In The Community

BC Culture Days in Parksville

A great kickoff for BC Culture Days in Parksville last week. Congratulations to Lead Artist and Curator, Pattiann Withapea and the Oceanside Community Arts Council for their outstanding work in Community Outreach to bring these events to our community for four years running. Thank you to participating artists, performers and volunteers for bringing BC Culture Days to life. It is both an honour for Parksville to be chosen as the Provincial Kickoff City for 2024 and a tribute to the sponsors for their generous funding of this annual celebration of Arts, Culture and Heritage in Oceanside. May all your days be enriched with the gifts of culture in our community!

Alberni Valley Salvation Army Food Truck

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!

Ribbon cutting for Memorial Avenue's Viewing platform

Such a wonderful celebration on the waterfront in Qualicum Beach this afternoon, the official ribbon cutting for the roundabout walkway and viewing platform on Memorial Avenue which was funded in part with a grant from the federal active transportation fund (which was created following my 2016 private members' bill for an active transportation strategy).

Also an opportunity to celebrate Qualicum First Nation artist Jesse Recalma's inspirational illuminated totem which has been installed at the centre of the traffic circle. As the PQB News reported, Jesse says “This piece is a footnote to the original Simon Charlie pole that stood at the intersection.” He explained, "I decided on the eagle and bear for this reason as Simon Charlie's style has really influenced how I do my work.” Mayor Teunis Westbroek added, “This project is a culmination of art, history, and community.” So true. Hychka from a grateful community to Jesse for this powerful gift for the ages. And to all those who contributed to his artistic spirit. And thank you to successive Town Councils and the planning and engineering departments for providing such a perfect setting for this wonderful public art.

Tseshaht First Nation- Orange Shirt Day

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.

Tour de Rock riders in Port Alberni

It was a thrill to see the Tour de Rock riders in Port Alberni on Friday and to pay tribute to their mission at a fundraising dinner hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 293 that evening.

I was privileged to sit with Port Alberni’s Chris Barrato (BC Ambulance Service/Sproat Lake Fire Department). Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock is an exciting annual event where police agencies and emergency service personnel cycle for 14 days across 1200 km on Vancouver Island, raising money for childhood cancer research and support services at the Canadian Cancer Society.

It was moving to have such emotional conversations with families who have been recipients of their fundraising over the years which has now reached $29 million since the ride started in 1977.

Thanks to the Legion, volunteers, cooks, servers and most of all, the riders and their support teams for bringing Vancouver Islanders together for this important cause. You can donate here:

https://bit.ly/3Bq5Ztu

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.