by Pieter Vorster | Feb 13, 2019 | News and Events
Mark de Bruijn Nominee for the Green Party of Canada Candidate for NIPR Much of my passion for the natural world and it’s wonders comes from leaving my urbanized European homeland at the age of 3, and moving to a country with nothing but wilderness everywhere. My father was smitten by it, and our family spent countless weekends and summers exploring the wilds, from our home in the Calgary foothills to the California Sierras. I grew up hiking, canoeing, trail riding and rock climbing my summers away in the glorious Rockies, much of it as a counsellor with a YMCA wilderness camp near Banff. Upon graduating from the University of Calgary with a 1st class honours B.Sc. in zoology, I worked as a fish biologist in the Arctic on Canada’s first major environmental assessment for a pipeline destined to bring Alaskan natural gas to Edmonton. Our work ultimately contributed to the Canadian government’s decision to decline the development application – the huge pipe was never built. Gradually I discovered my real interest lay in helping others appreciate and treasure the wonders of nature. I became a college biology instructor at Mount Royal College in Calgary. Later I completed the training to teach high school chemistry, biology and math, including a stint as school principal. As economics, interests and lifestyles changed, I gathered an eclectic range of skills working as general contractor, sporting goods buyer, healing program coordinator, and employability teacher and coach. But always I returned to education and the natural world as my primary passion. Along the way I discovered an interest in exploring the potential of creative...
by Larry McCumsey | Sep 21, 2023 | Newsletters
Hi Friends! Whew - it’s been a while since our last issue! Apologies for that. A lot has happened since March, and we are looking forward to sharing the highlights with you here. We hope that, in these pages, you find stories that challenge, motivate, and inspire. And we want you to know that we are here, we are working, and we are listening. NIPR Newsletter (Vol II - Issue 2) Sept...
by Larry McCumsey | Aug 1, 2023 | News and Events
As usual, the NIPR riding has a number of festivals of various kinds during the summer months. Your EDA executive is taking advantage of these events to get out and meet people, spread the Green message and just have some fun. On Canada Day we manned the recycling station at the Campbell River pancake breakfast and the kids had a chance to “Go Green”. We also had a booth at the Powell River Canada Day festivities. Look for us at the August 18 Blackberry Festival in Powell River and on August 19 at OrcaFest in Port McNeill. Drop by and say hello. If you’d like to volunteer a bit of your time and help us man our booth at either location shoot us a note at...
by Larry McCumsey | Apr 1, 2023 | News and Events
Spring greetings to you all! Spring is such a time of renewal and, as many gardeners agree at this time of year, ‘last year’s season is over and there’s nothing but potential ahead!’ This past year NIPR Greens, along with Greens across the country, have been thoughtfully planting seeds to ensure the Green values we appreciate and uphold in our lives, have increasing representation in Parliament. These values, along with your participation and support, are needed now more than ever! Please join us in person for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, May 6, 2023 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. (please arrive 10 minutes early) at the beautiful Maritime Heritage Centre, 621 Island Hwy, Campbell River. The meeting will be chaired by our CEO, Mark de Bruijn. Our Special Guest Speaker - IN PERSON, following our brief business meeting, is Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada. We look forward to greeting you all in person, but for those who can’t make it to the Maritime Heritage Centre, Zoom access will be available online for registrants. The AGM is open to anyone, but only Members are able to vote. Any member can join the Executive team. If you are interested, please contact Mark de Bruijn before April 28. We encourage you to join us! If you are not already a member, this is an excellent opportunity to join or to renew your membership. In order to vote at the AGM, you must be a member for at least 30 days prior, so memberships must be in place before Thursday, April 6, 2023. Buy or renew...
by Larry McCumsey | Mar 30, 2023 | Newsletters
Your NIPR EDA has been VERY busy and has for you a newsletter that is chock full of news! The lead story is announcement of our Annual General Meeting, planned for May 6, 2023. Elizabeth May will be joining us. Check the details in the newsletter and mark your calendar. The NIPR EDA has also been proactive by naming the Green Party of Canada candidate for North Island - Powell River in the next federal election, whenever that might be. Check out this and other stories in this version of the newsletter. NIPR Newsletter (Vol II - Issue 1) Mar...
by Larry McCumsey | Feb 3, 2023 | News and Events
It’s cold out there. And on February 25 the Green Party Comox Valley team is going to do something about it. Together with thousands of Canadians across the country, we’re walking and fundraising to support and serve people and families experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger in our community. Please, give generously. We are supporting the Comox Valley Transition Society and Dawn to Dawn. Please support Green Party Comox...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 16, 2023 | News and Events
Groups announce Feb. 25 rally at provincial legislature, issue declaration calling on the Province to accelerate action for threatened forests. UNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES/VICTORIA – More than 160 organizations across British Columbia have issued a declaration called United We Stand for Old-Growth Forests, calling on Premier David Eby and his government to fulfill their commitments on old-growth. Signatories of the declaration, including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the Climate Caucus network of municipal elected leaders, and BC General Employees Union (BCGEU), are urging Eby to follow through on his October 2022 promise to “accelerate” action to protect old-growth forests within 100 days, and implement a paradigm-shift in forest stewardship to safeguard biodiversity. The organizers announced plans for a mass mobilization to hold the province accountable, with a march and rally scheduled for February 25, Eby’s 100th day. “The government’s continued negligence and stonewalling on truly protecting old-growth and elder trees is endemic in its approach to climate change and the stewardship of our environment,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. “This feigned ignorance of what is happening to our forests by government and industry will be our downfall, and the impacts of this inaction will prevent us from leaving our future generations with a rich legacy of vibrant, healthy and productive forest lands.” Phillip added. “We must do everything in our power to protect these ancient giants and we cannot stop putting pressure on our governments to do their jobs: to protect us and the environment, not act as timber barons whose only concern is this year’s financial statements.” Despite promising to...
by Larry McCumsey | Jan 13, 2023 | News and Events
In October of this year the Save Our Forests Team highlighted our concern about clear-cutting of the original / old growth forest adjacent to the Mount Washington Parkway at Ramparts Creek / Browns River area with a Letter to the Editor in the COMOX VALLEY RECORD. Mosaic Forest Management is doing the clearcutting and is the forestry arm of Timberwest who actually owns the land. Mosaic has shown itself adept at side stepping issues of biodiversity and sustainability of forests / watersheds by indicating its participation in the industry led Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI). Ecojustice and eight environmental groups have just filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau requesting it conduct an inquiry into false and misleading ‘sustainability’ claims made by the SFI about its sustainable forest certification scheme. Devon Page, executive director, Ecojustice said: “The Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s standard is a greenwashed certification that misleads consumers and fails to protect forests and the environment. This deception needs to stop immediately.” We cannot wait, we must stop this old growth logging NOW. Timberwest was bought in 2011 by provincial pension plans managed by BC Investment Management Corporation (BCi) (teachers, ICBC, BC Hydro, provincial employees) and federal pension plans managed by Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) (civil servants, RCMP, military) for just over $1 billion. This is only a very small proportion of their more than $350 billion invested. These pension plans can afford to take a slightly lower return on this investment to ensure the continued existence of these old growth forests and their associated species. If you are a retired or ongoing member of any of these...
by Larry McCumsey | Dec 13, 2022 | Newsletters
2022 is almost history - to top the year off here is the December issue of our NIPR EDA newsletter. Seasons greetings to all of our friends in North Island - Powell River and best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year. NIPR Newsletter (Vol I - Issue 3) Dec...
by Larry McCumsey | Oct 26, 2022 | News and Events
Local resident and member of the NIPR Green Party electoral district association executive, Jay Van Oostdam, offers this opinion piece in the Comox Valley Record. He raises the alarm about logging of old growth forest in the Ramparts Creek area beside the Mount Washington road and notes the many impacts that this will have, including putting Comox Valley water security at risk. Comox Valley Record - Sounding the alarm about clearcutting old-growth forests in the Comox...
by Larry McCumsey | Oct 9, 2022 | News and Events
A number of qathet region organizations* have come together to address the issues that arise from the recent closure of the Catalyst Paper Tis’kwat pulp and paper mill in Powell River. The issues are grouped under the three main objectives adopted by the Coalition: To ensure that Paper Excellence (owners of the mill) will fulfill their legal obligation to remediate the site. There are multiple outstanding issues in the mill area and surrounding communities. To ensure that the community benefits from the hydroelectric power generated at the site. A subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable wants to sell the electricity to the US with no benefit flowing to the community or whomever assumes ownership of the mill site. To support the Tla’amin Nation in the restoration of wild fish habitats that were damaged or destroyed by the building of the dams. The Powell River salmon run was once second only to the Fraser River for significance on the BC coast. The Coalition has recently released a brochure that they wish to distribute as widely as possible. The brochure provides more detail about the group objectives, lists actions that we all can take to help and describes the makeup of the Coalition. After the Mill Brochure The group recently published an opinion piece in the Peak and on Oct 4 group member John Chan presented to the Powell River committee of the whole meeting. The current council accepted John’s presentation and approved a recommendation to send the issue to the new city council for discussion early in its mandate. *The After the Mill Coalition seeks to be a non-partisan group representing all...
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