BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY

General Meeting Unofficial Minutes

 Monday, 15 September 2025 at 18.30pm
via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock

Attendees (24): James Willock (Chair), , Julie Bradley, Jan Teversham,  Robin and Bob Schmitt, Jomy Thomas, Sheryl Mass, Ben West, Max Salamon, Laura Bradley, Jerry Gassner, Tom Jensen, Susan Derasp, Greg Willmon, Phil Lavoie, Stella Wenstob, Ilan Perez, Marielle Monteiro Gilmour, Birgit Gagne, Anne Stewart, Bob Beckett, Daniel Sailland (ACRD), Christina Jackson, Stacy Denton,     

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Lands: The BCAS acknowledges that the land on which we meet is within the Traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations where indigenous peoples have lived since time immemorial.

The meeting was called to order at 18.32

Adoption of Agenda m/SWenstob s/SDerasp

Adoption of June Minutes m/TJensen s/SDerasp

Update on the Board.

Tom Jensen is stepping up to be the Vice Chair as Jaleen Rousseau left the Board.

Ilan Perez joined the Board to fill a vacancy.

ACRD DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Bob Beckett

Bob acknowledged the challenges that the community has been through recently, with the power outage and continuing road closure, and expressed his gratitude to the community who stepped up to deal with the situation. With support we will get through this!

The third ACRD -Community meeting was held today over lunchtime at the RIX Centre. This gave the ACRD and other government staff the opportunity to give an update on the situation and a chance to listen to continuing concerns of the community.

Bob then introduced Daniel to give a summary of that meeting.

ACRD CAO’s Report : Daniel Sailland

1. The Road

• Danger tree assessment and removal is underway and at least 200 trees have already been identified and are being removed. They are along the 1.5 km section of the road where the risk is high of falling trees and debris.
• A geotechnical assessment is also needed. It is not known whether the slope will be scaled or whether it will be left to natural processes to stabilize it .
• BC Hydro is not replacing poles along this section yet as anything falling could snap both the lines and the poles. The current line in that section is a marine one and is buried. Concrete barriers are being put in place to protect it and will remain until the debris/trees have fallen down.
• Barriers will be put in place so that section of the road can be closed when the risk from falling trees and debris slides due to strong winds or heavy rain is high.
• A weather station is being put in place so that wind speeds and precipitation can be monitored and used to determine the need to close the road.
• Ownership of the road is complicated and includes the Crown, Mosaic and TFL44 and it is not a gazetted highway. MOT is in the process of making access agreements.

Questions:

Max asked how the community can get information of a road closure before leaving Bamfield. Daniel says MOT are working on it but have not come up with a solution as yet. It could be digital or physical signage but both sides of the road will know.

Jamie asked about the detour signage for the route to Youbou.

Chief Thomas of the Dididat nation is taking the lead on this section of the road and the signage

is being updated.

2. Health

Appointments in Port. The difficulty in keeping appointments in Port is understood and possible solutions are being considered. These include :

• a complementary water taxi on alternate days to the Frances Barclay. This had been rejected  before but is now on the table again.
• Assistance in overnight accommodation-  another possibility.
• Bringing professionals into Bamfield.
• Using float planes from the inlet to Sproat Lake

Reporting It is important to document the need for assistance in keeping appointments. If you have had to cancel any these should be reported. The number to use is being decided by Island Health.

Ambulance. In the absence of an ambulance service the Coast Guard or a helicopter will transport patients to Port.

RCMP If there is a possible crime to report then it is most important to call 911 so that it is recorded.

3. Recovery

Bob asked Daniel to mention the fact that they are now in the recovery phase of an emergency. The response is ongoing and this week there will be high level planning to create a comprehensive recovery plan where Bamfield will be represented by Bob.

Links to the websites are

ACRD

2025 Mount Underwood Wildfire Page

https://www.acrd.bc.ca/mount-underwood-wildfire

EOC Current Status Update (PDF)

https://www.acrd.bc.ca/dms/documents/emergency-planning/2025/mount-underwood-wildfire/mt_u_status_-_09-11-25.pdf

PRESENTATION : Power Outage Survey Report – Jan Teversham

The power outage survey has received 84 responses so far and is still open for those who wish to complete it. The responses were summarised and presented. Please find the link below:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iAiBAXDq42a8BtRY9gR5xyhB-yvg0KRXGZ5x1hvpwCY/edit?usp=sharing

 And here is the raw data from the survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1b9zCJxh1rHoe6AwXLhZMOlnrj549kbJSKIttLcS-kdk/viewanalytics

Big thanks to Marielle for her technical expertise.

TREASURER’S REPORT : Susan Derasp

Chequing          $12,853.06

Savings              $28,306.04

Member Equity         $5.21

Total Assets     $41,164.31

The ACRD grant of $10,000 arrived over the summer. Two GIA projects were paid. Andrew Miller received $465.16 for the video workshop and Margot Keane received $ 1825.00 for the planter box revitalization.

CORRESPONDENCE:

United Way has written to Community Affairs with an offer of giving ten $50 gift cards for anyone negatively affected by the power outage in terms of food losses or fuel costs. The information to request one has been sent out on the email list, posted on the Corkboard and on the noticeboards east and west. If there are more than ten requests then a lottery will determine the beneficiaries.

COMMUNITY REPORTS

Bamfield Community School Association: Jomy Thomas

• There were 6 weeks of Summer Camps with a pause of two weeks during the power outage as there was no generator at the school.
• There is a community lunch at the school on Wednesday for everyone.
• The United Way School's Out after school program is happening. - This program runs for four days a week from 3- 4:30 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays for kids in grade 4-7 and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays  for kids in grades 1-3.  
• The monthly Friday Night Chill (a hangout space for our teens aged 12 to 19) is scheduled for this Friday from 6-8 PM.
• We are unveiling the school medicine garden on the first of October. The kids will be given a short lesson on the different plants we have.

Bamfield Centennial Park: Sheryl Mass

• It’s been a good year and Jody did a great job managing the running of the park. She is scheduled to have a hip replacement this week but wants to stay on for the next year.
• About $5000 was paid out in refunds when people left during the Mount Underwood Fire.
• The Park is currently open but the bathrooms will be reduced to one toilet and one shower once the campsite closes after the Fungus Festival (end of September)and they will remain open all winter.
• New Board members are required. The ACRD is helping the Board at the moment  as it is down to three people. Michael McGregor of ACRD  is functioning as the chair and another ACRD staff member is taking minutes.

Bamfield Community School: Robin Schmitt

• There are less than 40 students registered this year with none in  grade 12 .
• There are 3 multigrade teachers including Jonathon Carpentier?  for high school students. Sonam Sultan is the new education assistant this year.
• Last Friday the students had a Terry Fox running event and totalled 175 laps of the school field equalling 43 kms!
• In October the Indigenous medicine garden that the students are preparing should be ready for unveiling.
• AND funding has been secured for a generator for the school which will be installed shortly.

Bamfield Harbour Authority: Tom Jensen

• BHA has now completed negotiations for a new head lease which will take the lease up to 2045 with options. Bamfield Lodge needs a sublease to operate in the BHA lease and this is also now in place.
• With no dock manager the board members have been maintaining the dock while Ashley has been taking reservations and working as reception. This situation is not sustainable and a dock manager is needed.
• Moorage levels have been high but not overwhelmingly so. August to mid -September is a very busy time. There is more moorage available in Bamfield now. There were not many cancellations on account of the fire as many people arrived by boat.
• Rates have increased this year for transient users after a survey of similar docks. Commercial rates have not changed.

Bamfield Fire Department: Phil Lavoie

• First Responders were very busy during the power outage with about 10 call outs. Patients were taken out of Bamfield, when necessary, by helicopter or by water.
• Assistance was given for 2 shifts by firefighters from Sproat Lake and the fire chief from Beaver Creek.
• There were fire concerns with so much generator use but luckily they were not needed for heating.
• Several First Responders have left recently, including Owen Newson who was with the department for 6 years. There are now 3 new recruits and more would be welcomed. Practices are at 6.30pm every Wednesday.
• A generous donation from Greg and Sharon Willmon, after the house fire, has meant the department has been able to purchase thermal cameras.
• West side transportation is problematic as something new is needed
• The AGM of the Fire Dept. is on October 15.
• The Halloween Dance is on Friday 31^st or Sat 25^th. To be decided.
• A new fire chief is still being sought.

Bamfield Huu ay aht Community Forest- sent by Clay Steel

• There is continued coordination with HFN ahead of their trail work that includes a portion of the lifesaving trail in the BHCF.
• We began our small salvage operation ahead of HFN's upgrading work there, but only got one day into it before the Mount Underwood fire started which postponed it indefinitely, as the contractors from Port couldn't drive in directly. While we haven't discussed it as a board yet, I expect it'll be in our interest to resume once we can, although if winter rains come first then it might have to get postponed until next year

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Monday  20 October 2025.

Meeting Adjourned at 19.57 m/SWenstob s/BWest