Bigpacific BlogEverything you want to know about the Sunshine Coast

Many newcomers to the Sunshine Coast may not be aware of the legendary ‘Cougar Lady’ of Sechelt Inlet and her unique presence in our community. Bergilot Solberg lived ‘up Inlet’ most of of her life, logging and trapping in solitude, coming into town by boat for supplies once or twice a month. In her younger days she had not only trapped, but had worked in log camps, blowing whistles, setting chokers (a very dangerous job), working the boom, which made her larger than myth in many people’s eyes.

Bergie was a striking figure, with her hawkish nose and weathered face, and gnarled hands as big as a man’s. She wore an old leather hat of no fixed brim line, being so bashed and worn, and brown men’s utility pants with the fly sewn up and side zipper installed. She carried a big buck knife on her hip. Her shirts were of various descriptions but tended towards the western style.

A common trick of Bergie’s that many fell for, myself included, was to sidle up to a car getting filled up at the Shell station in the centre of town, and say in her Norwegian-accented mumble, ‘…get a ride to them docks in Porpoise Bay?” An initial recoil from the surprise of the request from a complete stranger would evolve into the mental gymnastics of figuring that everyone knew her… though she was seen as wild and a bit barmy by some there was an implied sense of safety in saying yes, after all, didn’t I see her in John’s truck just last week?

So, the Samaritan says yes, and Bergie says, “Be right back. Gettin’ ma bags,” and then would proceed to disappear and do all her grocery shopping now that a ride was assured! You’d wait in your car, feeling absurdly obligated to hold to your word even though she’d clearly changed the terms from her side, watching 15 minutes, and then 30 and finally perhaps 45 minutes go by. Eventually she’d amble and hitch her way across the crosswalks from Clayton’s with her foodstuffs – or ask you to drive over to the store entrance to pick everything up – and you’d pack the food, Bergie and a few full cans of gas into your car and off you’d go to the docks, an olfactory extravaganza wafting through town.

A local reporter went to visit her once and was shocked to see all the animal hides, it being modern times and all, and walked out with her on her trapping line. She let him know what to do should a cougar jump them – basically get out of the way and let her take it by gun or knife, no difference to her – and he came back bushwhacked and pop-eyed and telling eye-raising anecdotes for days.

There were mixed opinions about Bergie around town, as there always is with people who are out of the mainstream. She muttered while she walked. She cursed the twenty-five cent prices in the St. Mary’s Hospital Thrift Store, offending the lavender-scented grandmothers mightily and getting tossed out for her troubles. Some people found her refusal to blend in disturbing, while others loved her fiercely for it. Many were comforted by the sight of Bergie stomping around town, throwing tools down at the till at the hardware store, looking for day-old bread on sale, and basically claiming the town as her own. Bergie didn’t move off to the side on sidewalks – you did – and we loved it. When Bergie was alive, it was the old Sunshine Coast, when we argued fiercely over the first stop light that went in at North Road in Gibsons (and still counted them, those days are almost gone) and more than six cars in a row at any time of day or night could only mean ‘ferry traffic’. Seeing Bergie meant the Coast still hadn’t changed in some essential way.

Some people got to know Bergie in ways most of us didn’t. There is a great blog online called by Ken Collins (http://www.geocities.com/kensjournal/Bergie.html) about Bergie. He visited her a number of times, despite her ‘difficulty in baking a cake’ and habit of offering years-old cans of pop in corroded tins for non coffee drinkers – or for those who had the temerity to decline goat’s milk. The blog is a wonderful rambling story of Bergie’s run-ins with game wardens, how to read cougar faeces and sharing pictures of Bergie, ‘at home in the mountains’.

The one side of Bergie very few will know of, oldtimer or not, is the story of her trip to the beauty parlor. Yes, it’s true, and I have the pictures to prove it.

It was back in the 80’s and Patti Lunan (link to your hair salon site) was working as a hairdresser at Teredo Hair Motions in Sechelt. Patti was responsible for makeovers for 3 models for the ‘Women in Trades’ show at the Rockwood Centre. Patti didn’t know anyone in town and was very curious about Bergie, having seen her around town all autumn. Patti’s mom made a $2 bet with her that she wouldn’t have the nerve to ask Bergie to be one of her models. “She was all over it,” Patti says. “The woman LOVED glitter, which I thought was charming, because who would have thought. It showed on that ratty little hat band that had a grimy line of sequins with no sparkle left. She lit up with sparkles.” Patti took her shopping and Bergie chose the outfit. The day of the show Bergie was late in arriving as she had needed to “jimmy up dat der boat”.

“I don’t know why anyone would bake widdout sugar” was her response when offered a scone before her turn on the stage, so they sugared it up with enough jam to satisfy her sweet tooth. She walked in to the tune of Natalie Cole’s “Once in a lifetime” and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house of the standing-room only Rockwood Centre. The rumour had gone out around town ahead of the event and Bergie’s scheduled appearance packed the house – they came for her. It was a true illustration of how beloved she was in the community.

I found the idea unthinkable when I first heard the story, and couldn’t imagine the outcome. It seemed a sacrilege to picture Bergie as anything else than the wild woman of the woods with her rifle and skinning knife.

But here, dear readers, courtesy of Patti, who shot the photos as a keepsake from the day, are the before and after images of ‘The Cougar Lady of Sechelt Inlet’. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen these with my own eyes.

Recommended Reading:

Ken Collins, Bergie
Donald Ream, The Cougar Sisters – A Brief Review from Portals of the Past
Dan McCormick portrait of Bergie, Photographytips.com

Bergie died of a stroke on November 13, 2002, in her cabin up Sechelt Inlet.
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Images of Bergie courtesy of Patti, Patti’s Place Micro Salon with the Macro Charm

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves turn and begin to fall, us locals get out the brooms to stem the tide, or put on the hiking boots and go hunting for chanterelles and pine mushrooms… and the annual Jazz Festival comes to Pender Harbour.

This year’s event marks the 13th Annual presentation of this popular festival, bringing artists and guests from around the world to enjoy jazz in one of North America’s most picturesque settings. The festival site promises ” great and varied line-up, with 40’s swing, Gypsy Jazz, sultry vocals, hot horns, mellow strings, contemporary, vintage, fusion, and just about everything in between, offered up in our unusual and intimate ocean-side settings. Impromptu and planned jams, casual atmosphere, and stellar performers.” I ask you, what could be better?

The answer is staying in Pender Harbour over the weekend! The closest accommodation is a resort playing host to a number of events, Painted Boat Resort & Spa. This new resort offers stunning views of the harbour and beautifully appointed villas sleeping up to six guests, with a variety of types including 2 bedroom + loft, 2 bedroom + den, 2 bedroom + family room. The resort is short walking distance to Madeira Park shops and cafes, and the Millenium Park at the Government Wharf, and is close to other event venues. The on-site spa is simply stunning, offering a variety of modalities in treatments, and this event offers one of the last opportunities of the season to experience the infinity pool aspect as that pool closes at the end of September.

Finally, Painted Boat’s restaurant, situated along the waterfront with decks perched over the harbour’s edge, is home to a number of events during the weekend. Typical – and beloved – in this festival, events will be performed in the Festival’s unique tradition of all-around-the-Harbour venues: al fresco, in local pubs, at the Community Hall, the Golf Course, and even in a private art gallery. Venues include THE RESTAURANT at Painted Boat with tickets available through the Jazz Festival at 1-877-883-2456, or email at jazzman@dccnet.com. Ask at the Main reception about tickets for events at THE RESTAURANT at Painted Boat.

Close by is the beautiful Sunshine Coast Resort. This long-established and popular vacation spot is undergoing constant transformation and growth and has matured into a spectacular destination, with a hotel of luxury-class rooms and penthouse suite, apartments, and now gorgeous individual chalet/cottages sleeping up to 8, with private hot tubs and access to all of the resort’s amenities such as the cliffside hot tub and sauna. I’ve stayed in the chalets and they are truly beautiful, with a master suite with gas fireplace and private deck, and upper lofts perfect for families. The chalets are fully wireless enabled, and there is a second tv monitor upstairs to split the entertainment – an important factor for families or groups staying together. The bathrooms in the hotel’s rooms are beautifully appointed, but in the chalets, a unique experience is offered via the space age tub and shower system. Have a long soak in a light-show enabled tub and watch your favorite show in the in-shower TV (I kid you not!) or enjoy the rain forest shower head and full body jet system. Ralph enjoys showing people how it works, even if he did have to come back in our case and get a full body blast while fully dressed due to how we’d left the settings in figuring it out! He is a great host and their little family works very hard to ensure guests have a magical stay in the Harbour.

And remember – both of these resorts offer well-appointed marinas, so come on your boat if you like!

Checkout the full lineup on the Jazz Festival web site.

See you there!

I know, I know. This happened in late July. I heard all about it but have only just now gotten the time to view the video of the tugboat turning over in the Skookumchuck while pushing a barge loaded with equipment and trucks out of the LaFarge gravel operation and other remote Sechelt Inlet locations.

My father sent me the link and the footage is incredible. It was taken by a kayaker from Demshitz, a trio of whitewater adventure kayakers who paddle and surf locations like the Skookumchuck Narrows Rapids, and have created a film called “Demshitz the Movie” about extreme kayaking.

They were at the rapids to play in the surf and got a very graphic reminder of why these rapids are so dangerous, whether you see standing waves or not. The whirlpools themselves have claimed boats and lives over many years and this footage shows how treacherous it is going through them at any other time than absolute slack tide and how minor movements and constant water force can overcome even the mightiest of Inlet warriors, the sturdy tugboat.

The tide was approaching slack but it was still a good 40 minutes away from flat calm – as much as the Skookumchuck can ever be.

A good visual for anyone interested in the wild power of one of the Sunshine Coast’s most visited attractions. That’s why it’s worth the hike!

To time your walk to coincide with peak tidal movement and best viewing, visit the Sechelt Visitor Info Centre’s online Skookumchuck Schedule. NOTE: Ensure you are reading the current year’s tidal information.

RELATED READING:
Bigpacific’s Skookumchuck Pages
Bigpacific’s Skookumchuck Gallery, with Kayakers
BC Provincial Park Skookumchuck Page

The annual Salmon Run is about to migrate into the streets and stores of Gibsons Landing, starting September 5th! There’s still a chance to get your salmon in… but, like summer, time is running out. The great thing about the Salmon Festival is that it’s open to everyone, whether you’re an established artist or just someone with a hankering to do something funky with wood, paint, crafts, rocks – or whatever strikes your fancy.

Anyone can sponsor a fish. For a $20 “tag” fee you get a 4 ft. plywood salmon ready for decoration. When you return your decorated fish, the salmon becomes the property of the Gibsons Landing Business Association. Salmon are available at various locations around the Landing – just drop in to the Art Gallery and inquire.

September 5th all of the salmon entries will be hung at the Gift of the Eagle Gallery, Spirit of Place Gallery, and Artworks Tours and Framing and available for viewing, with a Rock Around the Block Artists Reception September 9th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

On September 12th, the salmon will be hung for public judging in Molly’s Lane and around the Persephone at the corner of Hwy 101 and Marine Drive. There will be live music, a special Saturday version of the popular Gibsons Sunday Market, and education booths.

Sunday there will be a silent auction of most of the fish – if you’re planning to bid make sure you stick around right to the end to make sure your bids are in the running!

While you’re in the Landing, partake in food specials in the restaurants, and explore the many shops of Molly’s Lane and the Landing. See you there!