Dear Canimites,
Change is upon, us as warmer temperatures rush in with a flurry of migrating birds, melting snow and good old Cariboo mud. Human activity around the lakes quickens, as Canimites and Hawkins Lakers suffer the first pangs of spring fever.
Local artist
The Parkside Art Gallery invited denise swift to mount an exhibition of her work as part of its Emerging Artists program.
And exhibit she did, with successful presentations of her pottery, raku artistry, loom weaving, beading on leather, bark carving and painting.
The eclectic artist started as a child to work on "anything and everything," she says.
Her Métis roots and her attachment to nature are evident in her work, particularly the patterns and glazing of her pottery. I found a beautiful fruit bowl in a deep blue and pale green with a snowberry pattern at a modest price.
She lives with her husband, Ted, in the Canim Lake Estates, where denise keeps her studio and pottery. If you are interested in seeing her work, you can reach her at 250-397-2632 or through her website at www.canlacprojects.com.
Community Club
Margo's Cabin, our local community hall, will receive a new metal roof this spring, courtesy of a donation of materials from Art and Judy Dumaresq.
Watch for announcements of the work party to come. For a few hours work, you'll be able to chow down on some of the best pies and baking on Earth.
Japan campaign
Hisako Arai asked me to let you know that she is organizing a campaign to raise funds to help victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
Details will follow soon.
Grow-Op update
Our Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Director Art Dumaresq says the Community Club's letter-of-concern about grow-ops "could not have come at a better time."
Art will discuss the matter with the board at the March 25 meeting. At the last board meeting, the Williams Lake RCMP staff sergeant made a presentation about the problems the RCMP faces in dealing with grow-ops.
He informed directors a committee of local police, politicians and citizens will be formed to develop recommendations for bylaws and changes to building inspection procedures that would make it more difficult to operate grow-ops in our community. Thereafter, the provincial and, possibly, the federal governments would be lobbied where necessary.
People news
• Dolores Angell has semi-retired and moved to Canim Lake from Vancouver to be with her partner of 40 years, Doug Pendergast. The couple has two children and five grandchildren.
Dolores hopes to continue her computer work from their new home.
Doug retired after a 30-year career with BC Transit, but continues to guide horse-packing trips in the Chilcotin, most recently out of Chaunigan Lake Lodge in the Nemiah Valley.
• The lively Zemanek sisters, Debrah and Andrea, helped organize the recent Amnesty International concert at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School. Debrah said their aim was to raise awareness about Amnesty and the school's involvement with it.
The group received more than $1,200 in donations at the concert, which is being split between Amnesty, the 100 Mile Food Bank and the Gold Rush Grannies.
Fire hall work
Many residents noticed the trucks pulled out of the bays at Hall #2 recently.
The interior was being dry walled by Kam's Drywall. When I visited, Keith Meyer and Scott Judson were ably hoisting the nine-foot sheets that now neatly cover the walls. Painting will be next.
Bird sightings
Varied thrushes blew into the area on March 8, with robins two days later.
Bob Campbell saw two Trumpeter swans on Bradley Creek, Feb. 21-25. He believes the pair probably wintered here, making use of open water wherever they could find it, perhaps at the lower elevation of Mahood Lake.
Wayne Traill has heard the diminutive Saw-whet Owls calling in the hours before sunrise, their distinctive "beep beep" call sounding like the backup alarm of heavy machinery.
Calendar
The Ladies Munch and Confab will be at the Dragon Gate on April 5 at 1 p.m.
That's all for now. Until next time, here's wishing you many blessings.