Port Hardy Liveaboards Evicted from Harbour Authority Docks

By Bill Sassaman, BCNR Director

BCNR directors first heard there was a problem in Port Hardy when Globe and Mail reporter, Mark Hume, contacted Director Kris Samuels for his opinion. In his article published on October 22, 2012, Mr. Hume reported:

On September 26, the District of Port Hardy Harbour Authority served a Notice to End Moorage on Mr. [Keith] Dorward and several others who live on vessels in the small port on northern Vancouver Island.

The notice gave them 30 days to move, or “be escorted off the premises by the RCMP.”

The development is part of a movement on the West Coast, where liveaboards are slowly being forced out of urban harbours, because of concerns about pollution, unruly dockside behaviour |and unsightly boats.

David Pratt, the harbour manager in Port Hardy, declined to comment, referring all questions to Mayor Bev Parnham. But Ms. Parnham did not return calls.

Councillor Rick Marcotte didn’t want to discuss the issue either, but indicated the notice was issued because of concerns at the dock.

“Well, we are trying to clean up our harbour, actually. That’s basically it,” he said. “It’s just that there was a bunch of unemployed people with no income that are basically [living on] derelict barges … down there.

Screen shot 2013-01-03 at 9.07.56 PMKris contacted the other directors and we began an investigation into the eviction. We were put in touch with a friend of Keith Dorward, as well as an outreach worker, who both provided insights into the issues at the dock. The directors agreed to contact Mayor Parnham and Councillors with an offer to assist in mediating the issues between the Harbour Authority and the liveaboards. This offer was emailed to them on October 29th. To date, the BCNR has not received a response from the District of Port Hardy Council. Please read the letter, download a pdf version by clicking on the image to the right.

On November 1st Mr. Dorward and eight other liveaboards moved their boats from the District of Port Hardy’s docks. Mr. Dorward moved in with his friend on a temporary basis and, at last report, was living at the Salvation Army facility in Port Hardy. We don’t know to where the other liveaboards relocated.

Since our initial investigation, the directors have received input from other sources, who indicated that there were serious social issues at the Port Hardy dock that involved some of the liveaboards. As in all conflicts, there are a variety of perspectives. However, what is evident is that Port Hardy is only the latest in a series of efforts by marinas to rid their facilities of ‘problem’ liveaboards. Rather than dealing with individual issues, some harbour authorities have opted for policies that prohibit living aboard at their docks. BCNR’s position is that liveaboards must be responsible for their physical and social environments, and where there are problems, marina staff and liveaboard boaters need to negotiate a resolution to their specific issues.

The directors welcome your feedback on this issue. How would you approach resolving issues involving liveaboards? What has been your experience? What can we do as the BC Nautical Residents Association to prevent this type of occurrence from happening?

2012 Annual General Meeting

Dear Members:

Please plan to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the BC Nautical Residents Association. It is scheduled for Sunday, October 14th, 1:00pm, at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre, Pioneer Room. The rec centre is located at 527 Fraser Street, Esquimalt, BC.

A new Board of Directors (5 – 7 members) will be elected at the AGM. If you are interested in serving, please be prepared to let your name stand at the meeting. All board candidates will be asked to introduce themselves before the election. No long political speeches are required! You’ll have two minutes maximum to say who you are, where you’re from, and why you’re interested in running for the BCNR Board of Directors.

If you have an item that you would like discussed at the AGM, please email it to feedback@bcnr.org by October 3, 2012, to ensure that you’ll have time on the agenda.

Looking forward to seeing you at the BCNR AGM!

Donna Sassaman
Recording Secretary
BC Nautical Residents Association

In Memoriam – Christopher David Gower-Rees

Christopher David Gower-Rees, an early member of the BC Nautical Residents Association, died suddenly aboard his boat, Gratitude, on August 20th in Port Townsend, Washington. Chris was born April 27th, 1944 in Salisbury, UK, son of Diana and David Gower-Rees. He is survived by his sister, Diana Ellis, of Queensville, Ontario. A spreading of Chris’ ashes ceremony took place at the Ogden Point breakwater on Tuesday, September 11, followed by a celebration of his life at the Church of Truth, Victoria. Donations to Chris’s “Gratitude Fund” may be made in care of The Victoria Foundation, Suite 109-645 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8W 1G2, 250-381-5532.

Fair winds and following seas, Chris.

Living under the radar in Victoria’s Inner Harbour

Some concerns were raised by livaboards at the GVHA Wharf St. Docks in this article By Roszan Holmen – Victoria News. Rick Schnurr from BCNR was invited to make a comment. Read more in the article here.

http://www.vicnews.com/news/151041765.html

I think this article raises some important issues common to liveaboards everywhere. We are a gray area and because we are”non-status” we’re often over-looked. I look forward to the formation of the liaison group and hope it builds a strong working relationship between livaboards and the GVHA.

Kris Samuels

Massive Marine Garage Sale

Massive Garage Sale

Massive Garage Sale

On Saturday, April 21st, the Maritime Museum of BC is hosting the ‘9th Annual Massive Marine Garage Sale’ at Ogden Point – Pier A, Victoria, 9:00am – 1:00pm.

The BC Nautical Residents Association will have a table at the Garage Sale, and is soliciting donations that will help us earn some money for BCNR projects. Do you have an item or items that you’d like to donate to the cause?

Donated items should be in saleable condition: marine electronics, anchors and anchor rode, sails, cruising guides, galley gear, blocks, etc. etc.

If you live in the Greater Victoria area (Sidney to Colwood) and would like your donations to be picked up, please contact Tim Finlay: garagesale2012@bcnr.org by April 19th.

And if you’re planning to attend the Garage Sale, please stop by the BCNR table to introduce yourself and have a chat.

Thank you for any items you’re able to donate to the BCNR. Hope to see you on April 21st at Ogden Point, 9:00 – 1:00.

Tim Finlay
BCNR Director

Don’t forget need for a working harbour

By Rick Schnurr, Times Colonist November 29, 2011

There is a need for some creative planning of the Victoria harbour foreshore.

However, recent articles have not mentioned the need for creative thinking and planning about the water of the harbour. The highest and best use of the harbour is for the navigation, protection and safe moorage of all vessels using it.

Victoria Harbour is a working harbour. It must continue to be available for all those vessels now using it.

Too often in the past, we have witnessed the displacement of marine services, moorage facilities, and navigation capacity in favour of gentrified shoreline developments. While condominiums, hotels, tourist entertainment and shopping facilities, recreational and cultural buildings can be located in any number of land-based locations, larger boats seeking shelter, seaplanes that need safe runways, and vessels needing maintenance and repair can only be accommodated in a safe harbour such as Victoria now offers.

Please keep the mariners in mind. Consult with all of the current marine users of the harbour during the planning process.

Rick Schnurr

Director, B.C. Nautical Residents Assoc.

Victoria Floating Boat Show

The BCNR has secured a seat at the 2011 Victoria Floating Boat Show in Victoria, BC between APRIL 28 and MAY 1, 2011.

We would like to put out a heartfelt thankyou to the British Columbia Yacht Brokers Association and especialy Kathy Harvey for this generous invitation.

Without this kind of valuable support we could not survive as an credable organization.

I invite everyone to come and meet us at the main entrance to the show and support this fun and interesting event.

You can find further information at

www.floatingboatshows.com