In The Community

State of Emergency in Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations

Back in the riding this morning to meet with constituents and stakeholders around numerous issues. None more serious than the daily tragedies faced by First Nations communities during the mental health and toxic drug crisis. Thanks to Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council President Judith Sayers for her hard work in the search for solutions and for taking time to talk to me about the State of Emergency in NTC First Nations. I was able to brief her on my meetings with ministers and senior officials in the search for much needed support.

Talks about Affordable Student Housing with North Island College President and Community Engagement Executive Director

Thank you to North Island College President Lisa Domae and Community Engagement Executive Director Diane Naugler for taking time to discuss the need for affordable student housing in the north and central Vancouver Island. Students studying trades, for example, are enrolled in work-study programs and find themselves having to pay rent in two places—their place of work and the NIC campus. I reiterated my support for their proposal for federal funding towards construction of student housing and appreciated the briefing on the College’s plans for a 79-unit housing project in Port Alberni so students will no longer need to commute from Courtenay or Campbell River, sometimes in dangerous conditions, in pursuit of their education.

Royal Canadian Legion Mt. Arrowsmith Branch 49

Wonderful to join fellow citizens in tribute to our first responders at the Royal Canadian Legion Mt. Arrowsmith Branch 49 in Parksville on Sunday afternoon. Emergency paramedics, wild fire firefighters, RCMP, firefighters, coast guard and search and rescue responders were honoured with an afternoon of BBQ, team games and fun prizes by the Legion. Thanks so much to the Executive, staff, volunteers and members for giving a grateful community a chance to honour our first responders while having fun and fellowship together on a beautiful afternoon!

Annual Terry Fox Run

Great turnout on Sunday in Parksville for the annual Terry Fox Run for cancer research. Terry has been a hero for me since I was a boy and Canada was moved by his Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise money and awareness. Since then, almost $1 billion dollars has been raised in his name by millions of participants in over 60 countries. Yesterday, we raised more than $10,000, thanks to the runners/walkers/rollers and volunteers and organizers. If you can chip in to help, please go to https://run.terryfox.ca/55738

Qualicum Beach First Nation's Cultural Centre

The room was alive with the delight of visiting teachers at Qualicum Beach First Nation’s cultural centre on September 5th as they arrived to pick up Indigenous resource kits for their classrooms. The Qualicum First Nation Culture Program received funding to create and distribute free Indigenous resource kits province-wide during the next three years. For Vancouver Island, the resource kits feature Kwakwakawakw artist Adam Lewis, Ucluelet First Nation cedar weaver Brian Wilson and Tsimshian First Nation artist Bill Helin who designed the wonderful tee-shirts included in each kit. Thanks to Bill for signing my shirt! Elementary teachers (kindergarten to Grade 2) and daycare educators have been booking culture kits for 2024-25. Congratulations to the entire Qualicum First Nation community for its outstanding leadership and generosity providing important in-school cultural support on Vancouver Island.

Fall Far time in Port Alberni

You know the season has changed when it’s Fall Fair time in Port Alberni. Thanks to our volunteers for setting up our NDP table again this year and to our amazing BC NDP MLA Josie Osborne and her crew for being right there next to us. Most of all, I love connecting with old friends and meeting some new ones. As always, thanks to constituents who take time to talk to me about federal issues that are important to their families and community. Still lots of time to get down to the Fair, the “gathering place to celebrate and educate!” Here’s some photos from the first day.

International Overdose Awareness Day

On Saturday August 31st, I was honoured to speak to those gathered in Port Alberni and Parksville on International Overdose Awareness Day to remember all those who have been lost to the toxic drug crisis and the pain and grief of their families and friends. Also, to honour the thousands of people in our communities who are in recovery, many of whom have survived overdose with the help of first responders, community caregivers and fellow citizens administering Naloxone in a timely manner. I took the occasion to repeat my call for the declaration of a national public health emergency and a coordinated, integrated and compassionate plan to address the toxic drug crisis in Canada.

Lasqueti Days on Saturday

Thanks to everybody for the warm welcome to Lasqueti Days on Saturday, complete with the annual parade, the last Saturday market of the year and the Silly Boat Race (won by the False Bay Beast). I very much appreciated all those constituents who took time to talk to me about federal issues important to their families and community. Great to talk to Lasqueti Island Trustee Tim Peterson, old friend David Ham and Powell River Regional District director Andrew Fall. Thanks especially to Marilyn Darwin, market organizer and a director of The Last Resort Society, dedicated to improving healthcare and other services for Lasqueti. Nice also running into Trudy, Richard and daughter Anna and their four rescued sheep (including my friend Fennel!). Anna is a volunteer first responder on Lasqueti. I loved joining marchers in their chant, “More Flowers, Less Plastic”. I sure wish I could get over to Lasqueti Island more often, such a wonderful community!

Grand Opening of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve

It was a pleasure to participate in the grand opening of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve outreach centre in downtown Qualicum Beach on August 18th. Thanks to Qualicum First Nation artist Jesse Recalma for gifting the name for the centre and proving his art; to the incredible work of the board, Pam Shaw and staff and volunteers that make MABR such an amazing organization; to the federal government for its investment in the biosphere movement; and the Town of Qualicum Beach for providing this amazing facility. The centre will furthur advance MABR's important role in public education and research for economic and environmental sustainability in our society. Well done, everybody!

 

Federal Election Candidate Re- Nomination

Thanks so much to the 150 supporters from all over Courtenay-Alberni who gathered in traditional NDP back-yard style on Sunday in Qualicum Beach to enjoy Silver Meadows corn on the cob, groove to the music of the legendary Phil Dwyer and his trio and nominate me as their candidate in the next federal election.

I was tuly honoured by their confidence in my work and gratefully accepted. It meant so much to have our leader Jagmeet Singh in attendance along with the Honourable Josie Osborne, CVRD Director Daniel Arbour, Parksville Councillor Mary Beil, Comox School Trustee Michelle Waite and BC NDP candidate for Ladysmith-Oceanside, Stephanie Higgenson. The proceedings were chaired by former MP Catherine Bell and my nomination was moved by Qualicum Beach early childhood development advocate, the unstoppable Eva Hilborn.

I told the media, “There is nowhere else in the country like our community, and I’m going to continue the fight to make life easier and more affordable for people here at home. "For years, we’ve seen what happens when it’s left up to the Liberals and Conservatives: CEOs are put first, while regular people pay the cost. "Whether changing the rules in Ottawa to make life more affordable for you or taking on rich CEOs who are driving up the costs of groceries and housing, New Democrats are fighting to tip the scales in your favour.”

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