Skip to content

Still plenty going on in the post-holiday season

Charlotte CoMmuniques By Evelyn von Almassy: I know that some of you made New Year Resolutions.

The New York Times Newspaper has some great photos. My favourite photograph of the New Year’s Eve celebrations around the world online was of an Egyptian police officer, guarding the Great Pyramid, on a camel, during the celebrations in Giza, Egypt. The Parisians celebrating on the Champs-Elysees, with the Arc de Triomphe all lit up in blue, white and red was pretty stunning as well. I hope that all your celebrations were fun, peaceful and full of joy.

I know that some of you made New Year Resolutions. I don’t make them anymore, but rather think about my intentions. This year I intend to impact the earth a little less. My biggest carbon footprint is the driving that I do from the south to the north coast of Haida Gwaii. I am living bi-coastal these days, and as there is no public transport (a train or bus would be great) I still need to drive my car to my Masset employment.

There are others who live in one village and drive to work in another, so I know that I am not alone in this travel that uses gas. Perhaps Gwaii Trust might look at getting this infrastructure into place.

The Christmas/Hannukah/Solstice/Kwanza celebrations are over. One of my Charlotte friends begins her shopping for the 2016 season on boxing day. Talk about organized and thinking about the future. Some folks have taken down their tree, recycled their wrapping paper, and are wondering what to do, now that the big dinners and parties are over. Here are some suggestions.

On any given day in the Village of Queen Charlotte there is lots to do. If you haven’t joined any group yet, give a read to these activities that happen in our little village. The Gwaii Singers Choir have a practice every Tuesday, and they are a very welcoming group; call 250-559-8418 for more information. Pickle ball is a game that I have not checked out yet, but I have friends who swear by this game, and it happens every Monday and Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Queen Charlotte Secondary School gym. If table tennis is your preferred game, there is a group of serious players in the Charlotte Hall on Tuesdays and Thursday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The local Taoist Tai Chi group meets in the Charlotte Community Hall on Mondays at noon, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. Call 250-559-8252 for more information. If you are musical, or want to learn how to be, check out the Ukulele Jam on Wednesdays, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Senior’s Room in the Community Hall. For kids there is the Pioneer Delta Kids Club, which happens every Tuesday from 3:30 pm. to 5 p.m. at the Legion Hall. As for A.A. meetings, there are none in Charlotte, but there is a weekly one at the Skidegate Firehall every Friday evening at 8 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

So many of us on Haida Gwaii wear those great shoes without any laces; yes, I am talking about Blundstone shoes/boots. Check out their website; the 26th of January is Australia Day, and if you order a pair of shoes that day, you receive a free pair of merino wool socks. How cool is that? Perhaps we could begin a Blundstone boot day in Charlotte in March, and all meet at Spirit Square?

This is a reminder that everyone who purchased Judy Hilgemann’s art at her recent show, are asked to come into Queen B’s and pick up your art as the show has been taken down. Stay tuned for the next show coming soon.

Please note that the address to send your news has changed to almassy@qcislands.net The deadline to send your news to is still 2 p.m. on Thursdays. Enjoy the month of January 2016; a new year of hope for peace in the world. Let’s do our part on Haida Gwaii. January 18th is Martin Luther King Day.