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Sacred Site Slows Construction
It was a dark and stormy night preceded by a dark and stormy day. On April 3rd 2010, during a massive windstorm, not only did we lose power, some of us for as long as 48 hours, but also many local residents lost their sail and powerboats as we watched our local Mill Bay Marina battered and float away piece by piece.
There were also many sad-faced seals left without homes for a few weeks after the storm until they found somewhere else to live. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and Mr. Andrew Purdey, father of Jenna ’10, came to the community’s aid by purchasing our destroyed marina. As a neighbor the Purdeys, I know for a fact that if he were left to his own devices, Andrew would have the marina finished in two weeks. However, it took a lot of information gathering on the part of the CVRD (Cowichan Valley Regional District) and several public hearings to get the required permits in place.
Andrew began his usual break-neck pace by beginning to pound in pillars only to discover a previously unknown bed of sea grass underneath the old pier. Since sea grass is protected in coastal waters, everything had to be shifted a little. Though this came as a surprise, little did Andrew and his staff know what else was in store for them.
The next unexpected challenge that arose was the unearthing of human bones under a large tree that had to be removed because it was rotten. As things now stand, the proposed parking lot, just 50 meters from where we eat and study in Crooks Hall, is an archeological dig.
Cowichan Valley Regional District planner Rob Conway confirmed that the remains of four people were discovered during excavation of the site’s final cedar tree on January 5th. “They were doing some work at the time, removing the stump of that tree and this is where the remains were found” . The remains of two adults and one infant were found intact. Conway said a meeting with the Malahat and Cowichan First Nations Bands and the developer has been scheduled to discuss cultural sensitivities and what to do with remains and other findings on the site.
“My reaction to the findings of the archeological dig was mixed”, says Mr. Purdey, “firstly as a developer I see this un-planned phase of work as a significant negative effect to the project schedule and budget. Secondly, and more importantly, as a spiritual person I believe that respect for the spirits of the past must be maintained.” Purdey further believes that the site will be blessed with good Karma if the process is treated with the same respect and sensitivity as if the remains are those of his own ancestors.
One month later, the dig continues and it is anticipated to continue for another two or three weeks as archeologists and First Nations representatives continue to find items of interest. A spokesman at the province’s archeological branch confirmed “nothing out of the ordinary” has been discovered at the dig site. “The work is ongoing and so are discussions with the Malahat First Nation with regard to protocols around dealing with human remains” says Brennan Clarke in an email to the NLP, “this is a fairly standard site and the developer is being very co-operative and trying to avoid as much of the site as he can”. In the meantime, work continues on in certain aspects of the project, including a 14-home development. “We’re still progressing on the work over the water, working on the marina building itself” says Duane Shaw, development spokesman.
Purdey, of course, is keeping himself busy elsewhere. He has 35 major projects under construction at this point in time, the most significant being the Dehcho Bridge over the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie River is the largest river in Canada and it has never been bridged. “The structure is a first for Canada as it develops its Northern frontier and certainly is a first for Ruskin Construction. Building this bridge is similar to the spirit of adventure and purpose of life as the explorer Alexander Mackenzie himself possessed.” The other significant project that is a first for Western Canada is the development of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) port facility in Kitimat. “This port has long term positive economic effects for our country that will provide for 30 years or more of economic prosperity as we sell our energy resources to the emerging global markets” says Purdey.
One other local project is the removal and demolition of the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria. “On February 24th we will be lifting the 250 ton main span of the rail bridge with massive 600 ton floating cranes”. This structure was built during the Depression and will be replaced with a modern state-of-the-art Bascule Structure.
So as we gaze southward from Crooks Hall we see the emerging marina that will be our neighbor in the new millenium and ponder the ancestors of the Malahat and Cowichan First Nations who have lived along this magnificent bay for hundreds of years.
Emily R
1. http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/137523523.html
2. http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/news/138525449.html
3. http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/news/138525449.html
There were also many sad-faced seals left without homes for a few weeks after the storm until they found somewhere else to live. However, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and Mr. Andrew Purdey, father of Jenna ’10, came to the community’s aid by purchasing our destroyed marina. As a neighbor the Purdeys, I know for a fact that if he were left to his own devices, Andrew would have the marina finished in two weeks. However, it took a lot of information gathering on the part of the CVRD (Cowichan Valley Regional District) and several public hearings to get the required permits in place.
Andrew began his usual break-neck pace by beginning to pound in pillars only to discover a previously unknown bed of sea grass underneath the old pier. Since sea grass is protected in coastal waters, everything had to be shifted a little. Though this came as a surprise, little did Andrew and his staff know what else was in store for them.
The next unexpected challenge that arose was the unearthing of human bones under a large tree that had to be removed because it was rotten. As things now stand, the proposed parking lot, just 50 meters from where we eat and study in Crooks Hall, is an archeological dig.
Cowichan Valley Regional District planner Rob Conway confirmed that the remains of four people were discovered during excavation of the site’s final cedar tree on January 5th. “They were doing some work at the time, removing the stump of that tree and this is where the remains were found” . The remains of two adults and one infant were found intact. Conway said a meeting with the Malahat and Cowichan First Nations Bands and the developer has been scheduled to discuss cultural sensitivities and what to do with remains and other findings on the site.
“My reaction to the findings of the archeological dig was mixed”, says Mr. Purdey, “firstly as a developer I see this un-planned phase of work as a significant negative effect to the project schedule and budget. Secondly, and more importantly, as a spiritual person I believe that respect for the spirits of the past must be maintained.” Purdey further believes that the site will be blessed with good Karma if the process is treated with the same respect and sensitivity as if the remains are those of his own ancestors.
One month later, the dig continues and it is anticipated to continue for another two or three weeks as archeologists and First Nations representatives continue to find items of interest. A spokesman at the province’s archeological branch confirmed “nothing out of the ordinary” has been discovered at the dig site. “The work is ongoing and so are discussions with the Malahat First Nation with regard to protocols around dealing with human remains” says Brennan Clarke in an email to the NLP, “this is a fairly standard site and the developer is being very co-operative and trying to avoid as much of the site as he can”. In the meantime, work continues on in certain aspects of the project, including a 14-home development. “We’re still progressing on the work over the water, working on the marina building itself” says Duane Shaw, development spokesman.
Purdey, of course, is keeping himself busy elsewhere. He has 35 major projects under construction at this point in time, the most significant being the Dehcho Bridge over the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie River is the largest river in Canada and it has never been bridged. “The structure is a first for Canada as it develops its Northern frontier and certainly is a first for Ruskin Construction. Building this bridge is similar to the spirit of adventure and purpose of life as the explorer Alexander Mackenzie himself possessed.” The other significant project that is a first for Western Canada is the development of the LNG (liquefied natural gas) port facility in Kitimat. “This port has long term positive economic effects for our country that will provide for 30 years or more of economic prosperity as we sell our energy resources to the emerging global markets” says Purdey.
One other local project is the removal and demolition of the Johnson Street Bridge in Victoria. “On February 24th we will be lifting the 250 ton main span of the rail bridge with massive 600 ton floating cranes”. This structure was built during the Depression and will be replaced with a modern state-of-the-art Bascule Structure.
So as we gaze southward from Crooks Hall we see the emerging marina that will be our neighbor in the new millenium and ponder the ancestors of the Malahat and Cowichan First Nations who have lived along this magnificent bay for hundreds of years.
Emily R
1. http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/137523523.html
2. http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/news/138525449.html
3. http://www.cowichannewsleader.com/news/138525449.html
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