InFocus Magazine

Surgenor Beer
Bob Surgenor is the caricature of an all-Canadian guy. He’s fourth-generation Canadian. His kids play hockey on a rink he built in the back yard. Heck, prescription
he even wears a grey cotton t-shirt with “Canada” embroidered across the chest. And just in case there was still any doubt as to his Great White North pedigree, salve
he went and opened up his own brewery.

Surgenor Brewing Company, the Comox Valley’s first craft microbrewery, began production this spring after months of anticipation from local quaffers. And while Bob the businessman takes the success of his namesake brewery very seriously, Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck makes it very clear that Surgenor ain’t no suit-and-tie beer.

“If Budweiser’s Hall and Oates then we’re probably Led Zeppelin,” says Surgenor with a mischievous grin. “A lot heavier and a little wilder!

“Everybody enjoys Hall and Oates,” he continues earnestly when teased about his somewhat antiquated rock ‘n’ roll analogy. “They’ve got a bazillion singles, I think they’ve got the second-most singles in the world, so that would be mainstream beers. Our beer is sort of the Led Zeppelin. It’s got a lot more culture, it’s heavier and it’s got a lot more character. And probably a lot more stories behind it, wild road stories! Hall and Oates probably just had a great publicist, and probably someone to shave them in the morning, who knows?”

When pressed for the “wild road stories” behind Surgenor Brewing Company, Surgenor simply alludes to some good times had in the brewery’s tasting room following a recent brewery tour. (Apparently a certain out-of town military base has a girl’s volleyball team that knows how to party.)

Perhaps a more appropriate, if less intriguing, story is the all-Canadian tale that weaves together hockey, a creative electrical company, Vancouver Island’s struggling forestry industry and, naturally, beer. It’s the story of how Surgenor Brewing Company came to be.

About nine years ago, Bob Surgenor was running an electrical company (Surgenor Electrical Contracting Ltd., which he still heads) that depended a great deal on large contracts with sawmills and other forestry industry facilities. Unfortunately, around the same time, the forestry industry on Vancouver Island was in a bit of a tailspin and Surgenor increasingly found himself creating make-work projects for his employees.

“We built a shop, an office, a garage—anything to keep them busy,” he says. “I wasn’t totally throwing money away because I got some value out of it, but I needed something that would also make money, not just keep spending it.”
Although Surgenor had been toying with the idea of building his own sawmill—an idea that he admits would have been “a total disaster”—the inspiration for a brewery came as he and a few of his employees were building the aforementioned hockey rink.

“We were having some craft beers as we were finishing the rink in the backyard,” he explains. “We’re all sitting around, it’s like a Friday afternoon and we’re all enjoying the beer. I didn’t say anything to anyone, but that’s when I got the idea to build a brewery.”

The idea was to keep his current staff busy working on electrical and mechanical jobs at the new brewery and at the same time— to borrow from his own analogy—turn down the Hall and Oates and crank up the Zeppelin.
“Our industry had become stifled with anger,” he says. “I don’t know what else to say, it was a very angry industry. My concept was to put some fun back into life. That was the biggest thing, just change it up and do something fresh. Mid life crisis, I don’t know.”

Construction of Surgenor’s $2.5 million, 465 square metre mid-life crisis began in July 2008, and on February 11, 2009 Surgenor Brewing Company was ready to begin production of its first batch of craft beer.

“It was a good feeling,” recalls Surgenor. “It was exciting to be actually doing something.”

The company held a soft opening at its Comox brewery on March 25, primarily as an opportunity to thank its many supporters. An official grand opening is still being planned, but Surgenor and his 12 employees have been so busy filling orders that they haven’t had a chance to nail down a date.

“It’s been very busy,” says Surgenor. “I think a lot of people were very excited,” he continues. “From a sales perspective, we haven’t really had to go door-to-door; probably about 70 per cent of our customers are approaching us.”

With so much excitement in the Comox Valley around the opening of his brewery, Surgenor had to be sure that his products did not disappoint a community thirsty for a beer they could call their own.

Leading the drive for quality is German brewmaster Martin Escbaumer, who left a prominent brewery in Munich to join the Surgenor team in June. A true master trained in the rich Bavarian beer-making tradition, Escbaumer’s expertise has already done huge things for Surgenor, whose previous Vancouver-bred brewer lacked such lofty credentials.

“We’ve all learned something from Martin,” says Surgenor humbly. “Germany has been brewing beer for many, many years and… it’s all strictly controlled, whereas in Canada, with microbreweries and small breweries, it’s like the Wild West. You get everybody who can make a cup of tea making beer. I brought Martin in to give us some sort of structure, to give us some real quality control so we get the best product every single time.”

With Escbaumer at the helm, Surgenor Brewing Company has continued to develop its two inaugural products—its signature “Red House Ale” and “Steam Donkey Lager.”

Red House Ale, named after Surgenor’s striking red brewery, is a traditional Irish-style ale with a rich amber color and a full body. Its tasting notes describe it as “pleasant,” “thirst-quenching” and “deceptively complex.” Steam Donkey Lager, christened in tribute to the steam-powered winch used in the forestry industry before the advent of internal combustion, is significantly lighter but still has more body and much more complex flavors than traditional lagers. Steam Donkey Lager is a true working man’s beer, with a malty bite that goes down exceptionally well after a hard day’s work.

While many qualities distinguish Surgenor’s products from others in the beer cooler —“glacier fresh” Comox Valley water, designer hops grown in the Pacific Northwest and a high content of flavorful specialty malts—none is more immediately apparent that its packaging. Amidst row upon row of boring brown bottles (Hall and Oates, anyone?), a six-pack of Surgenor practically jumps off the shelf with its eye-catching aluminum bottles.

Surgenor got the idea for using aluminum bottles from Pittsburgh’s Iron City Brewing Company, which experienced a renaissance in sales after introducing aluminum bottles in 2004. While presenting a fresh and visually appealing alternative on beer store shelves, the silver aluminum bottles cool beer more quickly when refrigerated (although once cold, claims that aluminum bottles keep beer cold longer are likely misled). They also present a much more eco-friendly alternative to glass bottles.

“Environmentally it’s way better,” says Surgenor. “It’s like huge better. For glass bottles, almost 90 per cent of the amount of energy that it took to manufacture the bottle is required to recycle it again. You might as well make a new bottle.”

Recycling aluminum bottles, on the other hand, requires only five per cent of the energy needed to fabricate a bottle from virgin aluminum.

At the brewery itself, Surgenor’s aluminum bottles present yet another advantage. In the shadows of the towering stainless steel brewing tanks, hundreds of just-filled bottles are rattling along a conveyance system toward two employees who are packaging them for delivery.

In most breweries, these employees would have to wear protective eyewear, and likely gloves, against the possibility of glass breakage. They’d also likely need earplugs against the deafening clang of glass on glass, and yet here at Surgenor the brewing floor is quiet enough to clearly hear the Led Zeppelin tune that’s belting over the radio (a pure coincidence, says Surgenor).

“You don’t really get how much your glass bottles mean to WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board) for injuries,” says Lee Everson, who’s in charge of Surgenor Brewing Company’s public relations. “You don’t really consider that until you see the aluminum bottles go through and they’re getting bent and that’s it. If it were glass you’d have shards, you’d have eye protection; it’d be a whole different scene.”

In case we’re still not completely sold on aluminum bottles, Surgenor points out one additional selling feature—more beer. Each 355-millilitre bottle is weighed before leaving the brewery to ensure that it has been overfilled. Says Surgenor, the aluminum bottles are so lightweight that consumers would be skeptical that a true 355-ml fill actually contained the proper volume of beer.

Once packaged, Surgenor and his staff take turns delivering the beer to customers throughout the Comox Valley and as far away as Duncan, Tofino and even Vancouver and the Gulf Islands. They hope to expand their reach all the way to Port Hardy, but because they distribute all of their beer personally the logistics will need to be worked out before expanding up Island. Self-distribution, however, does come with its advantages.

“We’re sort of a unique anomaly,” says Surgenor. “There aren’t many of us like this that can self-distribute. You get better quality control over your product because it’s not sitting on a shelf or in the back corner of a warehouse re-fermenting.

“Many times I’ve drunk a beer and had a really bad beer. Tons of skunkiness, and those are the ones that are in cans where it’s supposed to be a non-issue. I suspect they probably sat in the back of a warehouse for maybe six months.”

With personal delivery directly to his retail customers, Surgenor is able to ensure that his beer is always fresh when placed in front of the final customer.

Of course, product freshness is never an issue when your beer is flying off the shelves as quickly as Surgenor’s is. The brewery has been producing approximately 8,000 bottles per day, plus about a third that volume (and rising) in keg sales despite a production capacity estimate of just 25,000 bottles per week.

Plans are already being developed for the introduction of Surgenor Brewing Company’s third beer—a märzen. A traditional Bavarian-style lager, a märzen typically demonstrates a rich, amber color and a mild sweet malt character.

All signs point to an optimistic future for the Valley’s first craft brewery and the pride of so many local beer drinkers. In fact, Surgenor admits that he was already thinking of expansion before construction of the brewery had even been completed, and he expects that his company will outgrow its current facility in a couple of years.

Surgenor dreams of a new, high profile facility that would be a focal point for the Comox Valley. His ideal vision for a new brewery also incorporates a bustling market, something along the lines of Vancouver’s Granville Island, also the site of an increasingly popular brewery.

“You could do a really great architectural job, and that’s sort of where I see us in a couple of years,” he says. “It’s all about getting something we’re really proud of in the Valley; something we’d all be happy with and excited about.”

For the time being, Valley residents can enjoy Surgenor’s Red House Ale and Steam Donkey Lager at more than 30 local restaurants and pubs, and bottles can be purchased at most local beer and wine stores.

So what’s the best way to enjoy an ice-cold Surgenor beer?

“Surgenor beer is good anytime,” responds Everson, a true public relations specialist. Bob the businessman appears to agree, until Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck suddenly seizes control.

“Remember what Led Zeppelin was like,” he says with a sparkle in his eye. Then he belts out, in true rock ‘n’ roll party animal form: “A wild patio party!”

Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck grins and looks sheepishly at Everson. “I’m always getting in trouble for saying stuff.”

Surgenor Brewing Company is located at 861 Shamrock Place
in Comox. For more information call 250-339-9947 or visit
www.surgenorbrewing.ca.

Bob Surgenor is the caricature of an all-Canadian guy. He’s fourth-generation Canadian. His kids play hockey on a rink he built in the back yard. Heck, dysentery
he even wears a grey cotton t-shirt with “Canada” embroidered across the chest. And just in case there was still any doubt as to his Great White North pedigree, find
he went and opened up his own brewery.

Surgenor Brewing Company, the Comox Valley’s first craft microbrewery, began production this spring after months of anticipation from local quaffers. And while Bob the businessman takes the success of his namesake brewery very seriously, Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck makes it very clear that Surgenor ain’t no suit-and-tie beer.

“If Budweiser’s Hall and Oates then we’re probably Led Zeppelin,” says Surgenor with a mischievous grin. “A lot heavier and a little wilder!

“Everybody enjoys Hall and Oates,” he continues earnestly when teased about his somewhat antiquated rock ‘n’ roll analogy. “They’ve got a bazillion singles, I think they’ve got the second-most singles in the world, so that would be mainstream beers. Our beer is sort of the Led Zeppelin. It’s got a lot more culture, it’s heavier and it’s got a lot more character. And probably a lot more stories behind it, wild road stories! Hall and Oates probably just had a great publicist, and probably someone to shave them in the morning, who knows?”

When pressed for the “wild road stories” behind Surgenor Brewing Company, Surgenor simply alludes to some good times had in the brewery’s tasting room following a recent brewery tour. (Apparently a certain out-of town military base has a girl’s volleyball team that knows how to party.)

Perhaps a more appropriate, if less intriguing, story is the all-Canadian tale that weaves together hockey, a creative electrical company, Vancouver Island’s struggling forestry industry and, naturally, beer. It’s the story of how Surgenor Brewing Company came to be.

About nine years ago, Bob Surgenor was running an electrical company (Surgenor Electrical Contracting Ltd., which he still heads) that depended a great deal on large contracts with sawmills and other forestry industry facilities. Unfortunately, around the same time, the forestry industry on Vancouver Island was in a bit of a tailspin and Surgenor increasingly found himself creating make-work projects for his employees.

“We built a shop, an office, a garage—anything to keep them busy,” he says. “I wasn’t totally throwing money away because I got some value out of it, but I needed something that would also make money, not just keep spending it.”
Although Surgenor had been toying with the idea of building his own sawmill—an idea that he admits would have been “a total disaster”—the inspiration for a brewery came as he and a few of his employees were building the aforementioned hockey rink.

“We were having some craft beers as we were finishing the rink in the backyard,” he explains. “We’re all sitting around, it’s like a Friday afternoon and we’re all enjoying the beer. I didn’t say anything to anyone, but that’s when I got the idea to build a brewery.”

The idea was to keep his current staff busy working on electrical and mechanical jobs at the new brewery and at the same time— to borrow from his own analogy—turn down the Hall and Oates and crank up the Zeppelin.
“Our industry had become stifled with anger,” he says. “I don’t know what else to say, it was a very angry industry. My concept was to put some fun back into life. That was the biggest thing, just change it up and do something fresh. Mid life crisis, I don’t know.”

Construction of Surgenor’s $2.5 million, 465 square metre mid-life crisis began in July 2008, and on February 11, 2009 Surgenor Brewing Company was ready to begin production of its first batch of craft beer.

“It was a good feeling,” recalls Surgenor. “It was exciting to be actually doing something.”

The company held a soft opening at its Comox brewery on March 25, primarily as an opportunity to thank its many supporters. An official grand opening is still being planned, but Surgenor and his 12 employees have been so busy filling orders that they haven’t had a chance to nail down a date.

“It’s been very busy,” says Surgenor. “I think a lot of people were very excited,” he continues. “From a sales perspective, we haven’t really had to go door-to-door; probably about 70 per cent of our customers are approaching us.”

With so much excitement in the Comox Valley around the opening of his brewery, Surgenor had to be sure that his products did not disappoint a community thirsty for a beer they could call their own.

Leading the drive for quality is German brewmaster Martin Escbaumer, who left a prominent brewery in Munich to join the Surgenor team in June. A true master trained in the rich Bavarian beer-making tradition, Escbaumer’s expertise has already done huge things for Surgenor, whose previous Vancouver-bred brewer lacked such lofty credentials.

“We’ve all learned something from Martin,” says Surgenor humbly. “Germany has been brewing beer for many, many years and… it’s all strictly controlled, whereas in Canada, with microbreweries and small breweries, it’s like the Wild West. You get everybody who can make a cup of tea making beer. I brought Martin in to give us some sort of structure, to give us some real quality control so we get the best product every single time.”

With Escbaumer at the helm, Surgenor Brewing Company has continued to develop its two inaugural products—its signature “Red House Ale” and “Steam Donkey Lager.”

Red House Ale, named after Surgenor’s striking red brewery, is a traditional Irish-style ale with a rich amber color and a full body. Its tasting notes describe it as “pleasant,” “thirst-quenching” and “deceptively complex.” Steam Donkey Lager, christened in tribute to the steam-powered winch used in the forestry industry before the advent of internal combustion, is significantly lighter but still has more body and much more complex flavors than traditional lagers. Steam Donkey Lager is a true working man’s beer, with a malty bite that goes down exceptionally well after a hard day’s work.

While many qualities distinguish Surgenor’s products from others in the beer cooler —“glacier fresh” Comox Valley water, designer hops grown in the Pacific Northwest and a high content of flavorful specialty malts—none is more immediately apparent that its packaging. Amidst row upon row of boring brown bottles (Hall and Oates, anyone?), a six-pack of Surgenor practically jumps off the shelf with its eye-catching aluminum bottles.

Surgenor got the idea for using aluminum bottles from Pittsburgh’s Iron City Brewing Company, which experienced a renaissance in sales after introducing aluminum bottles in 2004. While presenting a fresh and visually appealing alternative on beer store shelves, the silver aluminum bottles cool beer more quickly when refrigerated (although once cold, claims that aluminum bottles keep beer cold longer are likely misled). They also present a much more eco-friendly alternative to glass bottles.

“Environmentally it’s way better,” says Surgenor. “It’s like huge better. For glass bottles, almost 90 per cent of the amount of energy that it took to manufacture the bottle is required to recycle it again. You might as well make a new bottle.”

Recycling aluminum bottles, on the other hand, requires only five per cent of the energy needed to fabricate a bottle from virgin aluminum.

At the brewery itself, Surgenor’s aluminum bottles present yet another advantage. In the shadows of the towering stainless steel brewing tanks, hundreds of just-filled bottles are rattling along a conveyance system toward two employees who are packaging them for delivery.

In most breweries, these employees would have to wear protective eyewear, and likely gloves, against the possibility of glass breakage. They’d also likely need earplugs against the deafening clang of glass on glass, and yet here at Surgenor the brewing floor is quiet enough to clearly hear the Led Zeppelin tune that’s belting over the radio (a pure coincidence, says Surgenor).

“You don’t really get how much your glass bottles mean to WCB (Workers’ Compensation Board) for injuries,” says Lee Everson, who’s in charge of Surgenor Brewing Company’s public relations. “You don’t really consider that until you see the aluminum bottles go through and they’re getting bent and that’s it. If it were glass you’d have shards, you’d have eye protection; it’d be a whole different scene.”

In case we’re still not completely sold on aluminum bottles, Surgenor points out one additional selling feature—more beer. Each 355-millilitre bottle is weighed before leaving the brewery to ensure that it has been overfilled. Says Surgenor, the aluminum bottles are so lightweight that consumers would be skeptical that a true 355-ml fill actually contained the proper volume of beer.

Once packaged, Surgenor and his staff take turns delivering the beer to customers throughout the Comox Valley and as far away as Duncan, Tofino and even Vancouver and the Gulf Islands. They hope to expand their reach all the way to Port Hardy, but because they distribute all of their beer personally the logistics will need to be worked out before expanding up Island. Self-distribution, however, does come with its advantages.

“We’re sort of a unique anomaly,” says Surgenor. “There aren’t many of us like this that can self-distribute. You get better quality control over your product because it’s not sitting on a shelf or in the back corner of a warehouse re-fermenting.

“Many times I’ve drunk a beer and had a really bad beer. Tons of skunkiness, and those are the ones that are in cans where it’s supposed to be a non-issue. I suspect they probably sat in the back of a warehouse for maybe six months.”

With personal delivery directly to his retail customers, Surgenor is able to ensure that his beer is always fresh when placed in front of the final customer.

Of course, product freshness is never an issue when your beer is flying off the shelves as quickly as Surgenor’s is. The brewery has been producing approximately 8,000 bottles per day, plus about a third that volume (and rising) in keg sales despite a production capacity estimate of just 25,000 bottles per week.

Plans are already being developed for the introduction of Surgenor Brewing Company’s third beer—a märzen. A traditional Bavarian-style lager, a märzen typically demonstrates a rich, amber color and a mild sweet malt character.

All signs point to an optimistic future for the Valley’s first craft brewery and the pride of so many local beer drinkers. In fact, Surgenor admits that he was already thinking of expansion before construction of the brewery had even been completed, and he expects that his company will outgrow its current facility in a couple of years.

Surgenor dreams of a new, high profile facility that would be a focal point for the Comox Valley. His ideal vision for a new brewery also incorporates a bustling market, something along the lines of Vancouver’s Granville Island, also the site of an increasingly popular brewery.

“You could do a really great architectural job, and that’s sort of where I see us in a couple of years,” he says. “It’s all about getting something we’re really proud of in the Valley; something we’d all be happy with and excited about.”

For the time being, Valley residents can enjoy Surgenor’s Red House Ale and Steam Donkey Lager at more than 30 local restaurants and pubs, and bottles can be purchased at most local beer and wine stores.

So what’s the best way to enjoy an ice-cold Surgenor beer?

“Surgenor beer is good anytime,” responds Everson, a true public relations specialist. Bob the businessman appears to agree, until Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck suddenly seizes control.

“Remember what Led Zeppelin was like,” he says with a sparkle in his eye. Then he belts out, in true rock ‘n’ roll party animal form: “A wild patio party!”

Bob the fun-lovin’ Canuck grins and looks sheepishly at Everson. “I’m always getting in trouble for saying stuff.”

Surgenor Brewing Company is located at 861 Shamrock Place
in Comox. For more information call 250-339-9947 or visit
www.surgenorbrewing.ca.

The waters of the Comox Harbour were as smooth as glass as ‘After Ours’ made her way out of the marina for our Tree Island Adventure. My husband, this
Ron, sick
and I felt at ease with Ric Rennison in command of the boat, as he skillfully guided the vessel across Baynes Bay to Tree Island. We did not follow a course “as the crow flies” because, according to Rennision, there are only a couple of channels you can navigate across without risk of running aground on a sand bar.

My earlier research had revealed some of the history of this special place. The Department of National Defense used Tree Island for military exercises until 1966, when it was designated as Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.

Located about five nautical miles from the Comox Marina, Sandy/Tree Island is a 33-hectare island oasis. Although you can walk to Tree Island from Denman Island’s Longbeak Point at low tide, many Comox Valley residents have never stepped foot on its shores. Perhaps this is because if you don’t walk back to Denman before the tide rises, you’ll be spending far more time there than originally planned! Aside from that, the only other access to Tree/Sandy Island is by private boat or sea kayak.

We arrived about noon to discover an exceptional expanse of smooth sandy beach. Several boats were already anchored just off shore—you need to use a smaller boat or zodiac to actually get to the beach—and a handful of people were picnicking, walking or splashing in the water. It was easy to see why they had come here.

The beaches offer excellent swimming, beachcombing and sun tanning, as well as breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. The island is crowned with an abundant forest of mature trees, including arbutus, Douglas fir, blue elderberry and black Hawthorne, native crab and big-leaf maples. When we tired of the heat on the sandy beach, a stroll through these towering timbers soon cooled us down.

Although there are few land animals on Tree Island, the treetops are filled with bird life, including a bald eagle’s nest. We were told that on its shores and shoals you may spot harlequin ducks, Brant geese, Caspian terns, western sand pipers, loons, great blue herons and more. Harbor seals, dolphins and sea otters frolic in the water. (Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera!)

Aside from the occasional overnight tent campers, there are no permanent residents. The Island’s human population is zero and there are no creature comforts. If nature calls, there are pit toilets and there is no running water.

The shores of Tree Island are varied. Fine white sand, peppered with sand dollars and seashells, can be found on the Baynes Bay side. But walk across Tree Island, to the Seal Islets on the Georgia Strait side, and the pebbled beach is a frenzy of activity with tiny crabs and snails. At low tide, the tide pools are about ankle deep and as warm as bathwater. I was glad I had worn water shoes to be able to walk here, but other people—in sandals and sneakers—had to turn back. I used this time to myself to reminisce about the days when my children were young…. and how much they loved to explore tide pools when we went on family vacations. For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I had a small child with me… perhaps a grandchild… so I could share this amazing experience. I laugh out loud and realized that it must be time to get out of the sun.
The waters of the Comox Harbour were as smooth as glass as ‘After Ours’ made her way out of the marina for our Tree Island Adventure. My husband, Sildenafil
Ron, and I felt at ease with Ric Rennison in command of the boat, as he skillfully guided the vessel across Baynes Bay to Tree Island. We did not follow a course “as the crow flies” because, according to Rennision, there are only a couple of channels you can navigate across without risk of running aground on a sand bar.

My earlier research had revealed some of the history of this special place. The Department of National Defense used Tree Island for military exercises until 1966, when it was designated as Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.

Located about five nautical miles from the Comox Marina, Sandy/Tree Island is a 33-hectare island oasis. Although you can walk to Tree Island from Denman Island’s Longbeak Point at low tide, many Comox Valley residents have never stepped foot on its shores. Perhaps this is because if you don’t walk back to Denman before the tide rises, you’ll be spending far more time there than originally planned! Aside from that, the only other access to Tree/Sandy Island is by private boat or sea kayak.

We arrived about noon to discover an exceptional expanse of smooth sandy beach. Several boats were already anchored just off shore—you need to use a smaller boat or zodiac to actually get to the beach—and a handful of people were picnicking, walking or splashing in the water. It was easy to see why they had come here.

The beaches offer excellent swimming, beachcombing and sun tanning, as well as breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. The island is crowned with an abundant forest of mature trees, including arbutus, Douglas fir, blue elderberry and black Hawthorne, native crab and big-leaf maples. When we tired of the heat on the sandy beach, a stroll through these towering timbers soon cooled us down.

Although there are few land animals on Tree Island, the treetops are filled with bird life, including a bald eagle’s nest. We were told that on its shores and shoals you may spot harlequin ducks, Brant geese, Caspian terns, western sand pipers, loons, great blue herons and more. Harbor seals, dolphins and sea otters frolic in the water. (Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera!)

Aside from the occasional overnight tent campers, there are no permanent residents. The Island’s human population is zero and there are no creature comforts. If nature calls, there are pit toilets and there is no running water.

The shores of Tree Island are varied. Fine white sand, peppered with sand dollars and seashells, can be found on the Baynes Bay side. But walk across Tree Island, to the Seal Islets on the Georgia Strait side, and the pebbled beach is a frenzy of activity with tiny crabs and snails. At low tide, the tide pools are about ankle deep and as warm as bathwater. I was glad I had worn water shoes to be able to walk here, but other people—in sandals and sneakers—had to turn back. I used this time to myself to reminisce about the days when my children were young…. and how much they loved to explore tide pools when we went on family vacations. For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I had a small child with me… perhaps a grandchild… so I could share this amazing experience. I laugh out loud and realized that it must be time to get out of the sun.
The waters of the Comox Harbour were as smooth as glass as ‘After Ours’ made her way out of the marina for our Tree Island Adventure. My husband, ascariasis
Ron, and I felt at ease with Ric Rennison in command of the boat, as he skillfully guided the vessel across Baynes Bay to Tree Island. We did not follow a course “as the crow flies” because, according to Rennision, there are only a couple of channels you can navigate across without risk of running aground on a sand bar.

My earlier research had revealed some of the history of this special place. The Department of National Defense used Tree Island for military exercises until 1966, when it was designated as Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.

Located about five nautical miles from the Comox Marina, Sandy/Tree Island is a 33-hectare island oasis. Although you can walk to Tree Island from Denman Island’s Longbeak Point at low tide, many Comox Valley residents have never stepped foot on its shores. Perhaps this is because if you don’t walk back to Denman before the tide rises, you’ll be spending far more time there than originally planned! Aside from that, the only other access to Tree/Sandy Island is by private boat or sea kayak.

We arrived about noon to discover an exceptional expanse of smooth sandy beach. Several boats were already anchored just off shore—you need to use a smaller boat or zodiac to actually get to the beach—and a handful of people were picnicking, walking or splashing in the water. It was easy to see why they had come here.

The beaches offer excellent swimming, beachcombing and sun tanning, as well as breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. The island is crowned with an abundant forest of mature trees, including arbutus, Douglas fir, blue elderberry and black Hawthorne, native crab and big-leaf maples. When we tired of the heat on the sandy beach, a stroll through these towering timbers soon cooled us down.

Although there are few land animals on Tree Island, the treetops are filled with bird life, including a bald eagle’s nest. We were told that on its shores and shoals you may spot harlequin ducks, Brant geese, Caspian terns, western sand pipers, loons, great blue herons and more. Harbor seals, dolphins and sea otters frolic in the water. (Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera!)

Aside from the occasional overnight tent campers, there are no permanent residents. The Island’s human population is zero and there are no creature comforts. If nature calls, there are pit toilets and there is no running water.

The shores of Tree Island are varied. Fine white sand, peppered with sand dollars and seashells, can be found on the Baynes Bay side. But walk across Tree Island, to the Seal Islets on the Georgia Strait side, and the pebbled beach is a frenzy of activity with tiny crabs and snails. At low tide, the tide pools are about ankle deep and as warm as bathwater. I was glad I had worn water shoes to be able to walk here, but other people—in sandals and sneakers—had to turn back. I used this time to myself to reminisce about the days when my children were young…. and how much they loved to explore tide pools when we went on family vacations. For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I had a small child with me… perhaps a grandchild… so I could share this amazing experience. I laugh out loud and realized that it must be time to get out of the sun.
The waters of the Comox Harbour were as smooth as glass as ‘After Ours’ made her way out of the marina for our Tree Island Adventure. My husband, patient
Ron, skincare
and I felt at ease with Ric Rennison in command of the boat, healing
as he skillfully guided the vessel across Baynes Bay to Tree Island. We did not follow a course “as the crow flies” because, according to Rennision, there are only a couple of channels you can navigate across without risk of running aground on a sand bar.

My earlier research had revealed some of the history of this special place. The Department of National Defense used Tree Island for military exercises until 1966, when it was designated as Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.

Located about five nautical miles from the Comox Marina, Sandy/Tree Island is a 33-hectare island oasis. Although you can walk to Tree Island from Denman Island’s Longbeak Point at low tide, many Comox Valley residents have never stepped foot on its shores. Perhaps this is because if you don’t walk back to Denman before the tide rises, you’ll be spending far more time there than originally planned! Aside from that, the only other access to Tree/Sandy Island is by private boat or sea kayak.

We arrived about noon to discover an exceptional expanse of smooth sandy beach. Several boats were already anchored just off shore—you need to use a smaller boat or zodiac to actually get to the beach—and a handful of people were picnicking, walking or splashing in the water. It was easy to see why they had come here.

The beaches offer excellent swimming, beachcombing and sun tanning, as well as breathtaking mountain and valley vistas. The island is crowned with an abundant forest of mature trees, including arbutus, Douglas fir, blue elderberry and black Hawthorne, native crab and big-leaf maples. When we tired of the heat on the sandy beach, a stroll through these towering timbers soon cooled us down.

Although there are few land animals on Tree Island, the treetops are filled with bird life, including a bald eagle’s nest. We were told that on its shores and shoals you may spot harlequin ducks, Brant geese, Caspian terns, western sand pipers, loons, great blue herons and more. Harbor seals, dolphins and sea otters frolic in the water. (Be sure to bring binoculars and a camera!)

Aside from the occasional overnight tent campers, there are no permanent residents. The Island’s human population is zero and there are no creature comforts. If nature calls, there are pit toilets and there is no running water.

The shores of Tree Island are varied. Fine white sand, peppered with sand dollars and seashells, can be found on the Baynes Bay side. But walk across Tree Island, to the Seal Islets on the Georgia Strait side, and the pebbled beach is a frenzy of activity with tiny crabs and snails. At low tide, the tide pools are about ankle deep and as warm as bathwater. I was glad I had worn water shoes to be able to walk here, but other people—in sandals and sneakers—had to turn back. I used this time to myself to reminisce about the days when my children were young…. and how much they loved to explore tide pools when we went on family vacations. For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I had a small child with me… perhaps a grandchild… so I could share this amazing experience. I laugh out loud and realized that it must be time to get out of the sun.
ithin the first few minutes of speaking with Ric Rennison and Jackie West of Adventure Marine Tours, capsule
their pride in the Comox Valley is apparent.

Rennison talks about “his” beautiful Vancouver Island and the waters of the Georgia Strait with as much pride and reverence as a preacher at a pulpit. And no wonder! He’s a fourth generation Islander and his memories and family history here go back almost 200 years. His ancestors moved here from England in the early 1800s and Rennison Road in Courtenay is named after his grandfather.

Compared to Rennison, West is a newbie. She moved here from Alberta in 1984. Although she is well traveled, she is proud to call the Comox Valley home. Upon returning from a round-the-world trip in 2002, she says she felt a wave of pride as the airplane touched down at the Comox Airport. “It felt good to be ‘home’… to the most beautiful place in the world!” she recalls with a hint of nostalgia.

Rennison had been employed in the logging industry for most of his adult life. In 2007, he made a career change when he purchased a 34-foot Double Eagle fishing boat and started a business called Adventure Marine Tours. He and his wife, Donna, redesigned the boat as a pleasure craft that could accommodate 10 passengers and a crew of two. They re-named the boat After Ours—a play on words to signify that they had raised their family and were looking forward to the next stage of their lives.

After Ours is larger than many charter boats, boasting a fully enclosed cabin with seating, a washroom, a small kitchen, a covered deck and an open deck area. Its overall length and width, combined with the depth of its hull, make it more stable in open seas than similar, but smaller watercraft.

“We spent the first year getting our feet wet—so to speak,” explains Rennison. “We began by offering whale and bear watching tours and fishing charters out of Kelsey Bay, which is about a 45 minute drive north of Campbell River. Then the economy tanked. We were struggling, as there was an oversupply of this type of charter in the Campbell River area.

“Our location in Kelsey Bay was also proving to be a bit of a challenge,” adds Rennison. “The weather in the bay was often poor and this restricted our ability to take people out. In addition to that, Kelsey Bay is not a destination stop. Already on tighter budgets than before, tourists were gravitating to charters being offered directly out of Campbell River, rather than travel north. That further restricted our ability to book customers and maintain our business.”

During the summer of 2008, the Rennisons realized that in order to succeed and make the business profitable, they needed a change of location and a change of focus. While Ric had many years of experience navigating the water, he recognized they were in unchartered waters when it came to other aspects of running the business. They knew they would benefit from adding someone with a financial background to the mix. So Rennison asked former business associate and chartered accountant, Jackie West, owner of Valley View Accounting in Courtenay, to come on board.

Aside from their long-standing friendship, Rennison approached West because she is well versed in tourism from her previous world travels. This was a valuable asset to bring to the table.

A new partnership was formed between the Rennisons and West. The company was incorporated and they sought out a new focus for its future. They spent most of the last eight months redefining the services that Adventure Marine Tours would offer for summer 2009 and beyond.

They chose to relocate to the Comox Valley, not only because this is where their families live (so they could go home each night) but as importantly, because no similar service was currently operating out of the Comox Marina.

In the spring 2009, they invited Reg Webber to join the team as a management consultant. Webber had been a client of West’s for the past 18 years and has known Ric Rennison even longer. The two men have worked together countless times over the past few decades. With many years of business management experience to his credit, Webber brought another valuable asset to company.

With a new focus on eco-tourism and oceanic education, Adventure Marine Tours is now open for business. Rennison mans the boat; West makes the bookings and manages the finances; and Webber acts as tour guide and general manager.
While you can still convince Rennison and Webber to take you out a fishing charter, Adventure Marine offers three new flagship excursions: A Taste of Hornby, Ocean Exploration—A Hands-on Experience and Tree Island Romance. There is a set cost for each excursion for guests age 15 and older; children between the ages of 7 to 14 are half price and kids under age six are free.

“These tours give us an opportunity to share some of Vancouver Island’s history with people,” says Rennison. “It is something we all really enjoy and that we take great pride in. I love being on the water several times a week… and the fact that I am not stuck sitting behind a desk in an office.”

In addition to the above-mentioned tours, Adventure Marine will also consider a ‘Create Your Own Adventure’ tour, whereby you dream up your own adventure and, if your dream is “doable”, you can charter the boat for $215 per hour, for a four-hour minimum for up to 10 people.

A Taste of Hornby tour is an all-day event for $289.50 per person. Guests board the boat in the morning at the Comox Marina. After Ours is usually moored at the Gas & Go marine station at the south end of the marina, near the boat launch. The boat then travels down the coastline, then around Denman and Hornby Islands. During the 90-minute trip, Webber and Rennison tell stories about local landmarks, flora, fauna and sea life.

“We dock at Ford’s Cove on Hornby Island, where the guests disembark for their choice of a five-hour guided or unguided bicycle tour to enjoy the Island’s wineries, artisans, beaches and Helliwell Park,” says West. “We supply mountain bikes as part of the tour package or electronic bikes at a small additional charge. For those choosing not to bike, we will take them around the corner to Tribune Bay, where they can enjoy the beach or hike to Helliwell Park. Guests are also provided with a picnic lunch and we will accommodate special dietary restrictions and requests.”

The Ocean Exploration Tour ($198) is designed for people of all ages, but will be especially fun for kids enamored with nature. This six-hour tour leaves the Comox Marina and travels south to Baynes Sound to get a hands-on look at how oysters and scallops are farmed, as well as watch as prawn and crab traps are hauled up from the ocean floor.

“I will never tire of watching people’s faces when the traps first break the surface of the water and then when we spread the catch out for them to see,” says Rennison. “People are always amazed and in awe of the various sea creatures that may be in the traps… and they are thrilled when they get to take home some fresh-caught seafood!”

In addition to learning about what lies beneath the waters of the Georgia Strait, guests will also learn about the commercial fishing and logging industries and how they play an important role in the region’s past, present and future.

Recognizing that there was also a niche to fill for a more romantic and relaxed ocean excursion, Adventure Marine Tours even planned something special for lovers… and others.

The Tree Island Romance Tour ($235 per couple) takes guests from the Comox Marina to a special place the locals call “Tree Island,” but its official name is Sandy Island Provincial Marine Park.

Guests looking for a romance rather than recreation are picked up at the Comox Marina and transported to Tree Island. They are supplied with a gourmet picnic supper and then dropped off on the beach for a few hours to enjoy some quiet time while they watch the spectacular sunset. For couples looking for something totally out-of-the-ordinary and hopelessly romantic, you can’t beat a rendezvous on an island oasis, complete with a sunset.

Families looking to explore Tree Island get more enjoyment from arranging a morning drop-off, picnic lunch and early afternoon pick-up, rather than scheduling the sunset cruise.

Recognizing the importance of doing only three or four tours, but doing them well, Adventure Marine Tours will spend this summer perfecting these three tours. But that isn’t stopping them from dreaming about what possibilities the future will hold.

“My ultimate plan is to host five and seven-day cruises up the coast, from Comox to such places as Telegraph Cove,” says Rennison. “These tours would be the ‘full meal deal’, offering overnight lodging at various resorts and hotels, meal packages and more. They would include everything from charter fishing to bear and whale watching and so much more. We are surrounded by so much beauty here in the Comox Valley that there is no limit to our dreams for the future of this company.”

FMI call 250. 871.7655 or visit www.adventuremarinetours.com

In 1988, diagnosis
when Langley, clinic BC equine enthusiast Jim McCrae embarked on a solo horseback ride of the 4,260-kilometre Pacific Crest Trail, he knew that it would be a life-changing experience. But he had no idea that his adventure would be a catalyst to change the lives of so many others, too.

McRae started at the trailhead in Mexico, then travelled up the coast through California, Oregon and Washington, before eventually winding up in British Columbia. It took him and his three horses five months to make the trip.

When he encountered problems along the way, McCrae was grateful that there was always someone available to provide assistance. On many occasions, the individuals who came forward to help were members of an organization called the Back Country Horsemen of America.

Needless to say, when you spend 147 consecutive days on a solitary trail ride, you have plenty of time to think. One thing McCrae thought about was that the Back Country Horsemen of America were doing some amazing work on behalf of recreational riders in the USA. He decided that his home province of British Columbia could benefit from the creation of a similar organization.

After the dust had settled on his legendary ride, McCrae put his thoughts into action. In 1989, along with his wife Marilynn and several other equine enthusiasts, he formed the Back Country Horsemen Society of British Columbia (BCH). It would become a registered society in 1991.

Today, with McCrae’s continued support as well as the volunteer efforts of hundreds of dedicated members, BCH has become a province-wide organization with more than 600 members and 16 chapters, including three on Vancouver Island.

The first Vancouver Island chapter was formed in Nanaimo in 1996. Many of its then 100-plus members, however, lived in the Comox Valley and surrounding communities, so commuting to meetings was a challenge. As a result, in 2002 the Vancouver Island chapter was moved to the Comox Valley. Additional chapters were eventually started in Duncan (South Vancouver Island), Port Alberni (Alberni Valley) and, most recently, Saltspring Island. Total membership on the Island is about now about 100, 60 of which are in the Comox Valley region.

“While the name ‘Back Country’ may mislead some people into thinking that our organization is only concerned about trails in the far reaches of the wilderness, we also work to secure access for horses and riders, to maintain and to use trails in urban and rural settings,” explains John King, chair of association’s Vancouver Island chapter and vice president for the provincial board of directors. “Many of the trails are multi-use and are frequented by hikers, cyclists and people on all terrain vehicles (ATVs). Some trails are decades old and historic, built for horses and used only by horses, but almost all are suitable for other forms of recreation, as well as trail riding.”

The Vancouver Island chapter has been extensively involved with the development and on-going maintenance of several well-used and much-loved trails in the Comox Valley and beyond. Not only do members ride these trails, they take great pride in them, too.

In the wake of a wind storm, volunteers clear deadfall from trails. If a bridge needs to be built to ensure a safe creek or ravine crossing, volunteers organize a work bee and build it. They have even constructed a few outhouses in the outback—always a welcome sight after spending several hours in a saddle.

One of their most recent accomplishments has been the development of the historic One Spot Trail, which runs along the former mainline railway grade of the Comox Logging and Railway Company. (See sidebar.)

The group has also been collaborating with the Merville and Area Residents and Ratepayers Association (MARRA), in their First Nations Land Claim consultations with the provincial and federal governments. The goal is to ensure the public will continue to have access to the 20-kilometres of trails that wind through the magnificent 520-hectare Williams Beach Forest Reserve.

“We have been at risk of losing public access to this particular parcel of Crown land for many years,” explains Sharon Pickthorne, volunteer treasurer for both the Vancouver Island chapter and the provincial organization. “In 1998, there was a land rights trade proposed. The community rallied together and the deal was cancelled. For the recent negotiations, I joined MARRA’s team to represent all horse riders, on behalf of BCH. Our efforts are supported by Horse Council BC and the Joint Trails and Access Committee.”

On October 2, 2008, MARRA was invited to present its case to save Williams Beach to six members of the provincial and federal negotiating team. Pickthorne says they were disappointed when the two-hour time allotment was shortened to only an hour, but they still managed to present a strong case. With the assistance of a lawyer, who had volunteered her time to help prepare an extensive briefing, the presentation was complete with maps, newspaper clippings, historical information and excerpts from the Official Community Plan. One federal negotiator commented that no group had ever given her anything so professional.

“I was able to speak for about 10 minutes on the equine connection and Back Country Horsemen,” adds Pickthorne. “I described why we love this forest, how it is such a great place to take a novice rider or a green horse for their first trail rides. I explained the lack of conflict with other users and the perfect footing. And I asked that we have the foresight to leave this Crown land with public access, to accommodate a larger population base of many users in the future.”

After many hours spent preparing documents and coming up with a strategy to save the Williams Beach Forest, Pickthorne came away from the meeting feeling they had given it their best shot. Only time will tell if those efforts were successful.

More recently, Pickthorne, again representing BCH, was invited to represent riders in the Resource Group for the Comox Valley Parks and Greenways Planning Strategy. This is a 50-year plan that encompasses recreation land use, including trail riding. This inclusion was considered a great honor and an acknowledgement of the sound reputation the Society has fostered in our community.

In addition to these key projects, BCH makes continuous effort to work with various private landowners (such as timber companies), woodlot licensees and the provincial government to secure access for trail riders on both privately-owned and Crown-owned land. Considering the scarcity of Crown land on Vancouver Island, maintaining a good working relationship with various government sectors—such as forest and environment—is of utmost importance for BCH members.

While lobbying to ensure the right to ride is an important aspect of the society, not all members get involved in politics and policy development—many simply saddle up and ride.

“Back Country Horsemen are a unique and dedicated group,” says King. “Our membership is comprised of both men and women of all ages, from all walks of life. They use English or Western tack and ride various breeds and sizes of horses or mules. Many are life-long horse lovers who have grown tired of the cost and competition of the horse show circuit and just want to get out and enjoy their horse on the trail.”

It is interesting to note that while most horse-related organizations attract a large contingency of women, the majority of BCH members are men. “But don’t let that make you think we’re just a bunch of old geezers going into the back country with pack mules to hunt moose!” adds King with a smile. “A few of our members may fit that profile, but the majority of us simply like to take our horses out on the trail for a few hours on evenings and weekends.”

“Many of our members are experienced trail riders,” explains Pickthorne. “However, we also welcome people who are new to trail riding and will help them work with their horse to ensure they have fun and learn to ride safely. In fact, you don’t even have to own a horse or a horse trailer to join.”

In addition to trail riding, further education is a major focus of BCH. Meetings are held at 7 pm on the third Thursday of every month (from September through June) at the Grantham Hall on the Old Island Highway. Special guest speakers, videos and member presentations cover a wide range of topics, from horse health to environmental stewardship. In addition to the educational presentation and reporting on the Society’s business, there is always plenty of opportunity to network and socialize at the monthly meeting. Anyone is welcome—you do not have to be a member to attend.

BCH hosts several trail riding events and clinics throughout the year, some in alliance with the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). You can simply attend the events as a participant or elect to progress through four levels of CHA trail riding certification. Trail Rider Level 1 covers the basics of horsemanship and trail skills, requiring you to complete at least two group rides that are organized and operated according to the standards set by the CHA Trail Safety and Etiquette Guidelines. Wilderness Rider Level 4 is far more advanced, encompassing not only riding and horsemanship but trail and camping skills, group control and organization, advanced pack animal management and considerable field experience.

“To ensure the safety of both horses and riders, education is an important part of our activities,” says Pickthorne. “But we also want to ensure that wilderness areas are used responsibly and in cooperation with other recreational user groups.”

A popular annual event is the province-wide Rendezvous held the last weekend in May. This year’s three-day event at Rock Creek in the BC Interior attracted more than 225 people with 175 horses from across the province. Both Pickthorne and King attended and say it was an amazing experience that was well worth the trip.

“From big events like Rendezvous to solitary rides on the trails at Seal Bay, my involvement with the Back Country Horsemen has given me the confidence and knowledge to get out and explore many areas of the province that I very likely would never have been able to see,” says King. “It has been time well spent for my wife and me, and for our horses.”

Pickthorne agrees. “Sometimes, when I am on a wilderness trail and I gaze out at the view across a valley, I think to myself… ‘Wow! It doesn’t get any better than this!’ Then I venture further up the trail and am even more amazed by the next vista. Traveling the back country on horseback is something everyone should be able to enjoy.”

For more information call Sharon Pickthorne at 250-337-1818
or John King at 250-338-6789.
bchorsemen.org