In The Community

Port Alberni Freidnship Centre

Thank you to the Board of Directors of the Port Alberni Friendship Centre for taking time last month to bring me up to date on its work and challenges faced by this important institution in our community. Friendship Centres are home-away-from-home for many Indigenous people who have settled in urban areas to go to school or work or because there isn’t sufficient housing in their home communities.

Governments rely on Friendship Centres to provide important social services which, in the case of Port Alberni, includes a childcare centre, tiny homes, a shelter and recreational and social services for families and Elders, all of which are culturally-based.

In spite of this reliance on Friendship Centres to provide these services, they have always been chronically underfunded by the federal government. Operational and program funding is provided through contribution agreements which are often renewed just weeks before their expiry—sometimes, many weeks following their expiry. Although the Port Alberni Friendship Centre has an exemplary record of responsible fiscal management, it struggles to provide assurance of continued employment to its staff because of the government’s refusal to enter into longer term agreements.

In the coming weeks, I will work with Jagmeet Singh and the NDP critic on Indigenous Crown Relations, MP Lori Idlout, to advance the objectives of the National Association of Friendship Centres to secure funding that addresses rising costs and addresses the restrictive terms and conditions of funding agreements with the government along with the need for flexibility to address the needs of individual Friendship Centres.

Alberni Valley Business Excellence Awards Gala

A wonderful time was had by all Saturday night’s Alberni Valley Business Excellence Awards Gala, an incredible evening dedicated to recognizing the hardworking individuals, businesses and organizations that drive our local economy and strengthen our community.

Thanks to Joleen Dick, Chris Washington, Colin Minions and the Board of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce for organizing this wonderful event along with their partners, the City of Port Alberni and Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations.

Congratulations to all the nominees and winners! The community is the big winner, of course, with so many passionate and community-minded individuals working to build a stronger, more prosperous future for everyone. Let’s show them our support by shopping local this holiday season!

"Stuff The Bus" Campaign in Port Alberni

Great turnout for the fourth annual “Stuff The Bus” campaign in Port Alberni on Saturday--organized by the Amalgamated Transportation Union Local 1724 and supported by the Salvation Army, the Lions Club, 93.3 The Peak, BC Transit and PW Transit. Thanks especially to local bus driver and bus-stuffing-champion Collette Harding! If you "missed the bus”, take a toy over to the Salvation Army or stuff some cash into a Kettle near you! Most of all, thanks to each and every person who came down to bus with a gift or donation, your generosity and kindness will be reflected in the joy and laughter of many children this season!

Supporting Canada Post Workers

I stopped by the picket line in Port Alberni to support striking Canada Post workers fighting to protect pensions, improve working conditions and push for higher wages that keep pace with inflation. Too many postal workers have to work more than one job just to make ends meet. As full-time workers, they should be able to afford their rent and groceries without having to moonlight. Thanks to striking workers who have gone out of their way to make sure social assistance cheques are delivered to those who depend on them, leaving the pickets to volunteer to deliver the cheques on their own time. We owe so much to our postal workers. It was their union that organized and secured 17 weeks of maternity leave in 1981, creating a precedent that would spread across Canada. Now, we will stand with them in their fight for safe working conditions and a long-term sustainable Canada Post. Love and courage to our posties everywhere!

Mighty Community of Port Alberni

Thank you to the ”mighty community of CAT” for welcoming me to your AGM in Port Alberni. I continue to be in awe of your peer-driven focus of creating action identified by people of lived and living experience in response to the toxic drug crisis in our community. Best wishes for another productive year and thanks to all those working so hard on the Community Action Teams in our riding (Port Alberni, Oceanside and Comox Valley).

Qualicum Beach Volunteer Appreciation Reception

It’s always a pleasure to attend the annual Qualicum Beach Volunteer Appreciation Reception. This year, Tom Whitfield, president of the Brown Property Preservation Society, was honoured with the 2024 “Above and Beyond Award” in celebration of his long history of volunteer service in Qualicum Beach toward the preservation of the Town’s wonderful Heritage Forest. Len and Marie Mustard were also recognized for their volunteer work over the years, Len as the Town Crier for more than two decades and Marie as “Mrs Town Crier”, always at his side.

The Town invites more than seventy-five community-based organizations to send members to this special event each year, representing more than two thousand volunteers serving their community, including almost forty volunteer search & rescue responders and volunteer firefighters.

Thank you to Mayor Westbroek and the entire Town Council, staff and volunteers for such a warm welcome and congratulations for making Qualicum Beach the special community that it is through fostering a culture of volunteerism that is unparalleled on Vancouver Island. Seasons greetings to all!

Moonlight and Magic Event

Another amazing Moonlight and Magic in the streets of Courtenay last week, thanks to the unstoppable Meaghan Cursons for its organization and co-ordination and downtown merchants and a small army of volunteers for making it happen again this year. The crowds were joyous and plentiful. Magic was in the air as always seems to happen on this special night, which this year took place in an Intergalactic Jungle!

Thanks to City Councillor Will Cole-Hamilton for MC’ing the annual tree lighting ceremony, always a highlight! Thanks also to all those constituents who took time to talk to me about issues of interest and concern. Most of all, thanks to all the shopkeepers, workers and elves who opened their doors to shoppers and browsers alike. It sure doesn’t take long to realize the benefits of shopping local!

Salvation Army's annual "Hope in the Valley"

What better occasion to honour Major Michael Ramsay with a King Charles III Coronation Medal than at the Salvation Army’s annual “Hope In The Valley” event in Port Alberni on last Saturday.

As has been the case with all of the recipients who I have presented this medal to on behalf of the Governor General, Michael gave credit to the incredible sacrifice, dedication and hard work by volunteers, staff and donors to the social programs that he has led over the years. His commitment to creating and working in partnership with other agencies and community organizations has been so important to serving our most vulnerable citizens.

The King Charles III medal was presented to Major Ramsay in recognition of his vision and leadership in the provision of essential social services to vulnerable citizens in the Alberni Valley including a community food bank. Major Ramsay’s commitment to working with other social agencies in the community has succeeded in bringing people together in the spirit of “yes, we can!”

Thank you on behalf a grateful community for everything you do and making a difference in the lives of so many, Major Ramsay.

Peace Train Reception on Parliament Hill

Last evening, I co-hosted a reception on Parliament Hill to welcome a delegation of peace advocates who traveled by “peace train” across Canada picking up supporters and holding vigils along the way with a call to action to re-establish and fund Canada's Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice.

The organization of Peace Train Canada had its origins in our riding through the efforts of Port Alberni’s Keith and Bernie Wyton and ten of the “peace trainers" are from our communities in Courtenay-Alberni. Yesterday’s event was organized by Corinne Webber in my parliamentary office and attended by ten MP’s from all parties along with a Senator.

As I said in my remarks at this gathering, “the numerous wars around the world are not only impacting those living in and escaping conflict zones, they add to the turmoil arising from other global challenges like climate change and inflation that has left many people feeling anxious and hopeless for the future.”

Thanks to all those who took time to attend this event, including Donald Macpherson, the national president of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association and Professor Walter Dorn of the Royal Military College of Canada.

The re-establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice would focus on research, education and training in conflict resolution, diplomacy, and peace operations for Canadian civilians, police, military personnel, and the international community. Giving peace a chance surely needs a kick-start in this world, including the re-emergence of Canada’s proud tradition of peacekeeping.

Baynes Sound Lambert Channel Society- EcoForum

Thank you to the board, staff and volunteers of the Baynes Sound Lambert Channel Society for inviting me to participate in their EcoForum at the VIU Marine Station at Deep Bay last week. It was truly inspiring to be in the company of such an amazing gathering of scientists, activists and concerned citizens with such an important common purpose.

It was also an opportunity to present Dorrie Woodward, a founding member of the Society, with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to just 30,000 Canadians for service to community and country. I have known Dorrie for years as someone who believes that actions speak louder than words, so important when it comes to the protection of our aqua-environment. Dorrie was recognized for her service as the Chair of the Associatin of Denman Island Stewards Group and for more than twenty years of relentless advocacy for coastal protection and marine ecosystem restoration on Denman Island, including the protection of the last herring spawn on the west coast. Truly deserving of this recognition and truly a caring citizen of this planet!