Stolen trailer a dent in local artist’s transit

A Cowichan Valley artist’s efforts to do right by the environment have been spoiled by somebody not doing right by the community.

Potter Hilary Huntley with her bicycle and trailer at the Duncan Farmer’s market. The trailer, a vital part of her family’s transportation plan, has since been stolen.

Potter Hilary Huntley with her bicycle and trailer at the Duncan Farmer’s market. The trailer, a vital part of her family’s transportation plan, has since been stolen.

A Cowichan Valley artist’s efforts to do right by the environment have been spoiled by somebody not doing right by the community.

Potter Hilary Huntley’s bike trailer was stolen a few weeks ago. Huntley and her husband made the tough commitment when they moved to town, to be a single-vehicle family. The arrangement has been successful since 2007 with her husband riding his bike to work during the week and Huntley taking her bike and trailer to haul her pottery to work at the Duncan Farmers’ Market on Saturdays.

“This integral part of our transportation plan has been locked to a security plate/ring in the carport for several years with a heavy duty bike lock,” she explained. “The trailer and I often come home filthy with road grit and dripping salty water so it can’t be stored inside.”

Now, the trailer has vanished from her North Cowichan home.

Huntley said the thief took the time to unbolt the wall plate and take the trailer away still locked to the giant bike lock.

“I am very upset that they took my property but it also means that I have to get dropped off at work and picked up which takes four car trips instead of zero car trips,” she explained.

Huntley is not only dismayed at such a brazen theft but also disheartened at the amount of time it will take her to replace the trailer.

“As a subsistence artist I will have to work very hard to replace my transportation,” she said. “I am currently expecting a little one so my capacity to work is greatly reduced.”

Huntley asks those who’ve seen her trailer around town to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.

See Huntley’s wares at wwwtrialbyfirepottery.ca

Cowichan Valley Citizen