On January 15th, Gibsons Mayor and Council proclaimed February 2013 as Black History Month.
by Laurie McConnell, Webmaster Chef Spencer Watts, of the Restaurant at Painted Boat, has been selected to be part of Team BC at the 23rd World Culinary Olympics to be held in Erfurt, Germany October 6-9 2012. Each region’s team is made up of five members, one back-up member, and one manager. Since 1998, TEAM [...]
So why is Gibsons called ‘Gibsons’ when George and Charlotte were ‘Gibson’? These and other thorny questions continue to puzzle me when I ponder the early non-aboriginal days of the Sunshine Coast. (Have we finally learned not to call white folks the first settlers? I hope so.) Given the 126 years of history, dating back [...]
For full race results, please visit AprilFoolsRun.com Okay, so I’m not a runner. I’ll admit I have thought of it from time to time, but then common sense takes hold again and years later, I remain a distant admirer of distance runners. Gaspingly distant. One of my colleagues in web design on the Sunshine Coast, [...]
I first met Peggy Collins at the Sechelt Farmer’s Market, in its previous location at the Ravens Cry Theatre. She had a table up towards the high end, covered with photo cards from one end to the other that were a hot spot of interest among the booths. If you have ever seen Peggy’s iconic [...]
Every time I get an email, Facebook message, or calendar event posting request, I am reminded of how lucky the Sunshine Coast is to have attracted – and retained for almost 4 years now – Kimiko Hawkes as the Manager & Curator. Kimiko seems to have boundless energy, and a contagious enthusiasm for history, culture [...]
Deanna Cartea is one of my favourite Coast musician. I stumbled across her remarkable sound during a summer Music in the Landing event in lower Gibsons, where she was playing in the back lane behind the Molly’s Lane Market. A handful of people were ringing her in white resin chairs – the perfect stationary vehicle [...]
by Laurie McConnell Photos courtesy of Duaneburnett.com If you’re new to the Coast you might be forgiven for not knowing about this great dog-friendly cause: Duane Burnett’s singleminded determination to get dog-accessible drinking fountains installed throughout the Sunshine Coast. Many people will recall over a decade of seeing this Sunshine Coast lifestyle chronicler out and [...]
by Editor/Publisher Laurie McConnell I have known Colleen Friesen for about 2 years now, and you know how a person comes into your life through a normal avenue like being hired to help with a web site and not only does that but brings in a patch of light and ‘snorkage’ to boot? That’s Colleen. [...]
Bruno Gerussi plate at CBC. Photo courtesy of Roland under the Creative Commons License by Publisher/Editor Laurie McConnell I have this theory about Sunshine Coasters. It’s related to the Six Degrees of Separation concept, but amplified and focused in a tiny geographical span that has the Sunshine Coast as its epicentre. It’s also related to [...]
I’ve known Duane Burnett for probably ten years now, and if you don’t, then you just haven’t been getting out much! Duane Burnett is a one-man social media band, and a long-established chronicler of Sunshine Coast life, particularly through community photography. I have lived on the Sunshine Coast for 25 years now, but Duane’s got [...]
At the West Sechelt Elementary School talent show June 21st, kids and parents enjoyed a range of acts from a mini-magician who earned a standing ovation from his pals, to several dance numbers, and a solo of the song, ‘Tattoo’. However, the most stunning moment came when Ashley H. walked on stage with an acoustic [...]
by Editor/Publisher Laurie McConnell This Coast Personality series is a collection of feature-length articles that aim to tell a story about a memorable person on the Sunshine Coast. They come from my direct experience and interaction with the subjects, and can cover current era or part of the historical past I have created in the [...]
UPDATE: I recently discovered this wonderful article written by JMJ in The Harbour Spiel Jan. 2003 edition, a monthly publication in Pender Harbour. It was reprinted December 2010. Here’s the followup story from Feb. 2003, republished January 2011. Remembering the Cougar Lady by Laurie McConnell Editor/Publisher, Bigpacific.com Many newcomers to the Sunshine Coast may not [...]
A feel-good homegrown story for all small rural communities in BC: Gibsons performing artist Deanna Cartea has been signed by Citation Records in Los Angeles, California and is recording her first album. Deanna Cartea from Laurie McConnell on Vimeo. Bigpacific.com first stumbled across this evocative artist when strolling past Molly’s Lane after dinner along the [...]