New burl display unveiled
By Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, April 26 2024
Port McNeill may have the biggest, but Malcolm Island is now on the map for the world’s smallest burl.
The burl was unveiled at a recent ceremony with Regional District of Mount Waddington Area A (including Malcolm Island) Director Michelle Pottage there to cut the very small ribbon. “Tyler Brett (Sointula Art Shed) spearheaded this initiative and (investigated) if there was a World Smallest Burl, he didn’t find anything. So here we are now with the World’s Smallest Burl,” said Pottage via email, adding the burl is being registered with Guinness World Records and Wikipedia. “Tyler is pretty sure it might not last long as the World’s Smallest Burl but thought it was fun and looks forward to seeing where the next smallest burl might pop up in the world,” she said.
“I was excited to be part of the unveiling and ribbon cutting.”
The burl was discovered by Graham Douglas near a small lake south of Malcolm Point about 10 kilometres northwest of Sointula and was moved to its present location in the fall of 2023.
The burl was growing on a five-year-old Shore Pine tree that was about 2.13 metres (seven feet) tall and 11.75 centimetres (4.63 inches) in diameter.
The weight of the burl when it was moved was 10 grams (.35 ounces). It’s circumference at the widest point is 11.5 centimetres (4.52 inches).
The World’s Smallest Burl is now open for viewing all day any day, (or in the evening with a flashlight), on the corner of 2nd and 13th/Wanda’s Way in downtown Sointula.
For those who might not know, burls are round, oval, or irregularly shaped woody benign outgrowths of the main trunk, branches or roots that result from a disturbance to the cambium layer located just below the layer of bark.
Among the most common causes are environmental stress, bacterium, virus, fungus, or insect infestations. Burls vary considerably in size and in rare cases, will reach a metre in diameter or more.
For examples of extremely enormous burls, two of the world’s largest can be found on display nearby in Port McNeill – one by the community hall, and the other off Highway 19 at the turnoff to Western Forest Products’ office.
Photo — Submitted
The World’s Smallest Burl’s circumference at the widest point is 11.5 centimetres (4.52 inches).
2024 cruise ship season begins in Alert Bay
By Robin Quirk and Kathy O'Reilly, North Island Eagle, April 26 2024
By Robin Quirk and Kathy O’Reilly
A National Geographic expedition cruise ship stopped in Alert Bay on April 18 signaling the start of the 2024 tourist season.
Each year, large cruise ships dock and moor at the Alert Bay Government Dock and Harbour.
This year, 23 cruise ships are scheduled to stop between April 19 and Oct. 17.
While on Cormorant Island, some passengers disembark and visit the U’mista Cultural Centre, Big House, Culture Shock and the Alert Bay tourist office and library. They come to see the historical totem poles and native traditional dance, weaving, jewellery, storytelling, and carving.
They also visit the Ecological Park and go for a walk through the well-groomed trails.
Before heading back to the ship, they often stop to shop or grab a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants.
In summer, residents schedule farmers’ and artisans markets for cruise ship passengers to purchase homemade baking and food, jewellery, flowers, and other items from local vendors.
“The Cruise ships bring some much-needed revenue into the community,” said Alert Bay Mayor Dennis Buchanan.
“The U’mista Cultural Centre is known all over the world and brings in tourists not only off the Cruise ships but by foot, bicycle and car,” Buchanan said. “They have a great experience here and when they get back home, they spread the word which gets more people coming to the North Island,” Buchanan said.
“This is a net benefit to all of the communities in the Regional District of Mount Waddington as they take in the sites that the North Island has to offer,” he continued.
“The Regional District Board supports all of the efforts of each community to bring more exposure and tourists to the region as it benefits the Regional District as a whole. More tourists, more revenue for the businesses and hopefully it may lead to people wanting to move to the North Island and fill some of the vacant job postings - especially in the health care field,” said Buchanan.
“Now we just need someplace to house them if they do want to move here.”
Photo — Robin Quirk, Robin's Eye Photography
TThe U’mista bus picks up tourists from a National Geographic expedition cruise ship that stopped in Alert Bay April 18.