What a beautiful fall day it was today! The light shining through the golden yellows of the maple trees is so incredible. Especially after the torrential rains of last Saturday, it was quite a treat. Hope you all had a chance to have a look around you and realize how fortunate we all are to live in such a beautiful place.

Halloween fun night at the Community Centre
It was a real treat to be part of the festivities at the Community Centre and to see the incredible energy that is once again alive and well on Quadra Island. It was so heartening to see so many young families with kids of all ages in attendance. Great magician, haunted fun house and games and of course, the annual fireworks to end the evening. My congratulations to all of the volunteers that made it happen!

Surge Narrows town hall meeting
I attended a town hall meeting at the Surge Narrows "bunkhouse" next to the school, hosted by the Surge Narrows Community Association, on Saturday, Nov. 1st (during that torrential rain that I mentioned earlier). It was good to see so many of the people from the outer islands gathered in one place for a very productive few hours. I think the main topics of concern were the two applications for tidal power generation in the area of the Okisollo Channel and another near Surge Narrows. Both of these have been heavily opposed by outdoor recreation groups from right across the country. More are in the application stage. The other main issue of concern is the Evans Bay wharf, which I have been working on for the past few years. I now have a meeting set up with the appropriate parties for 1pm on Thursday, Nov. 13th in Campbell River. Hopefully we will be able to come to some resolution on how to get this wharf divested to the community from Transport Canada. I have reported on this issue in past issues of the Discovery Islander and the Gumboot.

BC Ferries public meeting - Thursday November 13th, 7 to 9 pm - Quadra Community Centre
Here is the moment you have been waiting for, folks. BC Ferries is coming to Quadra Island to hold an old fashioned town hall meeting. Is there anything that you have been meaning to say to them but just haven't had the energy to write? Well here is your chance to tell them in person anything that you might have to say about fares, fuel surcharges, service level, or maybe you might want to talk to them about fares? or perhaps a word or two about FARES!?! I hope you will make the effort to come out. I wouldn't want them to think that we are completely satisfied with the cost of ferry service to the island. They need to know how it effects you, your family and any other folks that may have had to leave the island due to the increased cost of service. PLEASE ATTEND!

BC Ferry Advisory meeting
On the day after the town hall meeting we will be meeting as an advisory group to hear the latest and greatest from BC Ferries and what they have in store for us. These meetings are open to the public with a portion at the beginning dedicated to public presentations. So if you have an issue that would be best discussed at the advisory meeting, feel free to attend this one also. It will be held at the Heriot Bay Inn from 9am to 12 noon on Friday, Nov. 14th.

There are many more things that I am working on and that are in progress but I think that is about enough for this issue. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area C), SRD