NEWS

April-May 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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KAYAK GUIDES RETURN TO JAPAN

Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck, operators of Rainforest Kayak Adventures in Tofino BC, returned to Japan for a second visit in February. The tour was organized by the Friends of Clayoquot Sound, a conservation group based in Tofino. Bonny and Dan's wilderness kayaking slideshows were hosted by Patagonia Japan. They also met with companies which buy wood from International Forest Products (Interfor), to ask them to join the global shift to ancient forest- free products.

Interfor is currently logging in Clayoquot Sound, the largest area of ancient temperate rainforest left on Vancouver Island, and site of mass protests in 1993. Interfor is currently planning to dramatically increase their rate of cutting in Clayoquot, and wants to build 13 kilometres of road into Sulphur Pass, a pristine area which was the site of protests in 1988. Dan and Bonny can be reached at 1- 877-422-WILD,mail@rainforestkayak.com, Web: www.rainforestkayak.com .

TOURISM CONFERENCE

The University College of the Cariboo and partners, The Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism British Columbia, are holding their third annual Canadian Adventure Tourism Industry Conference, a threeday event, April 26-28, 2002, at the University College of the Cariboo in Kamloops BC. Workshop include marketing, technology, risk management, business development, etc. Special events include a silent auction with great gear at great prices to raise funds for the Student Scholarship Fund on Friday evening, and a banquet and keynote address Saturday evening, as well as excellent entertainment. Ph: 250-371- 5843, advgconf@cariboo.bc.ca, Web: www.adventureconference.com.

PADDLING CENTRE RE-OPENS

Boundary Bay Water Sports, in partnership with West Vancouver Parks and Community Services, are pleased to announce that the Ambleside Paddling Centre will re-open for summer operations in April 2002. The Ambleside Paddling Centre opened in July 2001 and operated seven days a week until October. Ph: 604-913- 3079.

Web: www.boundarybay.com .

RACE SERIES

If you're into racing, don't miss out on the Necky Races Series (Events Calendar) Additionally, Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre in Vancouver is having a Wednesday night race series at their new facility at Jericho, from May 1 to Sept 25. $2 entry fee with your own boat, rentals are half price with an advance reservation. The focus is on fun. For more information: 604- 689-7575. www.ecomarine.com.

NEW PADDLING STORE IN NANAIMO

Alberni Outpost has now opened a second location in central Vancouver Island, in Country Club Mall, Nanaimo, in addition to the Port Alberni store. They are the exclusive dealer for Necky, Voodoo, and Seaward kayaks for Nanaimo and the West coast of Vancouver Island. Nanaimo store: 250-760-0044. Port Alberni store: 250-723- 2212. www.albernioutpost.com

BOREALDESIGN CELEBRATES 10TH

BorealDesign, founded in 1992, celebrated its 10th Anniversary with an Open House this March in Saint-Augustin-de- Desmaures, Quebec, providing tours of their new rotomoulding factory and officially 'launching' two new designs. BorealDesign was founded by Nathalie Simard and Eric Blouin, both mechanical engineers, who share a passion for sea kayaking. Their success over the past decade is attributed to the technical expertise they have used to design and build safe, highperformance sea kayaks and accessories. 418-878-3099. www.borealdesign.com.

KAYAK REPAIRS, CUSTOM MODS

Pacific Oceaneering and Design of Nanaimo, BC specializes in structural and cosmetic repairs to all composite kayaks as well as custom modifications and installation of rudder assemblies and other options. Contact them toll free at 1-888-310-0222 or at 250-754-2400.

WAVELENGTH EXPANDS... AGAIN

WaveLength has expanded its distribution in Canada's largest city, Toronto, employing the services of a distribution company to supply the magazine to stores in the sports and recreation sector, in addition to the usual bulk mailing system used for the rest of North America where we have over 500 print distribution points. For bulk orders, please call 1-800-799-5602.

BROKEN GROUP RESORT

Eaglenook Resort in Barkley Sound has a fleet of fiberglass Seaward Kayaks and is offering guided day trips in addition to its accommodation services. 1-800-760-2777. www.wildernessgetaway.com.

NIGEL FOSTER GOES SEAWARD

Seaward Kayaks is now the exclusive distributor and manufacturer of kayaks designed by Nigel Foster, the well-known international kayaker. Seaward is carrying three models, including the Shadow, the Legend, and the Silhouette. 1-800-595- 9755. www.seawardkayaks.com.

Walden Sports have distributed Foster's sea kayaks in North America over the last two years, but have decided to concentrate their energies fully on their main strength, roto-molded craft.

U.S. OPENING

Simon River Sports of Morin Heights, Quebec, is opening its first USA Sales Office. Tom Foti has joined the SRS team to spearhead the company's US sales effort, where his responsibilities will be to create a network of dealers in the American market. "Tom will be a tremendous asset to add momentum to this young company, and create a niche in the US market for performance paddles and kayaks", says Karen Lukanovich, president of Simon River Sports. 1-877-529-2518. www.simonriversports.com.

CONGRATULATIONS, MOYERS!

Congratulations to Lee and Judy Moyer of Pacific Water Sports who this February celebrated 30 years in business. PWS, of Tukwila, Washington offers their own make of kayaks and others, plus lessons, sales and service of kayaks and gear. 206-246-9385. www.pwskayaks.com.

REVISED MAP AVAILABLE

The revised edition of the Cascadia marine Trail Map is available from Washington Water Trails Association. To obtain a map contact the WWTA at 206-545-9161 or wwta@wwta.org.

APOLOGIES

Our apologies to Ed Gray of Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre in Vancouver, BC for calling him Ed 'Day' in the article he did for us in our last issue. Perhaps our excuse is that during the winter around here, we tend to associate 'gray' and 'day'.

HAIDA SUE FOR ABORIGINAL TITLE

The Haida First Nation launched a legal battle in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in early March for ownership of the Queen Charlotte Islands, traditionally called Haida Gwaii, some 5,800 square kilometres of land off Canada's West Coast.

The Haida Nation are attempting to establish aboriginal title and rights to the lands and the surrounding waters.

The Haida move is in part to block the provincial government's desire to press ahead with offshore oil and gas drilling in waters off the Queen Charlottes.

"We don't believe offshore oil and gas can be safely obtained-the technology doesn't exist and we are not prepared to see offshore oil and gas drilling in any waters within a 200-mile limit surrounding Haida Gwaii," said Guujaw, president of the Haida Nation. "With the provincial government refusing to negotiate with us or recognize our aboriginal title, we have no choice but to take the title case to court.

"With industry like logging or mining, we are prepared to negotiate and accommodate but we oppose all offshore oil and gas."

"We got a leaked Liberal document that revealed they were going to go full-steam ahead with oil and gas, and forestry and mining, and basically trample aboriginal rights," he said.

Lawyer Louise Mandel said there should be no difficulty establishing aboriginal title over the entire Queen Charlottes.

"It is an inescapable fact that the Haida were the original settlers of the Islands and continue to reside there," she said.

The Haida never signed a treaty with the government, and never gave up their rights to the land.

Aboriginal title would grant them a role in almost every aspect of land use there.

'DISCOVERY' VISITS GABRIOLA

The crew from "Canadian Geographic for Kids" TV show on Discovery Channel flew out from Toronto to visit the southern Strait of Georgia in early March. Georgia Strait Alliance staffers Bryan Nichols and Mike Richards took the two young hosts and camera crew out to see some of the sights of local marine habitat off Gabriola Island.

CLIMATE CHANGE SPEEDING UP

The Earth Policy Institute is reporting that the planet's ice cover is melting faster than predicted. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) now has the ice melt data from the 1990s and will need to revise upward its projected rise in sea level for this century. New studies show that sea levels are rising twice as fast as earlier thought, and new studies by the US Geological Survey indicate accelerating glacial melting around the world.

Studies also show Arctic Sea ice at the north pole has thinned 42 percent in 35 years. Together, thinning and shrinking have reduced the mass of sea ice by half. A team of Norwegian scientists projects that the Arctic Sea could be entirely ice-free during the summer by mid-century, if not before.

Our generation is the first to have the capacity to alter the earth's climate. We are also, therefore, the first to wrestle with the ethical question of whether the capacity to change the planet's climate gives us the right to do so.

See: http://earth-policy.org/Updates/Update4.htm

Additional data and information sources at www.earth-policy.org.

CANOE MUSEUM EXPANDS

The Canadian Canoe Museum in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources', Ontario Living Legacy has announced an major initiative to build a new outdoor cultural heritage activity centre.

The Outdoor Learning Centre will encompass more than 20,000 square feet, featuring a 45' x 90' paddling pond surrounded by a naturally landscaped environment. Visitors and school children will experience aspects of Canadian culture and heritage through a recreated Aboriginal encampment, an early prospector and surveyor's bush camp, a traditional skills area where canoes are constructed, and a paddling area where visitors can paddle various canoes and kayaks. "Our objective is to make history come alive, make it relevant", says Jon Grant, chair of the Canadian Canoe Museum. Estimated date of completion is spring / summer 2004.

The Canadian Canoe Museum, in Peterborough, Ontario is home to the world's largest collection of canoes and kayaks. www.canoemuseum.net.

COASTAL COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE

The 10th anniversary Conference of the Coastal Communities will be held on May 2-4, Port Alberni BC, co-hosted by the Alberni- Clayoquot Regional District and Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. This will be an important opportunity to network with local, first nations, federal and provincial government, and coastal community Leaders. Information and registration for the Conference are available at http://www.coastalcommunity.bc.ca/html/forms/forms.html. Ph: 250-383-1923. Email: coastcom@island.net

FISH FARMS GET GREEN LIGHT

The BC government's recent decision to lift the moratorium on new fish farms has been met with a storm of protest. This is one of a number of bad decisions being made which we must work together to reverse. See Suzanne Connell's article Fish Farm Fiasco. Please get involved.