A giant shark cruises through Snug Cove during the BowFest parade! |
We are sad to say that this is our final blog of the season.
After a summer of exciting outreach and coastal adventures, we are trading our
GSA t-shirts for thinking caps, and heading back to our respective studies.
Our last weekend of events was a busy one. Deanna had the
pleasure of attending BowFest, Bowen
Island’s community festival on Saturday. The theme of this year’s event was
“prehistoric”, and Bowen Islanders did not disappoint. The parade which opens
the festival every year was packed with polka-dotted Wooly Mammoths, giant prehistoric
birds and fish, roaring T-Rexes, and rock star cave-people. The festival itself
was lively as well! Island residents and visitors sampled delicious food,
enjoyed great live music, and browsed the booths of local artisans and
community groups. The kids had a great time enjoying the carnival rides,
checking out the live reptile exhibit, and urging on their favorite slugs in
the slug races. Deanna had several conversations with well informed, passionate
individuals and spread the word about our Communities Atlas Project. As
per usual, the Trans-Mountain
pipeline and oil tankers were the hot topics of the day, though many
individuals were interested in knowing more about the health of Howe Sound. All in all, it was one of the most enjoyable
events of the summer, and as such, a big thank you is owed to Ellen White and
the rest of the BowFest team for welcoming GSA to the Festival!
Isabelle adds some GSA decor to the Kitsilano Farmers Market. |
On Sunday, Isabelle grabbed a bag of brochures, a petition
against the oil tanker increase in the Strait, and a GSA tablecloth, and headed
to Kitsilano’s Farmers Market.
Her small booth was set right in the center of the Market between two rows of
tents filled with fresh produce and other local goods. With the sun shining,
the market was busy from start to end.
Many market goers holding bags filled with luscious fruits from the
Okanagan Valley took the time to stop by Isabelle’s booth to sign the petition
and discuss issues such as the oil tanker increase and salmon farming in the
Strait of Georgia.
On Tuesday, we rounded off our summer outreach tour by
returning to Parksville’s Summer
by the Sea Market for a second time. It was the market’s final night of the
summer, and though ominous clouds loomed, Oceansiders and visitors alike came
out in droves to indulge in one last local treat, and check out the artisan
craft displays.
We would like to thank everyone who came to talk to us and
buy raffle tickets at the market, and at all of our events this summer! We both
have truly enjoyed our summer of outreach with GSA. We managed to attend 25
different events in Georgia Strait of all shapes and sizes, from Victoria to
Powell River. Thank you to our GSA buddies for their warm
welcome and helping hands! We hope that their passion will continue to be
contagious as our coastal waters need such heroes!
Bonne chance and stay wild!
-Deanna
and Isabelle
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