Dear Canimites,
It’s quiet out here, almost as if people were holding their breath waiting for the Big White to descend.
The most excitement I’ve heard of comes out of Tuesday night Cribbage where "skunks" have dogged the best players as Father Fate works in a bit of fun. Ask Doug McGregor about it.
Vicki Shirran trapped two of the real item, as the odiferous critters haunted the farm bent on seizing a share of the animal feed.
On a more placid front, deer have been gathering under newly hung bird feeders sampling the delectable bits mysteriously falling from above.
Pat Labossier passes
Longtime resident Pat Labossier passed away recently.
Born in Edmonton in 1952, he moved to the 100 Mile House area with his family in the early 1970s, working with his father in a home-building business. As time passed, he moved to other British Columbia communities, but was always drawn back to Canim Lake. Here, he was a respected builder.
In 2007 when the fire service was still the Canim Lake Volunteer Fire Department, then fire chief Ron Lister enlisted his help in constructing the fire hall. Pat gave his time freely, installing the concrete foundation and then acting as foreman through the May long-weekend community blitz that framed and roofed the new hall.
People remember him as a friendly and community-minded man. Just a year ago, he was helping the Forest Grove 94 Lions chop wood to give away. Pat will be missed.
Logging picks up
There is a lot of industrial traffic now on the Canim-Hendrix Lake Road, a good reason to exercise extra caution given the wintery roads.
Pioneer Logging is working just south of the Hendrix Lake townsite, cutting spruce, balsam and pine. They’ll be running about 15 loads a day in their black trucks.
Some of the logs go to Ainsworth for OSB, while saw logs, 16- to 20-foot long, go to West Fraser for lumber and peelers are trucked to Williams Lake for plywood. This will continue all winter.
I also hear Rod Dillman is hauling about 10 loads a day from Art Creek, if I have that spelling correct, located near the beginning of the 7000 Road. Coming out the Bradley Creek Road from Bedington Lake through Forest Grove are an additional 25 loads a day with McNeil & Sons Logging.
People news
• After the sudden passing of his dad, Tom, Tim Beaudoin left the Canim Lake Estates to stay with relatives on Vancouver Island. From there, he will move to Australia to rejoin his mother who resides in Queensland.
• The federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission visited the Tsq’escen people of the Canim Lake Band recently to record stories about people’s experience of the St. Joseph’s residential school near Williams Lake. The pastor of the St. Jude's Catholic Church, Fr. Vern Ononiwu, and some parishioners sat in the sharing circle to listen.
Bits and Bites
Swans have settled on Canim Lake to mow the shallows for succulent water plants.
Their trumpeting is a delight to hear on a still morning. A group of up to 12 have been seen in front of Gordon Kellett’s home, at the mouth of Bridge Creek, and along the shallows west of Sand Point.
There are a few cygnets mixed in with the adult pairs. If these young make it past this year, their life expectancy can be at least four years. The oldest Trumpeter Swan known lived for 24 years (references on request).
That’s all for now. Until next time here’s wishing you many blessings.