While China is emerging from weeks of quarantine, and much of Europe is already under various degrees of social isolation, Canada is only just embarking on our own journey of “social distancing”. Around the world many aspects of life as we have been accustomed have ground to a halt. Cafes, bars and restaurants are closed, many people are working from home, schools have moved online, and even some provincial parks are closed. It’s strange to think that the great outdoors…
There is quite literally no sound more breath-taking than the blow of a whale. This is the sound that has been lulling me to sleep at night and waking me up in the mornings over the past three nights. What a beautiful sight to wake up to: whales breaching outside my bedroom window. I spent some time this evening trying to get a decent photo but found the best views were when I didn’t have my camera on hand… or…
Although looking out the window today it feels like winter with the grey skies and drizzle, it’s starting to feel like spring around here. Not only are the trees beginning to blossom, the buds open, and the bears awaken, it also seems as though many of us are coming back from a period of hibernation. Living in a small town, especially one which is so remote, can leave me feeling cut off and longing for a more varied social scene….
Located on Cormorant Island, Alert Bay is accessible by car ferry from Port McNeill and is well worth a visit for anyone staying on the North of Vancouver Island. Alert Bay inhabitants are probably the friendliest people I have met and I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to travel there for work many times over the past year. The first time I visited Alert Bay was in early January 2014. We set off with intentions of visiting the…
As Christmas is fast approaching I thought it would be the perfect time to talk about shopping in Port Hardy. Although it’s a small town there is still quite a bit of choice when it comes to places to spend your money and one of the best things about living in a small community is that there are lots of products that are made right here on the North Island. 1) Drift & The West Coast Community Craft Shop – Located upstairs…
For the second time in the space of four days I am sat in candle-lit darkness. It is not uncommon for rural areas in Canada to experience frequent power cuts, especially if power lines are surrounded by trees like we are here. Last year, several times, my residential area was affected by trees pulling down power cables and blocking the route into town. Once in a while the power outages go beyond my residential area, affecting the entire region; today…
It’s been a little over a year since my last blogpost and as usual it feels like everything and nothing has changed. I continue to search out new ways to pass the time on the north of Vancouver Island. This week I discovered a different aspect of the small-town spirit here in Port Hardy as the town came together to celebrate Halloween on the day of the dead in the form of a Pumpkin Patch Walk. Last year I didn’t…
There is nothing quite like a storm when you live by the ocean. Admittedly our little piece of the ocean is often so calm it could be mistaken for a lake but on days like to day it comes alive. We have had rain non-stop for almost four days straight and I have been anticipating the storm since day one when the ocean turned steely grey, reflecting the clouds above and every now and again the wind picked up, creating…
Shortly after arriving in my new home on Vancouver Island, I was fortunate enough to fall into a job at the local animal shelter, replacing my sister who has returned to university to study veterinary medicine. She has a natural gift for dealing with animals so was in her element. It’s safe to say that I am not quite as comfortable in my new position. It’s not that I don’t like animals. I do. We have quite a menagerie at…