In The Community

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.”

Please share this post with friends who would like to join our volunteer corps by going to reelectgord.ca to sign up!

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.