Thanks to Michael and steve for sharing a shift with me on the food truck for Alberni Valley's Salvation Army. I was able to do double duty as the Member of Parliament, lots of important discussions with clients who showed up to enjoy a hot meal. I rely on input from constituents regardless of the challenges they are facing in our community. Looking forward to more shifts in the future!
Thank you to Tseshaht First Nation for welcoming us to its territory on Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day when we remember the children who died in the Indian Residential Schools, the suffering of all those who were removed from their families through many decades and the legacy of intergenerational trauma caused by the government’s policies. It was a day to re-commit to the reconciliation of historical wrongs and the implementation of all 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Klecko Klecko to Elected Chief Councillor waamiiš (Ken Watts), Tseshaht Elders and all the community members who worked to make this year's walk and cultural events so successful and to the residents and visitors to the Alberni Valley for showing their support on this important day.
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.