GOOD HOPE - CONSIGNMENT #62/100

Last year I was a guest of Good Hope Fishing Lodge, and so many wonderful things happened there that continue to inspire new images. It was exciting to return to traditional design and create the Halibut print telling the story of an extraordinary fishing experience.

This year I have finally come to create an image that pays tribute to the late Danny Walkus, the father of my adopted family. On one of our trips back to the lodge, my brother, Ted Walkus told me of the death of his father in a float plane crash at the entrance to Good Hope Cannery. In the old days on the coast when there were many canneries along the entire B.C. coastline, Good Hope was a well-known place to all the fishermen. It was on a flight into this cannery that Mr. Walkus lost his life. I never had the pleasure of getting to know this man, but his family is a great example of the love and friendship that he passed on to them. Dorothy Walkus, now deceased, was the woman who adopted me into this family. The Walkus family is from the village of Owikeeno, at the head of Rivers Inlet, which is the inlet where Good Hope is located.

Today, thanks to the vision of a man named Tony Allard, the old cannery is being refurbished and exists as a thriving sports fishing lodge. Ted and Dwayne Walkus are guiding at the lodge and are so much fun to be with as they know so much history of the area. I look forward to many more trips back to this beautiful part of the coast to enjoy great company and fishing.