With nearly two years passed since the death of Tim Jones, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations will soon be making a decision on whether to officially rename the second pump of Mount Seymour Tim Jones Peak.
“Obviously, my family is extremely supportive of the idea,” said Curtis Jones, Tim’s son and North Shore Rescue teammate.
Beyond a potential renaming, the province has something else in store for the peak. North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite and BC Parks have arranged for funding to have a new helipad and plaque memorializing Jones put on the peak.
“It’s coming up on two years in January. It’d be nice to have that up there,” Curtis said. “We’re excited. The rescue team is excited. It means a ton.”
The peak was a special place for Jones. That’s where the North Shore Rescue team cabin is. It’s where he used to hike with his dog Abbi. It was the sight of numerous rescue missions and it’s where he was hiking back from when he collapsed and died in January 2014.
Mike Danks, Jones’ successor at the helm of North Shore Rescue, is also looking forward to the lasting memorial.
“It’s such a fitting tribute to Tim and it’s a really good spot that people can go to and remember him. We’ll always think of Tim when we have calls in that area,” he said.
The plaque is being designed by a Squamish Nation artist and features Jones’ image and an eagle – both “protectors of the mountain,” Curtis said.
BC Parks had intended to install the helipad and plaque in September but bad weather put the project off for the winter. Curtis said he’s hoping to see it move forward “as soon as the snow melts.”
As for the renaming, the province recently wrote to the City and District of North Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, Belcarra, Port Moody, Anmore, BC Parks and various outdoor clubs asking for comment on the proposal. The province must also consult with the Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Sto:lo and Squamish First Nations to make sure there are no Aboriginal names already in place for the peak.
Curtis said he does not expect the plan will meet any resistance. A Facebook group called “Name the second peak of Mt. Seymour Tim Jones Peak” also has more than 3,000 members demonstrating some grassroots support.
The idea was first floated by members of the rescue team but it was retired BC Parks employee and North Vancouver resident Mel Turner who made the application to the province.
“I understand from the family ... that second pump peak was a very special place for Tim and so it seemed to me such an obvious choice to reflect all of the assistance he gave to people in the mountains over the years,” he said. “When you’re up there in Mount Seymour in the rain and snow and the steep slopes and the darkness, you’re putting yourself at a considerable degree of personal risk. Tim realized this and accepted that risk and built an extremely credible search and rescue team to save or help the people that go into the mountains and seek the solace that the mountain gives.”
As a former parks staffer, Turner had first-hand knowledge on the bureaucratic hoops to be jumped through when it comes to naming a geographical feature.
“To me, it was just a natural thing to assist with because it was easy to do,” he said.
According to the ministry, there is no timeline for when a decision on renaming the peak will be made, although there is a minimum two years wait from when an application is filed. If the province agrees to the renaming, Jones will be the second North Shore Rescue volunteer to have a mountain named after him.
Earlier this year, Brent Mathieson, who died in 2002, had Mount Mathieson, 90 kilometres north of Powell River, named after him.
