Boy, what a summer it’s been for the Homalco First Nation! First, they celebrated the culmination of eight years worth of work in opening the Homalco Health Centre on July 15th. I was honoured to speak as Acting Mayor at the opening on behalf of Campbell River city council and congratulate them on their achievement. Unveiled at the event were several carvings and works of art that would find a new home further north at Orford Bay during another prestigious event a month later. That event was to celebrate the opening of the Homalco First Nation interpretive centre, a key piece of their Homalco Wildlife Tour program that gets you up close and personal with grizzlies feeding in the Orford River. It was a great opportunity to hear how the returns of their salmon hatchery efforts would literally feed into the success of their grizzly tours. Thanks to local adventure tour company Eagle Eye Adventures, their fantastic and knowledgeable guide Nick, and their new owner Jos I was able to attend the event by zodiac, and capture our adventures at the event and along the way. Make sure you watch the video not only for Chief Richard Harry’s summary of the big day, but for some great footage of orcas, black bears and other wildlife we witnessed that day. Then say hi to Jos and Nick and the gang at Eagle Eye Adventures to book your trip to see the grizzlies through Homalco Wildlife Tours!
the Municipal Musings of Ryan Mennie 