In The Community

5th Anniversary of Parksville Ocra Place

Such a wonderful celebration for the fifth anniversary of Parksville's Ocra Place last week. This facility, which includes 52 studio and one-bedroom units, has made a huge difference in the lives of many who have experienced housing and health challenges. In the beginning, it was an uphill fight to overcome opposition to this important project with push back from some politicians and neighbours. Over five years, this has dissipated as Orca Place residents have settled into their new home.

Congratulations to everybody in Oceanside who fought hard to make Orca Place a reality for our fellow citizens who need help to stabilize their housing needs. Next, of course, is the need for a cold weather shelter in the community

Second Annual Comox Valley Pride Weekend

A joyous time was had by all on Saturday as the second annual Comox Valley Pride Weekend kicked off with a parade along 5th Street toward Pride in the Park at Simms Park with music, vendors and a great kids zone. All in celebration of the LGBTQ2S+ community! Pictures are worth thousands of words so I will let them speak for themselves. Thanks to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard and Mayor Bob Wells for joining the fun and congratulations to the Pride Society of the Comox Valley for a job well done. As always, I appreciated hearing from constituents who checked in with me about issues in their lives.

Tofino Wastewater Treatment Plant

It was an honour to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Tofino Wastewater Treatment Plant on Thursday. The federal government invested $31 million in this project, the largest infrastructure project in the history of the West Coast. It was a long time coming but will preserve the precious ecosystem for generations to come.

Congratulations to MLA Josie Osborne and Mayor Dan Law and his capital planning and infrastructure department for this important project.

As I told the CBC: “For decades, we couldn't get money, we're just too far from Ottawa, so it's our turn on this project. … This is our priority, protecting the oceans and the ecosystems." This is another major federal investment in community infrastructure in our riding of Courtenay-Alberni which has received historic levels of capital funding since I was first elected in 2015. The credit goes entirely to the planning departments and municipal and First Nations councils which make my job of shining a light on their good work and getting funding decisions over the finish line so much easier.

Parksville Chamber of Commerce

Thanks to Parksville Chamber of Commerce for letting me set up my Member of Parliament mobile office again this year at their amazing Summer by the Sea market. Now in its 21st year, the market runs on Tuesdays from 6 pm to 9 pm with over 130 vendors on Craig Street. For me, it is an opportunity to connect with constituents who can’t make it to my community office during the day to raise issues with me as their M.P. I very much appreciated the staff and volunteers who helped me and especially to the dozens of community-members who talked to me about their concerns and ideas, including but not limited to: health care and doctors shortages, affordable housing, affordable day care, affordable dental care, affordable prescribed medications (including insulin), public safety and how to address the toxic drug crisis compassionately with a health-based approach.

 

Errington's Hi Neighbour! Day

I have been showing up for Errington’s Hi Neighbour! Day for years, it never disappoints. This year is its 50th Anniversary and time for another celebration of friends, neighbours and community. I started out as always at the Errington Farmers Market, a market gem on Vancouver Island, checked out the entries for the Greater Errington Memorial Zucchini Race and cheered on the Hi Neighbour Parade. If you missed Hi Neighbour Day, you have until September to check out the market, every Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. the policy of the Market is: “Make it, Bake it, Grow it or Forage It”-- in order to sell at the market, each vendor has to be directly involved in the making, baking or growing of their product! Congratulations to the market board and all the volunteers, venders and musicians that make it so unique.

80th Anniversary of the Sinking of Canadian Corvette HMCS Alberni

On August 21st, I was honoured to be invited to speak at a ceremony in Courtenay to observe the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the Canadian corvette HMCS Alberni which was hit by a U-Boat torpedo south of the Isle of Wight IN 1944, resulting in the loss of 59 mariners many of whom were only 19. I joined MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard, Deputy Commander of the Canadian Pacific Fleet Sam Patchell and family members of survivors and those lost at sea. The name of each lost mariner was read aloud and a bell tolled for each. A few hours before the Courtenay ceremony, a Memorial Bench and Canadian Maple Tree were unveiled on the cliffs of the Isle of Wight overlooking the ocean where the wreck of the Alberni rests. The HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial is located at 625 Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay. It was founded by local resident Lewis Bartholomew in 2000 and represents the largest archive and knowledge base of the ship. Thank you to Lewis and supporters of this important Museum and Memorial for keeping the memory of these brave Canadians alive.

Opening of Ahtaapq Creek Hydro Project

Thanks to MLA Josie Osborne and Hesquiaht First Nation Chief Councillor Mariah Charleson for inviting me to join her to celebrate the opening of Ahtaapq Creek Hydro Project at Hot Springs Cove. I have supported this initiative since first hearing about it from the late Richard Lucas and advocated with the federal government to confirm its role as primary funder and guarantor for the project in a timely manner. Congratulations to Hesquiaht First Nation for this enormous contribution to both reconciliation and climate action and ocean protection.

MLA Josie Osborne's Community Office Open House

I was pleased to join MLA Josie Osborne's Community Office Open House at Union Bay and Cumberland last week. Thanks to all those local residents for sharing their views with me about local issues, including shipbreaking at Baynes Sound and the lack of action by the federal government. I have been advocating for the adoption of shipbuilding standards that require standards for recycling along the lines of the EU regulations. In Cumberland, the protection of ecosystems and watersheds was high on the agenda for many, along with the need for increased investment in crating more child care spaces; and, the issue of affordable housing.

Nanoose Bay Library Centre Society 50 years Celebration

Thanks to President of the Friends of the Nanoose Bay Library Centre Society, Victoria Kirk and her team for such a warm welcome during the Nanoose Library Centre’s celebration of "50 years of turning pages" on Saturday. The old log building is iconic and the volunteer energy is legendary on Vancouver Island. The library is sustained entirely through its user fee of $6, hall rentals and a recycling program. Its collection includes all the latest best sellers, DVDs and a nice selection of used books for sale. The celebration had something for everybody, including a wonderful historical presentation of the Library and a very sociable llama! Congratulations to the board and volunteers for keeping this amazing community asset is such beautiful shape.

Tla-qui-aht Two Cedar Dugout Canoes

Thanks to master carver Tutakwisnapšiƛ (Joe Martin) and his daughters Gisele and Tsimka for taking time to show me the two cedar dugout canoes they are working on, commissioned by Tla-qui-aht First Nation. In the Nuu-chah-nulth Tla-qui-aht dialect, dugout canoes are called čapac. Joe has written a book about the art and responsibilities of this traditional craft which he learned from his father at a young age. I asked when they started to work on these canoes and was moved by the response: “the carving started in February although it really began 800 years ago when the first seedling started to grow.” Klecko Klecko to Joe, Gisele and Tsimka for keeping this important work alive.