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Small communities depend on volunteers for a wide range of services that are taken for granted in urban areas.  Thetis has a long tradition of dedicated and skilled volunteers, as is evidenced by the following list of community organizations and services.  The links below are grouped in four categories:

Community Organizations & Services:

The Thetis Island Community Association - TICA, whose mission "is to contribute to the well-being of all Thetis Islanders by establishing, maintaining, and making available facilities for their use and enjoyment." Click here for a calendar of events and activities at Forbes Hall. See also here for an application for membership, or membership renewal, for 2023.           (top)

The Thetis Island Community Fund - TICF, a registered charity which may assist with funding for health, education, seniors' needs and support for other registered charities on the island.           (top)

• Elementary School - TIES

Marine Association - TIMA website

 

Nature Conservancy - ThINC website

 

• Port Commission - TIPC

• The Thetis Island Quarterly - the magazine of the T.I. Community Association

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• Thetis Island Residents' and Ratepayers' Association - TIRRA, is an advocacy organization for the interests of Thetis Island ratepayers and for all residents generally.  It also provides or coordinates certain local services, such as those listed below.  For minutes, reports, Constitution and Bylaws, go to the TIRRA Office page. See also here for an application for membership, or membership renewal, for 2023.

Its Standing and Affiliated Committees include:

  • St. Margaret’s Cemetery
    Mission Statement: To preserve the Cemetery as a place of quiet tranquility in a park like setting. To carry on its affairs responsibly and with sensitivity for the bereaved and for the memory of the people buried there.
    Contact:
       Suzanne Sarioglu (Chair) at 250-246-9965
       Simone Luckham (Treasurer) at 250-246-4802
       Janice Young (Secretary) at 250-246-9703

  • eSPOKES - the island’s virtual notice board. To subscribe, click here, or to send in a notice for posting, email espokes@gmail.com. Note the Guidelines for posting.

  • Ferry Advisory Committee (general information about FACs) and about the Thetis route FAC

  • The Phone Book - is generally published about once every two years.  A useful aid to life on Thetis, it includes as much or as little information as each individual wants in it.  It has detailed maps, which help to navigate our idiosyncratic lot numbering system and are a major aid for the Fire Department and First Responders when when you've called 9-1-1.  Listing is free, but the books are $5 each, to defray the cost of printing.  Inevitably, they represent only our best information at the time of printing, but updates are published, when requested, in the Thetis Island Quarterly.  The Phone Book is not available digitally, to protect the information from hacking, but may be purchased from the post office, or pick-up arranged by email.  To do this, or to add or change your information in the next book, send us an email.

  • Solid Waste Management / Recycling

    • Lot 501 Pilkey Point Road
      Hours of Operation:
         Saturday and Wednesday: 9AM til NOON
         Contact: tirra@thetisisland.net or Ernie Hunter at 250-246-2181
    • Bagged Household Garbage: for a fee, prepaid cards available during regular hours.
    • Composting: Jollity Farm will accept your household organics or you can inquire at the Solid Waste Yard.
    • Recycling: Bing's Creek, Peerless or Return It Centres on Vancouver Island will accept your clean/dry recycle materials.

  • thetisisland.net - you’re there now.  An information resource for islanders and visitors.

  • Trails - The Thetis Trail System is organized and maintained by the TIRRA Trail committee. As these licenced trails traverse private property, they are for the use and pleasure of island residents, family and guests and to this end, there are no published maps or postings.

  • Transportation - to communicate with all stakeholders regarding roads and road safety on Thetis Island, including BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure with it’s contractors, Islands Trust, TIVFD, BC Ferries Corporation, Ferry Advisory Committee, CVRD, Thetis Island Port Commission. To consult and cooperate with all committees of TIRRA, and other Thetis Island organizations operating on behalf of residents, and to communicate with residents regarding issues with roads and road safety.

  • Visitors' Guides - a digital version can be downloaded here, or physical copies for yourself or for distribution, or to be included in the next edition, by request.

  • Welcome packages - a selection of information useful to new islanders.  To receive one, send us an email.

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Thetis Island Elementary School

Administratively a "classroom" of Chemainus Elementary, the Thetis Island Elementary School provides for Grades K-7, and has an excellent record, described by schooldirect.org as having "outstanding reports, impressive exam results, and an array of recommendations by parents..."   There is also an active Parents' Association (TIPA).  A related link:

The Thetis Island Port Commission

When the federal government divested itself of the responsibility for government docks on the Gulf Islands, the Port Commission was set up to administer the one on Thetis, whose primary and essential use for this island' population is for medical and other emergency evacuation.  The Commission is under the governance of the CVRD, within the Parks and Recreation department, but the committee is made up of four Thetis Islanders and one representative from the CVRD.  For more information, contact tipc@thetisisland.net.

The Thetis Island Quarterly

The Quarterly is produced by volunteers under the umbrella of the Community Association, it appears on or around the first of March, June, September, and December, and is a newsletter of island people, activities, interests and concerns.  Submissions should always be about or related in some way to Thetis Island, making it a kind of "oral history" of island life.   Subscriptions to the digital version are free with membership in TICA, or $10/issue for the print version.  A limited number of current issues are available for purchase from the post office.  All revenue from subscriptions and ads, after the cost of printing, go to support the Community Association and its maintenance of the Community Centre.

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Emergency Services:

All Emergencies - call 911
and identify if it is fire, medical or police-related.   This will activate the Thetis Island Volunteer Fire Department who will be the first to respond.

• Alertable - Canada-wide Emergency Alert System

• Amateur Radio Club of the Thetis Island Community - ARCTIC

• Emergency Preparedness

• First Responders & Medical Aid
The Thetis Island Fire Dept. responds to all medical aid requests through the 9-1-1 system.  If you are unsure you require emergency aid and evacuation to the hospital, dial 8-1-1 to speak to the BC Health Link nurse for advice.  TIVFD personnel are trained, certified and Provincially licensed medical First Responders and we assess and evacuate you to the Community Dock in our Rescue Vehicle that is outfitted similarly to a BCEHS ambulance, where your care will be turned over to paramedics arriving on the marine ambulance.  Additionally, if you require helicopter evacuation we have a designated landing zone at Capernwray Harbour Bible School.  Our medical response service operates 24/7 when you state “ambulance” to the 9-1-1 operator.

• Thetis Island Improvement District - TIID

Thetis Island Volunteer Fire Department - TIVFD

Current Fire Hazard rating:
(Click on the graphic below for further information)

Burn Permit Application

Useful information about Burning Regulations and Safety

The T.I.V.F.D. website for extensive information about the department, fire protection, burning regulations, and more.

TIVFD Auxiliaries, incl. Canteen, Rest & Rehab, Structural Protection Unit (SPU) & FireSmart, Traffic, Water Management & Transport

• Thetis Island Volunteer Firefighters' Society - TIVFS

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Social Services:

Community Church - Sundays at Forbes Hall, 10am

Food Bank Connection - Local service connected to the Harvest House Food Bank in Chemainus. For information, or to donate or receive help, send an email.

Friends of Furries - Local volunteer, non-profit service to contact when animals are in need of rescue or care that can't be provided by owners. For information, or to donate or receive help, send an email. This is also the right email address for donations by etransfer.

Serenity Group (AA) - meets Mondays, 6:15pm at Forbes Hall. For information, contact Rodney.

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Social & Exercise Groups:

Bridge
A friendly, non-competitive group meet to play bridge from 1-4pm on Wednesdays at Forbes Hall. For information, contact Gurk.

Cycling
An informal group of cyclists (including e-bikers) meet to do the Tour de Thetis -- a 30 km ride touching all major 'dead-ends' on Thetis -- the first and third Saturday of each month at the Community Hall. Riders go individually or in groups -- some choose alternative routes -- and all finish at 11 a.m. for chats and cookies. For information, contact Dave Steen 250-246-3530 or Fred Clark at 250-246-9175.

Ping Pong
Playing at Forbes Hall on Tuesday evenings at 7pm, whenever there are enough people attending. For information, contact Mary.

Pickleball
 Contact Bev and Dave

Scottish Country Dancing
Expected to start in the fall - watch for notice in eSpokes.

Tai Chi
Free practice Mondays at 10am at Forbes Hall. Classes expected to start again in the fall. Contact Carol for information.

Yoga
Watch espokes for notices of days and hours that classes are given at Forbes Hall.

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