Winterlights Poetry Event
Share food, wine and inspiration at this annual community event. Bring your favourite piece of writing and put your name in the hat for the open mic slate.
Walk for the Wild Things, Tofino Style
Locals came together on November 30th to mark their concern for vanishing wildlife as part of an international series of events (see website: https://onca.org.uk/2018/11/20/some-of-us-did-not-die/ )
In Tofino the event was marked by a walk from South Chesterman Beach to Frank Island, a reflective opportunity to challenge the creative mind to act with hope in our commitment to nature.
The walk was followed by a beach fire at which Pacific Rim National Park warden Tanya Dowdall shared information about locally endangered species and the need for all of us to keep pushing for better and setting examples of excellence for others to follow.
Poet Sherry Marr reflected on the event with this poem: https://stardreamingwithsherrybluesky.blogspot.com/2018/11/in-remembrance-of-lost-species.html
Locally endangered species identified by the park include:
Basking Shark
Edwards’ Beach Moth
Southern Resident Killer Whale
Northern Abalone
Pink Sand Verbena
Sand Verbena Moth
Red Knot
Seaside Centipede Lichen
It is significant that the list of threatened and endangered species in Canada is many pages long.
Thanks to Toby Theriault for the photographs
Your feedback is welcome. I’m seeking ways to make this event more inclusive and meaningful in future years.
Walk For The Wild Things
Walk from South Chesterman Beach to Frank Island to raise awareness of threatened and extinct animals as part of the International Remembrance Day for Lost Species.
Join a beach fire afterwards to hear and share local stories, updates and sentiments.
Children may want to dress as a favourite creature, or bring their favourite stuffed animal.
This walk is a way for adults and children to show we care about the animals, plants, places that are vanishing. Such sadness is something we haven’t coped with on today’s scale before.
This summer Tahlequah the orca carried her dead calf at the surface for 17 days straight, prompting a deluge of grief from around the world. A strong part of grief lies in feeling helpless to prevent extinctions from happening. Studies show that even something as simple as a group walk can help build resilience when dealing with feelings of loss.
Friday November 30th. (It may rain, but we can handle that—right?)
3:30—4:30 pm
South Chesterman Beach entrance (see map, below)
http://tofinoaccommodation.com/location.html