Salmon Spawning Season

When the rain starts to fall in October on Vancouver Island and the rivers are filling up, that is when the salmon arrive in large numbers. Spawning season is well upon us here on the island, with the local rivers being popular with fishermen, photographers, tourists and wildlife - all coming to see the salmon.

Up and down the island school children are going on fieldtrips to the local river or hatchery to get a lesson in salmon lifecycles and the ecology of island forests. Seeing this up close is a wonderful experience and one that forms part of the west coast psyche. 

Walking along the Campbell River in October, especially along the spawning channels which are shallower and narrower than the big river, one doesn't know whether to watch the trail for decomposing fish dropped by bears and birds, or to watch the river in awe as the surviving salmon struggle their way upstream.

The cycle of the salmon has helped create the amazing natural wonder of our rich forests, as their decomposing bodies enhance the soil - nature's best compost. We never take for granted this show that nature puts on - it is just another reason to love living on the island and a great reason to visit in the fall.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It!

Creating the BCO Calendar

When we say the new BCO calendar has been in the works for years, we aren't kidding! The idea has been in the office for at least 6 or 7 years. Every year we moved a little closer, until this year it finally happened.

The hardest thing about putting the calendar together was choosing the photos. With the number of properties we market Ed and Shelley have thousands of reference photos. Add in the amount of time we all spend outdoors and you have another thousand photos between the team, easily. Getting that down to first 30, and then 13, photos was not an easy task.

This one didn't make it

We are pleased with the final product and are already looking forward to choosing the photos for next year.

In the meantime, we are giving away calendars! Head over to our Facebook page to participate in the contest.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Live It! 

BCO Coastal Gems: Jervis Inlet

Jervis Inlet is the principal inlet of the British Columbia Coast.  It slices through the Coastal Mountain range, narrowly zigzagging over 80 km through stunning granite-walled cliffs and forested mountains. This inlet is the deepest of British Columbia’s Inlets reaching depths of over 720 meters or 2,400 ft. and is located about 95 km northwest of Vancouver.  The inlet was named by George Vancouver after Rear Admiral Sir John Jervis.

 

Like elsewhere on the rugged BC Coast, Jervis Inlet was involved in the logging and fishing industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. It also has a history as a seasonal settlement for local First Nations.

 

Access points and service centers include Egmont providing access to Sechelt and Vancouver as well as Saltry Bay which provided access to the Northern Sunshine Coast and Powell River. Both of these locations are approx. 25miles travel by boat. There are no roadways into Jervis Inlet, this is another of the boat in areas of the coast. The remote location and breath-taking beauty make it a location for outdoor enthusiasts.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

 

West Coast Wildlife

It's been quite a summer on Vancouver Island, which means Ed has had some good days out on the west coast of Vancouver Island. And spending time on the West Coast means seeing interesting wildlife! These are just a few of our favourites from this year.

Rissos Dolphin

Sea Otter

Sunfish

Deep sea Mussels

Orcas

 

 

What a magical place we live, work and play in.

 

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

Campbell River Carvings 2014

Campbell River's Transformations on the Shore, commonly known as the Carving Competition, has wrapped up for another year. Every year the Campbell River Shoreline Arts Society hosts this popular event, where carvers spend five days creating art with a chainsaw from a very large chunk of cedar or fir.

 

The carvers are a mix of amateur and professional from both the island and the mainland. This year there was even one from the east coast of Canada.

 

Some of the carvings are traditional in nature, while others are whimsical. There are even modern art style pieces once in a while.





Nature themes are strong, but sometimes imagination takes over and myth and magic emerge. Some carvings have a simple varnish, while others are painted.

 
 

At the end of the five days prizes are awarded in various categories. The tools and tents are put away and the sawdust piles disappear. Select carvings move from the site quickly - ones that already have a home or intended destination. Others sit down at the park along the ocean for a week or more, allowing locals and tourists to visit and admire them at leisure. The event draws big crowds every year, and never fails to impress. The carvings which live around Campbell River, at various businesses, parks and private residences, serve as a connection to art and community with a west coast flair.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!

BCO Wildlife - Deer oh Deer

Living on Vancouver Island, or most regions on the coast of BC, there is always a chance of running across wildlife. Bald eagles are a regular sight, evidence of beavers can be seen on local trails, and bears and cougars are not unusual visitors to most communities. However the most common wildlife on Vancouver Island is by far deer.

Deer are opportunistic, and have realized that lovely urban gardens are not only great food sources but also tend to be free of predators. There is a lot of controversy over the rapidly growing urban populations of deer, but there is no denying that they make an interesting sight around town. Whether it is a stag crossing at a crosswalk (three times this year Kate has seen this) or a mother and fawns grazing at the side of the road, deer are now a part of residential life on the island.

Even on the top of a bluff, the deer will visit. Ed had a good time with one in his back yard recently, who appeared to enjoy the modeling.

It's a Coastal Lifestyle ... Pass It On!