Community Volunteer Awards, AGM, and Town Hall Meeting
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The Pender Harbour Advisory Council Town Hall Meeting
Pender Harbour Community Hall ~ September 10, 2017 at 1 pm
The event was chaired by PHACS President Alan Stewart
Alan opened the meeting by recognizing special guests: Area A Representative to the SCRD, Frank Mauro, MLS Nicholas Simon, Chief Warren Paul of the Sechelt Nation, members of the Pender Harbour Advisory Council Board and winners of the Community Volunteer awards.
Alan briefly discussed some changes in Pender Harbour in the last 5 years using demographics from the 2016 Census provided by the Pender Harbour Health Centre Board.
Mike Price, PHACS Board Member and President of the Pender Harbour Rotary Club introduced the winners of the community volunteer awards: Doreen Lee, Lifetime Achievement Award; Barrie Wilbee, Lifetime Achievement Award; and Bill Gilkes, Volunteer of the Year for 2017. Mike thanked the many volunteers in Pender Harbour for all that they do for our community.
Moving into the presentation part of the program:
• Amanda Peterson, Pender Harbour Fitness and Aquatic Centre, introduced their fall program and the Community Recreation brochure.
• Darcy Murray and Francine Clohosey of the Pender harbour Community School, spoke about their work with youth needing support in the community. What is new with this program is access to more support through the schools including food support, First Nations leadership program, and more activities for young people. Now, youth are much more likely to come forward and ask for help when they are in need. Francine mentioned creating an inventory of all of the activities available for youth and the Youth Advocate Collective.
• Michael Jackson, Executive Director of PODS (Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station) said that PODS is within $180,000 of achieving their goal of acquiring the Irvine's Landing property for their facility. Now is the time to step up and donate! They have a partnership with Simon Fraser University which will bring hundreds of students, researchers and professors to the community. Over 10,000 volunteer hours have been spent on the Ruby Lake Lagoon Society projects to date in 2017. They have opened an information facility in Madeira Park, and the PODS website is https://www.openpods.com/
• Bill Charlton presented a new Chamber of Commerce initiative “Pender Harbour Christmas” He referenced the murals in Chemainus and suggested the Pender Harbour could become a Christmas light focal point for the Sunshine Coast. The website is http://penderharbourchristmas.com/
• Nicholas Simon, MLA for Powell River and the Sunshine Coast, acknowledged that we were meeting in the traditional territory of the Sechelt First Nation. He introduced Chief Warren Paul. Chief Paul noted that the draft Dock Management Plan had created conflict with previous Sechelt First Nations Councils. He said that the Sechelt Nation currently wants to work together with everyone and find a middle ground where we can all meet and agree. Nicholas Simons noted that the contracts for archaeological and environmental studies, as recommended in Barry Penner's report had been awarded in the last week and that the work would be completed in early 2018. He offered to meet with the DMP Working Group.
• Frank Mauro, Area A representative with the SCRDacknowledged Chief Paul and thanked him for his message on working together with the community. Frank addressed the many terms and issues concerning derelict vessels, which include: structures that are not actively being worked on but are anchored in the waterway without permission, sunken boats, vessels (owner was known and boat is working) those needing anchor lights, structures without tenures, permanent liveaboards discharging sewage into the Harbour, etc. There is a new federal government program for the removal of derelict vessels and for education around the issue. There is also Harbour Authority funding for derelict vessels left at their docks. Frank is looking for a group or society to take on making an application for funding to remove derelict vessels. The application deadline for the removal of derelict vessels is October 30, 2017.
The meeting moved into the “Open Mic” part of the program, where Town Hall Meeting participants get to inform PHACS and the meeting about their concerns. Issues raised in this part of the meeting will sometimes find their way into our strategic plan.
· David (from Davis Bay) mentioned the need for affordable housing and urges the community to create and rent out basement suites.
· Annie Schroeder, Marketing Director for Sunshine Coast Tourism introduced herself. To the community.
· Michael Jackson said that the Lagoon Society was looking at applying for a grant for emergency spill response equipment to be located at Irvine’s Landing.
· Tom Seeley (Madeira Park) question to Nicholas Simon and Chief Warren Paul ”What about the Pender Harbour Indians?” They are interested in their status and their artifacts. They have inquiries before the federal government. Melissa Andronyk RE Pender Harbour First Nation asking to move the issue forward with the Sechelt Nation
· Lynn Squire re Traffic going by Tyner Park and the lack of signage and parking people accessing the Lily Lake Trail and Tyner Park. Lily Lake development also has a parking problem because of the park.
The Town Hall Meeting was adjourned and the meeting moved into the Pender Harbour Advisory Council AGM.
Pender Harbour Community Hall ~ September 10, 2017 at 1 pm
The event was chaired by PHACS President Alan Stewart
Alan opened the meeting by recognizing special guests: Area A Representative to the SCRD, Frank Mauro, MLS Nicholas Simon, Chief Warren Paul of the Sechelt Nation, members of the Pender Harbour Advisory Council Board and winners of the Community Volunteer awards.
Alan briefly discussed some changes in Pender Harbour in the last 5 years using demographics from the 2016 Census provided by the Pender Harbour Health Centre Board.
Mike Price, PHACS Board Member and President of the Pender Harbour Rotary Club introduced the winners of the community volunteer awards: Doreen Lee, Lifetime Achievement Award; Barrie Wilbee, Lifetime Achievement Award; and Bill Gilkes, Volunteer of the Year for 2017. Mike thanked the many volunteers in Pender Harbour for all that they do for our community.
Moving into the presentation part of the program:
• Amanda Peterson, Pender Harbour Fitness and Aquatic Centre, introduced their fall program and the Community Recreation brochure.
• Darcy Murray and Francine Clohosey of the Pender harbour Community School, spoke about their work with youth needing support in the community. What is new with this program is access to more support through the schools including food support, First Nations leadership program, and more activities for young people. Now, youth are much more likely to come forward and ask for help when they are in need. Francine mentioned creating an inventory of all of the activities available for youth and the Youth Advocate Collective.
• Michael Jackson, Executive Director of PODS (Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station) said that PODS is within $180,000 of achieving their goal of acquiring the Irvine's Landing property for their facility. Now is the time to step up and donate! They have a partnership with Simon Fraser University which will bring hundreds of students, researchers and professors to the community. Over 10,000 volunteer hours have been spent on the Ruby Lake Lagoon Society projects to date in 2017. They have opened an information facility in Madeira Park, and the PODS website is https://www.openpods.com/
• Bill Charlton presented a new Chamber of Commerce initiative “Pender Harbour Christmas” He referenced the murals in Chemainus and suggested the Pender Harbour could become a Christmas light focal point for the Sunshine Coast. The website is http://penderharbourchristmas.com/
• Nicholas Simon, MLA for Powell River and the Sunshine Coast, acknowledged that we were meeting in the traditional territory of the Sechelt First Nation. He introduced Chief Warren Paul. Chief Paul noted that the draft Dock Management Plan had created conflict with previous Sechelt First Nations Councils. He said that the Sechelt Nation currently wants to work together with everyone and find a middle ground where we can all meet and agree. Nicholas Simons noted that the contracts for archaeological and environmental studies, as recommended in Barry Penner's report had been awarded in the last week and that the work would be completed in early 2018. He offered to meet with the DMP Working Group.
• Frank Mauro, Area A representative with the SCRDacknowledged Chief Paul and thanked him for his message on working together with the community. Frank addressed the many terms and issues concerning derelict vessels, which include: structures that are not actively being worked on but are anchored in the waterway without permission, sunken boats, vessels (owner was known and boat is working) those needing anchor lights, structures without tenures, permanent liveaboards discharging sewage into the Harbour, etc. There is a new federal government program for the removal of derelict vessels and for education around the issue. There is also Harbour Authority funding for derelict vessels left at their docks. Frank is looking for a group or society to take on making an application for funding to remove derelict vessels. The application deadline for the removal of derelict vessels is October 30, 2017.
The meeting moved into the “Open Mic” part of the program, where Town Hall Meeting participants get to inform PHACS and the meeting about their concerns. Issues raised in this part of the meeting will sometimes find their way into our strategic plan.
· David (from Davis Bay) mentioned the need for affordable housing and urges the community to create and rent out basement suites.
· Annie Schroeder, Marketing Director for Sunshine Coast Tourism introduced herself. To the community.
· Michael Jackson said that the Lagoon Society was looking at applying for a grant for emergency spill response equipment to be located at Irvine’s Landing.
· Tom Seeley (Madeira Park) question to Nicholas Simon and Chief Warren Paul ”What about the Pender Harbour Indians?” They are interested in their status and their artifacts. They have inquiries before the federal government. Melissa Andronyk RE Pender Harbour First Nation asking to move the issue forward with the Sechelt Nation
· Lynn Squire re Traffic going by Tyner Park and the lack of signage and parking people accessing the Lily Lake Trail and Tyner Park. Lily Lake development also has a parking problem because of the park.
The Town Hall Meeting was adjourned and the meeting moved into the Pender Harbour Advisory Council AGM.
- Bill Charlton expressed concern about the sad state of many Pender Harbour Roads. He also expressed interest in having a meeting with Chief Warren Paul and Nicholas Simons regarding the Dock Management Plan.
Signs of the times
Pender Harbour Hikers and Sunshine Coast Community Forest Contribute Trail Signage to the Community . . . read more
“Slow-No Wake” Buoys and signs are part of a Pender Harbour Advisory Council initiative to get boaters to slow down both to reduce damaging wakes and make the harbour a safe place for all water users. Summer is coming and everyone will be heading for the water.
