Island View, a Weekly Current Affairs Program for Gabriola Island, Ep. 1

With hosts and reporters Theresa O'Leary and Marshal Fries.

"Island View" is Life on Gabriola TV's new weekly current affairs show, focusing on events and issues having impact on Gabriola Island and area. In this debut episode, hosts and reporters Theresa O'Leary and Marshal Fries introduce the show to islanders. Then O'Leary interviews Islands Trustee Susan Yates about the climate crisis and extreme wildfire risk on Gabriola.

A 30-year veteran Gabriola Island Trustee with Islands Trust, Yates shares her concerns about the climate crisis. Yates believes a development permit system would prevent land owners from clear cut logging on their property. She shares her frustration with not having the tools to take action to prevent over-development of the vulnerable island and other islands in the Salish Sea.

In 2019, Islands Trust declared a climate emergency and Yates discusses the impact of that and the need for a Community Plan. Yates agrees with O’Leary that a warning about the severe fire risk should be made by the Captain on board Gabriola ferries. In fact, she commits on camera to taking action and she does. Yates is also a member of the Ferry Advisory Committee and she raised the issue immediately after the interview with Chair Steven Earle who reached out to BC Ferries in Victoria and within a week the change has occurred. Now a warning will be announced on board both ferries, raising the awareness of all passengers, locals and visitors.

Next, O'Leary talks with Gabriola Volunteer Fire Dept. Chief Will Sprogis. Will has lived on Gabriola for decades and protecting his parents and his own family is what drives him to do such dangerous work in a severe wildfire season. He informs Theresa of the various steps the Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department have taken to keep islanders safe, from practice evacuations to neighbourhood education meetings on emergency preparedness to signs at the entrance to the village and elsewhere on the island. He feels confident that islanders are following the rules, such as no fires, and he understands that visitors coming to the island may need gentle reminders about the situation. Sprogis agrees with O’Leary that a warning about the severe fire risk should be made by the Captain on board Gabriola ferries and explains it was a practice in place in the past but was dropped when the 2nd ferry came to serve Gabriola.

Finally, we go to the launch event for Life on Gabriola TV, held by the Life on Gabriola Media Society (LOGMS) to introduce Gabriola Island to its new Local Journalism Initiative project. Dubbed Life on Gabriola TV, the project brings community-driven civic journalism to Gabriola and area. Held at The Commons, an outdoor public space on the island, the event is opened by musician and LOGMS board member Ben Sams, who speaks about why he's become involved. LOGMS Board President and LJI Project Supervisor Frank Moher welcomes the crowd and puts out the call for volunteers. He also discusses the origins of the Local Journalism Initiative and its purposes. Lead Journalist Theresa O'Leary, an award-winning former CBC National News producer, reporter, and documentarian, talks about moving to Gabriola, the volunteer roles the project is looking to fill, and talks about the primary subject areas she's identified for coverage. "We're creating an opportunity for dialogue," she tells attendees.

Then Theresa interviews Tatianna Mallory, the 12-year old creator of Backyard French on YouTube and one of the Gabriolans who has already stepped forward to volunteer. Then Tatianna interviews Theresa!

Theresa speaks further about her distinguished career as a broadcast journalist, covering major news events in Canada and abroad. Frank addresses some questions from the crowd, introduces (and acknowledges the valuable contributions of) all the board members, and invites people to remain to chat and sign up as a volunteer. Life on Gabriola TV is launched, and sails off into a bright future.

Journalists: Theresa O'Leary, Marshal Fries