In The Community

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.

Redd Fish Restoration Society

I stopped by this week to check in with Jen Dart, my co-worker from my days at the Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce ten years ago. Jen is a great champion for our communities and is now a part of the Redd Fish Team in Ucluelet, which has a new store-front location where visitors can come by to learn about salmon restoration, lots for kids to do and they also serve great coffee! 

Redd Fish Restoration Society is a charity focused on restoration, research and education and thanks to its dynamic leadership over 28 years, it has had a massive impact in the restoration of watersheds and fish habitat. We chatted about the Watershed Forum they are hosting in November with a focus on their work with First Nations and the strength and impact of their community partnerships. Redd Fish is well worth the visit when you are next in Ucluelet. Go here for more information: https://reddfish.org/

Change of Command Ceremony- 19 Wing Comox

Thank you to Col. Jean-Philippe Gagnon for inviting me to 19 Wing Comox to attend the Change of Command Ceremony as he relinquished command to Col Christopher Shapka in July. It was an honour to pay tribute to Col. Gagnon's command and to convey best wishes for a successful command to Col. Shapka along with my colleague MP Rachel Blaney. I took the opportunity to thank Col. Gagnon for his important outreach work in the Comox Valley, working closely with the CVRD and RCMP; and, for brining back the airshow. It was a pleasure to meet up with Parksville Councilor Amit Gur who is an air force reservist. Thanks to all for your service to Canada. 

New Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in Courtenay

Exciting to join Premier Eby, Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Ray Leonard, Mayors Bob Wells, Nicole Minions, and Vickey Brown for the announcement of a new Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC) in Courtenay last week. The facility is temporarily located at the Comox Valley Nursing Centre although, there is a commitment for a permanent location going forward. Care will be available within 12 to 24 hours for things like cuts, wounds, skin conditions, mild infections, moderate back or abdominal pain, minor injuries and depression. 

Ronna-Rae worked hard for this Centre which follows the success of local recruitment of physicians and nurse practitioners, greatly reducing the numbers of people without a family doctor. The facility takes pressure off the emergency room and give ER doctors a place to discharge patients and ensure care after their acute needs are addressed. Since the implementation of the BC NDP primary-care strategy in 2018, 35 UPCCs have been opened serving 2.7 million people across the province.

K’ómoks Treaty

I was honoured to witness the initialling of the K’ómoks Treaty on Monday along with my colleague, MP Rachel Blaney, MLA’s Ronna-Rae Leonard and Josie Osborne. This Treaty has taken decades of work and finally, negotiations between the K’ómoks, Canada and British Columbia are substantively complete. The ratification process now begins for the K’ómoks people. As my friend, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin said, “the K’ómoks Treaty will bring about positive changes — a path to self-governance, recognition of rights, social and economic opportunities — all leading towards a prosperous and bright future for the K'ómoks people and for everyone in the surrounding communities.” Thanks to K’ómoks Chief Councillor Ken Price and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations for their kind words on this historic occasion.

Courtenay-Alberni Famers' Market

It's July and our Courtenay-Alberni farmers' markets are abundant with produce, crafts and other wonders (including buskers!) from Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Errington, Port Alberni, Ucuelet, Tofino, Cumberland, Bowser, Comox Valley to Lasqueti, Hornby and Denman Islands. Thanks to the B.C Association of Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program, a wonderful collaboration with community organizations and member markets to provide coupons to lower-income families, pregnant people and seniors. It is supported by the NDP provincial government and I have tabled a motion in Parliament for matching funding by the federal government for provinces with coupon programs. Initiatives like this and growers and producers are so important for our food security on Vancouver Island. Happy Marketing, everybody!