By M. Williams

It has been several weeks since a mystery ship, the "MV Ocean Lady", with 76 unidentified passengers was intercepted off the west coast of Vancouver Island by a combined security and military force from Canada (code-named "Operation Poseidon", acting on information received from international security partners), and later detained at Victoria's Ogden Point Terminal under a cloak of secrecy. 

This incident managed to grab national headlines just two weeks prior to the arrival of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games' Torch in the capital city, amidst much fanfare and many high-profile dignitaries flown in for the occasion.  

There have been precious few details made public about the vessel, its origin, and its passengers, let alone the reason for its unconventional arrival in Canada. Every day it seems, we are presented with a new piece to try and fit into a very confusing if not perplexing puzzle. And, many questions, it seems, remain unanswered.  

Some might say that the incident has all the earmarks of a made-in-Hollywood movie featuring adventure on the high-seas together with heroic feats performed by a well-trained and well-coordinated police and military force code-named "Operation Poseidon", designed to neutralize evil threats posed by unknown human traffickers, arms smugglers, and foreign terrorists posing as persecuted political refugees seeking a new identity in a safe, prosperous, and freedom-loving country.  

How does one separate fact from fiction when there are so few answers forthcoming from authorities? Are we being led on a wild goose chase or down the proverbial garden path in the name of "safety and security"? Does living in a post 9/11 era mean that one should not ask questions, particularly when things just don't seem to make sense?  

1. Was the "rainy takedown" of "MV Ocean Lady" by HMCS Regina, RCMP and Canadian Border Services part of the large-scale joint military and security exercises held October 19-23 and November 2-6 to practice coordination between more than 100 different government agencies, private sector partners, and international security partners involved in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games?  According to the Canadian Navy's own version of the interception mission: "The ship [HMCS Regina] would be working in support of the RCMP, a near carbon copy operation of the ship's involvement in Exercise Byzantium Voyage, part of the naval support to Other Government Departments." (Source: "Regina crew shows its strength in rainy takedown", Lookout - CFB Esquimalt weekly newspaper, October 26, 2009). If the capture of the "Ocean Lady" was part of the joint civilian-military exercises held in preparation for the Winter Olympic Games known as Exercise Byzantium Voyage, Operation Poseidon, Spartan Rings, Exercise Bronze, Exercise Silver, and Exercise Gold (why have few if any details ever been released by the authorities or published by the mainstream media)?  

2. Who was the "uninvolved maritime traffic", and who were the "curious or unwitting mariners" that "Operation Poseidon's" command crew in HMCS Regina had to keep at bay during the stormy night of October 17 and thick fog the following day? Why did the Security Task Force want to ensure there would be no witnesses to their covert naval operation, (not unlike the civilian authorities who shielded the faces of the passengers from "curious onlookers" and the media as they removed the passengers from the "Ocean Lady")? (See report dated Oct. 18 blogger's report http://mvwindwalker.blogspot.com). Why did government officials permit media contact and photos to be taken of Chinese migrants arriving here by boat in 1999, yet not permit the same today?  

3. If Canadian intelligence officials had been aware since the summer that a ship full of alleged Tamil terrorists was heading to Canada, why was no security alert issued at the time to thwart their mission to enter the country illegally? Apparently one man out of the 76 Sri Lankan passengers on the "Ocean Lady" was recently released from a detention center in Vancouver. Is he an undercover agent, a Canadian citizen of Tamil origin, or perhaps a "person of interest" who can shed light on what happened, where the ship originated, and the identities of the other passengers and crew members? Why has Immigration Review Board banned publication of the names and other identifying details of all 76 people detained by the Canadian authorities as well as the charges against them?  

4. Apparently the "Ocean Viking", an Australian customs ship has been anchored in Indonesian waters for a week with 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board. The Australian government has not however issued any security-alerts about these individuals nor the more than 200,000 Sri Lankan professionals and skilled people who currently live in Australia. In fact, a press report out of Colombo, Sri Lanka (November 3) stated: "A high official of the Australian government has arrived in Sri Lanka to explore the possibilities of recruiting around 200,000 workers from here." If most of the prospective Sri Lankan immigrants to Australia are likely from the Tamil ethnic minority (of whom more than 270,000 have been detained in Sri Lankan government-controlled internment camps following the end of the civil war), why is the Australian government not alarmed like their Canadian counterparts about security threats posed by alleged Tamil "terrorists" who have been ousted from their traditional homeland and now obliged to live in these "rehabilitation" camps?   

5. According to Canadian press reports Sri Lankan refugees have one of the highest acceptance rates in Canada, with 93 per cent of refugee claims in the past nine months accepted. When the 76 Sri Lankans arrived on October 17, 2009 in Victoria they were neither handcuffed nor shackled in leg irons, yet 10 days later this is how they appeared in front of Immigration officials in Vancouver. What justifies treating them as criminals in the absence of evidence or charges against them? Are all those who fight for freedom from oppression terrorists? If the Canadian government accepted ethnic Tamils fleeing well-documented violence and oppression at the hands of the Sri Lankan government as refugees in the past, is it now relying on the UN Human Rights Council's decision in late spring (that blamed war atrocities on the Tamil Tigers while exonerating the government of Sri Lanka who perpetrated similar crimes), to deny the claims of these new arrivals who may well have left their country prior to the end of the 30-year civil war in May?  

Under the banner of eliminating the threat posed by alleged "foreign terrorist plots" disguising themselves as "would-be refugees", have Canadians unwittingly become involved in covert military operations with "live assets" (including a naval frigate, RCMP landing craft and police, as well as border security, correctional officers, medical personnel and immigration officials etc.), and are we being asked to accept behind-closed door tribunals that rely on rumors or biased evidence as proof that everything is fine and dandy in our country? Is this a sign of the new world order and ominous things to come?  

By M. Williams

It has been almost three weeks since a mystery ship with 76 unidentified passengers was intercepted off the west coast of Vancouver Island (by a combined security and military force from Canada under the code name "Operation Poseidon", acting on information received from international security partners), and later piloted into Victoria's Ogden Point Terminal under a veil of secrecy.  

This incident, (dubbed the biggest news story to happen in Victoria, BC this year), occurred just two weeks before the 2010 Olympic Winter Games' Torch arrived in the capital city, amidst much fanfare and many high-profile dignitaries flown in for the occasion.  

There have been precious few details made public about the vessel, its origin, and its passengers, let alone the reason for its unconventional arrival in Canada.  

Some might say that the incident has all the earmarks of a made-in-Hollywood movie featuring adventure on the high-seas together with heroic feats performed by a well-trained and well-coordinated police and military force code-named "Operation Poseidon", designed to neutralize evil threats posed by unknown human smugglers, arms dealers, and foreign terrorists posing as persecuted political refugees seeking a new identity in a safe, prosperous, and freedom-loving country.  

Every day it seems, we are presented with a new piece to try and fit into a very confusing if not perplexing puzzle. There are many questions begging to be answered.  

1. Why would 76 healthy, fit, well-spoken male Sri Lankan Tamils, (over half of whom have not only passports and other identification documents but also relatives or friends in Canada), choose to enter the country via its western gateway on a rusty ship...when the majority of Canada's 250,000 Tamil population, most of whom live in Toronto, have arrived by air with documentation in hand?  

2. Apparently first reports from military sources indicated that the migrant freighter "Ocean Lady" was immaculately clean, especially the engine room and other quarters, plus well-stocked with provisions such as frozen meat, chicken and rice yet was low on fuel. Two weeks later, the press reported that authorities had allegedly found traces of explosives on board the ship and in clothing worn by certain passengers not to mention tales of migrants having paid $45,000 each to a smuggler while having to endure a grueling, lengthy voyage, in which they had only minimal and skeleton facilities. And now we learn that this rusty hulk on the outside but immaculately clean on the inside was, (according to a foreign counterterrorism expert with ties to the current Sri Lankan government), a Japanese-made ship called the Daiei Maru No. 18 now flying a Cambodian flag and renamed the Princess Easwary - a Tamil-terrorist owned arms smuggling ship. Why does the story keep changing; why all the unsubstantiated conflicting reports; whose interests are being served in what appears to be a murky mess?  

3. What was the "mysterious behavior" of the "Ocean Lady" attracting the attention of a Canadian naval frigate that followed it for more than 20 hours off the coast of Vancouver Island?  

4. Did the Canadian authorities know that the mystery vessel wasn't carrying any contraband, illegal weapons, or posed any biological, chemical or nuclear threat, and that's why they decided to dock the ship at Ogden Point Terminal and discharge its passengers within a stone's throw of a densely populated residential community?  

5. Why has no one identified the name, "Seaqueen" which appears to lie underneath the "Ocean Lady" name on the vessel? According to the Port of Mumbai website, there is no departure record of a ship bearing the name "Ocean Lady", "Princess Easwary", or "Daie Maru No. 18", so why does a foreign-based counterterrorism expert with links to the present government of Sri Lanka and the Canadian media say the opposite? Why hasn't the Canadian government independently verified allegations made that the "Ocean Lady" is an arms-smuggling boat owned the Tamil terrorists, that its passengers are members of a terrorist group, and that they have been engaged in criminal activity?  

6. Why would security and police officials bring a suspect ship and passengers into a commercial port, next to the largest neighborhood in Victoria, rather than to a secure military base like CFB Esquimalt as was the case with the Chinese "boat people" incident ten years ago?  

7. Since members of the Tamil community in Canada seem to have known in advance that the ship was coming, the RCMP - who led the siege of the "Ocean Lady" - may have also known; and so at some high level, "Operation Poseidon" ("a near carbon copy operation of the ship's involvement in Exercise Byzantium Voyage" according to the Canadian Navy) may well have been planned in advance...will we ever know?  

How does one separate fact from fiction when there are so few answers forthcoming from authorities? Are we being led on a wild goose chase or down the proverbial garden path in the name of "safety and security"? Does living in a post 9/11 era mean that one should not ask questions, particularly when things just don't seem to make sense?

By V. Adams

Einstein had a sign hanging in his office that said, "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." 

This interesting quote may sum up the value of the results presented by the James Bay Neighborhood Association in their recently completed "Quality of Life Survey". 

While this was not a random survey of people's opinions about their level of satisfaction with Victoria's oldest neighborhood, this shortcoming means that the JBNA Quality of Life Survey may not be a meaningful way of accurately identifying either the critical problems or the key opportunities facing the community. 

So, what value should be given to the survey results, and what actions should be taken as a consequence of these numbers? The short answer is that it may not be as helpful a tool as had been hoped in order to guide residents or decision-makers in planning for the future of James Bay.  

How does quality of life express itself in the general population?  

According to the 2006 Census of population in James Bay, 80 percent of people reside in rental accommodation, while 20 per cent live in owner-occupied dwellings. The JBNA "Quality of Life Survey", indicates that more than 87 percent of people are satisfied with the present quality of life in James Bay (as defined by the JBNA), while 13 per cent are not.  

This pattern of systematic and predictable lack of balance, (as demonstrated in the aforementioned examples), was discovered in 1897 by the Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto. His discovery has since been called many names, including the Pareto Principle, the Pareto Law, the 80/20 Rule, the Principle of Least Effort, and the Principle of Imbalance.  

So what has this interesting bit of bumpf got to do with the Quality of Life Survey?  

Well, according to a fascinating book by Richard Koch entitled, The 80/20 Principle, the world is unbalanced (though its human population hopefully is neither unhinged nor coming unglued). The message of the 80/20 Principle is that a majority of any phenomena will be explained or caused by a minority of those participating in the phenomena; for example, 80 percent of results come from 20 percent of the causes.  

In a business context for example, the 80/20 Principle asserts that 20 percent of products, or customers or employees, are responsible for approximately 80 percent of profits (which may reflect a less than optimal or effective use of resources). And, in the case of the JBNA Quality of Life Survey, 87 percent of the self-selected population sample said they were satisfied with the current quality of life in James Bay, compared to 13 percent who expressed their dissatisfaction with it.

What these concepts and phenomena reveal, according to Koch, is that "there are always a few forces that have an influence way beyond their numbers. These are the forces that must be identified and watched. If they are forces for good, we should multiply them. If they are forces we don't like, we need to think very carefully about how to neutralize them." (Richard Koch, The 80/20 Principle, Doubleday, 1998, p. 14)  

If we take a step further, according to the Pareto Principle, we will find that within the 87 percent of the population who are satisfied with living in James Bay, there will be a core group of about 20 percent who will be very satisfied. They will tend to initiate a strong positive influence over the majority of the population sample who expressed satisfaction with the quality of life in the James Bay neighborhood. Conversely, of those who are dissatisfied (13 percent according to JBNA), there will be a core group of 20 percent who will tend to be very dissatisfied and are likely to exhibit a negative influence over the population.  

In light of this information, one might conclude that if the JBNA wishes to serve the needs of the neighborhood, that it should focus its attention and efforts on the vital few things that will truly make a difference and that will leave a positive impact on the entire community.  

For the neighborhood association, this may mean trying to understand what few things are working exceptionally well in the community (and strengthening them). If they wish however to focus on things that are not working well, then at least focus on which 20 percent, that if resolved, will yield 80 percent of the benefits to the dissatisfied group and thereby transform them into satisfied members of the community.  

Change is necessary for survival. Constructive change requires not only insight into what is most effective, but also the ability to focus on securing those things that count in the eyes of the majority of the residents. As life experience and scientific research show, often efforts do not realize their intended results (whether this involves reducing problems such traffic congestion, substance abuse, noise, poor air quality, graffiti/vandalism, accidents or enhancing opportunities such as the availability of health/social services or affordable housing).  

The lesson learned here is the need to concentrate on finding the few things that will produce those ever-elusive yet important results for the majority of the community.

Please join us on

Saturday, November 14, 2009

2:00 pm

James Bay Community Project
547 Michigan Street
Board Room

We’ll share details about the funding cuts and their impact on our family services, health care and programs for seniors.

We want to do more for our community, not less.

We look forward to seeing you on November 14, 2009

By L. Smith

On late Friday afternoon, October 17, 2009, Canadian government agency personnel (which included an armed RCMP Emergency Response Team, Canadian Forces and Canada Border Services Agency personnel) intercepted an unidentified ship in the Strait of Juan de Fuca (off the west coast of Vancouver Island and Washing State). Apparently no shots were fired in securing control of the vessel and none of the 76 unidentified male migrants aboard the rusty freighter (known as the MV Ocean Lady) were injured during the incident.  

On Saturday afternoon, October 18, under tight security provided by two RCMP vessels Higgitt and Lindsay, the frigate HMCS Regina, together with an RCMP Emergency Response Team trained in maritime intervention, and a Canadian Forces navigational and safety crew on board the ship, the vessel and its passengers were brought into Ogden Point Terminal in James Bay, Victoria, B.C. Within a matter of hours, the passengers believed to be from Sri Lanka, were shielded from public view and quickly transferred to an undisclosed location (later revealed as a provincial correctional facility) where passengers were examined by medical personnel, provided with a meal and clothing. The following day, under tight security, they boarded two blackened window buses onto a B.C. Ferry to secure facilities in the Lower Mainland. The individuals are now undergoing an examination process to determine their identity and to assess whether they are eligible to enter Canada legally under the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (which permits granting refugee protection to persons who are displaced, persecuted or in danger).  

The Province newspaper editorial on October 20, 2009 posed an important question, "We need to know what's going on".  

While the incident became public knowledge on October 18, few details such as who, what, where, when, why and how  -- remained a mystery cloaked in layers and layers of we can't or we won't answer that question.  

• Why did Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) officials go to great lengths to shield the faces of the passengers from both the media and onlookers?   

• Why were officials reluctant to offer any details about who owned the ship, how long it was at sea, where it originated, or what languages the passengers spoke, as well as where and how long the passengers would kept in Victoria?  

Ten years ago, more than 600 desperate, malnourished, and poorly-clothed Chinese migrants without legal papers arrived in three derelict ships off the west coast of Vancouver Island were intercepted by civilians who notified the RCMP and Natural Resources officers. The Chinese "boat people" were then escorted by Canadian Forces personnel to CFB Esquimalt where they were detained for a number of months while Immigration authorities tried to determine their identities and status. There was little or no difficulty obtaining information about what was happening at that time, and what has happened to many of these economic migrants in the intervening years.  

Why the cloak of secrecy? Exactly what threat (criminal or security) do these individuals pose because they arrived in Canada in an unconventional fashion that would warrant this kind of behavior from officials? What is really behind this adventure on the high-seas involving alleged well-financed queue-jumpers, shadowy global human smugglers, suspect terrorist arms dealers and defeated separatists who were part of a vicious civil war on a tiny South Asian island? Who stands to benefit from this incident?

• Hotel Grand Pacific - Dinner for Two
• Fairmont Empress Hotel - High Tea for Two
• Butchart Gardens - Admission for Two
• Craigdarroch Castle - 4 Admissions
• Royal Wax Museum - 4 Admissions
• Heron Rock Bistro - Lunch for Two
• James Bay Thrifty Food Gift Card
• James Bay Serious Coffee - Gift Card
• Chateau Victoria Hotel - Accommodation for 1 night
• Victoria Symphony - 2 Tickets
• McPherson Playhouse & Royal Theatre - 2 Tickets to "The Secret Garden" Ballet in November
• Prince of Whales "Wale Watching" - Tour for 2
• Roger's Chocholates Gift Package
• The Wickaninnish Inn (The Point Restaurant) in Tofino - Lunch for 4
• Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa & Resort in Parksville - 1 night's accommodation and 2 "Grotto Spa" passes
• Victoria Salmon Kings - 2 Tickets to one season opener weekend game

By V. Adams

35^th Anniversary of James Bay New Horizons Activity Centre – A page from the history of a venerable Victorian neighborhood

On September 18, 2009, the James Bay New Horizons Society, (representing retired individuals and those wishing to become more actively involved in the life of their community), celebrated their 35^th anniversary.

According to Walt Frazer, the historian behind “The James Bay New Horizons Story 1973-1984”, the impetus for change began during the recessionary period of the 1970s. Property developers saw an opportunity to access federal government “urban renewal funds” as a way to build high-rise apartments that could accommodate an influx of senior citizens (who were emigrating from the prairies and elsewhere to escape the bitterly cold winter climate). Through this community infrastructure enhancement initiative, many of the dilapidated homes were replaced with affordable rental accommodation in what was once considered a “depressed neighborhood”.

Thanks to the convergence of an increased demand for accommodation as well as increased demands for economic, social and recreational services together with the availability of taxpayer support, the James Bay neighborhood became a petri dish for the development of innovative community health and social service projects as well as the establishment of unique community assets like the James Bay New Horizons Activity Centre.

With financial assistance from the Department of National Health and Welfare to the tune of one million dollars, as well as support from the James Bay United Church and the James Bay Community Association, the newly settled seniors established the “New Horizons” group. This organization took up a number of valuable projects including the writing of the history of the neighborhood, developing a sense of pride in the community through the beautification and clean up projects in the area (including garden clubs and well as indoor/balcony gardens and erecting the City’s first bus shelter), establishing a food and nutrition club, organizing walking and bus tours, publishing a community newsletter, fostering discussion groups and supporting other community organizations, not to mention providing additional recreational activities for retired people such as social gatherings, pot luck dinners and seasonal celebrations.

Clearly, one of the most pressing matters of the day was to search for a new home, as accommodations for meetings were rather scarce during the early years. It wasn’t until 1974 that the City stepped in to offer space in the south corner of Irving Park. However, concerns expressed by green space conservationists and environmentalists about building in the park threatened this novel plan. Meanwhile the New Horizons group a year later found temporary space in the basement at the Cathedral School on Niagara Street.

During this time, the 234 Menzies Street property owner realized that it was an opportune moment to sell his property to the city for $80,000, and the rest they say is history. The City now had a feasible way to offer this small parcel of civic land to the James Bay seniors group, and to support their efforts to construct a new facility. The initial phase of construction included a utility room, storage space, a reception, office and lounge area, a cloak room and washrooms, in addition to an auditorium that could accommodate 150 people.

In the fall of 1980, New Horizons (whose membership had grown to 1,000), approached the City to expand the original facility, through a cost-shared proposal: 60 per cent of the upgrading would financed by the Federal and Provincial governments, while the remaining 30 per cent would raised by the community. In the end, the final phase was completely financed by the New Horizons membership.

Today, the James Bay New Horizons Society (a non-profit organization which received its Certificate of Incorporation on September 18, 1974) has approximately 550 members. Not only is it responsible for managing its own affairs, including volunteers, employees, and operations, but under the leadership of a small Board led by President Helen Ruttan, and Executive Director, Kim Dixon and her staff, this organization currently delivers more than 30 health, recreational, and cultural programs as well as organizing special events and renting out much-needed space to community groups in the James Bay New Horizons Activity Centre. In a vital supportive role, the City of Victoria is responsible for the maintenance of the building and for providing a modest annual grant for the operation of the facility.

So, when you stroll by the James Bay New Horizons Activity Center this week, why not stop by and congratulate the elders of the community on their achievements to date as well as their tireless efforts in building a lasting legacy of this neighborhood. And, perhaps wish them well as they find their bearings in a fast-paced changing environment and learn how to pass the torch to a new generation of “zoomer boomers”! Better yet, volunteer to sit on their board, teach a class, help to plan, participate in, or attend their special events, or raise funds to support the work of this priceless neighborhood gem.

From what began as a simple dream by a group of “chronologically-gifted souls” to find a place to meet and to find ways to enrich their lives, the founders and members of the James Bay New Horizons Society have contributed immensely to the vitality and positive development of Victoria’s oldest neighborhood.