Earlier this month, B.C.’s Environment Minister, Barry Penner, encouraged people in the province to partake in celebrations in commemoration of 100 years of provincial parks, and the Prince Rupert Community Arts Council and Prince Rupert Community Band will be doing just that by hosting a concert and various other nature-related fun activities taking place on Kitson Island on July 2 and July 3.
This is a new concert idea for the community band, who will be playing nature-related music at the concert, which will be starting on Saturday, July 2 at noon on the island.
“[The music] has to do with nature, with pieces such as ‘Morning Fog’, with the music being sort of still, then a bit of fog horn where the fog lifts and you get a sense of sunshine coming in, then it comes back in again and lifts like typical fog happens out there,” explained the Director of the band, Peter Witherly, mentioning some other titles, including “The Storm”, and “On the Beach”.
As well as the concert, there will be a number of outdoor activities such as picnics, campfires, nature hikes, as well as opportunities to paint and practice photography with guides.
Kitson Island is near the mouth of the Skeena River, about two miles southwest of Port Edward. The island is small, however it has sandy beaches, interesting plant life with a foreshore that includes rocky outcrops and extensive sand banks. Kitson Island is a wilderness spot, with no fire pits, drinking water, shelter, toilets, docks, etc. so Witherly wants to remind people that they need to bring everything one needs themselves, including garbage bags so the park can be left in the condition it was before the event. Unfortunately, organizers do not have the means to provide a way of travel for the general public. There will be a boat traveling to and from each day, however space is limited.
“There is no guarantee that there will be a spot on the boat for everyone to get across. People should try to arrange their own method of transportation over…We do not have the capacity to move the general public,” said Witherly, mentioning that the best way to get over to the island would be kayak rentals, or getting a spot on the large canoe that people will have an opportunity to paddle over on.
To rent kayaks contact Joe Paolinelli at 250-624-5246 or joe@skeenakayaking.ca. Anyone wishing to reserve a spot on the canoe can contact Peter at 250-624-8448 or loypeter@hotmail.com.