A Memorable Remembrance Day

2 hours ago

2 min read

Moving ceremony followed by storm fallout

LBFR Firefighters take part in this year's Remembrance Day service. Photo by kc dyer.

Village residents came out in record numbers to attend Wednesday's Remembrance Day service.

"Attendance was spectacular," said Mayor Ron McLaughlin, who spoke at the event, "and a big vote of thanks goes out to the organizers and volunteers who put on this well-run and very moving ceremony."

Organizers Trudi Luethy and Brenda Broughton estimated between 170 and 180 attendees, which they say was the largest turnout in 21 years.

In addition to the Mayor, all four Councillors were present, along with a broad array of representatives of Lions Bay Emergency Services personnel. Lions Bay Fire Rescue (LBFR) Fire Chief Lorenzo Di Arcangelis and Deputy Chief Mattie Guildenhuys stood alongside Lions Bay firefighters as they lined the back of the hall, and representatives of Lions Bay Search and Rescue, the RCMP and ambulance services were also present.

As stormy skies descended later in the day, LBFR firefighters were called in to active service as trees toppled onto live wires in both Kelvin Grove and Upper Lions Bay. While LBFR were in attendance at the scene at the top of Bayview Road after a tree came down blocking the entire road, a series of other trees came down below them on Bayview Road.

LBFR firefighters on scene after a storm downed power lines on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by kc dyer.

Residents, hikers and even an Amazon delivery truck were stranded on Bayview Road below the blockage and Mountain Drive above it for the nearly three hours until the road was cleared sufficiently to allow single-lane traffic to pass.

Several local residents worked with firefighters to route people through a "goat path" between houses, which allowed stranded residents to leave their cars on the roadside and hike home through the torrential rain and wind.

Communication among residents was facilitated through the Lions Bay Emergency Pod groups in the area throughout the evening.

One pair of hikers (a father and son) returned from Tunnel Bluffs to find their car trapped by the downed lines. They had left their boat in Horseshoe Bay, and needed to make it back to Bowyer Island before dark. In the end, they were ultimately spirited down through the woods on foot by local neighbours, and were able to make the journey successfully. They returned for their vehicle the following day.

In the end, BC Hydro crews had to work their way up Bayview, clearing each event enroute. The road was fully reopened to vehicles by 7 p.m., but power was not restored until 2:30 the following morning.

A memorable Remembrance Day for all.