are creating a healthy space for Youth and all members of the Community to channel their energy and socialize through movement.
This project is being led by a group of motivated and qualified volunteers. In the last year and a half, we have established an accurate and detailed budget of $130K, addressed all the insurance issues, and talked with all the relevant providers to have their full support. The wall will be manufactured and installed by local company High Performance Climbing Walls, who also built the Stelly’s Secondary climbing gym in Saanich. The foundation and roof will be executed by a skilled volunteer workforce. By having such a high quality structure, it will remain relevant for decades to come, to keep climbers of all levels engaged.
Now that the groundwork has been laid, we are at the fundraising stage. Between the CRD donating $10K of seed funding to get the project started and over $7.5K raised through our market and Fall Fair booth, we are already well on our way! Financially, we are operating under the Pender Island Recreation and Hall Association charity (PIRAHA) to be able to issue tax receipts and access more grants than if we applied under the school banner. We applied for several grants in 2025, but none of them were successful, which is why we are turning to the community for funding. When we reapply for the second wave of grants in January 2026, our goal is to have funds and community support to add credibility to our project.
This is where you can help. The project timeline depends on how soon we can raise the necessary funds. Help us spread the word about our project. Every dollar donated makes a difference, whether it be $20, $200 or $2,000. Approach family members, friends, neighbours, anyone who sees the value in having a safe space to connect and be active, especially for our kids and youth. Think of it as a long term family gym membership – that’s great value right there. You can donate directly through GoFundMe and track our progress: https://gofund.me/f4ea6375. To receive a tax receipt for a donation above $250, please e-transfer PIRAHA at accounts@penderislands.org and specify in the comments that you are donating to the climbing wall. Include your name and address.
We appreciate your interest and support. This concerns all of us – Pender needs more activities to engage in meaningful ways. We have the power to make a difference within our community, now and for generations to come. With the Schooner Trail soon to connect the school grounds to the Magic Lake neighborhood, the bouldering wall will become part of a hub for the whole community to enjoy and a healthy outlet for all.
You can also visit our Facebook page.
Have suggestions or want to get involved? Send us a message.
Restoration at QENENIW̱
October 3, 10 am – 2 pm QENENIW̱ (Hay Point reserve next to Poets Cove)
Our community is invited to join the PEPAKEṈ HÁUTW̱ for the final restoration day for 2025 at QENENIW̱.
These community volunteer days are beautiful opportunities for locals to learn about the W̱SÁNEĆ connection to their homelands and to spend time giving back to the land.
Please email me to RSVP and find out further details.
HÍ,SW̱ḴE SIÁM
Santa’s Sac 2025
Santa’s Sac returns this December to help Pender Island families, seniors, and individuals enjoy the holidays with dignity and warmth. In 2024, the program supported more than 80 households with over $13,000 in grocery gift cards, toys, poinsettias, chocolates, and holiday meals.
This year, we anticipate similar demand and need community support to make it happen. The Elf Tree that will be at Tru Value, will guide you in contributing toys or gift cards for Penderites in need as we approach Christmas. Volunteers will also be needed to wrap, sort, and distribute gifts in December.
Cash, cheque, or e-transfer donations to santaonpender@gmail.com. Please contact the Food Bank if you would like to volunteer to help out with Santa’s Sac.
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In Appreciation
Mac DeMarco and Community Spirit Raises $46,000 for Doctors Without Borders
What an incredible effort! On August 24, Pender Island’s community came together for a benefit concert that raised an approximate $46,000 for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières. Organized in just one week by The Crisp Festival (a SGI CRC Event) and sponsored by Ptarmigan Arts, the event proved the power of community spirit.
The fundraiser began with Crisp Festival organizer Jo Beattie contacting musician Mac DeMarco, a new Pender resident. Mac generously offered to have his band perform, kicking off a flurry of community support. Darcie and Alan Whittingham immediately offered their Camp Cowbell as the perfect outdoor venue, and Lisa Fleming of Ptarmigan Arts jumped in managing donations and providing some of the sound equipment. Ripley Stafford and JoJo Beattie then did their magic with social media.
The night was a special moment for young local band, The Dip, who opened the show, fulfilling a promise from Mac.
The crowd also heard from Georgia Keefe, who came from Vancouver to speak on behalf of MSF, sharing the organization’s important mission.
Volunteers from The Crisp and Ptarmigan Arts worked hard to pull it all off. Thanks to the RCMP, Fire, and Ambulance Services for their support. The community responded in full force, with locals and off-island fans showing up to support the cause. In a final act of generosity, Mac Demarco matched all donations, helping to push the total to an impressive $46,000. These funds will directly support MSF’s work providing medical care in over 70 countries.
The Crisp wishes to thank everyone involved, with a special shout-out to Mac DeMarco, his band, Darcie and Alan Whittingham, Todd Bulled and Deb Wein, Lisa Fleming and Ptarmigan Arts, the dozens of volunteers who made it all possible, The Dip, Barb Grimmer, Karl Hamson, and photographers Rose Da Silva and Kenta Kikuchi.
Mac’s comment on the event: “I’m so happy the show was formulated in the way it was. So much help from tons of awesome people, all for a good cause. Really felt like the perfect way to cap off a summer on Pender. Hopefully we can make a tradition of it. Long live The Dip.”
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Deverell Family Gratitude
Tekla Deverell
During our recent family visit to Pender Island as honoured family members of Tekla Deverell at the Fall Fair, I was struck by the sense of community, togetherness, and warmth of this special island. I remember the Fall Fair with great fondness, when it was still held at the school in the 1980s, and not the beautiful community centre that now houses this event and so much more, knowing that it was community members like our mother, Tekla, and her dear friend, Ellen Willingham, along with many others, who helped bring the community centre to fruition, bringing the Fall Fair to a new and better home.
These women were a force. They were forerunners in organic farming, community involvement, and activism. They supported the island in so many ways, including working to secure special places, such as Brooks Point and Medicine Beach, to be shared by generations to come. The contributions made to the organic farming community, the Pender Island Farmers’ Institute, the Fall Fair, the Garden Mentorship Program for Young People, and the community in general were immense. It’s a legacy of farming, teaching, caring, and community work that makes our family so proud of both Tekla and Ellen.
I was delighted to share my Tekla memory quilt with the community at the Fall Fair and so honoured to get a second-place ribbon… especially as it was the work of such a novice in competition with so many talented Pender quilters! There are so many memories of Pender in that quilt, created from her paper-thin stock of old t-shirts… from the Browning Bombers Blues Band to the 1984 Summer Solstice, The Pender Island Farmers’ Market, The Medicine Beach Chorus, and the Bear Mother Project in which the totems were carved. I am so proud of my mother and the over 200 volunteer women who carved those totems that welcome all into the Community Hall. I hope many of you in the community can remember the carving and some of the special events shown on the t-shirts. (You can read about the quilt on my blog about it at https://teklamemoryquilt.blogspot.com/2012/10/).
As Kevin Willingham mentioned at the opening of this year’s Fall Fair, “shared action, love, and community” is what Tekla and Ellen were all about. The island’s sense of community and sharing is a testament to the love that both these incredible women had for Pender Island. As a family, we are so honoured that a bursary has been created in our mother’s name; we are touched by the community support and the continued good work of the Pender Island Farmers’ Institute.
The great garden work continues, and we are grateful to Larry Colcy for keeping Tekla’s “Tree of Life Garden” thriving, donating the produce to the Pender Food Bank. And, although we all miss Ellen’s famous goat cheese, knowing the Iona farm is still cared for by Ellen’s grown children, Kevin and Janet, warms my heart.
But of all the moments that moved me on my recent Pender visit, it was when an old friend of my mother’s tapped my shoulder at the Fall Fair, after the opening ceremony, and, with tears sparkling in her eyes, explained to me how Tekla was so special to her. She told me that she still had seeds and cuttings growing in her garden that Tekla had given her, so many years later.
It is the passing of seeds, the sharing of roots, and the giving from one garden to another that make a community like Pender such a remarkable and caring one… and we give thanks, our Deverell family and friends, to have Tekla honoured and remembered by the Pender Fall Fair and Farmers’ Institute.
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Halloween on Pender: From Rum Road to a Haunted Walk
Photos courtesy Darcie Whittingham.
A haunting stroll through a labyrinth of extravagantly detailed exhibits staffed by costumed collaborators.
A dedicated trick-or-treating hub where houses are near-unanimously draped in spooky décor and feature amenities for children and adults alike. A volunteer network with a cache of donated goodies to keep the treats flowing.
All these efforts and more culminate in an unforgettable Halloween experience for Pender Island youth. And the youthful at heart.
Holidays on the islands are always a unique experience. And Halloween is no different. While more centralized communities may rely on population density to build a memorable night, Pender Island ghouls and goblins lean on the efforts of, and collaboration between, individuals to make magic come to life.
The Haunted Walk
Consider the Haunted Walk, an expansive pathway through elaborately themed displays that snakes each year through the farm fields near the Community Hall.
The unmistakable sight starts coming together in early October, visible from Bedwell Harbour Road. But it really comes to life on one special evening, when the Community Hall hosts a Halloween-themed event next door and emergency services post a helpful presence near the field.
Last year, the walk wound through a series of dimly lit exhibits featuring skeletal pirates and firefighters, harrowing hellhounds and carriages drawn by glowing pumpkin-headed monstrosities.
These sights mixed with pop culture displays such as a moon-silhouetted E.T. and a tent filled with Star Wars joy like Wookies, Jawas and an X-Wing spacecraft. And sprinkled amongst it all are local supporters dressed for the occasion as terrifying clowns and more.
While the Halloween Walk may be the biggest event leading up to All Hallows’ Eve, it is certainly not the only one. Hope Bay kicks off its annual pumpkin carving contest on October 23, and on October 25 a Halloween dance at the Hall will raise money for Pender Radio and provide a place for our (slightly) more mature monsters to mash.
Rum Road and Privateers Trick-or-Treat Loop
When it comes to Halloween night, there is no debate as to where on the island trick-or-treaters should go. The answer is the Rum Road and Privateers Loop.
For years, the Magic Lake Estates neighbourhood centred around Rum and Privateers has come to life with elaborate lighting displays, novel Rube Goldberg-ian treat-distribution devices, and yards featuring fire pit rest stops and beverages for the chaperones.
With an islands-worth of kids flocking to loop each October, locals are well aware of what awaits them. And while the challenge is accepted with good nature, the cost of hosting can be high. No surprise, residents living outside of the zone have stepped up to help.
Each year, Talisman Books & Gallery becomes a depository for Penderites sharing in the festivities by donating treats. Talisman owner Carri Bell says they typically collect enough donations to top homes up with a few extra boxes.
“When we bought on Rum Road, we were told that we were on the Halloween Loop! I’m not sure how the loop started,” Bell told The Pender Post. “We were surprised by how many kids are actually on the island as we lost count at 150!”
Residents of the area can come into the store to collect supplies, and a team of volunteers help deliver more to other addresses that may have missed out. Bell notes they are always looking for extra helping hands, as well as donations – it is encouraged to vary the type of treats, so kids receive a selection of candy, toys, chips, and other goodies on the day.
“We have about 50 houses on the loop and donations are greatly appreciated,” Bell said.
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Newcomers’ Notes
That’s So Pender: Seasonal Friendships
When I moved from Vancouver to North Pender Island about three years ago, there were many exciting things ahead of me – a new home to make our own, a once-beautiful garden to restore, lots of trails to discover with my pup, and new, ridiculously friendly neighbours.
Our closest neighbour Audrey, 93 years-old, walked over with a freshly baked lemon meringue pie to welcome us. Who does that in this day and age? We became instant friends, obviously. As I met more of our neighbours and wonderful folks in the community, I fell, every day a little more, in utter love with Pender Island and its people.
I’ve come to realize, over the years, that there are quite a number of unique facets to life on our islands; many I had not anticipated at all. One of these realizations didn’t happen overnight. It took the passing of a few seasons to see a pattern emerge: I had seasonal friends.
What even is that? Scratches head. Aren’t friendships consistent, or at least a slow build to seeing friends more often, regularly over time? Nope, not on Pender – at least not always: many people come and go with the different seasons. I’ve come to know who is seasonal in my friend roster and to remain curious and open-minded, when adding a new one, as to which type they might be to me.
For example, there are full-time residents who seek each other’s closer company, sharing pastimes during the dark, rainy months or part-timers who are here only during the summer. Others are snowbirds that flock to warmer climates in winter and are on Pender the rest of the year.
I’ve accepted the flow of friends that come and go.
It didn’t come naturally at first, if I’m being honest, needing to let go of my expectations from big-city life and only 40+ years of making friends and maintaining relationships.
It’s a Pender thing! I’ve found there’s no general rule, per se, when it comes to locals. Some are energized by summer, out and about often, wanting to do things together while it’s warm and sunny. We attend concerts, community events, visit our cozy beaches, have tea and treats outside at Slow Coast, but then retreat to sort of hibernate during the colder months.
Others seek my company (and I theirs, of course) right after summer winds down. They are busy bees in the warmer weather and we barely even text for months at a time over the summer. We still very much like each other. It’s just the flow of things, of our island lives.
My friendships here are as varied as human personalities, but there is definitely a constant: I have seasonal friends. And I’m at peace with it. Perhaps you, fellow newcomer, will notice the same and come to like it this way too.
Do you have a story to tell of a seasonal friendship? Are there any fun facts that are “so Pender” that you would like to share with us? Email us so we can write about it!
community@penderpost.org
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People
Stories That Brought You Here: Barry Mathias
The Stories That Brought You Here is a home-spun podcast by resident Chris Wakaluk about the people who have built their lives on Pender Island. Each month, we are pleased to present a story from a recent episode. Full conversation.
Over the years, a lot of wonderful individuals have come and gone from Pender Island. Several of them have made lasting contributions to how the island is today. Sadly, many of these people and their efforts become forgotten over time. I think Barry Mathias fits this description.
Currently living across the water in Sidney, Mathias and his wife, Clare, moved from England to Canada while in their late forties. They first settled in Victoria but found some challenges adjusting to aspects of this new change.
A move to Pender ensued, and then interesting things began to happen. The couple soon launched Talisman Books & Gallery, the island’s very first bookstore. The business would add a new dynamic and artistic flare to the Driftwood Centre, which did not exist beforehand. Barry also joined Solstice Theatre, which had a significant impact on his life.
“I’ve always been keen on theatre,” he said during our recent conversation. “And I had no sooner arrived than I heard that they were going to put on a play. So, I turned up and this was the one done by Bronwen Merle. She was the director at the time, and they put on an outside production of Twelfth Night. I couldn’t believe my luck when she cast me as Malvolio. And that has been the highlight of my life.”
Despite these two significant contributions to the community, Barry’s lasting legacy on the island would have to be the Car Stops. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of using these designated hitchhiking spots, from either picking someone up, or giving someone a lift, then you will know that this is a great feature of Pender.
“The island needed some transportation. At the time, I don’t think there was a taxi. There was no bus. If you were elderly and couldn’t drive, then you either had to leave the island or find someone to drive you around, which was difficult. I thought, what if we had a sort of place where people could get a lift.”
Barry Mathias. Photo courtesy Chris Wakaluk.
Spotlight
This month, our Community Spotlight series is pleased to introduce the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre, which hosts this month’s The Crisp festival. Check out their report on page 65 for more information.
First, can you tell us what the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre is about, and what you do?
The Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre (SGICRC) is a nonprofit, multi-service organization dedicated to “empowering islands, connecting communities, and sustaining futures”.
Serving Pender, Saturna, Mayne, and Galiano, the SGICRC strengthens community life through educational, cultural, social, and capacity-building initiatives. We are guided by a vision of vibrant, interconnected islands, and lead programs such as Housing NOW for affordable housing solutions, the Sustainable Funding Initiative and Grant Hub to build nonprofit resilience, and the W̱SÁNEĆ Reconcili-Action projects addressing climate action, cultural revitalization, and ecological restoration.
Does the SGICRC run any other community events or other special projects? If so, what do you typically sponsor or promote?
Additional initiatives include Gulf INLET (Island network of learning and experiential tourism), the Food and Agriculture Program featuring the annual Crisp Festival, and business centre services that provide shared space, technology, and equipment for community use.
Beyond that, we have a few concert events in the year and the sky’s the limit as to possibilities. Recently, on August 24, The Crisp organized a pop-up fundraiser concert with artist Mac DeMarco, which was held on the Whittingham’s field (next to the Community Hall). Ptarmigan Arts joined us, along with dedicated volunteers and so much community support. Entrance was by donation, and all monies went to Doctors Without Borders.
Is there a story or behind-the-scenes anecdote you’d like to share with readers?
As with any event, most people not involved do not realize the behind-the-scenes goings on! The recent Mac DeMarco event took a lot of nerve to arrange. We did not know how many people would attend and it was a lot of the unknown taking place. We were just so relieved that our local police (yay Sergeant Kim, newly arrived on Pender!), ambulance, and fire crew were on hand. We so appreciated all the young people coming and for being respectful of people sitting down… thanks Ben McConchie for handling this.
Can you tell us more about The Crisp Festival?
The Crisp is a community driven multi-arts festival with enjoyable happenings aimed at fostering community well-being through music, art, poetry, and transformational storytelling and discussion panels.
We also have apple-related activities and instructional gardening workshops to complement the SGICRC’s mandate of food and farming security, and promotion of environmental sustainability.
When did The Crisp festival start, and what sparked it?
Its birth was sparked in 2020 by an SGICRC afternoon event called “Let No Apple Be Wasted” – this was during COVID, when only 50 people were allowed to meet outside.
Jo Beattie volunteered to help when her son Benedict was charged with the event as a CRC summer student. She was sorting apples next to a neighbour, artist Ilse Phillips. It was a gorgeous, sunny Pender afternoon. They started chatting and agreed the event could be done the following year, and should add music and poetry.
Jo and Ilse approached Melody Pender the following week and she said to go for it. Beattie’s daughter JoJo came up with the name “The Crisp”. It was, and remains so, a grass roots festival.
Are the original founders still taking part, or still on Pender? If so, tell us a bit about them.
Jo has a busy time organizing the festival and also works with various musicians on specific projects. Jo recently taught for a few months in Prince George, where her son now lives. Ilse has a daughter and a one-year-old grandchild who lives in Australia, so after the first two festivals she was in Australia and could not help during the event. Now Ilse helps when she is free to do so. Rose Da Silva stepped up to help Jo. Greg Beattie steers production and calms any nerves. The volunteer core remains mostly the same with the odd person moving off island or else work or family demands take over.
The festival would not happen without the many wonderful volunteers we have, the support of Deanna Evertt, Colin Hamilton and fellow sound crew, Melody Pender of the SGICRC, local artists, sponsors, Andrea at the Hall, local goodwill and all those who buy concert tickets.
How many volunteers are involved in running The Crisp?
Roughly 20 during the year, around 45-50 during The Crisp weekend. We would really like to have more volunteers in set up and take down, a few general helpers, bakers to provide apple goods for the upstairs during the Saturday daytime, people to pick apples before the weekend. We would like a Youth Team.
What’s in the future for you? Anything exciting in the works, or dreams you would like to fulfill?
We are endeavouring to make The Crisp event more sustainable. We need to find creative ways to collaborate within the community as arts funding decreases. We have a feeling that the Mac (DeMarco) event will be repeated with an additional famous “guest”!
The Crisp may also work on an exciting side project involving artists from the SGI going to The Orkney Islands.
Are there any special contributions you would like to highlight?
The many folks on Pender who have supported this endeavour.
How can people get in touch with you?
crispfestival@gmail.com or come to an event and talk with us.
Hummingbird Hollow B&B
Tales of a Charmed Life
Weary of the weekend ferry commute from and back to my teaching job on the Lower Mainland, in the fall of 1989 I made the bold decision to take a leave-of-absence and try a more laid-back life. Chuck and I would build an addition onto our lakefront home and open a B&B. Because we had previously amalgamated the lot between us and our neighbour, it was relatively straightforward to extend our bungalow and create two comfortable and private suites with a shared lounge/eating area.
The world wide web was in its infancy in 1990 when we welcomed our first guests. The crucial way to advertise was to be included in the government-produced BC Accommodation Guide for which an establishment had to be annually approved by an inspector. He checked for cobwebs, cleanliness and comfort of the mattress, of course, but also insisted on things like dead-bolt locks on the door and two bedside lamps. We also had to take the Foodsafe course.
In those early years we were also fortunate that Penny Tomlin of Cliffside B&B sent her overflow guests to us. She very successfully solicited guests with strategically-placed ads in doctors’ and lawyers’ publications in the U.S. We were happy to take the visitors she couldn’t accommodate.
The B&B officially opened on April 13th. Any apprehensions we may have felt about bringing strangers into our home quickly melted away. We enjoyed the guests so much that first weekend that we invited them to our Easter Sunday turkey dinner; we had many similar interactions with our guests in the years that followed.
That first summer we welcomed two husband and wife lawyer duos, a meat cutter, a Money’s Mushrooms PR person, a fellow who wrote articles for Popular Mechanics, a Victoria sportscaster, a fish ‘n’ chip shop owner from Tottenham, Ont., a real live woman detective from London, England, and one young graphic artist who left her pyjama bottoms between the sheets at the foot of the bed. Because we sat down after our guests had finished their breakfast and told them about Pender Island, we heard a lot of their stories; it was like taking a world tour without having to leave the comforts of home.
We received some novel payments over the years. In 1990, a group of five disc golfers from the western US paid with bags of frisbees, and one Grey Cup Sunday, a beer truck delivery man paid us with ten dozen cases of beer, which made Chuck very happy.
In September we welcomed special guests Peter and Lois Flanagan, donating a one-night stay to them as part of a community celebration of Peter’s 100th birthday. Peter said the secret to his longevity was to walk a lot and to eat small meals. He had ridden the rails in his youth and had been part of the Wobblies of the World movement. He had worked at a lot of jobs and had very interesting stories to tell. He and Lois enjoyed their stay. Peter was particularly fascinated by the dimmer switches, and we sent him home with a pair of bright pink and turquoise blue Phentex slippers that had been knitted by my mum, which were available for our guests to use and which Peter had taken a shine to. He was a real character.
We were happy when things at Hummingbird Hollow slowed down in the fall after a busy first summer. We needed the down time to recharge our batteries.
Remembering
Elsie Annette Person
March 3, 1936 – August 10, 2025
Elsie Annette Person, 89, of Pender Island, BC, passed away in the early morning hours of August 10 with her daughters by her side.
Elsie was born on March 3, 1936, in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, to Edwin and Almina Flaata, the children of Norwegian immigrants. She grew up on the family farm alongside her seven siblings, where life was filled with both hard work and laughter. She often told stories of farm adventures, caring for the horses, and the day a cow named Elsie arrived – prompting her father to give her (human Elsie) the nickname “Bucky.” This story, one of her favourites, always sparked smiles and laughter whenever she shared it.
As a young woman, Elsie moved with some of her sisters to Jasper, Alberta, where she found work at the local hospital. Though she once dreamed of becoming a nurse, her adventurous spirit led her to Kamloops, BC, with her sister Marion. It was in Kamloops that she met Ronald Person. They married in 1960 and welcomed two daughters, Kelly Jane in 1961 and Barbara Louise in 1968.
Kamloops became Elsie’s long-time home, where family life was rich with camping trips, fishing excursions, and gatherings with the Flaata siblings and their families. These reunions were always filled with teasing, storytelling, and the bubbling laughter she so loved.
Elsie dedicated 25 years of her life to working at the Ponderosa Lodge in Kamloops. In her role, she embodied the caring spirit she had dreamed of as a young woman, supporting patients and coworkers with compassion and cheer. Her dedication and warmth left a lasting impression on all who knew her there.
Elsie was a proud grandmother to six grandchildren – Matthew, Brent, and Stefani (children of Kelly and Mark), and Ayana, Josh, and Andrew (children of Barbie and Scot) – and later became a great-grandmother to three boys: Efrayim (son of Brent), and twins Søren and Fynn (sons of Stefani and Chris).
In her later years, Elsie lived on Pender Island in a suite at Kelly and Mark’s home. She delighted in being close to family, enjoying Saturday outings with her son-in-law Mark, town trips with Kelly, catching up on her grandchildren’s work stories, and tapping her toes to the music of her great-grandchildren.
In 2024, Elsie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite surgery and treatment, the cancer returned in a rare and aggressive form. Surrounded by her loved ones, she faced this journey with courage and grace, never wanting to be a burden, but accepting the care that her family readily offered. She passed peacefully on August 10, embraced in love and prayer.
Elsie will be remembered for her warmth, her laughter, and the joy she found in family across three generations. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the local health nurses, especially Miranda and Carmel, for their care, kindness, and friendship as they supported our mom/grandma/great-grandma – and all of us as her family – during her final months.
Kenneth (Roy) Oram
June 8, 1933 – August 26, 2025
Born in Montreal, a loyal Habs fan, a master gardener, a lifelong learner, a longtime Pender resident, and a local character, Roy passed away peacefully at Royal Jubilee Hospital. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Kathy, in November 2020. He is survived by his nephew Tom (Linda) Pinch of Surrey, niece Kathy (Dwayne) Shewchuck of Peachland and many nieces and nephews across Canada. There will be no service or Celebration of Life as per Roy’s request. Donations to the BCSPCA would please both Kathy and Roy.
David Auchterlonie
December 24, 1936 – August 31, 2025
David (Dave) Lawrence Auchterlonie, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 31 at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife Connie, his daughters Deb and Jennifer, his son Greg, grandson Ryan, and a large extended Family.
Born at home in Vancouver on December 24, 1936, the family – Olive and Harold (Curly), older sister, Beverly, and Dave – moved to Pender Island in 1947. (His other siblings were living away from home by that point.) At the time, Pender had a population of approximately 250, and Dave was related to most of them. For him, Pender had unlimited stretches of land to explore with few fences or private properties.
Dave quickly forged strong bonds with many of his older relatives, in particular, his uncle Laurie and aunt Addie Auchterlonie; his aunt, Laura Bradley; and his aunt, Alice Auchterlonie. These descendants of the first settlers on Pender helped Dave understand the tenets of life in a small rural community: hard work and self-sufficiency; community; and especially, family. Teachings he never forgot.
A rowboat opened a whole new world for Dave: fishing with his friends, trips to Saturna, rowing around Pender, and taking his aunt Laura for rides. (When he was married and had a family – three children – he would sometimes row them to Saturna – to Taylor Bay – for a picnic or out into Plumper Sound to fish.)
School was not Dave’s element, and he left early, but returned later to complete high school and a few university courses. He started his work life early – aged 14 – on tugboats with his father. They travelled up and down the coast, as far as Prince Rupert, moving log booms to sawmills and other items by barge. For a while he lived in a shack near the beach in Campbell River with his friend and cousin, John Grimmer.
He met Connie – the love of his life – on Pender. She had come to visit her best friend, Lynn, and her husband, John Grimmer. Dave and Connie were married in 1959. (They had been married for 66 years at the time of his death). Though Connie tried to keep him in the city, Dave’s roots drew him back to Pender. In 1963, with two young daughters in tow, the family returned to the island to build their life together. They moved into a small cottage on the Auchterlonie farm property and the following year their son Greg was born.
In the early years the family lived mostly off the land, much like Dave’s ancestors before him: venison, clams, fish, oysters, vegetables from the garden and fruit from the orchard.
Dave worked hard at many jobs on Pender: he laboured in his youth; logged with brother-in-law, John Scoones; worked at Smith’s Store; and later drove machinery during the construction of the ferry dock at Otter Bay. When his cousin, Don Grimmer, invited him to join himself and his father, Percy Grimmer, in building houses, a company was formed: Pender Island Builders Ltd. The company thrived for years and many of the basic bungalows they built on Pender still stand. During this partnership, they purchased a backhoe, and Dave soon became well known for his skill with it.
In 1976, with spinal surgery ahead, Dave shifted careers and became a realtor, where he quickly found success. After five years, once healed, he returned to his true calling – the backhoe and building industry. Dave had a ‘family rate’ for his backhoe work. Unfortunately, because he was related to most of Pender, he rarely charged full price!
In his spare time, Dave tirelessly collected logs – they had to be cedar and a specific diameter – determined to build a family home on land gifted by his aunt Alice. Over many years, with many helping hands, a palisade log house was built and the family happily moved in May 1970. The house quickly became a favourite stop for people. In their warm, inviting kitchen Dave and Connie welcomed friends and family for a chat, a laugh, a meal, and maybe a wee dram.
Dave’s sense of community service was strong. He joined the Pender Island Fire Department when the first community fire truck was bought, and in his later years served proudly as Fire Chief. He also gave his time generously through the Royal Canadian Legion, the Golf Club, the Lions Club, the Greenangels, and the Museum Society. When his daughters lobbied for a horse, Dave built a barn and fences and donated many hours to build an outdoor arena for the pony club. Whenever there was a need – whether with his backhoe, his skills, hard work, or simply his kindness – Dave was always ready to help.
Dave’s boyish sense of fun and adventure never left him. As a young dad he would ‘chase’ his children in and out and around their small cottage. “The game would begin! We would run to their bedroom, jump onto the bed and then to the dresser, out the window onto the cistern, jump off the cistern and then around to the front of the house and back through to start again. Yelling as we went.” Everyone eventually collapsed in gales of laughter. Dave’s backhoe also became a circus ride for his children perched in the bucket.
Dave – with Connie always – had an active social life on Pender. There were many dinners with friends; dances and parties at the Port Washington and Hope Bay halls; parties – including their famous ‘shiver parties’ thus named because the sun went down early at Hope Bay, resulting in cool evenings; beach parties at the Spit; and even square dancing with friends.
In their retirement, Dave and Connie bought a 30’ sailboat, sailed up to Desolation Sound and along the coast Dave remembered from his youth. Their next adventure was to buy a fifth wheel and drive across Canada and north to Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
Beyond his work and service, Dave was a good father, a very proud grandfather, and a remarkable husband. His twinkling eyes and mischievous smile were ever present, even in the last 26 months of his life, when he received compassionate care from the dedicated staff at Greenwoods on Salt Spring Island. They not only cared for Dave with dignity and tenderness but also supported his family with warmth and compassion, something that was deeply felt and greatly appreciated.
Dave will be remembered for his devotion to family, his generosity of spirit, and his lifelong dedication to Pender Island. His legacy is one of love, community, hard work, humour, and unwavering generosity.
He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by family, friends, and the entire Pender Island community. A Celebration of Life is planned for spring 2026.
Government
MP
For many years, Pender has played a key role in the effort to stop the abuse of Salish Sea waters by foreign freighters. The legal justification comes from the ancient law giving ships the right to seek refuge in safe harbours.
The rule is unassailable. Ships and crews on rough waters in storms face peril. Much less so – not at all – are the freighters offered free parking in the Salish Sea. Our first local citizens meeting with the BC Chamber of Shipping was on Pender.
I had not been your MP for long when a dear friend from Saturna, Susie Washington-Smyth, called to complain about the freighters transferring gypsum in Plumper Sound. She said, “you know Paul Martin. Call him and get this stopped,” or words to that effect. So, I did. I asked our former Prime Minister to get Canada Steamship Lines to stop transferring gypsum, creating clouds of dust from ship to ship.
I realized the ships coming from the US to ship gypsum in Canadian waters did so because we had weak environmental regulations. That call led to Paul Martin asking his son to put me in contact with shippers. They promised not to keep engines running, expose residents to excessive noise or lights, and to create complaint processes when ships violated these rules.
But it was hardly an adequate result. Once I got the process for local community liaisons established, Islands Trust took over. The 1-800 number for complaints is helpful, but NOT a solution.
Over the years, the problem has only worsened. The Fraser Vancouver Port Authority regards it as an essential part of their business plan to direct freighters to anchor in our waters. The Port Authority has never troubled itself to ask the Indigenous rights holders if this abuse of their Douglas Treaty rights can be negotiated.
The freighters drop anchor in the Salish Sea, doing damage to benthic organisms, the noise of their engines threatens the survival of the SRKW, and their presence disturbs the quality of life of residents living nearby. The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority uses the waters to ease congestion at their port. It is a wholly unfair situation.
As the anchorages proliferated along our coastlines, reaching farther north to Gabriola, citizen activists formed the South Shore Ship Watch Alliance (nofreighteranchorages.ca).
One key and effective activist, Bruce McConchie, also from Pender, made a huge impact in parliament when he testified at the parliamentary committee studying a bill I had hoped would make a real difference.
I’ve lobbied every federal Minister of Transportation to restrict the anchorages – starting with Lisa Raitt in the Harper years, and then Liberal Ministers of Transportation, from Marc Garneau to Omar Alghabra and in the last two years, Anita Anand, Chrystia Freeland, and last week, a switch to Steve McKinnon.
It was Omar Alghabra who finally appeared to understand that the high-handed, unresponsive nature of the Port Authorities is part of the problem. He brought forward Bill C-33, about rail safety and ports, with expanded powers for the minister to order removal of freighters in anchorages where they posed an environmental threat, embedding indigenous rights, and thanks to my amendment, banning the export of thermal coal.
Thanks to Bruce’s testimony, MPs from the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois came around to understanding how unacceptable the situation is. The bill was at its final stage, and stuck there for over a year, when on January 6, 2025, Bill C-33 died on the order paper.
And so now I start over again.
I hope to deliver results. I am so grateful to all the citizen activists and citizen scientists of Saanich Gulf Islands.
MLA
Government representatives and Pender residents gather to celebrate the Schooner Way Trail. Photo: Hans Tammemagi.
Great things happen when folks come together for an awesome community project.
On Pender Island, a great example is the two-kilometre Schooner Way – Medicine Beach Trail currently under construction by Coastal Wolf Construction, notable for its indigenous-based ownership and work on unique local projects. When completed, the trail will provide a safe active transportation link (human powered or assisted transportation) between Magic Lake and Medicine Beach and eventually to the Pender Islands School.
The community group Moving Around Pender (MAP) first saw the opportunity for the trail in 2018 and the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PIPRC) took the project on with Rob Fawcett as project lead. The Pender Island community has stepped up with $122K and growing in donations, a dozen private landowners provided statutory easements where the trail goes outside the Ministry of Transportation right of way, and Stephen Henderson, Capital Regional District (CRD) General Manager of Electoral Areas provided invaluable advice and support to get the project going.
All of this hard work paid off when the PIPRC was approved for a $1 million grant from the BC Active Transportation Fund toward the trail’s $2 million price tag. Significant contributions have also come from CRD Director Paul Brent’s Community Works Fund, the Island Coastal Economic Trust, and ICBC. Mother nature even helped! Repairs of the road washout at the “Dip” on South Pender provided a source of rock that could be stored and reprocessed for the trail base.
It is not possible to properly acknowledge everyone who contributed to the success of this project, but the trail would not have happened without Rob Fawcett’s tireless efforts. Rob moved to Pender in 2018 with his partner Hayley, fulfilling a lifelong dream. We are so lucky that Rob’s passion, with Hayley’s support, is to help people on Pender move around the island in safe and enjoyable ways.
When I asked Rob Fawcett what else he has in mind for Pender, he said “The Schooner Way – School Trail is only the first step.” Who knew Rob also has a penchant for puns! Next time you see Rob please join me in thanking him for showing us how to turn a community vision into reality.
The Schooner Way – School Trail project is an inspiration for communities across BC!
CRD
This article is about the first draft of the CRD 2026 property tax levies we’ll be seeing on the islands and which I finished reviewing with staff four minutes ago, and 36 minutes prior to The Pender Post deadline. The draft shows a prospective 6.2% increase, which is notably higher than the Consumer Price Index (CPI). I bear some responsibility for this increase, as almost half of that increase relates to two initiatives I’ve been focused on.
The first is the establishment of an Electoral Area General Manager, who manages the three electoral areas in the CRD (Salt Spring, Southern Gulf Islands and Juan de Fuca). That person is our voice at the Executive Table and a distinct voice when we meet with various ministries. Electoral areas are a different beast, very rural and isolated relative to the CRD’s municipalities. Prior to this position, the three electoral areas were represented by three different executives with other regional portfolios as their core focus. Not a great model.
Some will argue this is just another expensive body. I will argue it’s a body that will (and has) coordinate(d) the strengths in the staff across the three electoral areas and develop(ed) significant synergies. I will argue that this individual has already delivered significant value to our electoral areas with their work with other ministries in finding substantial cost savings. And we now have a coordinated voice to go to senior levels of government and pitch why we need different funding models for our electoral areas – amongst other things we have a huge volunteer service economy where municipalities rely more on government agencies.
The other area where we’ll see a lift is in building inspection, though I believe that lift will be reversed in subsequent years. Two things, one being a move to electronic permit submissions (and related tracking software) as well as a culture shift to a service-centric focus. We are now tracking permit submissions with a goal to reduce wait times substantially and provide much improved service. The objective being that a building permit will be something one wants, rather than fears.
From a Pender-specific view, both the health centre and fire department will see increases well above inflation, and both principally due to our Provincial government. The Health Centre is grossly underfunded by Island Health and reversing that trend is being pursued vigorously by the Health Centre Board. We at the CRD are advocating vigorously for Island Health to provide capital funding for the clinic, but there is a funding gap that needs closing and that will mean an increase in the tax requisition. It is hoped that this will not be permanent if Island Health steps up.
As to the Fire Department, it has to keep pace with the regulatory environment being imposed by the Province. These dictate new procedures and policies which ramp up administrative and operational costs with no increase in funding and increased liabilities and some might argue reduced overall service to the community.
Summer was good, no one likes to pay more tax. I do believe that these increases will provide value to the Pender community.
Islands Trust
South Pender Local Trust Committee (LTC) Meeting
On September 5, South Pender held its Community Information Meeting and Public Hearing for Proposed Bylaw 129 [which proposes to expand the maximum floor area for new homes built on South Pender]. The bylaw was given second reading and will come back to the next regularly scheduled meeting on November 7, 2025 for consideration of third reading.
As we are post-public hearing, the Trustees cannot receive any new information on Bylaw 129. Should the public have any questions, please direct them to the Planning Staff.
South Pender LTC passed a motion regarding Bylaw No. 131 [concerning fees for permits, applications and others] cited as “South Pender Island Local Trust Committee Public Notification Bylaw No. 131, 2025” and requested staff to forward it to the Islands Trust Executive Committee for consideration of approval.
We also received Trust Council Bylaw No. 183 Policy Statement Bylaw Referral (which regulates the use of land and surface water around South Pender) and will send our response by the requested deadline by the end of January. Please see ways to provide comments and ask questions below.
Policy Statement Bylaw
Trust Council held an online town hall to answer questions regarding the draft Trust Policy Statement content on September 10. It was well attended with some excellent questions. There will be additional opportunities to ask questions and provide input regarding this bylaw by:
- Attending North Pender Local Trust Committee Regular meeting – October 3, 10 am
- Attending South Pender Local Trust Committee Regular meeting – November 7, time TBD, with staff-led discussion
- Completing the online survey – https://islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/islands-2050/
- Completing a paper survey – Available at the Pender Island Public Library
- In-person – I am available to meet in person or talk on the phone to answer questions as I have been involved in almost all the meetings this term regarding the recent review and edits to the draft Policy Statement (778-885-7464).
Trust Council Quarterly Meeting
Trust Council met on Gabriola September 16-19 and some decision highlights include:
- Adding the Islands Trust Housing Strategic Action Plan to the Trust Council’s Strategic Plan to correct an oversight as per previous Trust Council and Regional Planning Committee resolutions. The Housing Strategic Action Plan is still in draft stage with work identified and scheduled over the remainder of this, and next, fiscal year.
- The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Policy 5.5.1, (including a proposed template for Local Trust Committee Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Policy) and the Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Best Practices Manual were presented to Trust Council for review, comments and endorsement. The Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Best Practices Manual will be a public resource document to understand the Bylaw process and resources available.
- Governance Committee provided a report with a request for Trust Council to set priority on the 15 recommendations provided in the 2022 Governance Report. This committee has undertaken a review of the 15 recommendations and progressed work on most of them significantly and will be focused on completing the following three recommendations during the remainder of this term:
- Recommendation 11: adoption of comprehensive, multi-year planning document
- Recommendation 7: review trustee onboarding materials and programs
- Recommendation 1: legislative options for election of Trust Council leadership
We also received an address by Douglas White (special counsel to the Premier on Indigenous Reconciliation) speaking on First Nations relationships and partnerships. His address was highly informative and full of examples of how relationships can be developed and the benefits of working together as communities.
BC Ferries Otter Bay Terminal Project
I attended the first meeting with the BC Ferries project feedback group. The timeline for the project work and impacts were discussed. Work is scheduled to begin this Autumn and Winter with no anticipated impacts to ferry service until January.
From January to April 2026, there will be impacts to service during work at Otter Bay, including some sailing changes and one 5-day berth closure. Discussion included options for water taxi service (foot passenger only) to compensate for potential scheduled ferry cancellations. As I learn more about the project and as decisions are made, I will endeavour to keep you informed as quickly as possible.
Stewardship Education Webinars
The following webinar series is scheduled to run on the following dates. More information and registration (and to view previously run webinars) go to islandstrust.bc.ca/programs/stewardship-education.
- The Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project: Protecting and Honouring Indigenous Heritage through Archaeology, Policy, and Planning ran on September 25, 2025.
- Species at Risk on your Property & How to Become a Habitat Steward – November 19, 7 – 8:30 pm
- Protecting the Shoreline: A Shared Responsibility – December 10, 7 – 8:30 pm
- Climate Adaptation: Rain Gardens & Other Nature-Based Solutions You Can Use – February 4, 7 – 8:30 pm
- Working towards a Fallow Deer Strategy for the Southern Gulf Islands – March 4, 7 – 8:30 pm
Arts
Pender Island Art Society
We’ve started a new art season.
Sketches created at Annie Smith’s workshop last month
Our first session was held on September 11 and led by Annie Smith, an accomplished local artist known for drawing portraits. Annie provided instruction with techniques and exercises using pencil and charcoal. We always enjoy Annie’s cheerful, encouraging, and knowledgeable manner.
Values and Tones
With Ron Underhill
October 16, 1 – 4 pm, Community Hall
Drop-ins are welcome for a fee of $5.
Ron Underhill focuses on tone and value using pencil and watercolours and will guide us through an exercise he learned on an art retreat in Europe this year. It is a skill development session that many of us will benefit from and enjoy and will prepare those who are participating in our one-day workshop with Sandhu Singh.
Painting Landscapes Workshop
With Sandhu Singh
November 1
Hope Bay Bible Camp Hall
Sandhu Singh is a Victoria artist who specializes in cityscapes, seascapes, and landscapes. His work can be viewed at the Art Gallery of Victoria website. We will circulate more information to members and on Facebook in late September, including time, fee, and registration. Inquiries and registration are through the PIAS e-mail, below.
Our AGM for the 2024-25 art year was held on September 18. There was a small but engaged turnout of members. The agenda led to robust discussion of the past year including finances, program and change of venue. The item that is foremost on our to-do list is lighting for the art show. Rita DiGangi is leaving the position of Treasurer and Christine Elgert is taking over the position.
We thank Rita for her meticulous care of the finances. Jane Baker has taken on the role of Program Planner and is bringing many fresh plans for the monthly sessions and seasonal workshops. Matt Adolf has taken on the somewhat daunting task of exploring options to replace our aging spot lighting for the art show and we’re excited about the possibilities he identified.
We acknowledged the departure of Kelly Leroux, who has served our board capably in many roles with her thoughtful and supportive manner. We are thankful for the contribution of Corinne Parker who provided a fresh perspective and energy to our board work. Larissa Shumak was with us for several years and we appreciate her creative contribution.
We thank Margaret Alpen for her many years of leadership. I have worked with Margaret for six years on the board and greatly value her expertise, commitment, and ability to keep us focused and on task. We welcome our board for the 2025-26 term: Laura Vilness (President), Matt Adolf (Vice-President), Christine Elgert (Treasurer), Shelley Henshaw (Secretary), Jane Baker (Program Planner), and Bev Peden (Board Director).
In conclusion, we express appreciation for the support of our members. We have actively engaged their input as we continue to strive to provide a program that appeals to a wide range of creative exploration.
“I don’t think about working art when I work, I try to think about life.” Jean-Michel Basquiat
Pender Island Celtic Music Society
Band members at the Terry Fox Run.
In September, the Pender Highlanders had the honour of playing the runners of the Terry Fox Run off the starting line. We are grateful to have been part of this meaningful event and to support the Terry Fox Foundation in their raising of funds for cancer research.
We’d also like to take a moment to recognize our long-time friend and bandmate, Caren Rennie. Caren recently left the island for Victoria, and while we’re sad to see her go, we’re excited for the new opportunities that await her in the city. She has been instrumental in organizing events and faithfully writing The Pender Post article each month, leaving a lasting mark on our community.
Sláinte, Caren.
Pender Island Community Choir Society
With registration complete, the Choir is learning all the new music selected by our Music Director, Sabrina Read, who is back this session to lead us, accompanied expertly by Eileen Deros. ’Twas the Night Before Christmas is Sabrina’s theme, with many traditional songs but some with interesting arrangements. We’re going to have to practice hard to get the best results. The Youth Choir will be joining the adult choir on stage again to perform their own songs and to sing some with the adults. We’re pleased to announce that Denny Goertz and the Young Violins will be back with the choir again this season. Mark your calendars for December 12, 13, and 14, the Choir’s winter concert dates. We’re excited to create another magical winter performance for our community.
Pender Island Concert Society
Our second concert of the season on Wednesday, November 5 will be a special treat. Classical guitarist Alec Pearson is coming from Vancouver to give a solo recital featuring Spanish, Italian, and Latin American composers of the past 200 years, along with some of his own music. Alec teaches guitar at UBC and previously studied in both Spain and Canada. We’re so excited to hear him play.
The concert is at 7 pm at the Community Hall and tickets are $30 for adults and free for youth under 19. If your child plays guitar or is interested in playing guitar, this is a great opportunity for them to get inspired! Tickets will be on the Ptarmigan Arts website and at Talisman Books starting in early October.
For those subscribers who haven’t picked up their season tickets or vouchers yet, they will be available at our November concert. Tickets for our spring concerts will also be available for voucher exchange and single purchase.
We’re very grateful to have recently received two donations from generous Penderites. Alec’s upcoming recital is underwritten by Ann Coombs, and our next concert with Ensemble Made in Canada will be underwritten by Karen and Tom Bell. If you’re interested in sponsoring our season finale with Solidaridad Tango, we would love to hear from you.
This is the time of year when we begin the process of choosing artists for our next season, so if you have any specific suggestions please feel free to send them our way.
Pender Island Quilters’ Circle
Pinning quilts.
We held our first meeting of the 2025-26 Quilters’ Circle year on September 8 at the Anglican Church Hall. There were 17 avid quilters in attendance: an amazing 80% turnout. The first meeting of fall is like going back to school. We are keen to see who’s returned, who has newly joined us, and what everyone has done during their summer vacation, quilting and otherwise.
Susan Underhill rang the bell to bring us to order and led with a number of administrative items. She circulated a list of possibilities for the winter and spring sessions and we identified our personal preferences. We welcomed a new member, Jane Fleishman, and introduced ourselves to her. We had a quick discussion about Hands Across the Water, the annual gathering of five quilting guilds, which we are hosting on June 8, 2026. Karen Watson provided information about the October project she is leading, a pineapple square. Further information will be circulated to the members by email.
We carried on with Show and Share and were dazzled by the projects presented. Barb Tarris shared a beautiful quilt in soft shades of pink and gray in a star pattern. Helen Bailey presented a gorgeous blue star patterned quilt with precise points accomplished through the paper piecing technique. Additional projects were a lovely blue star table runner by Ann England, an appealing quilted bag in shades of russet and green by Charlotte Edwards, and a cute fabric toiletries bag by Karen Gagnier.
Eleanor Heslop provided a handy hint. When selecting batting for a quilt, you will find the shrinkage (when washed) on the package. One hundred percent polyester batting has minimal to no shrinkage while 100% cotton batting will shrink, especially with heat and moisture. Pre-washing the batting may pre-shrink it and so it must be done with care; you could do a trial wash with a small sample to test it.
The main event of our session was Eleanor’s demonstration of pinning a quilt. She engaged us in helping her and we then proceeded to help others who brought their quilts to be pinned. The order of operations for this task is: tape the back of the quilt to the table with masking tape; layer the back, batting, and top; pin the layers; quilt the layers; trim the quilt; and, attach the binding. Another “handy hint” is that Eleanor quilts the layers before trimming the excess off and attaching the binding.
For those of us who like to play and have short attention spans for the demonstrations, Eleanor put up a cloth design wall and set out bow tie squares for us to arrange on the wall. Eleanor was an elementary teacher at one time and has skills in keeping active hands and minds busy.
As always, a valuable part of our sessions is the opportunity to chat with one another about our quilting adventures and many unrelated topics. The camaraderie brings us together and enriches our experience.
Quilter’s Philosophy: Some of us like the comfort of familiar patterns in our creative life while others gravitate to exploration, seeking out new experiences. It matters not what road we travel. It is our individual and glorious life to do what brings us joy.
Pender Photo Club
A multitude of (invasive) Oxeye Daisies by Urs Boxler.
A great evening was enjoyed by the Camera Club on Monday, September 1, after a two-month summer break. We met by Zoom on Labour Day (good thing we’re all retired!) to welcome back the fall. Eight members viewed 64 photos. Chaired by Urs, the meeting began with our Treasurer announcing that she was in the process of getting a password for the bank account and would report more fully next month. To attract more guest speakers, we are re-instituting a $20 per year membership, with the 12-month period beginning on September 1.
The theme for this meeting was Summer Fun and we learned through photos what members have been up to during July and August. Needless to say, grandchildren figured prominently. Various shots showed young kids playing on gym equipment, eating ice cream, and generally looking pretty darned cute. We hungered over shots of blueberries and other cuisine, were dazzled by filtered sunsets, northern landscapes, elk with large horns, and smoke and helicopters from forest fires. Conversation flowed (as did the wine) as we merrily critiqued the photos.
A discussion was held of additional topics we might explore, and it was agreed we should pursue all kinds of presentations by our own members, special speakers, slide shows, teaching, etc. To start, Hans had prepared a Power Point time-lapse sequence of shots showing how Swamp Lanterns (Skunk Cabbage) grew and then died away. He placed a tripod on exactly the same spot and took a photo of Swamp Lanterns every week for a year.
The next meeting will be starting at 7 pm on Monday, October 6. It will include a 14-minute show entitled Summer Cruise to Haida Gwaii by Urs Boxler. All guests are welcome.
Pender Solstice Theatre Society
Our new board was elected at our AGM in June. Rutger Kamphuis is our new president, Helen Lemon-Moore is now secretary, and Barb Pender is treasurer. The board met at the end of August to finalize plans for our next three plays.
Christmas Panto
Rehearsals for the Alice in Wonderland panto we’re doing in December began earlier this month. Karen Parker is directing. With a large cast that includes lots of children, rehearsals have been very high energy! With so many costumes to create, Caroline Knight has been busy sewing for some time. Maybe you saw some of her creations at our Fall Fair table? Work has also started on the set under the direction of Bob Barradell. Tickets are available now at Talisman Books and at tickettailor.com/events/solsticetheatresociety. If you would like to get involved with building props, working backstage, or helping front-of-house, please get in touch with Margaret Alpen at mjalpenart2@gmail.com.
Spring Comedy
In the spring, Evan Llewellyn will direct Halfway There, a comedy by Norm Foster. Four gossips meet for coffee every day at the local diner in a Maritime town that’s famous for being halfway between the North Pole and the equator. When a heartbroken doctor takes a temporary job at the clinic, he tips the small town off its axis. We may take this one on the road and enter it in the Theatre BC competition, and maybe even take it to Mayne Island for one performance.
New Play by Local Playwright
In November 2026 we’ll be doing a new play by Pender’s very own Ethan Smith. The Calling is an uplifting story of baseball player Rain Griffin as he follows his dreams while coming to terms with the disappearance of his lifelong friend, Delilah. Tania Honan will be the producer and this play will be directed by Karen Smith.
PIJazz
After a very musical summer it’s great to have the fall season up and running. We’re starting with familiar tunes to knock the dust off, but we have some big goals this year. There just happens to be some great recording talent on the island, and we fully intend to mix performing with recording for the first time ever. We sure won’t solely hang out in studios, ’cause it would be a shame to waste all our dance tunes on empty rooms. So you’ll hear us, in ways old and new. For now, we’re on the school stage every Thursday, 6 – 8 pm.
We’re always open to new members as we start our Fall season: You know who you are. Give us a holler with any questions. Keep up-to-date at ptarmiganarts.org/programs. We hope to see you soon.
Musical Musings: Everyone’s Invited!
Who do we think we are – Cumberland? More and more, Pender Island is one of those communities that punches above its weight, musically speaking. Festival? We have two or more a year. Concert Society bringing in top notch performers? Yep. Community Choir? Jazz band? Junior choir? Pipe band? Yep, yep, yep, and yep. (I risk sounding like an aggressive shih tzu. Sorry.) Just read this paper, see the signs on bulletin boards, and peruse websites like Ptarmiganarts.org to see the breadth and quality of musical offerings and opportunities. And you all know that, if you come to enjoy these, they very well may continue forever.
And we all know that the love of music can be sparked very young, so the school is in full swing as well. All students have music classes, from songs and games for the tiniest, to ukes, guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, and winds through the older grades. As I write this I’m working with grades 6 – 9 students in three ensembles, and it’s a total blast.
In addition, Ben McConchie (in cooperation with Ptarmigan Arts) will be joining us for a couple of after-school bands. Remember, one of his groups spawned The Dip, so there’s a history of awesomeness there.
So the rumour that music was gone for the kiddos was just one of those weird bits of non-information that happens in a small place. Music was never going to stop, and it never will as long as we have such an amazing community of learners, players, organizers, and supporters. I think this place would sooner go without electricity than music. (Sorry, BC Hydro folks – we love you too. Really.)
Ptarmigan Arts
We hope you are enjoying the shift into fall and the arts programming that comes with it. We had a wonderful time taking in local art on the Fall Crawl Studio Tour last month – what a beautiful celebration of Pender artists. If you’re an artist who didn’t get to take part in the crawl, consider registering for the 2026 Art Guide. This is a great way to bring more visibility to your studio, practice, or business. Read on for the details.
The countdown is on for film submissions to the Pender Short Film Festival. We’ve had some fantastic films in our inbox and are eager to see your work be featured. Maybe you have an older project that hasn’t been shared, or you have a work in progress that needs some fine-tuning. We welcome submissions from all over the world, in all genres and from all ages. Tell your friends and spread the word.
Pender Island Art Guide
Registration October 1 – November 15
We are putting together the 2026 Pender Islands Art Guide, an annual guide featuring local artists and studios, upcoming events, and local businesses!.The Art Guide is distributed on BC Ferries Gulf Islands routes, Victoria to Vancouver route and Tsawwassen Quay market, as well as locally at hotels, marinas, businesses and the Pender Chamber of Commerce info centre. Artists who are general or artist members of Ptarmigan Arts are welcome to be included in the 2026 Art Guide for $130 and includes a map listing with an image and description of each artist/studio. Additionally, advertising opportunities are available for 1/2 page, 1/4 page, and 1/8 page to draw more attention to your studio or business starting at $175. For more information and to register please visit ptarmiganarts.org.
Singing for Fun, Singing for Joy
Singing For Fun, Singing For Joy
October 23 – December 11
Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Fireside Room, Anglican Church Hall
Join Mary Reher for this program which 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. This program costs $80 for eight weeks, and subsidies are available for caregivers and those in financial need. Please email for more information. Registration is open until October 17, all ages and abilities are welcome.
Pender Short Film Festival
Saturday, November 15, 6:45 pm
Community Hall
Send in your submissions
Filmmakers from Pender Island and beyond (yes we take submissions worldwide) are welcome to submit films for the 2025 Pender Island Short Film Fest. Whether this is an old project you have tucked away, or something new you are just finishing up, we would love to see your work. This event provides an outlet for short-form narratives of all genres, from documentary to animation. Submissions are open until October 15th and must be less than 15 minutes in length. Send in your films or direct any questions to penderfilmfest@gmail.com; there is no fee to submit. We can’t wait to see your stories on screen.
Band Camp participants.
Weekly Community Gatherings
Fridays, 12 – 1 pm
Community Hall
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.
On October 3, welcome Ian Skorscha to the Community Gathering stage. Nourished from Latin rhythms and folk feels, he sings in Spanish but engages with his traveling stories taking us on a journey through the bridges he’s built along America. The October 10 performance will be announced later in the month. Alick Mack, rapper, singer and songwriter based in the Comox Valley, will be joining us on October 17 with music defined by his honest, vulnerable lyricism. On October 24 we welcome Cork & Porcupine (Anne Mullins and John Palmer) performing original songs and twisted covers. Finally, on October 31, Greg Martin will be sharing classic songs, keeping them alive for future generations.
All our tickets and program registrations can be found at ptarmiganarts.org. If you require assistance please contact us.
Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council
Calling Pender Island Artists!
Meet the SGIAC Board and discover how we champion artists across the Southern Gulf Islands. Learn how to get involved, get supported, and help put Pender Island art on the map.
Information Meeting
October 22, 1 pm
St. Peter’s Anglican Church Hall
Are you a visual artist looking to connect with other artists? The Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council (SGIAC) invites you to an information meeting where you’ll learn about the greater arts community that spans our islands.
This gathering is your opportunity to meet SGIAC board members, learn about resources and support for artists, and connect with other visual artists in our island communities. Whether you’re new to art or have years of experience, this meeting will show you how SGIAC can help promote your work and put Pender Island art on the map.
The Southern Gulf Islands Arts Council promotes, encourages, and supports inclusive, respectful, creative, and cultural activity for the benefit of residents and visitors alike. As a non-profit society operated by volunteers committed to our communities, SGIAC has roots in the region. The organization was established as the Trincomali Arts Council in 1999 and has grown thanks to the work of many individuals who have shared their time and skills over the years.
Our islands’ separation makes it hard to hold meetings, but board members communicate by email and meet in person when possible. This makes meetings like our October gathering important for building the connections that strengthen our community.
Join us as we work to champion the visual arts throughout the Southern Gulf Islands. For further information, call me at 250-380-8496.
Three on the Tree Production Society
As the fall days start to shorten, production is ramping up for the annual Magic Lake Lantern Festival and we’re reminiscing on the wonderful summer projects we took part in.
In late August we were able to sponsor a large part of the kids zone at the Fall Fair. This included face painting, a craft station, and some visual arts. We want to thank the magical Valentina as well as a couple of local students who we were able to hire for the day. Valentina went above and beyond with her dress up station.
Our next project, of course, is the Magic Lake Lantern Festival. For those who are new to the island or haven’t experienced participating in the festival yet, we hold an all-ages New Year’s Eve event that happens early in the evening on December 31. There’s a short parade open to the public followed by an hour-long outdoor performance in front of Magic Lake at the picnic area. In the days leading up to the festival we will be holding lantern-making workshops at the Community Hall so that you can create a personal lantern to bring and be a part of the parade. Stay tuned in the next Pender Post for exact times.
We’ll be running a raffle starting next month in support of the festival, with a variety of prizes both small and large. If you’d like to give support but don’t have the ability to be part of the festival itself, a donation or a ticket purchase is a great way to stay involved.
For more info on anything related to the festival or the workshops that will lead up to it, please send us an email or follow us on Instagram where we’ll be sharing visuals from festivals past and the plans for this season.
Enjoy creativity in these crisp fall days.
Community
Community Hall
Pender Island Recreation and Agricultural Hall Association
Having had such great success with our Youth Leadership Program and summer camps, we’re excited to expand our youth offerings this fall. Fridays at the Hall will now be filled with opportunities for kids to learn, lead, and laugh together. With three different program blocks to choose from, or a full day of fun, there will be something for everyone.
We’re also inviting seniors to be part of the adventure: join us in the morning as a buddy, share stories or skills with the kids, or even lead a learning activity after lunch. These intergenerational connections make Fridays extra special for both the young and the young-at-heart.
To make it all possible, we’re looking for a paid leader to help guide and support the Friday activities (see below). If you or someone you know loves working with children and community, we’d love to hear from you.
Child and Youth Programs
Fridays – October 10, 24, 31
Register at: penderislands.org/registrations
Hall Heroes Club
Leadership and community in action
Ages 5+
Fridays, 10 am – 12 pm
Calling all heroes! Start your day on a mission at the Hall Heroes Club, where kids use their superpowers of creativity, kindness, and leadership to make a difference in our community. Guided by Hall Leaders, each week is a new adventure – you might help decorate the hall, share a cool skill, mentor a younger hero, plan out and lead an activity, interview someone and write about them, or team up with a senior to learn and teach others. Kids are free to take breaks in the chill zone when they like or bring homework or projects to work on.
Younger heroes ages 5 – 9 will need a buddy. Bring your own, or we can pair you with one (limited availability). Registration Required. Free.
Lunch ’n Learn
Fuel up, learn, and explore new skills
Ages 5+
Fridays, 12 – 2 pm
Fuel up and dive in! During Lunch N’ Learn, kids can enjoy a tasty lunch provided by the Friday Gathering (or they can bring their own) and we’ll have a bit of music to make mealtime fun. After lunch, the real adventure begins as we explore exciting new skills and activities based on what participants are curious about. From first aid and sign language to woodworking, science experiments, or creative projects, this is your chance to try something new, learn cool tricks, and follow your curiosity. Registration required. Suggested $8 for lunch, or you can bring your own.
Participants ages 5 – 9 will need a buddy. Bring your own, or we can pair you with one (limited availability). Registration Required. Free.
Fun Zone
Creative fun and adventures to end the week.
Ages 5 – 12, Fridays, 2 – 4 pm
Wrap up your week in the Fun Zone. Every Friday afternoon brings a mix of hands-on fun, from creative projects and tasty treats to games and adventures outdoors. There’s always something new to try, and every week promises an exciting and memorable finish to your Friday. Registration required. Suggested $5-10 per day.
Dungeons and Dragons Adventures
Ages 11 – 18. Free
Fridays, 1:45 – 4:30 pm
Adventurers wanted! Embark on thrilling quests, battle fearsome foes, and uncover mysterious treasures in the realm of Dungeons & Dragons. Guided by youth from our Youth Leadership Program, you’ll join a party of heroes, create your own character, and let the roll of the dice decide your fate. Whether you’re a seasoned dungeon crawler or brand new to the game, there’s always a seat at the table for you.
Youth Culinary Skills Training
Ages 12 – 18 (10+ if child has a Food Safe Certificate)
Thursdays, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Free.
September 11 – December 18
(12 classes, no class September 18, October 2, 16 or November 14)
Resumes January – June
Each week, youth come together to plan and prepare a meal that will be served at the Friday Community Gathering. Participants will gain hands-on kitchen skills, work as a team, and enjoy a shared dinner in a supportive, fun environment. Bring an apron, writing materials and a hearty snack. This program is run in partnership with the SGI Neighbourhood House. Registration is required and space is limited. Register at: http://www.penderislands.org/registrations.
Youth Leadership Program
Ages 10 – 12 and 13 – 18. Free
Join this fun and skills building program. Depending on your age and interests, you can learn how to do things like: run the Community Café, help at special events, make posters, be a caretaker of the Community Hall, assist with activities, organize and lead activities, mentor younger or less experienced youth, help older people with technology, event and activity photographer, helping cook or bake for community lunch and many other areas, all while developing skills and getting great experience. Come in on a Friday or Saturday between 10 am – 1 pm and talk to Andrea.
Friday Kids Club
Ages 5 – 12
Beginning November 7 (at the earliest)
Sign up for the interest list. As soon as we have enough interest, this camp will run on non-school Fridays until the end of June. It will be packed with fun indoor and outdoor activities led by our Youth Leaders. The days will be filled with creative crafts, exciting adventures, games, experiments, and more. Camp runs from 10 am – 4 pm, but there will be a pre-care option if needed. Thanks to the generous support of the Pender Island Legion and Green Angels Woodchoppers, full and partial subsidies are available.
Activities
Carpet Bowling
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 pm
(except October 22)
Australian rules Carpet Bowling offers mild to moderate exercise, a bit of friendly competition and great fun. No special clothing is needed except clean flat soled shoes. Recommended drop in is $2.
Would you like to have another activity run alongside Carpet Bowling? We have space available and access to the café for people to help themselves to tea. What would you like to see there? Some limitations: it will need to be open to all, free, and an activity that won’t mind having raucous laughter come from the bowlers from time to time.
Friday Fun for Everyone
11 am – 12 pm
All ages are welcome.
October 3 – Puzzles and Games
October 10 – Thanksgiving Crafts
October 17 – Café Francais
October 24 – Leaf Crafts
October 31 – Spooky Snacks
Halloween Howl Family Dance
Friday, October 31, 6:30 – 8:10 pm
Join DJ Marc with his spooktacular tunes and dance until you’re pooped, head out to the bonfire in the crisp night air, grab a hot dog from the Fire Hall then back to the dance. The dance will be in the Main Hall with the doors open to keep you cool and breezy. The film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will follow the dance.
FILMS
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Saturday, October 18, 7:15 pm
After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and little sister and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien. 2 hours. $5 – $10 suggested.
Planes Trains and Automobiles
Monday, October 13, 2:15 pm
Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and kids, his flight is rerouted to a distant city in Kansas because of a freak snowstorm, and his sanity begins to fray. Worse yet, he is forced to bunk up with talkative Del Griffith (John Candy), whom he finds extremely annoying. Together they must overcome the insanity of holiday travel to reach their intended destination. By donation.
The Friend
Monday, October 27, 2:15 pm
See Community Support Programs for description.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Friday, October 31, 8:15 pm
Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life gets turned upside down when her daughter discovers a portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, the mischievous demon soon returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem. 1 hour 45 minutes. By donation.
Fantastic Four: First Steps
Saturday November 1, 7:15 pm
Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer. 1 hour 55 minutes. $5 – $10 suggested.
MARKETS
Saturday Harvest Markets
From 10 am to 1 pm, come out and browse local food, craft, and produce. Local handmade goods, farm fresh produce and a café led by the Youth Leadership Program are available. Support your local artisans, artists and cuisiniers. To register as a vendor go to: http://www.penderislands.org/registrations
Yuletide Market Registration
There will be six weeks of the Yuletide Market this year, November 15, 22, 29, December 6, 13, 20. The Yuletide Markets will run from 10 am – 2 pm. Registration is open on our website.
Help Wanted
Paid Youth Internship – ages 12 to 17
This skill-building program allows participants to earn while they learn. Interns can build up skills in areas such as Café Management, Event Assistance, Activity Leadership (including the Friday Kids Camp), or basic Building Maintenance and Office Assistance. Interns receive an honorarium (like a wage) starting at $5/hour and can earn up to $500 per year.
Significant training and ongoing support will be offered as needed and by request. Hours are adaptable to accommodate school and life but are typically 6 – 8 hours per month.
Friday Children’s Leader – age 17+
Plan and lead fun activities like games, cooking, crafts, and adventure walks for children ages 5 – 12. Work alongside your supervisor and Leaders-in-Training to create a safe and engaging experience. Ideal candidates are responsible, energetic, and great with kids. Must have experience working with children, planning and leadership skills, strong communication, and a clear criminal record check. First Aid/CPR is an asset. Workdays are adaptable to accommodate school and life. $19 – $25 per hour.
For more information go to penderislands.org/opportunities
Volunteers Needed
We are looking for volunteers for films, Comfort Centre, advertising and office support as well as activity leaders and Youth Leadership Program Mentors. All training will be provided. If you are interested or need more information, please email us or call 250-629-3669.
Guest Presenters and Mentors
We’re inviting community members to share their knowledge with local youth through short presentations or regular mentorships. Whether you’ve led teams, organized events, run a business, or love hands-on activities like cooking, science, or art – your story and skills matter. Our youth programs thrive when they learn from the richness of our community. This is a chance to spark curiosity, build confidence, and pass along wisdom in a way that fits your schedule; even if it’s just for half an hour.
Dragonfly Child Care & Family Resource Centre
Pender Island Child Care Society
We wish to recognize Chris Carrier and John Wadge for their handiwork in replacing our shelving units. Thank-you for volunteering your time and skills to improve our Centre.
We are seeking a part-time child care assistant to work in our licensed Group Child Care Program with children three to five years of age. This is a part time position with room to grow and learn in a supportive team environment. If you enjoy arts and crafts, forest walks, music, and movement, this might be the position for you. For more details or to apply, contact me by email or phone.
Parents and Babes
The Parents and Babes program runs every Monday morning, 9 – 11:30 am (closed for Thanksgiving, October 13) at Dragonfly. Pamela Wadge facilitates this free drop-in program for parents, caregivers, and their children. Come out and enjoy snacks, new toys, and time to socialize with other families. Thanks to Victoria Foundation and the Pender Island Child Care Society this program is free.
Dad ’n Me Pancake Breakfast
October 25, 9 am
Dragonfly Centre
Dad ’n Me Pancake Breakfast is held one Saturday a month with facilitators Pam and Chris. They will be serving up pancakes, sausages, and fruit, and brewing endless pots of coffee. This is a fabulous program for children and dads, uncles, grandpas, or friends to come out to eat, socialize, and play together. All while giving mom the morning off. Thanks to the Ministry of Children and Family Development this program is free.
Family Counselling Session
October 6 and 20
Registered counsellor Geneva Jacobs offers supportive services to parents raising young children. One-to-one counselling sessions are held in a confidential space while your child/ren is cared for by an educator. Geneva brings compassion, reflectiveness, and curiosity as she accompanies you in navigating your way toward a more fulfilling and empowered life. Participants pay $10 per session. For more information or to reserve your space please contact at the number/address below.
Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers (HOP)
Every Wednesday, 9 – 10:15 am
School Gym
Come on out and join us as we set up new activities each week; from hockey pass to badminton, crash mats, balance bikes and tunnel play, this program will be sure to tire out your youngster. 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 Islands School and the CRD, this program is free.
Further Information
Check out our website for more information about our programs. If you would like further information on our activities, email me or call me at 250-629-3039.
G’Old Network
The G’Old Network Moves into a New Season of Activities
Having had a successful series of workshops and initiatives that culminated in a June wrap-up event, Pender’s G’Old Network took the summer off and is now keen to forge a new path for the coming year. As a reminder, the G’Old Network is an entirely volunteer-run organization with a social purpose: to help create and sustain an environment that supports all who wish to grow old on Pender, and die peacefully here if they choose.
The network leadership team of Jane Morley, Anne Kaye, and Linda Oglov is branching out to embrace more community members and to fine-tune priorities based on major areas of interest expressed by the community. Anne and Linda are working with leaders who have been identified for workshops and other initiatives, including:
Caregiver Support Workshop
Wednesday, November 26
Many residents find themselves caring for a partner, family member, friend, or neighbour. In this workshop, we will explore the challenges and opportunities for those in the role of a caregiver. Led by Nancy Westell and Anne Kaye.
Indispensable Binder Follow-up
Building on the excellent workshop led by Pat Holborn in the spring, this initiative will encourage people to move ahead with completing their binder of important information, working in small groups. Led by Linda Oglov and others to be confirmed.
Home and Garden Support Workshop
Practical approaches to managing the demands of home and garden so we are not overwhelmed by them as we age. Leader TBC.
Plan B Workshop
While most of us may want to stay on Pender, this is a conversation about what the alternatives are and how to prepare for that contingency so it is not so scary if it does materialize. Led by Kathleen Lightman.
Sandi Smoker and Jane Morley are planning for a workshop in late February/early March 2026 on how to talk to friends and family about end of life – how to initiate and conduct these difficult conversations. Led by Sandi Smoker, Counsellor with the Pender Island Health Centre who is volunteering her time.
Other ideas for workshops and initiatives, such as a conversation with Tsawout Elder about their experience/approach to aging and dying in the First Nations community, are still under consideration for the future. As well, the G’Old Network’s communications group is moving forward with the Communications Plan.
If you are interested in taking a volunteer leadership or participation role in any of the above, or have other ideas to share, please contact us.
And if you are able to donate – in any amount – to help us pay for communications and workshop expenses, please do so at https://sginh.ca/donate-now Please make sure you specify that your donation is for the G’Old Network.
Gulf Islands Food Co-op
Join us at The Crisp Festival, for our speaker panel focused entirely on food-related issues, on Saturday, October 4. Here’s our line-up for the morning, 10 am – 12 pm in the lounge:
Food, Land, and Relationships
Living as if We Belong: Indigenous Food, Land, and Governance
Adam Olsen
10 am
Adam Olsen (SȾHENEP), former MLA, and a W̱JOȽEȽP community member explores the intersections of governance, food policy, and Indigenous rights. Drawing from his experience engaging with western governance systems, he examines environmental racism in forestry and fishing practices, including the Crown’s disruption of Straits Salish relationships with foreshore and intertidal areas protected under the Douglas Treaties. He critiques how industrial farming has allowed the wholesale destruction of ecosystems that once sustained abundance, setting the stage for deeper discussion on belonging, stewardship, and food sovereignty.
Reclaiming Stewardship: Decolonizing How We Relate to Food and Land
David Fierro and Susheela Kundargi (from Mayne Island)
10:45ish
What does true land stewardship look like when it’s rooted in kinship, not control? In this compelling and grounded conversation, David Fierro (Indigenous hunter, environmental advisor) and Susheela Kundargi (land-based educator, food sovereignty advocate) offer stories, teachings, and provocations that challenge colonial food systems and extractive agriculture. Drawing from their life on Mayne Island and ancestral knowledge, they explore ethical hunting, regenerative growing, and the radical act of living as if we belong. This session is an invitation to listen, unlearn, reconnect, and reclaim. Come ready for truth, tenderness, and just enough discomfort to inspire change.
Conversation between the Audience and the Panel
11:15ish – 12 pm
There will be more in the afternoon – check out the Crisp website for more info for the whole festival, LOADS of good stuff going on.
Also coming up:
Seed Saving and Seed Cleaning
October 6, 12 – 4 pm and
October 7, 9 am – 3 pm
Outside at the Hall
We are grateful to FarmFolkCityFolk for bringing their seed cleaning equipment once again to Pender this year. Farmers and gardeners: bring your bags of dried plants with seed heads, and all your questions about saving seeds. The experts will be there to help you separate the chaff and debris from your precious seeds. You’ll be left with ‘clean’ seeds ready for storing all winter. Use of the equipment is free, but we ask for seed donations to the Pender Seed Library. Thank you.
Dan Jason of Salt Spring Seeds will be joining us October 7 from 9 am – 12 pm. He’ll talk about seed saving while we clean seeds together. He will share seed saving stories, tips and answer all your questions about growing and saving seeds. At 10 am, he will give a talk about seed saving in the lounge at the Hall.
We are so lucky to have such a great source of knowledge, inspiration and heritage seeds right next door. Don’t miss this opportunity.
Please get in touch for further details.
Magic Lake Property Owners Society
Mike Fössl, Bryan Anderson, Haesung Yum, Mark Ogden.
On a beautiful fall day in September, 18 keen Pender tennis players, of mixed age, gender, and ability, gathered to pitch their varied skills and talents against each other in the Magic Lake Fun Tennis Tournament, energetically organized and coordinated by Joel Da Silva. The sun shone, it wasn’t too hot or too windy, the atmosphere was upbeat, and the food was amazing. There was some stellar play – and some atrocious shots, lots of unexpected and flukey returns, and too many double faults.
Every competitor played with every other player in his/her section. The results were pretty unpredictable.
“Winners?” you impatiently ask. It all became clear after everyone had played their eight games, and four consistent and steady players made the finals: Mark Ogden, Bryan Anderson, Haesung Yum, and Mike Fössl. They played one long, 15-point, tie-break game from which Mike and Mark emerged the winners. After tallying of individual points, the first place trophy went to Mark Ogden, second place to Mike Fössl, and third to Bryan Anderson.
The amazing food included a pot-luck table of gourmet contributions and two barbeques sizzling away.
Dave Reed, our self-appointed score-keeper, survived the day unscathed. Trophies were designed and provided by organizer Joel Da Silva. Everyone’s gratitude was warmly expressed to these two and to Mike Fössl for a truly fun event. It’s hoped there will be a repeat sometime next year. Meanwhile, there have been overtures made to the Mayne Island tennis group to make a trip to Pender next spring or early summer which would be great fun too.
Nu-to-Yu
Pender Island Community Service Society
You might notice we’ve been busy at the new store site. We’re excited to start excavation work for the foundation and parking area while we await our building permit. We are taking advantage of the dry weather to complete the ground work so we can be ready to start construction early in the new year.
Other than that, we have had a very quiet autumn so far after a very busy summer. Thanks to tourists who love “thrifting”, locals who love to stop in and get what they need (without having to leave the island), folks who donate great items for resale and the endless contributions of all of our hardworking volunteers, July and August were our best months yet.
Thanksgiving is upcoming on October 13. If you’re looking for extra dishware, serving platters, or a big old slow cooker, you know where to come shopping. Did you know that the first Thanksgiving holiday was held in Canada in 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales from typhoid fever? It did not become an annual event until 1879, with its purpose evolving over time from royal anniversaries and disease cessation to ultimately focusing on the fall harvest by the 20th century.
Halloween is just around the corner as well, and we’ve been busy organizing all the great costume pieces we’ve been receiving. Take a look in our front hall for interesting costume ideas.
Alyssa in her Tin Lizzy t-shirt.
Our limited edition Tin Lizzy t-shirts are now available in the store for $38 or $34 for PICSS members. The shirts are hand printed by Stefanie of omdl coastal here on Pender Island on ultra-soft bamboo and organic cotton in several colours.
Looking for a LAN cable, stereo wire, or AC adapter? Check out our basement sales area for a newly organized stash of cables in labelled brown paper “bins.” All cables are still 50 cents each unless otherwise marked.
The items you donate are what keeps our store ticking and money available for community projects. We accept your donations on Tuesday 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; clothes should be freshly laundered and not stained or in need of repair. If you’re donating bed sheets, we would greatly appreciate a note indicating what size the sheet is as our basement area is small and it’s difficult to measure bigger sheets on our small table. Any hardware, small appliances, or kitchen equipment should be in clean usable condition. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our volunteers must inspect all donations before we can accept them in order to be sure the donation is something we can sell. For a full list of what we cannot accept, please refer to our website: http://www.nu-to-yu.com/donations.
Pender Road Show
Faith & Purpose by Alvin Constant, graciously donated to the Nu-to-Yu.
Alvin Constant – Wandering Spirit – Angel, are the three signatures in pencil on the bottom right corner of this impressive piece entitled Faith & Purpose, graciously donated to the Nu-To-Yu. If you lived in Vancouver or Victoria in the 1990s, you may have encountered Alvin Elif Constant, the artist. In Vancouver, it may have been on Robson or Georgia outside the Bay or in front of the TD bank. In Victoria, it may have been in the inner harbour or on Government or Yates St. Alvin was born in 1946 on the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. Growing up, he and his sister Shirley attended the Gordon Residential School and latterly residential day school. On completion of high school, Alvin began studying art at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, before moving on to the University of Saskatchewan. After school, Alvin began making his way west first to Calgary and then to BC to look for work – paints & paintbrushes in tow.
In mid April 1986, the Lubicon Lake Cree Nation, which had been struggling over land claims with federal and provincial governments, announced a boycott of the 1988 Calgary Olympics. There were two reasons for their boycott. Firstly, Shell Oil was sponsoring an exhibit of Indigenous artifacts collected from museums around the world for display at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary. Many First Nations objected to the exhibit. The artifacts held significant spiritual and social power but were collected without input, consultation, or approval of those First Nations. Secondly, Shell Oil was earning revenue off oil extracted from Lubicon Territory with no recompense to the Lubicon.
Several hundred peaceful demonstrators gathered outside the Glenbow one day. Dean Bicknell of the Calgary Herald captured a photo of one of those protesters, Alvin Constant. Alvin was carrying a sign that read “Share the Shame”. This was a quote from Chief Matthew Coon-Come of the Grand Council of Quebec Cree with respect to bureaucratic warfare the federal and Alberta government were engaging in with the Lubicon. That photo became a turning point for many cultural organizations in Canada about the need to engage, respect, and include First Nations. As it turns out Alvin was clearly an artist even without his paints.
When Alvin moved to BC to look for work it was a struggle. He began to live on the streets and sell his art. He was known on the street as Angel for the kindness he offered other homeless people. Alvin would sell his art to buy clothing or food for those on the street. When the movie Dances with Wolves came out, a movie he truly loved, Alvin gathered his friends from the street, took them to the theatre, bought them tickets and popcorn, and watched the show – more than once. His name Wandering Spirit came from stories in his Cree heritage and he loved the mere idea of the name. As Shirley described it, “he used to joke that his spirit would wander around in the mountains”. Alvin would come home from the coast to visit his sister Shirley and his niece Shelley and sometimes would stay for a month at a time. When it came time to head toward the coast again Shirley would drive him to the bus depot in Saskatoon. Each time she would worry that she might not see him again, but he’d console her, make her laugh, and listen to her advice.
On Friday Nov 24, 2006, while living on the street in Calgary, Alvin froze to death, one of four homeless men that died that night on the streets of Calgary. To be clear, Alvin had family that loved him and a place to come home to. He had a true purpose by nurturing and helping others and his art continues to speak to people around the world. He chose his independence and that is a dignity in and of itself. Alvin clearly had “Faith and Purpose”.
Art and craft, artists and artisans reach us and speak to us in unexpected ways. The path isn’t always a straight one. I’d like to thank Shirley Charlotte Constant, her daughter Shelley Mike, and Shelley’s daughter Cassie Roberts, for sharing their stories and history about Alvin. I’d also like to thank Paul Crawford, the Curator of the Penticton Art Gallery, who presented a major exhibition on Alvin’s works. In addition, Ron Marsh who was the Photography Department Head at the Glenbow helped add context to Alvin’s impact. If you have stories of, or art by Alvin and wish to share your experience, please visit the Facebook page: In Loving Memory of Alvin Wandering Spirit Constant.
Pender Earth
At the September Climate Café, one of our participants brought a poem about the Pender Islands created by AI. This got us thinking about artificial intelligence’s impact on the environment: what resources does AI consume?
It turns out most AI servers are stored in data centres, which produce electronic waste and can contain toxic chemicals, such as mercury and lead. Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity, creating greenhouse gas emissions. The rapid growth of AI has resulted in the increase of new data centre investments to accommodate growing power demands. In 2022, data centres accounted for about 1% of global electricity demand. Doesn’t sound like much until you ask the question “how many homes can 1% of the world’s electricity power?” The answer: 8 – 15 million homes, depending on consumption.
These data centres also require large amounts of water for construction and cooling of the electrical components. Global AI demand is expected to consume 4.2-6.6 billion cubic meters of water by 2027. Something to think about when we make decisions about whether and how much to utilize this technology.
Here is the poem that Don Peden was able to pull from AI by asking the right questions of it:
Whispers of Pender
In the hush of dawn where Eagles glide, And kelp beds sway with the running tide,
Pender wakes to a warming breeze-
A silent shift in the Salish seas.
The Arbutus leans with weathered grace,
Its roots still firm in a changing place.
But summer scorch where rains once fell,
And forests hold a smoky spell.
The orcas pass with fewer songs,
Their ancient pass now choked and wronged.
The tidepool shrink, the herons wait,
As nature bends beneath our weight.
Yet hope is not a distant shore-
It lives in choices we restore;
To walk, to plant, to mend, to share,
To treat the earth with deeper care.
Solar panels on cedar roofs,
Compost bins and garden truths.
Protect the trees, the streams, the sand,
And learn again to love the land.
Let children climb where moss still grows,
And paddle where the moonlight glows.
Let Pender thrive, not just survive –
A future green, a world alive.
By copilot
Our Climate Café participants continue to want to take action about climate change. A group of us have been meeting monthly to come up with a plan for just this. More on that soon.
Please join us on October 3, 9:30 am in the Community Hall lounge. If you would like to be included in notifications of our events, email us.
Pender Island Chamber of Commerce
Photo frames were popular with island visitors at the Fall Fair.
Fall is in the air, and with it a busy season for the Chamber of Commerce. While summer is often focused on visitors and events, autumn shifts our attention to advocacy, planning, and strengthening community connections.
We were pleased to participate in the Fall Fair information tables alongside other community groups. Our gratitude wall was a highlight, filled with notes of thanks for local businesses and organizations that we’ll be sharing on social media in the weeks ahead. We also introduced a couple of Instagram-worthy photo frames, which proved popular with island visitors eager to capture their Pender experience.
A month later on the calendar, members came together for our Summer Survival Mixer at Sea Star Vineyards for a chance to relax and celebrate making it through another busy season. We’ll share highlights from the evening next month.
One of the biggest topics this fall is the upcoming BC Ferries Otter Bay Terminal project. The Chamber recently conducted a member survey to inform our participation in the project’s feedback group, where we’re working to ensure local business and service concerns are heard as plans evolve. Shortly after, representatives from BC Ferries presented to our board, providing an update and answering questions. In addition, Chamber leadership attended a meeting in Victoria with leaders from other ferry-dependent communities across the province, organized in response to the disbandment of local Ferry Advisory Committees. By working together, coastal and island communities can help keep our voices at the table.
Advocacy remains at the heart of our work. Earlier in September, we met with Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich – Gulf Islands. Priorities for this meeting included Parks Canada’s management of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, uncertainty around Canada Post service, reductions in federal grant funding for Southern Gulf Islands non-profits, and affordable housing. The conversation ended with a commitment to continued dialogue on these pressing issues.
Looking inward, the Chamber board is focusing on governance and planning. Thanks to support from the REDIP program, we’re preparing for a full-day strategic planning session on October 25th. This will help us set priorities and build the capacity needed to better serve our members.
We’d also like to thank Thomas Boland (Lightning Taxi), Stephen Lofts (Nosy Point B&B), and Linda Stacyszyn (Island House & Home) for their service on the board. With three directors stepping down, we’re now looking for new voices to join our team. If you’re passionate about supporting local business and helping shape Pender’s economic future, we’d love to hear from you.
As always, thank you to our members for your continued support and engagement.
Pender Islands Conservancy
Magic Bluffs Excursion a Delight for Birders
Janine McNeilly monitoring the Pender Island Vessel Restricted Zone.
Nine intrepid outdoorspeople gathered on the foggy shores of Magic Lake on the morning of September 13 to take part in the Conservancy’s first nature field trip of the season. Most of our birding was by ear for the first half hour due to limited visibility, the mist eventually lifted and we were treated to gorgeous views of the lake amidst the high pitched calls of young Pied-billed Grebes foraging among the lily pads.
With the help of three spotting scopes and a range of binoculars, we were treated to close-up views of the grebes, wigeons, mallards, song sparrows, chickadees and ravens, while a cormorant flew over, nuthatches tooted in the trees, and a pileated woodpecker announced his presence from a distance. It was great to converse about the lake and the birds with others who were eager to share stories and their diverse knowledge. A group of mixed birding experience is a great way to generate discussion as interesting questions emerge.
As the fog vanished, four of our group headed for Oaks Bluff. Ascending the trail together, we investigated a geocache – one of a series of 27 hidden containers featuring birds for each letter of the alphabet. We’ll be learning more about the exploration sport on future trips, locating and logging caches wherever we go.
Once on top of the bluff, we met with Janine McNeilly, who is responsible for monitoring the Pender Island Vessel Restricted Zone set up to protect the southern resident orcas and other marine mammals. The fog began to return as Janine shared stories and information about what she was up to and we even witnessed an encroaching vessel far below to see how she can pinpoint the exact location of the boat using a theodolite, along with the use of a high-powered camera lens to record its registration number.
Juncos, kinglets, and a brown creeper or two flitted through the trees as we scanned the ocean below to spot porpoises, gulls, guillemots, and a passing Coast Guard vessel.
This month, we’ll begin our explorations with the George Hill Loop on Saturday, October 13 followed by an off-island trip to birding hot spots on the North Saanich peninsula on Saturday, October 25. Check the Conservancy website for more information.
Two Extraordinary Seaweed Experiences in October
Amanda Swinimer
Join the Conservancy and Amanda Swinimer for a hands-on seaweed learning experience on Saturday, October 4.
For two decades, marine biologist Amanda Swinimer has been sustainably harvesting, by hand, wild, edible seaweeds. She’s coming to Pender Island to share her passion for the wild seaweeds and teach us how seaweeds have the potential to be a very sustainable and nutrient-dense food. Another good reason to protect seaweed and kelp forests.
Join Amanda and the Conservancy on Saturday, October 4 from 9:30-11:30 am at the beach at Port Browning for a hands-on learning experience with Amanda. At this low-tide walk you’ll learn to identify local seaweed. Then, indoors at the Browning Bistro we’ll taste wild-harvested seaweeds and create a hand soak.
Amanda has taught at post-secondary institutions and public schools and is an experienced and engaging international speaker. This is also a great activity for school-age kids. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the Conservancy website.
On Sunday, October 5 at 4 pm at the Hall, ocean lovers (and isn’t that all of us) will enjoy an immersive short film that takes us deep into underwater ecosystems. Then, bring your questions to marine conservation experts discussing real, actionable ways to protect waters around Pender Island. Free admission and popcorn. RSVP on the Conservancy website.
Nursery Notes: Pender Native Plants Turns One
October marks the one-year anniversary of Pender Native Plants being open for business, and what an incredible first year it’s been – many lessons learned, plants accidentally killed, bullfrogs chased, plants saved, spider bites endured, more plants killed and saved and, of course, too many deer resistance debates to count.
When the Pender Islands Conservancy asked me to open and run a native plant nursery for them I had several concerns. The biggest was whether or not there would be enough demand for native plants on Pender to support a nursery? The community answered with a resounding “yes”. In fact, we met our projected annual income by April and saw nearly 1200 clients come through our doors during the year.
We sold a total of over 1300 plants in our first year. The top five sellers were:
- Ribes sanguineum (Flowering Currant)
- Berberis aquifolium (Tall Oregon Grape)
- Acer macrophyllum (Big-leaf Maple)
- Polystichum munitum (Sword Fern)
- Holodiscus discolour (Oceanspray)
I also wondered if I would get any help to run the nursery, which would be a big undertaking in addition to other commitments. I knew that without a committed base of volunteers I’d be completely run off my feet. Again, the community came alongside. A cadre of exemplary volunteers have logged over 600 hours at the nursery, helping to keep everything running smoothly.
In particular, I want to thank Ralph Dawson for his propagation ingenuity and world-class 3D printing capabilities; Heather Chaulk for her willingness to jump in and do the jobs no one else wants to do; Nik Hill for being able to sell native plants as fast as cheap firewood on Pender; Gerry Smith and Theresa Barker, the dynamic propagation duo, who, unlike most, work faster the more they chat, and Karen Kouf for going in solo and filling the gaps when no one else could be there.
Now that the nursery is up and running with a dedicated group of volunteers I can turn some of my attention to a few projects on the nursery grounds. We’ll soon be planting-out a large area with native species by the nursery parking lot (please come to help). We also had a large pond dug and are excited to see it fill with rain and bring a more diverse ecosystem to nursery grounds.
Thank you Pender for your support and enthusiasm for native plants. We’re looking forward to another year of growth in 2026. If you’d like to get involved or come by the nursery to purchase a plant or two, we’re open Saturdays from 10 am – 2 pm and Wednesdays from 2 – 5 pm (Wednesday hours are for October only).
Pender Island Elementary Secondary School
We started the year with good energy and a clear vision. Staff welcomed students and families back on September 2 with coffee and treats and an assembly to mark the start of the school year.
This year, we are excited to continue as a staff to foster student agency with a focus on applying age-appropriate strategies for decision-making, problem-solving, and personal wellness. Ultimately, we want our students to be curious, confident, and capable problem solvers and thinkers.
Our work this year will be grounded in the concept of reciprocity. We are committed to continue engaging in our own professional learning and developing students’ understanding of Indigenous knowledge. We recognize that “learning is a two-way street: having students be part of the learning process, in a participatory way”. Our goal is that all students develop the skills to live, learn, and play, engaging respectfully in relationships with self, others, and the world.
To learn more about Pender Island School, our success and areas for growth, please check out sd64.bc.ca/penderislands.
The PIESS community of students, staff, and families would like to acknowledge the retirement of Mr. Kennedy this September. Mr. Kennedy has been a teacher with the Gulf Island School District for thirty-five years.
In his time on Pender, Mr. Kennedy is best known for his passion for the sciences and ukuleles. From the sharing of fun facts and building of beehives and swallow platforms, to popping popcorn and brewing native teas, Mr. Kennedy has taught kids to be curious and kind. We wish him the best as he sets sail for his next journey in life: retirement!
As October nears, PIESS will be recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by connecting with the land, and on the land. Learning will be focused on exploring native plants, unpacking the Indigenous history of these islands and teachings of the W̱SÁNEĆ. We look forward to sharing our learning next month.
Pender Island Emergency Program
The Great BC ShakeOut Drill is October 16
Are you and your family prepared for a major earthquake? Would you know what to do if one were to strike our island tomorrow? The Great British Columbia ShakeOut, held on the third Thursday of every October, is a province-wide earthquake drill, organized to encourage individuals, families, schools, businesses and communities to practice earthquake safety as well as review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies. This year it will be October 16 at 10:16 am.
So why is it important to do Drop, Cover, and Hold On drills? To react quickly you must practice. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake before strong shaking knocks you down – or drops something on you. Practicing helps you be ready to respond.
If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then Drop, Cover and Hold On: DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you),
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.
Stay indoors until you are sure it is safe to exit. In most buildings in BC you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops. If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold On. Stay there until the shaking stops. If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged.
Ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the cause of injury. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by collapsing walls and roofs, flying glass, and falling objects. It is extremely important for a person to move as little as possible to reach the place of safety he or she has identified because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance during the shaking.
Look around you now, before an earthquake. Identify safe places such as under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall in your home, office or school so that when the shaking starts you can respond quickly. An immediate response of moving to a safe place can save lives. And that safe place should be within a few steps to avoid injury from flying debris.
For full details on The Great British Columbia ShakeOut or to register your participation, visit the website at http://www.shakeoutbc.ca.
For earthquake preparedness information go to http://www.crd.bc.ca/prepare-yourself.
Later in October, the Pender Emergency Program will be conducting a discussion-based tabletop exercise to practice what we would do in an earthquake. Besides the members of the Emergency Program (Duty Officers/EOC staff, Emergency Support Services, Communications and Neighbourhood Program), we plan to involve other agencies that would be involved in an earthquake response (PI Fire Rescue, RCMP, BCAmbulance) as well as important infrastructure that could be affected like the Health Centre, school, water, roads, Community Resource Centre, etc. Look for a report on this exercise in an upcoming edition of The Pender Post.
Pender Island Farmers’ Institute
The Pender Island Farmers’ Institute would like to thank the Fall Fair committee for another great fall fair that highlights the talents of our community. The committee is made up of a variety of community members who are somehow able to make it all happen.
We would also like to congratulate our bursary recipients announced at the Fall Fair. The Neptune Navy Grimmer – Ashton Ross-Smith Bursary for studies related to agriculture was awarded to Maxime Xing. Max had worked for the Farmers’ Institute for the past two years, helping with the Farmers’ Market, Fall Fair preparations, and barn renovations. He plans to study computer science. The new Ellen Willingham – Tekla Deverell Bursary for volunteerism was awarded to Nicholas Croft, who was one of the Young Violins who played at the Fall Fair for several years, and also volunteered in the community. We wish both all the best in their future endeavours.
The BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program will continue until December, and we will be accepting coupons as well as credit, debit, or cash at the Food Only Market, Wednesdays, 3 pm – 5 pm until October 29.
Coupons will also be accepted at the Saturday market which is at the hall from 10 am to 1 pm. All the eligible food items – vegetables, fruit, nuts, herbs, meat, and eggs – are produced on Pender Island.
World Food Day is October 16. This annual event marks the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) founding and raises awareness about hunger and food security issues globally. The theme for 2025 will focus on the 80th anniversary of the FAO, emphasizing co-operation and teamwork in addressing global food challenges.
During this month of harvest and Thanksgiving, we hope that you and your family will embrace local food in your fall meals whether it be from your own garden or farm, from a neighbour, or from a farm or farmers’ market. To learn more about the Farmers’ Institute and how to join us check out our website.
Fall Fair
Fall Fair Trophy Winners
Jaime Scott Corbett Memorial Cup
Most overall points
Robert Dill
Jaime Scott Corbett Memorial Cup
Most overall points
Robert Dill
Eleanor Adamson Memorial Trophy
Section A – Floral, classes 1-59
Patricia Callendar
N.N. Grimmer Trophy
Section A – Floral
Patricia Callendar
James Auchterlonie Trophy
Section B – Fruit
Robert Dill
Ashton Ross-Smith Trophy
Section C – Vegetables
Paul Petrie
MacKinnon Trophy
Best Collection of Vegetables
Paul Petrie
Raven Rock Farm Terrific Tomato Trophy
Section C – Tomato Classes
Robert Dill
A.H. Menzies Cup
Sections B & C – Fruit & Vegetables
Robert Dill
Royal Canadian Legion Trophy
Section D – Wine & Beer
Robert Dill
Otter Bay Marina Trophy
Section E – Dairy & Poultry Products
Iona Farm
Pender Island Realty Trophy
Section E – Young People Division
Andy Crichton
Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Shield
Section F – Food Preservation
John Fotheringham
Vivienne Menzies Rose Bowl
Section G – Baking
Emma Marler
Pender Island Bakery Trophy
Yeast Bread Division
Paul Petrie
Pender Post Shield
Needlecraft Division
Susan Dawson, Kelly Dine
Pender Island Pharmacy Trophy
Section H – Quilting Division
Kelly Dine
Fibre Guild Trophy
Section H – Needlecraft and Fibre Arts, Classes 32-37
Leslie Munro
Pender Island Shop Craft Guild Trophy
Section I – Applied Arts and Crafts
Audrey Green
George Gummer Trophy
Section I – Woodworking Division
Lisa Baile, Ken Sawatsky (Non-professional)
Rob Wilman (Professional)
Pender Island Art Group Trophy
Section J – Fine Arts (Non-professional)
Lawrence Haave
Pender Island Artisan Co-operative Trophy
Section J – Fine Arts (Professional)
Frank Ducote
Pender Island Photo Club Trophy
Section J1 – Photography
Stephanie McCarthy
Gregarious Garden Trophy
Young People’s Agriculture,
Education Division
Vera Moir
West Coast Chandlers Trophy
Section L – Young People’s Agriculture, Garden Division
Vera Pearce, Carmen McLeod, Jonah Erikson, Vera Moir
Young Adults Trophy
Section N – Young Adults
Henry Down
Royal Canadian Legion Trophy
Section N1 – Young People
Laura Davies
Royal Canadian Legion Trophy
Section O – Children
Elsa Mae Grimmer
Wow Factor Trophy
Section N1 or O (Young People/Children), Most Wonderful Creation
Nanako Kikuchi, Vera Pearce
Fred Smith Trophy
Bounty of the Pender Islands, Section Q
Heather Knowles
Pender Island Fall Fair Berry Pie Trophy
Section Q
Tyler Balmer
Gulf Excavating Trophy
Section Q, Best Float in the Parade
Parrots T-Ball
Earl Hastings Trophy
Section Q – Best Individual Parade Entry
POD
Pender Island Cable TV & Internet Trophy
Section Q – Best Children’s Decorated Bicycle in Parade
Benjamin McCarthy
Karl Hamson Recycling Trophy
Section R – Recycling
Taeven Lopatecki
First Place Awards
Section E – Honey and Beeswax Division
Barry Denluck
Section Q – Taste Division
Black Rabbit Farm
Section Q – Nu-To-Yu Division
Clare Jungen
Section Q – Scarecrow Division
Epicentre
More than 2000 people came to enjoy this year’s Fall Fair! Over 100 hardworking volunteers helped set up, worked on Fair Day and assisted with taking it down after. We so appreciate the amazing support from the Pender Island community coming together and making this event a success with donating time, goods, services, and sponsorships.
There was great music, fun activities, exhibits, animals, food and with the hot day, record ice cream and beer garden sales. Photos from the Fair can be found on our Pender Island Farmers’ Institute website at pifi.ca.
And now we begin planning again for next year’s Fall Fair on August 29, 2026. Please consider joining the team and lending a hand. It’s easy to get involved in small or larger roles and be a part of this long-standing Island tradition to showcase our community’s agriculture, abilities in art, crafts, baking, sewing, preserving, and youngsters’ creations.
The 2025 Fair received approximately 650 entries for exhibit (up from last year). The fall and winter are a perfect time to work on your next year’s entries and we encourage more, more, more. Thank-you to all exhibitors who used the online AssistExpo platform and the paper form in the printed version of the Fair Catalogue to register your entries by the deadline (which is usually the weekend before Fair Day). We had a much better idea on space considerations and it made the afternoon entry go the smoothest I’ve ever seen.
Please see our trophy winners on pages 48 and 49. Special thanks to all our sponsors – local businesses and organizations, CRD and Province of BC grants, raffle and anonymous donors. A complete list will be in the November issue of The Pender Post.
Next Fall Fair meeting is Tuesday, October 14, at the Hall lounge at 7 pm and is open to all.
Pender Islands Fire Protection Society
Community survey underway. Did you do yours? Encourage others – it’s easy!
We are excited to tell you that five hundred people have already responded to the PIFPS community survey about Pender Islands’ fire and emergency services! (See also our advertisement on page 4.) However, in true islands-style, we would love to have everyone participate. (There are 1750 households on the Penders, fyi.)
If that card, which you received in the mail, is still on your counter top (along with a-round-toit), please take 10 minutes to use its QR code to take you straight to the online survey, and check-off those boxes! Or, if it’s gone missing, just enter: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N9Y695H to get to the page. You can even do it on your phone.
For those who have already participated, thank you – and one more ask. Please mention the survey to friends. Word of mouth is the most effective way to remind people that we really want to hear from them. In any case, it’s a good topic of conversation. And watch for Fire/Rescue’s social media video.
The (anonymous) results, so far, are interesting and a mine of good information. But any survey is more effective if there are maximum participants. We are particularly interested in getting younger families and singles to respond. They are a vital part of our community but, often, almost too busy to take time to do a survey.
We’d appreciate your help in getting everyone to take part. Talk it up in your clubs and activities; encouraging others to do it. Your support is invaluable.
Thank you for helping us serve the Pender Islands community.
Pender Islands Fire Rescue
Hello Pender Islands. As of September 19, our members had responded to 251 emergency calls so far this year.
October 5 to 11 is Fire Safety Week, featuring the theme “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-ion Batteries in Your Home.” Join us at Fire Hall #1 on October 11 from 10 am to 2 pm for our annual open house and world-famous pancake breakfast. You can bring your fire extinguisher in for its visual yearly inspection, learn more about Lithium-Ion battery safety, and let us address any fire safety-related questions you may have. This is a free event, and we look forward to seeing you that day.
Most of the electronics we use in our homes every day – smartphones, tablets, power and lawn tools, laptops, e-cigarettes, headphones, and toys, to name just a few – are powered by lithium-ion batteries. In fact, most rechargeable devices use this type of battery.
If not used correctly or if damaged, lithium-ion batteries can overheat, start a fire, or even explode. To reduce these risks, take a look around your home – it’s essential to identify which devices are powered by them. This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign helps people understand the importance of using these batteries correctly to prevent fires in the home and to follow the buy, charge, and recycle safely approach.
Buy Only Listed Products
When buying a product that uses a lithium-ion battery, take time to research it. Look for a stamp from a nationally recognized testing lab on the packaging and product, indicating that it meets the necessary safety standards.
Many products sold online and in stores may not meet safety standards and could increase the risk of fire.
Charge Devices Safely
If you need a new charger, buy one from the manufacturer or one that the manufacturer has approved.
Charge your device on a hard surface. Don’t charge it under a pillow, on a bed, or on a couch. This could cause a fire.
Don’t overcharge your device. Unplug it or remove the battery when the device is fully charged.
Recycle Batteries Responsibly
Don’t throw lithium-ion batteries in the trash or regular recycling bins because they could catch fire.
Recycling your device or battery at a safe battery recycling location is the best way to dispose of them. Our local Recycling Depot accepts batteries for recycling. If you’re not on Pender Island, visit https://recycleyourbatteries.ca to find a recycling spot near you.
Remember to test your smoke detectors monthly, change the batteries at least once a year and replace them at or before 10 years of age.
Pender Island Food Bank Society
You Can’t Eat Your House
I was chatting with the executive director of the Galiano Island Food Bank about the big challenges food bank clients face and about explaining to other community members why our food banks are so necessary when she succinctly stated, “you can’t eat your house”.
Last month in this column, I focused on the rising cost of food. This month, let’s turn our attention to the rising cost and scarcity of housing. International conventions and our own Canadian laws and charters recognize that the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right for everyone in Canada. Through legislation, policies, and programs, governments are mandated to focus on this right. In practice, this is a very complex and complicated problem. Here on the Gulf Islands, the scarcity of housing generally, the instability of secure housing that results from the large second home market, combined with the challenges of sufficient full-time, living wage jobs on the island, make affordable housing nearly impossible.
Food bank clients find themselves in a real mix of circumstances. Some are underhoused with inadequate or limited shelter provided in poorly-constructed or maintained trailers, cabins or homes or on boats with limited refrigeration, cooking and heating. For others, the precarious nature of the rental market means shifting homes (for some, multiple times a year) frequently. For those few who own their homes, typically purchased when housing prices were much lower, reduced circumstances brought on by disability or retirement mean that just covering property taxes and utilities is difficult. Indeed, “You can’t eat your house.”
The reality is that people who might own an asset like a home or a car, but who are food-insecure, still need the food bank. The casual observer has no idea what challenges each household faces: A limited pension that runs out halfway through the month just from paying rent, an unplanned medical bill, a seasonal reduction in work, the inability to work because of child or eldercare duties or disability, or low-wage jobs that don’t cover expenses. This is one of the many reasons why food banks, including the Pender Island Food Bank, will never “means test” potential clients. That means we won’t ask clients to justify their poverty by proving they have limited income and assets.
So does this mean that from time to time a client may use the foodbank who doesn’t need it? We acknowledge that this may happen occasionally, but we would rather that than violate the trust, dignity, and clear needs of so many in our community. The decision to come to a food bank for help is not made easily. Our experience is that our clients decline our offer of meat, eggs, or cheese, for example, when they have enough at home.
The housing crisis and skyrocketing food prices have meant that food banks across Canada – and particularly on Pender are experiencing rapid growth. That’s why this Thanksgiving weekend – on Saturday, October 11, from 10-2 we will host our 2nd annual Food and Funds Drive. Join us at the Driftwood for some great music by the Scanlan Brothers with a donation of food or funds.
You can pick up a list of food items that would be helpful (or a shopping bag with a list on it) from the community cart outside Dockside Realty or find the list on our website at http://www.penderislandfoodbank.com or on Facebook. Maybe you want to inspire some friends or co-workers with a food/funds challenge! Last year, one enterprising couple had a keg party for friends, with guests contributing to the foodbank for each beer poured. Gifts of money (cash, cheque, e-transfer) are very helpful because they allow us to purchase perishable food (meat, dairy, produce) when we need it.
You can e-transfer or use our online giving partner, CanadaHelps.ca. As a registered, federal charity, we issue tax receipts for all donations to the foodbank.
Pender Islands Health Care Society
Last Month’s AGM
As the deadline for this issue of The Pender Post occurred before the Annual General Meeting, we’ll bring you an update on new Directors and the Annual Report in next month’s issue. We’ll also bring you up to date at the important Public Meeting on October 18.
Important Public Meeting – Funding Shortfall
October 18, 2 pm, Community Hall
How important? Extremely important. Please make time in your calendars to attend.
The Health Care Society (PIHCS), the Medical Clinic, and the Health Centre’s programs and services are vital to the health and wellness of Penderites (and their families and visitors). In the interests of transparency and trust, we need to let the community know how we are affected by insufficient government funding for the medical clinic and the urgent care room.
But what about property taxes? Doesn’t that cover everything else?
No. Property owners on Pender do contribute through their property taxes, and this portion of our funding is indeed critical – but it cannot be used for primary care, which is a provincial responsibility, or for capital projects, which typically rely on grants and donations. CRD property taxes cover some administrative, insurance, audit and maintenance costs. Provincial support for the clinic and urgent care is such that significant shortfalls will occur this year and will worsen in the coming years unless resolved.
We are working tirelessly to resolve this chronic, worsening and worrisome underfunding, and it may be time to ask you, our community members, to raise your voices. We’ll share details and explanations, and will welcome your questions and comments.
PIHCS may request an increase in the CRD property tax levy for 2026-27 and 2027-28 to help offset the costs of major maintenance due to the current underfunding. We should know more details by the public meeting on October 18.
Please mark your calendars for Saturday October 18, 2 pm. To help the medicine go down, there will be refreshments.
Meanwhile, we continue to work toward a resolution, as noted in president Bruce Waygood’s remarks, below.
A Note from Our President, Bruce Waygood
I am into my sixth year on the Board, one year as Treasurer and five years as President. During this time we had a referendum for the property tax; survived COVID; and engaged with Galiano, Mayne, and Saturna in a Primary Care Network process, which has been a disappointment, a common experience for rural and remote areas. It seems for six years the board and I have been fixated with finding solutions to underfunding. Yet despite this, through the efforts of staff and board members in planning, grant writing, and with generous donations from the community, the Health Centre has made progress with significant renovations and upgrades to address the older infrastructure and to address code issues like accessibility.
In 2022, PIHCS began administering the medical clinic as a turn-key operation, and in doing so took on financial responsibility for the clinic. This relieves the practitioners of the administrative demands associated with operation of the clinic, and has contributed to the retention and attraction of providers. Medical clinic operations and rent for the space it occupies is funded through overhead originating from the Ministry of Health, and it is woefully insufficient.
PIHCS is lobbying the Minister, Island Health senior management, and the Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice to find a solution that will provide stable funding for our clinic and presumably the other Southern Gulf Islands. We are involving our politicians, and urge all community members to attend the public meeting on October 18 for details and updates.
Speaker Series
Lyme Disease – the Pathogen and the Vector
October 24, 7 pm, Community Hall
With the Pender Islands Conservancy, we are co-sponsoring a talk by Dr. Helen Schwantje on Lyme disease and other public health issues in areas of high human contact with deer. Dr. Schwantje was the Wildlife Veterinarian for British Columbia from 1992 to 2021, and has seen significant changes in the recognition and management of wildlife health and welfare. Her experience and insights into wildlife management models is helping to structure more effective approaches to resilient and healthy wildlife populations. She’ll share the latest science on Lyme disease and other zoonoses.
Deer themselves don’t get infected with Lyme disease, but they are part of the chain that can lead to human infection. Infection with Lyme disease can have serious health effects, including inflammation, neurological impairment, arthritis and other complications – in some people, these can last for years, causing a significant worsening of health and quality of life. Some species of ticks in BC can carry and transmit the bacterium not only to humans, but also to dogs, horses, and cows. On the Penders, our deer have no predators, so we have a very high population density, unhealthy herds, and plenty of hosts for the ticks.
It is sure to be an interesting session. Bring your questions.
Staffing Updates
In September we were very sad to say farewell to both Carmel Kozak, one of our highly valued and hard-working Community Nurses, and Claire Kozak, who was a wonderful MOA (Medical Office Assistant). Carmel is moving to Creston, where her competency, compassion, and skill will be appreciated in the local hospital’s Emergency Department. The Outer Southern Gulf Islands will be short in Community Health services, as both Carmen and Miranda help and case-manage with clients on Mayne, Galiano, and Saturna. We are hopeful that the position will attract another ideal candidate. Claire is also moving to the mainland, where she will continue her studies and is bound to succeed. They will be very much missed by both clients and co-workers. We wish Carmel and Claire only the very best, and thank them for their years of exemplary service to our community.
Health Promotion Calendar
October is, among other things, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Canada, affecting the lives of not only those women, but their families as well. Learn more about risk factors, early detection, diagnosis and treatment at http://www.cancer.ca.
It’s Easy to Donate
Our community thrives when we invest in its future. We remain so grateful to the many residents making donations to the 2025-26 fundraising campaign, and to those who continue to offer unrestricted gifts. Thank you!
Your donations make a real difference – helping us secure additional grant funding and carrying out essential upgrades to our building. We’re aiming to raise $300,000 over the next two years – a significant goal, and every gift helps. Provincial overhead and operational underfunding means that there is little to no ‘extra’ to put aside into the building reserve fund.
Donating is easy and tax-deductible; you can mail or drop off a cheque, e-transfer to accounts@penderislandhealth.org, or give through our website. You can also set up monthly donations, which help us plan more effectively, or may consider a legacy gift or bequest. Every gift, large or small, has an enormous impact, and demonstrates commitment to health and wellness on Pender.
We sincerely thank you.
Community Support Programs
Maintain Your Independence (MYI) Exercise Classes
All classes are $8 for drop-ins. Class descriptions, times, registration (not required) and payment can all be found at penderislandhealth.org under the Community Programs tab. Monday classes are held at the Community Hall, and Tuesday and Thursday Yoga classes are held at the Anglican Church in the Fireside Room. If the cost is a hardship, or you need help with registration, contact Marcella in the Community Support office at 250-629-3346 or activities@penderislandhealth.org. We acknowledge the support of the Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission for the MYI program.
Mondays, September 8 – October 20
Community Hall
Self-led Resistance Band Strength
9 – 10 am
This space is dedicated to seniors who want to stay active, improve mobility, and build strength at their own pace. No instructor is present, but we will provide resistance bands for your workout. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle and resistance band if you have one.
18 Postures with Judith Young
10:15 – 11:15 am
This class incorporates slow stretches, breathing exercises, improving balance and posture, and stimulating acupuncture points. Drop-ins are welcome, $5.
Yin Yoga with Candace Aldridge
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Yin yoga is a functional, floor-based practice where shapes are held for two-five minutes. Using props for support, we nourish joints, ligaments, bones, and fascia while settling into stillness. This stillness becomes a gateway, bringing awareness inward and anchoring us in the body. Through mindfulness, breath, and sensation, we develop interoception – the ability to turn inward, integrate, and explore our shadow. This practice expands our capacity to be fully embodied, releasing the need to do, be, or look like anyone else, embracing ourselves exactly as we are.
Tuesdays, September 2 – October 21
Anglican Church, Fireside Room
Moderate Yoga with Mia Klassen
9:30 – 10:30 am
This moderately paced class teaches foundational yoga shapes, introducing breath and the ability to flow from one posture to the next. The focus is on alignment, pranayama (awareness of breath), guided meditation, and a rooted sense of Joy and Play. You will build strength and mobility, flexibility and balance, while gaining range of motion in your joints and spine.
Chair Yoga with Candace Aldridge
10:45 – 11:45 am
Chair Yoga offers a gentle, accessible way to ease stiffness, reduce chronic pain, and improve strength, balance, and flexibility – all from the comfort of a chair. This practice weaves together gentle stretching, strength-building, breath awareness, and moments of meditation to support both body and mind. Ideal for those with limited mobility, injuries, health conditions, or anyone who spends long hours sitting, Chair Yoga helps you reclaim confidence and vitality while fostering brain-body connection.
Essentrics with Heather Hanson
12 – 1 pm (6 classes starting September 16)
Restore movement in your joints, increase strength and flexibility in your muscles, and help relieve pain. This is a slow to medium-paced full-body workout. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.
Thursdays, September 4 – October 23
Anglican Church, Fireside Room
Moderate Yoga with Candace Aldridge
9:30 – 10:30 am
(See Tuesdays for descriptions)
Chair Yoga with Mia Klassen
10:45 – 11:45 am
(See Tuesdays for descriptions)
Monday Activity Day
Community Hall
See ad for full schedule including lunch menus.
Weekly Activities and Exercise
Drop-in Café and Knitting and Stitching Circle from 9 am – 12 pm
Walk the World 10 am
Geriatric Kung-Fu with Tom from 1 – 2 pm
Caregivers Support Group from 1 – 3 pm
Special Activities
October 13
Meditative Stitch Gathering – Sashiko Part 2
Come and learn this traditional Japanese stitching technique, a form of visible mending and decorative reinforcement of fabric using running stitches. Please bring a piece of fabric to practice with, a needle and embroidery floss. Sashiko templates and fabric chalk will be provided.
Caring Club Meeting
Do a random act of kindness for a neighbour, friend or a senior that doesn’t get out much. It could be a flower, table arrangement, a baked good, or an encouraging card. Meet in the lounge with other kindly folk and let’s make a plan.
Celebrating Mother Nature at Halloween
Veronica will lead us through this week’s craft. We will be making an Earth Witch Hat from burlap and other goodies – great for embellishing your fall flowerpots. All supplies provided, just bring a $5 drop-in fee.
Film: Planes Trains and Automobiles
Easily excitable Neal Page (Steve Martin) is somewhat of a control freak. Trying to get home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his wife (Laila Robins) and kids, his flight is rerouted to a distant city in Kansas because of a freak snowstorm, and his sanity begins to fray. Worse yet, he is forced to bunk up with talkative Del Griffith (John Candy), whom he finds extremely annoying. Together they must overcome the insanity of holiday travel to reach their intended destination.
October 20
Art with Audrey – Acrylics Part 1
Join Audrey for this two-part class: an introduction to basic colour mixing, mark making, and collage techniques. We will be putting it all together for a final project on October 27. Absolutely no experience required. This workshop is about experimenting and having fun. Please wear something you don’t mind getting paint on, just in case. There will be dancing, optional of course. Pre-register by October 17. $20 for both classes.
Healers & Carers – A Walk through Medical History at the Pender Cemetery
Historian Simone Marler presents the museum’s final cemetery walk for 2025. Medical care has always mattered to islanders. Come hear firsthand accounts of nurses, doctors, midwives, and caregivers who set a pattern of community caring that was handed down through time. Please park at the cemetery. Suggested donation of $10.
Armchair Travel: Singapore
Like their recent India presentation, Shelley and Chris will be sharing a film and also speaking to some of their discoveries about the history and culture of Singapore that they had the good fortune of experiencing firsthand. The question period at the end of the presentation offers everyone a chance to talk about this country together. Come and find out why they place Singapore as one of their top five countries that they have visited together.
October 27
Make Do & Mend Morning
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
Sauerkraut Workshop with Trish
Trish Stimpson from “The Fridge of Wonders” is going to demonstrate how to make her spectacular sauerkraut. If you have ever wondered how cabbage becomes kraut and if you could make it at home, then this is the workshop for you. Trish is well known at the Pender Farmer’s Market for her deliciously flavoured sauerkrauts and she has agreed to share her knowledge and wisdom with us. Come ready to learn about cabbages, sauerkraut types, and lacto-fermentation. Bring a small, lidded jar (250ml) to take home a sample fresh from Trish’s production kitchen. $10 cost. Preregistration is required.
Film: The Friend
New York City writer Iris finds her comfortable, solitary life thrown into disarray after her closest friend and mentor bequeaths her a Great Dane named Apollo. The huge dog immediately creates practical problems for Iris, from furniture destruction to eviction notices, as well as more existential ones. Yet as Iris finds herself unexpectedly bonding with Apollo, she begins to come to terms with her past, and her own creative inner life.
Act of Kindness
Gratitude in Times of Loss & Reunion
Life on Pender Island has a way of gently reminding us how intertwined we are, not just with one another, but with the animals who we share our homes with. Recently, our community came together when two beloved cats went missing. Posts were shared and neighbours kept their eyes open. What followed was a wave of compassion, neighbours sharing posts, keeping watch, and offering words of hope.
One of those stories had a joyful ending. After days of worry and searching, one cat was found safe, sound, and deeply missed to the relief and delight of a grateful family. The reunion was a reminder of the bonds we form with our pets. And for the rest of us who had been following along, it felt like a collective victory. It was a reminder that our pets are not just animals, but companions, or as we like to affectionately call ours, ‘our therapy kitty’. They heal us in ways we don’t always realize until they’re out on an adventure (missing) or gone.
The second cat was found after passing on, leaving behind grief for the family who loved them. Yet even in sorrow, there is gratitude. Gratitude for the years of companionship, for the soft purrs and gentle presence, and for the love that was given and received. Though the loss is painful, the memories remain a gift, one that cannot be taken away.
As a community, we held space for both endings. We celebrated the return of a wandering friend, and we mourned the loss of another. What stood out in both stories was the kindness that surrounded them. The way people showed up, cared deeply, and reminded us that no one has to face heartache alone.
Pender Islands Lions Club
Serving Our Community, Near and Far
Between July 2024 and June 2025, we donated more than $20,000 raised through community events, fundraisers, and volunteer efforts. The money we raise goes back into supporting important causes, both locally and beyond. We are proud of the work we do, and we’re always looking for more helping hands to join us.
Throughout the year, you’ll find Lions members involved in many initiatives that bring our community together. From hosting free eye exams for primary school children to keeping traditions alive with the Santa Ship and Polar Bear Swim, and volunteering at the Fall Fair gate entrance, we are always looking for opportunities to serve. Our largest fundraiser remains the Pender Island Phone Book, which is proudly supported by our community and local business advertising. Work on the 2026 book is just getting underway, so make sure you get any changes to us by October 27. (See ad page 5.)
You have likely seen us at local events grilling hot dogs to raise funds for local causes. This summer, we also hosted the Big Divot Golf Tournament.
We are especially proud of our eyeglass and hearing aid recycling initiative. This effort benefits people worldwide and also protects our environment. Donations are sorted, processed, and distributed to recipients globally, providing clear vision and improved quality of life to those who may not otherwise have access. Damaged glasses are recycled responsibly. Hearing aids are made available to local residents in need. Drop off donation boxes are available at the Pender Islands Health Centre, the Western Financial Insurance Office, Tru Value, and the Nu-to-Yu.
Being a PI Lion means being part of something bigger than yourself. Our club thrives on community spirit, and we’re always excited to welcome new volunteers who want to have fun, give back, and roar alongside us. To learn more or get involved, send us an email.
Together, we can continue making a difference, right here at home and across the globe.
Pender Island Museum Society
Left: School-aged Nora (“Dill”) Clague at her Grimmer grandparents’ house near Port Washington. Her essay about her pride in Canada was echoed by many museum visitors this year.
So Many to Thank
As of Labour Day, the museum moved to fall hours on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 – 4 pm. This continues until Thanksgiving Day (October 13) when we close until our yuletide special event December 26 to 30. The break will be well-deserved.
Our 20th Anniversary Year has seen record-setting attendance. As of mid-September, we counted 3,101 visitors, far above our previous high of 2,510 in 2019.
So, a shout-out to everyone who made 2025 one for the record books. For the first time, the museum was open 4 days/week (Thurs-Sun) during July and August. Our amazing summer museum assistant, Ella East, worked with our museum president to welcome visitors, organize and deliver special events, and promote the museum on social media. Ella also catalogued a major collection of South Pender School documents.
We leaned on museum board members to deliver many special events, starting in February with our Treasures from the Museum Attic exhibition at the golf club, made possible by a generous CRD grant. A four-day event marked our actual 20th anniversary in mid-July with games, performers, and heritage crafters. A special exhibition of historic paintings continues at the library until mid-October, and one more Pender Cemetery Walk will take place on October 20. (See the Health Care Society’s Community Support Programs report for details.) So many to thank; you know who you are.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Kelly Irving by name, our all-day Friday volunteer host for July and August. Our 25 “regular” volunteer hosts – learned docents one and all – welcomed visitors on Saturdays and Sundays. What a team!
Like all museums, our collection is far larger than what can be displayed at one time. The museum has an acquisition policy that guides what we collect (and don’t) but this work relies on off-site storage space. Thanks to the Wein family, much-needed space was made available in early 2025. Not one but two new volunteers, Mary Ellen Cummings and Kate Scoones, came forward to begin transcribing archival documents, and Jan Taylor stepped up to clean the museum regularly. We’re so grateful for this behind-the-scenes support.
The museum has a long-term lease on the old Roe house with the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. This year, parks staff did work on the old resort cabins and washroom building, added extra picnic tables, and provided regular groundskeeping and program support. It’s all made such a difference.
In the end, visitors bring meaning to our mandate. This year’s guests hailed from far and wide, as Canadians especially showed their love of country. That reminded us of a 1946 essay in the archives. Roots of Patriotism was written by teenaged “Dill” Clague, known as Nora Clague (1928-2014), the granddaughter of settlers Elizabeth and Washington Grimmer. A fearless girl, she was always getting into a pickle, was thus nicknamed “Dill”, and it stuck.
I leave you with her final paragraph written just after the end of WWII: “Canada is too young to sit in an easy chair and read the scrapbook of past achievements: the clippings are too few, and too short. But she is not too young to stand on her own two feet, to find her place among nations, to aid and sacrifice to other nations, and to gain the respect and love of the world.”
Pender Island Parks and Recreation Commission
Mirada Beach Access
Over the past year, a lightly used ocean viewpoint off Boundary Pass Road on South Pender was used by the “Dip” contractors for delivering equipment and materials necessary for the excavation work. The access has been “restored” to a gravelled, steep slope, ending at a landing overlooking Plumper Sound to Saturna. The Commission is planning to seek the necessary licenses and other regulatory foofaraw to install a picnic table and bench.
Schooner Trail
On Friday September 12, approximately 80 people from across the community assembled at Medicine Beach for a few brief encouraging and positive words from assembled residents and politicians, followed by a walk up the first 200 meters of trail nearing completion. The trail will connect the Danny Martin Ball Park to Medicine Beach and eventually to the school and Medical Centre and is a testament to the hard work of many people, not the least of which is Rob Fawcett, building on the foundation work done by MAP (Moving About Pender). We are hopeful this will become the first leg of a much longer network of safe trails along our transportation corridors.
Dog Park
The Dog Park Advisory Group held a successful first event at the annual Fall Fair in August, offering dog-sitting for visitors’ pets. Thanks to the generosity of Valley Home Farm, fifteen dogs were cared for while their owners enjoyed the fair knowing their four-legged friends were safe. The group is now meeting with landowners of potential sites, with the goal of securing at least a five-year lease for a dog park in the near future.
Shingle Bay
More energy is being applied to Shingle Bay Park far at the north end of the Magic Lake community. The swing set was renewed in early September as was the small bridge across the creek earlier this summer. With fall in the air, the Pender Islands Conservancy is making plans for fall plantings in the restoration area at Shingle Bay and along the Shingle Bay / Masthead Trail. Perhaps someone is interested in putting a volleyball court down that way.
Annual Budget
The treasurer presented a preliminary 2026 budget. The Commission is funded by property taxes paid to the CRD for park operations and recreation programs. The 2025 operating budget is $187,000 and the recreation budget is $75,000. Current estimates for next year include a 4% increase in base funding, with operating expenditures split roughly 60% for operating contracts for park services, 25% for park projects (aka capital projects), and 15% for overhead and administration. The Commission also prepares an annual capital budget that tries, unrealistically, to look ahead five years. For 2026, the Commission is discussing improvements at Thieves Bay and the Ball Park, potentially a Dog Park, and possibly land acquisition for a new park.
Recreation Grants
Each year the Commission makes grants to community groups providing recreational opportunities for islanders. Grants are based on applications outlining the service, community reach, participation levels, and past results. We are fortunate to have many worthy community groups providing such an array of recreational opportunities for all ages on our islands. This year grants totalling $72,000 were approved for 17 community groups:
PI Recreation & Agricultural Hall Association (Community Hall Operational Funding) $29,593
PI Health Care Society (Seniors Exercise Program (MYI) $6800
SGI Neighbourhood House (Monday Activity Day) $6,000
PI Child Care Society (Healthy Opportunities for Preschoolers) $4200
PI Otters Swim Club (Swimming Programs) $3000
PI School Basketball (School Basketball Program) $3000
PI Youth Sports (Insurance for Ball and Disc Parks) $2966
PI School (School Use Agreement for Non School Hours Sports and Recreation) $2800
Pender Skate (Weekly Skating at Panorama) $2541
PI Community Choir (Choir Program & Winter Concert) $2000
Ptarmigan Arts (Community Arts Programs) $2000
PI Junior Sailing (2025 Sailing Program) $1500
Three on the Tree (Magic Lake Lantern Festival) $1100
PI Golf Club (Junior Golf Program) $1,000
PI Art Society (Art Workshops) $1000
PI Junior Sailing (2024 Sailing Program) $1000
PI Soccer (Friday Recreational Soccer) $1000
Spirit Moves Dance (Meditation in Motion) $500
The Commission is temporarily departing from its traditional Monday meeting in October in lieu of Thanksgiving. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15 starting at 3:30 pm at the Community Hall. Zoom access is also available.
Pender Island Public Library
On Display
October is Canadian Library Month. During this month, libraries and library partners across the country raise awareness of the valuable role libraries play in Canadians’ lives. Our theme for 2025 is Libraries for Life / Biblios pour la vie. What you can do: get a free library card to access a wide range of resources, including books, e-books, and online databases, attend free library programs and events designed for various ages and interests, and share your support for libraries and their role in communities. See you at the Library.
Events
Join celebrated Canadian author Terry Fallis in the Library on Wednesday, October 22, from 1 – 2:30 pm. Terry will read from his latest novel The Marionette (release October 7, 2025). As a bestselling and beloved author, Terry’s tenth novel introduces readers to a new hero, James Norval, a world-famous thriller writer whose life takes an unexpected turn from the pages of his novels into the perilous world of espionage.
We also invite you to tune in to an online interview with author Alex Neve discussing his most recent book, Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World. Alex Neve is a Canadian-based international human rights lawyer and former secretary general for Amnesty International in Canada. Presented in partnership with the 2025 BC Libraries Present virtual programs. October 28, 6:30 – 8 pm. More details on the Library website – Events.
Art in the Library
“Geometry as Metaphor”, by artist Sandy Shreve, paintings (acrylic, oil & cold wax). Sandy shares her latest works created as geometric abstractions, with detailed notes on each painting for anyone who would like to know what was on her mind during the creative process. On exhibit October-December 2025.
Programs
Halloween at the Library! Kids, come celebrate Halloween by showing us your amazing costumes, see the fun and spooky decorations, and pick up a little Halloween prize.
New Books
Adult Fiction: The Deepest Fake (Daniel Kalla), Shadows in the Moonlight (Santa Montefiore), Story of my Life (Lucy Score), The Island of Last Things (Emma Sloley), The Winds from Further West (Alexander McCall Smith), Crossfire (Wilbur Smith), Doll Parts (Penny Zang).
Adult Mystery and Sci-Fi: The Society of Unknowable Objects (Gareth Brown), Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library (Amanda Chapman), The Wrong Sister (Claire Douglas), Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes (Sandra Jackson-Opoku), The Sleepwalker (Lars Kepler), She Didn’t See it Coming (Shari Lapena), The Teller of Small Fortunes (Julie Leong), You Belong Here (Megan Miranda).
Adult Non-Fiction: Double Solitaire (Donald Brackett), Half-Baked Harvest Quick & Cozy (Tieghan Gerard), The Teachings of Mutton (Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa), Rethinking Free Speech (Peter Ives), A Year with the Seals (Alix Morris).
Youth and Teens: Allyship as Action (Tanya Boteju), Mariam’s Dream (Leila Boukarim), This Is My Treehouse (Guillaume Gueraud), You Can Be an Activist (Charlene Rocha), Evil-ish (Kennedy Tarrell).
Library hours: Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm, at 4407 Bedwell Harbour Road. Library closed on Saturday, October 11 in lieu of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Email or call 250-629-3722 to chat with friendly staff.
Pender Island Recycling Society
Pender Island Recycling Society is holding our annual general meeting on Friday, November 7 at 4 pm. All current members of the society are invited to join the meeting. Please RSVP by email if you plan to attend, so we can prepare seating and information packages.
If you would like to renew your voluntary annual membership you can renew in person at the depot (we accept cards, cash, and cheque), by e-transfer to penderislandrecycling@gmail.com (include your mailing address in the notes for a tax receipt) or online at penderislandrecycling.com. You will receive a charitable tax receipt for your donation. Thank you for helping to fund ongoing operations at the Recycling Depot.
Reminder to please be careful when sorting your recyclables to help us avoid contamination and hazardous situations. Our tin can bins are one of the biggest sources of contamination at the depot (contamination in this case refers to items that are recyclable, but placed in the wrong bin). Staff often find items like scrap metal, batteries, glass, and aerosols mixed in with the tin cans. Occasionally we find items like syringes and medical waste as well. Only packaging such as tin cans, foil, and wound paper/metal containers should be placed in the blue bins for metal. Metal that is not packaging goes with scrap metal (household goods, cooking pans, nails and screws, keys).
Batteries and aerosols can become hazardous if compressed in our balers, so it’s especially important to separate them properly. We know it can be confusing with so many categories, but we’re here to help. Please ask a staff member if you are unsure where to place your items. We happily accept non-hazardous aerosols, batteries, scrap metal, lightbulbs, paint, electronics, and more; however, they must be collected separately from the metal packaging category. Thank you for your consideration and helping to keep staff members safe.
You may wonder, why so many categories for recycling at our depot? We strive to divert as much material from landfill as possible, and as a result we participate in many different stewardship programs. People visiting the depot from outside the community are often surprised at how many more items we accept for recycling than their curbside pickup offers. We are still limited by the rules and material inclusion of each stewardship program, and know that it can be overwhelming and sometimes confusing to sort your recycling properly.
Please ask one of our incredibly friendly and helpful staff members if you have any questions. They are trained on each stewardship program, what’s accepted and not accepted, and how to properly prepare your items for recycling. We all thank you for doing your best to recycle as many items as possible, and appreciate your understanding if we cannot take your items for recycling.
It’s also worth noting that BC has a highly regarded provincial recycling program, and your items do get recycled – not landfilled. Most materials are processed right here in the province, and everything is weighed and tracked. Manufacturers are required to report their output, and that is measured against how much is brought back in for recycling. Plastics are consistently the category with lowest returns (less than 50% in 2024), so please take the time to recycle your hard and flexible plastics, which are all processed and recycled at facilities on the lower mainland.
This is the time of year we are reminded to be thankful, so let me take this opportunity to thank everyone in the community for their support. Thank you to the staff who manage tonnes of material every day with a smile. Thanks also to our board of directors, who are not often visible in their roles, but play a large part in our operations. And finally thank you to our drivers who haul recyclables and deliver landscape materials, and our bookkeeper Kim for keeping our numbers organised.
Pender Island Scouts
Greetings from the 1st Gulf Islands Scouts Group, a chapter of Scouts Canada operating right here on the Pender Islands. We meet Wednesday afternoons at the community hall unless our adventurous leaders have us exploring a beach or navigating a trail.
We began our fall session in September by having our troops preparing for a fishing expedition and creating their own handlines, as well as discussing and earning knife safety permits.
To start out the month of October, you will find us at the Port Washington public dock trying out our handlines and discussing water safety. The rest of the month you can find us expanding our knowledge of navigation, fine tuning our compass skills and learning basic first aid.
We always welcome your donated supplies to help with our lessons and events. We’re currently interested in whittling tools, rain gear, craft supplies, and most ambitiously, a trailer for storage. Reach out if you can help.
Knot of the Month
The Figure 8 Knot is a basic stopper knot that keeps the end of a rope from slipping through a loop or hole. Scouts learn it because it’s simple, secure, and easy to untie, even after being pulled tight. It’s great for camping, climbing, or any activity where you need to keep a rope from unraveling or sliding.
Scouting Tip
October is full of exciting outdoor adventures. Before you head out, take five minutes to review your activity and pack your essentials. That might include things like a small first aid kit, water bottle, trail snacks, a map or compass, a pocketknife, a flashlight, and even a whistle or emergency contact card.
Being prepared doesn’t mean carrying everything, just the right things. Think ahead and pack smart so you’re ready for whatever the day brings. A scouter is always prepared.
Pender Organic Community Garden Society
Join us!
The waiting list for the Pender Organic Community Garden is empty. If you might be interested in growing food in our beautiful garden, with a water-supplied 20’ x 20’ plot to yourself, please send me an email.
Plots tend to become available around this time of year, and then again in the early spring. Getting your name on the list does not obligate you in any way, but sets you up to be among the first to be notified of any vacancies, at which time you can decide if you’re ready. Imagine!
Save Your Tomato Seeds
It has been a fantastic year for tomatoes. September saw gardeners harvesting bucket-loads of them.
I like to grow several varieties of tomatoes, because they all taste different. This year, now that I’ve found a few favourites, I’ve started saving my own seeds. Here’s how to do it:
- Scoop out seeds from fully ripe tomatoes, and the gelatinous membrane that surrounds them (no need to be too fussy).
- Put that goop in a small lidded jar and place in a dark, room-temperature place for two-four days (longer may result in seeds germinating – not what you want).
- Once the mass has taken on a mild funky odor, it’s ready to be cleaned (cloudy masses in the mix will be rinsed away).
- Put it all in the bottom of a large water pitcher and fill the pitcher with water. Stir around a bit, let the seeds settle, and pour off any floating matter (floating seeds too, which will not be viable).
- Rinse again several times until all the gel is gone and the seeds look clean
- Pour the last rinse through a fine-meshed sieve to drain them.
- Dump the seeds onto a paper towel or a coffee filter, separate them well and let them dry. Move the seeds about on the paper daily, they must be perfectly dry before being stored.
- After a week of drying, store the seeds in an airtight jar or small ziplock bag. Adding a tiny silica gel pack is a good idea. Label the container with the variety and the date.
Seeds will be viable for several years if kept cool, dark, and dry.
Note that seeds must be of an open pollinated (OP) variety in order to reproduce true to type. Heirloom tomatoes are always OP. The seeds from hybrid tomatoes will produce, but the fruit may not be the same as that of the parent plant.
Happy seed saving!
Pender Island School Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
How can it be less than a month into the school year, yet there be so much to update from the Pender Islands School community?
The latest iteration of the Pender Parent Advisory Council (PAC) held its first meeting of the season in mid-September, with what amounted to a full house. More than a dozen of us were in attendance to hear reports from our school board trustee, Greg Lucas, and principal, Margot Landahl.
We were also treated to a presentation from Katherine Hazen, Galiano Island’s District Parents Advisory Council representative, on the value of local representation at the regional level.
It has been a few years since Pender had a presence on School District 64’s regional parent board or in its committee work and Hazen, the only active representative from a gulf island, highlighted the value of having a voice in the conversation.
One example of this was establishing guidelines for students while aboard the water taxi to or from attending class off-island. The recently-debated matter was whether kids were allowed to eat while on the water taxi – a topic on which parents of hungry students with that long daily commute held valuable insights for our cohorts.
It should be noted that most, if not all, of the DPAC business can be done online, including attending the one-hour monthly meeting and any committee involvement on issues that matter to the students of our island.
Please reach out if you are interested in representing Pender parents at the district level. There are also plenty of ways to get involved with the local PAC, so reach out or join the next conversation at October’s parent advisory council meeting.
Did you know? School Facilities are Available for All
PAC’s recent conversation highlighted a common misconception heard by school staff: the notion that facilities on the school grounds are for student-use only. Not so! Outside of 8 am – 5 pm on school days, the soccer field, playground and other outdoor amenities on school grounds are free for use by all Pender residents.
“For families, for kids, for people in the community who want to come out and play: come out and play!” noted Landahl. It’s something to keep in mind, with a nine-hole disc golf course already established on site, the ongoing fundraising efforts for a rock-climbing wall, and more upgrades and improvements always being discussed.
‘Anne’ You Donate Books?
Our own (educator and PAC member) Liis Graham shared with us the success of her book club, which first launched last year for our oldest students. What was originally a small collective of Grades 8s and 9s now has 14 members, and another seven kids have launched a second club aimed at students in Grades 6 and 7.
The clubs are very much a labour of love, and Graham noted it could be difficult to secure enough copies of the monthly selection for each group.
So, with immense pride in The Pender Post community, I posited that an appeal for used book donations from our readership may ease the burden. Hence, please reach out to president@penderpost.org if you have copies to donate of their November reading material: Anne of Green Gables and The Diary of Anne Frank.
PenderPOD
POD and its supporters won Best Individual Parade Entry at the Fall Fair.
Save the herring! Save the salmon! Save the whales! POD’s cheers rang out during the Pender Island Fall Fair parade as it travelled from the firehall and past the entrance to the fair. POD wishes to thank MP Elizabeth May for joining us, as well as the great turnout of many other supporters and friends who carried our banner and raised the whales, salmon and herring. We couldn’t do it without you.
After making a brief appearance in mid July, the Southern Resident Killer Whales have been absent from the Salish Sea this summer. So when word came on September 3 that they were inbound in the Strait of Juan de Fuca there was much joy and anticipation for their arrival. Over the next several days, they were observed in their usual travel route off Pender Island and through Active Pass, and then off to the Fraser River and northern Strait of Georgia. Then the terrible news came from the Center for Whale Research that J36 Alki had been observed in Rosario Strait pushing her dead calf around on September 12. They had also determined the calf to be female.
J36 Alki lost her 2 year old son J62 Sonic in 2017, and has been documented since with three unsuccessful pregnancies in addition to this near or full term calf. Readers may remember a similar event reported in early January, when J35 Tahlequah was observed pushing her dead calf around for upwards of 11 days.
Factors contributing to these mortalities are high levels of pollutants, particularly PCBs, which inhibit the immune and reproductive functions and are amplified when they don’t have enough of the right food. Dr. Michael Weiss, research director for Center for Whale Research said the majority of pregnancies in the Southern Resident killer whale population do not result in calves that survive and thrive.
It illustrates that we are not doing enough for this population of killer whales. Additional measures are needed. Whatever is of benefit to these whales will also benefit other species in turn benefiting the entire ecosystem of which we are a part of. You can take action.Visit https://tinyurl.com/srkw-lifeline.
For more info on POD, find us on Facebook or at penderpod.ca.
Outer Gulf Islands RCMP
School is in Session
Remember folks, the kiddos have been out and about for a bit now and we are seeing an increase in reports of drivers passing school buses while their stop signs are activated.
The Motor Vehicle Act mandates that drivers must stop when approaching a school bus with red lights flashing. This applies to all directions. Failing to stop for a school bus can result in a fine of $368 and four penalty points. Since the start of the school year, we have had seven reports of drivers failing to stop for the bus. That is well up from all of last year alone.
Protect Yourself from Fraud
It seems like fraudsters are becoming increasingly sneaky in their ways. I would like to say we have seen a slowing of frauds locally but that is simply not the case. My two cents is that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, especially online. Here are some tips to protect yourself from fraud:
Stay Informed
Update yourself on the latest fraud schemes, visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s website for information on the latest scams.
Be Cautious with Personal Information
Never share sensitive information such as SINs, bank details etc. Legitimate organizations will not ask for this information via email or phone calls.
Be Wary of Communications
If you receive unexpected calls, emails, or messages, check if the sender’s identity is legitimate before responding. Scammers often impersonate trusted companies and organizations to gain your personal information.
For the period of August 20, to September 19, The RCMP responded to 53 calls for service, which was down from 54 for the same period in 2024.
Drug Seizure
On August 26, members of the RCMP assisted Canada Border Services at the Bedwell Harbour port of call due to a drug seizure. A vessel had arrived hoping to enter Canada; a search under the Customs Act yielded a large but personal amount of drugs. The vessel’s occupants were issued a monetary penalty and denied entry.
Stolen Outboard
Members responded to a report of a stolen outboard motor from Browning Marina. The theft is believed to have occurred overnight, between 1600 hrs and 0900 hrs. The owner parked his dinghy near the marina’s entrance, returning the next day to find his newer Honda 2.3 hp silver outboard missing. The RCMP is still investigating this matter. Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the Police at 250-629-6171.
Stolen Mountain Bike
On September 12 a report of a stolen mountain bike was received. The bike in question was parked at the corner of Razor Point Road and Bedwell Harbour Road around three in the afternoon. When the owner came to retrieve it around 7:30 pm, it was gone. Please be on the lookout for a blue 18-speed Giant Sedona. If you have any information about this report, please contact us.
Take care, thanks for reading.
Royal Canadian Legion
Ah yes, summer is once again in the rear-view mirror and suddenly Christmas is only three months away. There is no getting away from it…. Those crazy, lazy, hazy days of summer are now nine cold, wet and windy months away.
The good news is that now we can settle down in front of the fire, warm our toes, and once again wait for the power to come back on. For those of you without a fireplace, well, it might just be time to get that generator you’ve been talking about for so long. As that first storm-induced power outage stretches into its second day, don’t forget that this good old harbinger of doom at the Legion did give you a heads up on this one. Just sayin’.
October at the Legion is going to be a little slower than usual as we give most of the volunteers the month off. We will continue with our meat draws every Saturday at 4 pm but there will be no Friday night dinners until our Halloween Bash on October 31. This will be lots of fun with prizes and surprises. Dinner will be $25 so get your tickets early. Allyson Coffey will be creating her spooky pasta, and I will chip in with my hauntingly delicious Caesar salad. Sorry, no Monster Mash potatoes.
Our volunteers are the life blood of this Legion and the crew for our recent Pig and Lamb Barbeque are a perfect example of new and veteran people stepping up to make an event like this a success. I would like to give a special thanks to our actual barbeque team who spent nearly 12 hours roasting the pork and lamb until it was that delicious treat that our 80 plus guests were presented with. Many thanks to Head Chef Shane Greenall, Master Chef and BBQ legend Fred Wiercyski, Tony Bachmeier, Will Manneke, and Scott Manneke.
A great job done by you all and an extra thanks to Shane for doing up the BBQ salmon (he had caught it the day before) for the crew’s lunch. A great job was done by all, from the corn shuckers to the servers and bartenders. We had first-timers and those doing it for the umpteenth time. The amazing thing was that everybody was still smiling and laughing at the end and happy to be part of a great team.
I would like to make special mention of one of our crew who always seems to be in two places at one time and gives the Energizer bunny a real run for her money, Allyson Coffey. She is always there when the Legion calls, and sometimes before we call – it’s kind of spooky! Thanks Allyson for being such a big part of our team. Before I finish with the Pig and Lamb, I would also like to thank the Scanlan Brothers (Frank and David) for providing the music – I’ve got a soft spot for musicians who play Jimmy Buffett tunes!
While I’m thanking everyone, I would also like to thank our crew who served up burgers and hot dogs at the Fall Fair. I was off island for this one, but the crew, led by Ken Pelley, once again did a great job and managed a decent profit for the Legion – which subsequently means more funds for the community.
My final thanks go to Tony Greenall who stepped up and offered to paint the front steps and ramp of the legion for free. For obvious reasons we accepted, and now it’s done – many thanks Tony. It was a big summer of giving from the Greenall boys.
With so many people here on Pender Island giving generously of their time and resources and showing real concern for their fellow citizens, it stands in stark contrast to the attitude of some who look upon kindness and concern for their fellow man as a weakness. If caring for those in need is a weakness, then so be it. We at the Legion and most of my fellow Islanders will always be ready and willing to defend and assist those in need. Caring for others will only make us stronger, no matter what others may say.
My final note is a reminder that bingo happens again on Saturday, October 11 starting at 1 pm and our general meeting is Saturday October 25th at 2pm. We will also be having our Honours and Awards luncheon on October 24 starting at 12 pm. Barb Pender is in the process of sending out invitations — please email her if you can attend (penderbarb@gmail.com). Thanks for reading my ramblings and hope to see you at the Legion real soon.
SGI Community Resource Centre
Sustainable Funding Initiative
The SGI Sustainable Funding Initiative is thrilled to announce our upcoming fall workshops.
Instagram Essentials for Southern Gulf Islands Small Businesses
with Taryn Danforth and Astrid Neimann-Zajac
Wednesday, October 15 and October 22, 10 am – 12 pm, Zoom
Curious about using Instagram to promote your small business but don’t know where to start? Please join us for this informative two-part workshop series that will equip participants with the skills to build community, grow their audience, measure performance, and plan content for long-term success. Space is limited – register early. The fee is $20 for both workshops.
Emergency First-Aid with CPR A (Basic First Aid)
Saturday, November 1, 9:30 am – 5 pm
Community Hall, upstairs
This fun and interactive one-day course trains people how to react and improvise when dealing with time priority, life threatening emergencies. This certification is recognized and accepted by WorkSafeBC as equivalent to their Basic First Aid (formerly Occupational First Aid Level 1). Spaces are limited. The fee is $125.
Harnessing Legacy Giving on the Southern Gulf Islands
with Alison Brewin and Aimée Lindenberger
Wednesday, November 5, 9 am- 3 pm
Tides Cottages. 1329 MacKinnon Rd.
A practical in-person workshop for Gulf Island organizations on what legacy giving is, how to do it, and why now is a good time to start. The fee is $50 (in person) and free to join the live stream.
We will be live streaming a portion of our morning presentation and Q and A at 9 am – 10:30 am via Zoom.
Go to linktr.ee/sgisfi to register or contact islandsupport@sgicrc.ca for more information.
Housing NOW
Pets are family but in BC, that bond is being tested by our rental housing shortages. Around 27% of people have experienced difficulty finding a home that accepts pets and in some heartbreaking cases, these limits force families to surrender treasured companions to shelters. Since 2014, the BC SPCA has received more than 12,400 healthy animals because their guardians couldn’t find pet-friendly housing.
Being a pet-friendly landlord can make a life-changing difference for both people and animals … and it often means happier, longer-term tenants.
Visit linktr.ee/sgihousing to read our Pet-Friendly Rental Toolbox, filled with tips and ideas on how to be a responsible pet-friendly landlord.
Dining in the Dark: Second Helpings – Recipe Call Out
The second volume of Dining in the Dark is underway. We’re still collecting recipes – family-friendly dishes, budget-wise meals, snacks, and options for dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, diabetic-friendly, vegetarian) are especially welcome. Each recipe submitted by October 15 will be entered into a raffle with prizes sponsored by SGI Emergency Program. Send recipes to dineitdark@sgicrc.ca.
Food Resilience Alliance Updates
The Food Resilience Alliance (FRA) is moving forward with several initiatives to strengthen local food security. The Roadside Stand Map Initiative helps connect residents and visitors to local farm stands – farmers can register at http://www.sgicommunityresources.ca/fra. FRA is also advancing the Farm to Market Booking Service, supporting farmgate licensing, and expanding the Southern Gulf Islands Grower Network. Together, these efforts are building a more resilient and connected local food system.
The Crisp Festival, October 3 & 4
Get your Friday and Saturday concert tickets now at Talisman Books or online at thecrisp.ca.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us to all of you! Let’s take this time to be grateful for our wonderful community and the neighbours who make us strong, caring, and connected.
SGI Neighbourhood House
55+ Seniors Programming
The 55+ Monday Activity Day is back after a three week summer break and in full swing with lots of exercise options, art and craft activities, armchair travel talks, films, a cemetery info walk (weather permitting), and tasty hot lunches. Come for the social time, enjoy a coffee or tea, go for a walk on Molly’s trail or Walk the World with the new walking passport (ask the coordinators for more info) or plan to attend a Geriatric Kung Fu session. Bring a friend or make new ones. See ad and Community Support Programs for activity details.
Please see the full schedule and more detailed write-ups under the Pender Islands Health Care Society’s article.
The Pender Taxi Saver Program is Back for the Winter Season
Are you 65 or older, or living with mobility challenges? Don’t let transportation hold you back from enjoying the events and gatherings you love – whether it’s a Legion dinner, a concert, bingo night, or a night at the theatre.
This winter, the Pender Island Taxi Saver Program is once again offering reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation for residents. From September 1 to October 31, you can register at the SGI Neighbourhood House.
For just $20, you’ll receive $40 worth of taxi vouchers – a 50% discount. These vouchers are valid for door-to-door travel anywhere on Pender Island and are available while supplies last.
Stay active, stay connected, and travel with peace of mind this winter.
South Pender Historical Society
Playing The Bowls at the Grower’ and Makers’ Market.
The Annual South Pender Growers’ and Makers’ Market took place at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Labour Day weekend – a magical event with a steady influx of delighted visitors and happy vendors. Rain was forecast but it turned out to be a lovely day. David’s Happy Monk bread and Pierre’s food delicacies sold out quickly.
One of the special events at this year’s market was a silent auction and we were very grateful for the generosity of all the donors who contributed. Marie Dion donated five singing bowls and of course lots of those attending took their turn playing them providing an ethereal aura to the day before the highest bidders took them to their new homes. We are pleased to announce the silent auction brought in $1,130 for the Society and Roberts Seeds and Produce table raised another $170, and there were additional donations from vendors and participants.
Nick playing at the Growers’ and Makers’ Market.
A warm thank you to Nick Croft who entertained us with his music, and to Brenda and Alyse who coordinated the games area which was a big hit with the younger ones. Special thanks to all the volunteers that helped make this event possible: Don and Wendy Munroe for use of their property for parking; Bert, Elizabeth and friend; Christian, Faye, Kaya, Christina, Mani, Barb, Sandy, Patricia and others who helped with parking, setting up and taking down; and the many other tasks to make this joyous event possible. And much appreciation to all the vendors who braved the discouraging weather forecast and shared their craft with us.
The next event to take place at the Church of the Good Shepherd will be an evening of music with amazing musician and singer Lydia Hol and guests on November 14, with doors opening at 7 pm and the show starting at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 and available at Talisman Books or direct from Lydia at Lydiahol.com. More about this event in the November edition. It should be a great one.
Recreation and Leisure
CanBoat
Pender Island Squadron
Our booth at the Fall Fair.
My thanks to the volunteers who helped set up and man our stall at the Fall Fair. This year we focused on providing education programs with displays and handouts for educational programs and activities available either nationally or through our local squadron.
Our mission is to help people acquire the knowledge, skills, and equipment to safely enjoy whichever water activity they pursue. Wearing the appropriate personal floatation device is something everyone should do as the first step to avoid accidental drowning.
Every year our members participate in providing instruction to the Grade 9 students at our Pender Island school on how to stay safe when out on the water. The instruction is comprehensive and most of the participants successfully write the exam for their Pleasure Craft Operators Certificate on completion of the course. Volunteers from the school, CanBoat, RCMP, RCMSARS, and BCEHS contribute to the learning experience. This program was originally conceived and developed 24 years ago by former local teacher Marti Tilley and is now known as the Marti Tilley Grade 9 Boating Program.
This year we will be holding the course in the second week of October and look forward to training our local students on the skills and practices necessary to stay safe on the water.
All of our activities are volunteer driven. If you would like to join our group and participate in our learning programs give me a call 250-539-0951 or drop me a line.
Pender Island Garden Club
The Garden Club meeting is on October 9, 1 pm at the Community Hall. It will be a Zoom presentation by Brian Minter. He will be showcasing new and exciting plants for containers and gardens. There is a $5 charge for non-members but that can be put toward the year membership cost of $15 if a person wants to join.
Our September meeting was a Meet and Greet for new members and returning members. We all introduced ourselves and talked about our experiences with gardening. There was a presentation of harvests from our gardens including vegetables, flowers, and finished products using the harvests.
Our new president is Janice Levy. We thanked our outgoing president, Gail Kleisinger, for her hard work over the last several years.
Upcoming Speakers and Events
October 9: Brian Minter, New and Exciting Plants for 2026 Containers and Gardens
November 13: Indoor Tropical planter demonstration by Janice
December 11: Christmas Centrepiece by Judith, followed by coffee/tea and snacks
At times speakers have to change and we will update before the day of the presentation. Some events are for members only; we encourage people to join the Garden Club. It’s fun and educational.
Pender Island Golf Club
The Presidents, this year’s winners of The Pender Cup: Therese Cochlin, Michelle Galaugher, Judith Young, Ian Pirie, Tom Wyborn, John Hall, Randy Klippenstein, Colin Brown.
Another season of golf is coming to an end and this is the perfect time to rave about our wonderful members who do so much to support our club. Most people outside of the membership do not realize that our club is completely run by an elected, but volunteer, board of directors. Since its inception the course was built on volunteerism from our members, and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of our volunteers, including each person who came before us.
Some of our most fun tournaments are held in late August and early September. The Gord Souter Volunteer Appreciation Tournament was held the last Sunday in August. This nine hole tournament is played yearly in honour of our volunteers and was named after our longtime club member who passed away in 2016. Gord was involved in every aspect of the club over the years including many positions on the board and, along with Walt McAuley and the late Vern Smyth, started the much appreciated Monday morning work crew.
All 16 participants had a wonderful time playing in the ever popular Gayle Fisher Cup Tournament (formally known as the Pender Cup). This two day event is based on the Ryder Cup format with golfers divided into two teams based on handicap. The winning team this year was the “Presidents”, bucking the norm of the “Captains” team winning! Many thanks to Daniel and Laura for serving us a delicious lunch after the final round.
Almost a decade ago, the manager from the Port Browning pub decided to organize a golf tournament in support of community groups on Pender called The Hackers Tournament. Except for the first year, this well attended tournament has been in support of the Pender Island Junior Sailing Association (PIJSA).
Thanks go to Ryan and Natasha from the Port Browning Marina and Pub for hosting the dinner and contributing many of the prizes. As an added touch this year, Allyson Coffey, on behalf of the PIJSA, donated coffee and brought sweets for everyone before tee off. Thank you, Allyson.
There is still plenty of time to sign up for our fall membership promotion. From now until the end of the season, anyone paying their entrance fee will receive free golf for the rest of the year. Please contact the golf shop at 250–629–6659, or email Ian at membership@penderislandgolf.ca for further information. Details of the benefits membership brings are available on our website: penderislandgolf.ca.
Upcoming events:
Ladies’ Day Closing Tournament – October 7, 9:30 am
Men’s Jungle Golf – October 7, 3 pm
Men’s Day Closing Tournament – October 16, 9 am
Awards Night – October 25, Cocktails 5:30
AGM – November 16
Pender Island Junior Sailing Association
Summer Session Wind-Up
Our five weeks of sailing courses which finished on August 22 were a huge success. Our Registrar, Dave Harrison, reports that a total of 106 students registered, many more than last year. Our last day of sailing was picture perfect; sunshine, good wind, good sailing and a lot of very happy faces at our last BBQ held on the grass at Port Browning for the students, their families, volunteers and PIJSA members.
Fall Fair Parade & Booth
The next day was the annual Pender Fall Fair where we had a float in the parade. Through the successful ingenuity of Carolyn Cartwright-Owers, a pickup truck was merrily decorated and also held both a hoisted Jib Sail and a number of students in their personal floatation devices, waving and handing out candies to the kids in the crowd. A happy ending to the 2025 summer sailing sessions. Carolyn was also responsible for a successful information booth at the Fair. There were many interested inquiries and parents excited to register their children next year and some for themselves for adult sailing.
Hacker’s Golf Tournament Results
On September 13, the Hacker’s Golf Tournament was held at Pender Golf. This was a fundraiser hosted by the Browning Pub (Mill Bay Group). There were 30 – 34 “golfers” playing in teams of four. Again, the weather was sunshine and perfect. The players were plied with coffee and Danish pastries prior to starting and throughout the day. Following the tournament a dinner was held for the players at The Bistro and prizes were given out to those with the longest drive, closest to the pin, best scores, etc. A 50/50 Draw was held with the aid of Pender Golf’s Michelle Galaugher. A total of $364 was raised. A prize of $182 was won by Ken Pelley, and $182 was donated to the Pender Island Junior Sailing Association.
Recognition & Appreciation
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and sincerely thank the many different organizations, services, groups, volunteers, individuals and PIJSA members who have made 2025 such a wonderfully successful year. A big thank you and pat on the backs to:
Tru Value Spirit Board – financial
Pender Island Legion – financial – instructor course certification and upgrading; meeting hall
Ryan MacLeod, Port Browning Pub & the Mill Bay Group – weekly BBQs venue, Hamilton Beach PIJSA sailing site, fundraisers
CRD Parks and Recreation – storage
Jonathan Stevens, Driftwood Auto & Marine Service – service – our lifesaver in servicing the coach boat motors
Braedon’s Big Dig Em – service – power washing all boats at site
Pender Islands Yacht Club – volunteering – on beach support
Bob & Margaret Vergette – volunteering – always at the weekly BBQs
Micha – donation – complete Laser 2 sailboat in excellent condition
Larry Colcy, The Pender Post – publications
PIJSA Directors & Members – many various capacities: registration, financial accounting, servicing, repair and maintenance of our boats and equipment, beach duty, volunteering, administration, etc.
If I have left anyone out, please let me know.
Pender Island Otters Swim Club
Our fall season started on September 26, with a full complement of coaches on staff. Many thanks goes to our new Head Coach Laara Jarvey who came back to us after 10 years of ‘retirement’. Previously, Laara was a stalwart on our board, as our Vice-President/Secretary, and equipment purchaser for about eight years. She also stepped in when needed as a volunteer substitute coach during that time. But she had to step down off our board due to work commitments on Mayne Island.
Well, she is back, and bringing her years of experience, and enthusiasm for swimming to coach our groups this fall. Along with working for the Mayne Island Hardware store for the past 10 years, Laara has also been teaching pre-Otter Pups on Mayne Island in coordination with their school in a private pool on Mayne Island, but has passed the torch to another coach and so now she is free to join us again. She has filled a gap left when Jeremy Ellis had to step down due to his university schedule.
This fall session goes through to December 12. There is still some room if there are others who haven’t registered with us but were intending to. Register at penderislandotters.ca. Any questions, please contact us.
It is great to be back in the pool, and our coaching team of Laara, Sidney, Deirdre, and Elizabeth are excited to get to know new swimmers and continue coaching renewing members. We now have three quarters of our coaching team coming from Pender and Mayne Islands.
And, again, we have to send deep gratitude to our grant providers for this year, CRD Parks and Recreation (both Pender and Mayne Islands) and the Gaming Commission, and those who helped us out over the summer: the Pender Lions, and the Pender Island Legion. And we cannot forget to thank all those who shop at Tru Value and pick our #29 to donate their 1% to. It really does help out a lot.
Weather Observations
August rainfall is variable and one year we had none. The average August precipitation is 24 mm but has varied from zero up to 88 mm.
We always have a warm August and even though it is the last month of summer, we still have some high temperatures. We enjoyed very pleasant weather in August 2025, including a beautiful day for the Fall Fair. It rained on only two days, but that was enough to exceed the August average. Temperatures were close to average for August.
October is the beginning of our wet season with twice as much rain as in September and, on average, nearly 100 mm of rain for the month. We have never had October snow in the years that I have been recording Pender Island weather.
The most rain I have ever recorded in one month on Pender was 291.8 mm in October 2003 and we had exactly the same amount in November 2009.
Health & Healing Services
Contractors
