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Comment Archives: stories: News: Sea to Sky
Re: “Two-year-old land dispute still unresolved”
Hello one-sided article.
Re: “SUP paddler rescued from Howe Sound”
Many Mahalos to Simon and Tyler for being there for me. If they had not been there I would not be here today. There are no words to express how grateful I am to them. My warmest Alohas to both of you. They were extremely professional at doing there job and thanks to both of them again as I am back safe here on Maui.
Re: “SUP paddler rescued from Howe Sound”
My girlfriend would not be alive if not for the quick thinking and watchful eye of CO Simon Gravel. Thank you Simon. You are a hero in my eyes and I am forever great full to you for saving an angels life that day.
Re: “SUP paddler rescued from Howe Sound”
One of the most important pieces of safety equipment for Stand Up Paddlers (SUP) is a LEASH. Leashes are not list in Transport Canada's list of required equipment.
NEVER RIDE A SUP BOARD WITH OUT A LEASH.
Re: “SUP paddler rescued from Howe Sound”
The equipment you're required to carry varies by type and length of your craft, and where and when you're paddling. You may need any or all of the following items. Visit Transport Canada for more details.
PFD
Every paddlecraft is required to have "one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board." Inflatable PFDs and belt packs are popular with boarders and other paddlers because of their low profile. You must be wearing an inflatable device for it to be legal (an excellent habit to get into with foam-filled flotation devices too). Inflatables are not legal for whitewater because they are not inherently buoyant.
Sound Signalling Device
Every paddlecraft must have "one sound-signalling appliance that meets the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations, or a sound-signalling device." Provided it's pealess, a simple whistle (like the one that comes attached to many PFDs) fulfills this requirement.
Heaving Line
Almost every paddlecraft is required to have "one buoyant heaving line at least 15m long." Sit-on-top kayaks are exempt, provided everyone on board is wearing an approved PFD or lifejacket (inflatable or foam).
Throwlines are great for whitewater paddlers, who can toss them from a river's edge to a companion in trouble. They are rarely used by sea kayakers or lake canoeists. Many non-whitewater paddlers carry a combination throwline-towline. A towline is more useful for most craft-to-craft rescues in open water, and for towing tired or seasick paddlers. If you're paddling on the sea, be sure any hardware on your towline is saltwater safe.
Bailer or Pump
"One bailer or manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping arrangements." A simple scoop made from a cut-up bleach bottle would fulfill the law, but a proper pump will empty your boat faster. This requirement doesn't apply to a "pleasure craft that cannot hold enough water to make it capsize or a pleasure craft that has watertight compartments that are sealed and not readily accessible." So paddleboards, self-bailing inflatable kayaks, and sit-on-top kayaks with hatch free flotation compartments are exempt.
Reboarding Device
"One reboarding device." This is required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard is more than 0.5m, so most paddlecraft are exempt. If you're paddling open water, consider carrying a rescue stirrup anyway. They're great for self or assisted rescues or even for those who can usually roll or reboard unassisted.
Flashlight
If you're paddling in darkness, fog, or snow, or if your craft is more than 6m long (like many double kayaks and expedition canoes) you're required to carry a "watertight flashlight." If you regularly paddle at night, consider a steady burning white light that is visible from all sides. It will give other boats a better chance of seeing you in time to react safely.
Flares
If your craft is over 6m, you're required to carry "Six Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star) or C (Hand)." You're exempt if you're paddling on a river, canal, or lake where you can't get more than 1.852km (one nautical mile) from shore, or if your boat "has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition." Even if you're exempt, think about where and when you paddle, and whether carrying flares could increase your safety in an emergency.
Compass
The requirement for "One magnetic compass" doesn't apply if your boat is 8m or less and you're paddling within sight of seamarks (navigation marks). But a compass is always an excellent tool to have in case of fog or GPS failure.
Radar Reflector
Transport Canada's requires one radar reflector "in certain circumstances." Most paddlecraft are exempt in most situations as "the small size of the vessel or its operation away from radar navigation makes compliance impractical." However, this is a good reminder that small, non-metal boats are invisible on radar. Prudent paddlers should avoid high traffic waters in restricted visibility. If you're accidentally caught in such circumstances, a GPS and a VHF radio could be used to advise bigger boats of your location.
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
I have to agree with all of you, this individual is being so selfish. He as a mountain biker could undermine all other mountain bikers. His injuries are serious but completely recoverable if he takes care of them. However, sounds to me like a guy who does not listen to his injuries. I'm sorry but sometimes it hurts to be stupid.
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
While I do agree that he should be assuming the risk as a rider, and under typical recreational riding, I would agree that this suit is a farce, as any half-brained rider would asses any stunt prior to hitting it. Now if I were to play devils" advocate, one could point out that as an organized race, perhaps built structures should have had some level of inspection prior to the race as the rider would not stop to check things out in a time trial situation. Again as the article points out, there were ride-arounds at obstacles so I'd caution future races to use them, and not assume the stability of wooden structures. After all people, we live where it rains seemingly 11 months out of the year and if I'm not mistaken, wood rots. No?
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
What an asshole! I've ridden trails all over North America and in EVERY instance the risk of injury is assumed by me and, as a big boy with my very own big boy pants, it is incumbent upon me to ensure the safety of all trails, stunts and obstacles before I go careening off of them.
I'd be more understanding of this moron if he was a visiting American with all the litigious baggage that entails. But he LIVES IN WHISTLER! How delusional and self important is this ween?!?
Buddy, get you head out of your claven and your hand out of our pockets. Don't ruin it for the rest of the adults at the party.
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
Yep, he rode at his own risk, as many of us do ever day, in pursuit of fun. He got hurt, it's on him!
Re: “Crown, PVTA file statements of defence in bike injury case”
Wrong, he rode at his own risk!
Re: “Merlin Air has option to buy Pemberton lot for air adventures centre”
hi i have a question. Catherine Atkinson, you say "The company wants to build and operate an ECO-FRIENDLY tourism facility.." I would like to know what is the company doing to make Merlin Air advantures centre eco-friendly?
Re: “Schools prep for Pink Shirt Day”
This is a great article that needs to be shared. If stories could be told to see what all schools are doing, it would be an excellent way to learn from each other.
Having everyone aware of the issues and being encouraged to tell is one of the important attributes towards 'Making a Difference'. I commend the students in our country and beyond for stepping up and making that shift in perspective. If we all step up as global citizens, a change WILL occur.
~ Carol Todd (Amanda Todd's mom)
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
Bear mace... In the middle of winter they carry bear mace? Hang on, he will just out run the dog back to the truck and get his mace.....
I don't know where some of you got your info but I'm afraid chinese whispers has failed you, especially when the original source is questionable.
Poor Pup? 5 years old. Oxygen to keep her alive? If thats the case put the 'poor' thing down. Dog attacking people all day? I don't think any one else was there all day.
Good to see we also have so many experts in our community too, I feel safe knowing that when Im getting mauled by a dog you will be there to show me how to deal with it. Your all so brave.
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
It never ceases to amaze me how absolutely irrational some people get when a dog gets shot around here. It seems that all reason and logic instantly goes out the window! I mean, really, "extermination", "animal cruelty", "inhumane actions", and allegations that C.O.s have no knowledge of animals... really?
The primary role of a CO is to stop poaching. They usually work alone, and have to routinely go out into situations that most would consider very dangerous. Think about it, how many people would want to walk into a hunting camp, full of armed hunters to make sure they have all the licenses, tags, etc required and are not actually poaching? It takes skill, calm headedness, and training to be able to handle such a situation without causing escalation. It's also worth noting that most COs come from an outdoors/hunting background. These are guys that are very familier with dogs and their behaviour. They are not people who are out there looking to shoot people's dogs.
If this dog had ultimately attacked the officer then he could have been seriously injured, and would have been vulnerable to further attack by the people he was investigating. The CO would have had mere seconds to assess the suddenly occurring situation and make a decision.
At the end of the day, the dog's owner is the responsible party here. It was his duty to ensure his dog was under control and it was his failure to do so that led to the dog being shot. If the dog had a history of this behaviour (as suggested in an earlier comment), then it should have been leashed.
Is it sad that this dog got shot? Yes, of course. But it wasn't the CO's fault.
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
How many victims were attacked? There’s no indication of anyone getting attacked, if anyone was, then that should be reported. An excited dog is not a dog that attacks people. As screenname456 mentions that owner muzzled the dog, but before the dog got muzzled it probably had enough time to attack if that was the intension other than to bark around. Fishing with too many rods is a fishing violation, and should be investigated and charges pressed accordingly. These are two separate issues and should be handled as such. It sounds like cover-up. An officer makes a judgement based on information they receive; reality of it is often different from that. This case was a situation in which a paid government servant totally panicked and it could have been avoidable had the dog not been pre-sentenced for extermination. I am sorry for the dog owner who lost a companion, yet I hope he gets all the fishing violations he earned. I am happy for the conservation officer who upheld the fishing act; but he is not competent enough to handle a firearm in the wild if he’s exterminating dogs that care about their owners and raise awareness of their surrounding environment. This unpractical trigger happy officer shall be prosecuted and fired for his own safety.
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
The dog was attacking people at the lake before the C.O. got there, apparently it was totally crazy. The owner muzzled the dog and it continued charging and trying to bite people even with the muzzle on. The owner was illegally fishing with way too many rods in the ice. From the story I got from people that were there that day, sounds like this dog should not have been in a public place ever. Poor judgement on the owners part there, but the C.O. also could have just used bear mace.
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
This is most definately a case of animal cruelty or a gun happy guy who shoots first and asks questions later....they do the same for the bears...they have absolutely no training at all to act in away toward ANIMALS...this officer should be pulled off duty, firearm removed, until investigation is over and it should b investigated by an outside company just like our RCMP go through...there has to be transparency...Blessings to the family and the pup who by the waywas not a well dog I hear, she was on oxygen from time to time to keep her alive
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
It feel so sick after reading this story. Either the conservation officer has no knowledge of dog behaviour or he is incompetent to execute his duties as a conservation officer. This is not a "large" dog or an aggressive breed. Disciplinary action and criminal charges should be taken in this sad display of cowardness. A life has been lost and another life has been forever changed as a result of this senseless act.
Re: “Dog shot and killed by conservation officer”
Where was it proven that these men had broken any laws? They had not even spoken yet. Has it been proven that they broke any law, or the dog for that matter? Please do not try and justify the wrongful slaying of an animal, of which CO's should be trying to protect. Do not assume that he has enough firearms training to know when to use it and how. I have trained with and trained many individuals in firearms training and that should have been the last line of defense. His firearm should be revoked at least until he is proven not to be such a coward, then pursued criminaly. Sounds like he might be scared of his own shadow sometimes and could be a potential threat to the well being of others.
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May 24, 2013, 2:05 PM
Task force formed to address long weekend mayhem
Locals frustrated by damage to village; police log 17 cases of mischief over one night More...
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May 24, 2013, 2:00 PM
Crud 2 Mud kicks off Bike Park event season
Course to be announced at mandatory athlete meeting Sat. 6 p.m. at the GLC More...
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May 24, 2013, 2:00 PM
Tourism Whistler holds board of director elections
Eight candidates were nominated for three positions on the Board More...
Re: “Two-year-old land dispute still unresolved”
what do you need to know about the other side ? 9 families lost their homes to the squamish nation.