The air is cooling and the darkness stays longer each night. October is upon us, her musty crunch, hearty food, and promises of a cozy evenings are dancing hand in hand with the reality of cleaning the chimney, winterizing the garden, and getting those winter tires ordered.
She cozies, she tests, and she brings with her a poignant sadness with a topping of fear. It’s the spooky season!
But fear not, this column brings news, not just musings! This writer finally held a Tlell Community Association (TCA) Meeting and so some things are in the works.
First and foremost, Hallowe’en is just around the corner and Tlellowe’en needs your support! It is no secret that this year’s TCA committee is less effective than its predecessor – strange fact, given that it is largely the same members; but life changes and we are sometimes consumed by other priorities.
The first part of this last TCA meeting was dedicated to revisiting the question of what the TCA actually does. What is our role in the community? Interests in Tlell are covered by various societies and committees.
We have The Graham Island East Coast Farmers Institute GIECFI). Over 100 years ago, the institute was formed to with the goal of improving conditions of rural life; through education, research and the development of programs beneficial to islanders. Under this umbrella, the Fall Fair Committee manages the Fall Fairgrounds and brings us the earliest Fall Fair in all of British Columbia!
Our safety is the focus of the Tlell Volunteer Firefighters, who provide vital first responding emergency rescue services to our area as well as ongoing education and safety initiatives that benefit us all.
The Graham Island Advisory Planning Commission (GIAPC) is under the umbrella of the North Coast Regional District (NCRD).GIAPC is a volunteer board of residents who review matters of community development, zoning, Official Community Plans, and generally land use issues.
Other GIAPC business includes reviewing subdivision proposals or other land use matters.
Within all of this, what is the distinct role of the TCA? We believe our mission is to bring the community of Tlell together. Sometimes this is seeking and dispersing important community information, but more often than not it involves a good party.
Which brings us back to Tlellowe’en!! We hope to have our usual gathering at the Fall Fairgrounds. Hot dogs, drinks, a beautiful fire and some (very safe) fireworks are in the plans, but we need your help! Volunteers are needed to purchase supplies, decorate, set up, and take
down. Please contact me if you can lend a hand!
And while we’re talking All Hallows Eve, just a little plug for DJ Janet Planet, who will be blowing your mind and shaking your body later that day at the Axe and Anchor Pub! Come join me at the Fairgrounds or the pub on the spookiest day of the year!
If you’re not around for Hallowe’en, there’s always the Winter Feast to help out with, and New Years. These are important events for Tlell residents and foster a sense of community and togetherness in the darker months.
We also still have plans for a Spring Clean Up! The 2025 Spring Clean Up became the 2025 Fall Clean Up, that then became the 2026 Spring Clean up … It’s a great initiative to remove garbage and invasive species, and it just needs a champion to pull the pieces together. If this is you, let me know!
Lastly, community comes together to look out for each other. These events allow us to get to know our neighbours so we can better support each other and keep each other safe.
One community member posted to the Tlell Community Page that trespassers had been on their property and suggested something of a neighbourhood watch. This sort of watch happens organically if we come together and know each other. And we do have a few old timers who do cruise the streets of Tlell keeping an eye on everything and everyone!
