Kicking the can (garbage that is)

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) is aiming to divert 75% of the waste in the Regional Landfill by 2010. They have done a pilot project with over 2000 homes and want to implement the program district wide in 2010, Gabriola will be included in this. The idea behind the program is to take items such as food scraps (even cooked meat and bones), soiled paper, and dairy products and turn them into a resource at the International Composting Corporation's (ICC) processing facility, located at Duke Point in Nanaimo. The finished products include compost, fertilizers, and soil amendments. My friend in Nanaimo was one of the participants in the pilot project, she has a family with two small kids and says she's amazed how this has impacted what she takes to the curb. For those already composting in their backyard, you'll want to continue to do that as it is more cost-effective and good for your garden, but for items that aren't suitable to place in your backyard composting bin, this offers an interesting alternative to throwing it in the garbage bin.

Supporting Terry Fox

The Terry Fox run is a great event, and what a way to spend some time with your family. We attended the run on Gabriola which started at the Twin Beaches on Sunday Sept 13. Paul Gray gave an inspiring speech in which he shared his story, it touches home to hear someone sharing their personal experience. Val then led us in a warm-up and we were definately warm enough by the time we started the run. There were two distances you could choose, either the 5km or 10km toward Olebar point. I had a great time on the run, while my 6yr old daughter rode ahead, my 4yr old and I worked hard to catch up.

Gabriola makes it in the New York Times

If you read the New York Times this weekend, you may have seen one of our listings featured in the Escapes section. A few weeks ago we were approached by the New York Times who found our website and wanted to include our listing at 109 Malaspina in their paper. Gabriola is a great place to live and we're proud to have it recognized.

See you at the Fall Fair…

Gabriola’s annual fall fair, is set to take place on 20 September 2009 at the Gabriola Commons, from noon to 3:00. There will be something for everyone this year, from the local musicians, 4-H displays, demonstrations, a petting zoo, quilting bee, & so much more…

For those with a green thumb, there will be competition for ribbons in the agricultural categories & with the summer we’ve been having there’s sure to be some spectacular displays! The scarecrow contest, a competition, that the Lynch family won in it’s first year, is sure to be fierce – we still proudly display our scarecrow in mom’s garden, it’s the perfect perching place for the birds, it’s supposed to scare off!

If your interested in entering into the competitions, entry forms are available on island at Raven Feed, Wild Rose Garden Centre & Wheelbarrow Nursery. (Entries will be accepted on Sunday morning, competition day, from 9:00am to 10:30 am.

Come and find out what’s taking the place of the “recycle” fashion show! See you at the fair…

Never to late to go back to school!

September comes around with a spark, the nostalgia of going back to school and seeing friends after a fantastic summer is never a difficult memory to bring forward. I'll have to stop myself from hitting the stores for a back to school outfit, unless I enroll in a continuing education course quickly. Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina College) offers a variety of choices for those that want to attend, part-time, full time or continuing education courses. You’ll find a variety of choices to fit your lifestyle, some programs they offer are: high school equivalency, certificates, diplomas, bachelor degrees, master’s degrees and continuing education courses.
If you’re looking to go back to school this September, visit their website at http://www.viu.ca .

Back to school !

This year the doors will open at Gabriola Elementary School on Tuesday September 8 2009 and the 166 students in attendance will meet their new principal, Tricia McKay. If you are trying to figure out when to have the kids ready to be picked up by the bright yellow bus, you’ll want to visit http://www.sd68.bc.ca/edocuments/SD68News/busroutes_/route13/content.htm For those students attending high school in Nanaimo, Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS) opens on September 8th as well, there are 1078 students that attend from grades 8-12. There is bus service on Gabriola to the ferry and a bus that picks them up at the ferry terminal in Nanaimo and takes them to NDSS.

Trip to OZ

Make a Smilebox slideshow