All Saints’ Mission rector blesses solar panels

All Saints Anglican Church in Mission is now the first church in Canada to have photovoltaic solar panels on its roof.

With local and provincial officials present, the panels were blessed by the Rev. Sharon Salomons, rector, from the top of a ladder provided by the Mission Fire Department on Sunday, June 10.

The panels will supplement the church’s electricity needs. They were obtained through a “Green Energy” grant from VanCity and the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. They provided funds for six environmental projects to the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster.

The parish’s environmental steward Brenna Maag said, “We are really excited to have the panels because they are a concrete action in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and they act as a symbol to all of us that change is happening.”

St. Bart’s keeps most of its big trees

One of the tall trees in front of St. Bartholomew’s in Gibsons Landing has been removed, but remaining trees appear to be healthy and remain standing.

Members of the parish of Christ Church Hope work hard to keep their historic building at the eastern edge of the Diocese of British Columbia in order at a clean up and painting bee recently.

Last year BC Hydro asked the parish to remove the grove of trees, a local landmark. Hydro feared they threatened a power line that serves much of the Sunshine Coast community.

The remaining trees, upon close inspection, appear to be in healthy condition and now B.C. Hydro is confident they do not pose a threat.

Walter Smith, parish council secretary, said the parish has enjoyed a good working relationship with the power utility company. “We are very pleased with the assistance they have extened to the church,” he said.