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Comox Valley mayors hope for change after extreme weather events – My Comox Valley Now

Comox Valley mayors hope for change after extreme weather events - My Comox Valley Now

Mayors in the Comox Valley reflecting on Earth Day this year are hoping for more change after extreme weather events over the last 12 months.

After a 2021 filled with historic heatwaves, heavy rainfall, flooding and cold snaps, the mayors of Cumberland, Courtenay and Comox say they are getting ready for another season of difficult weather patterns.

“Early reporting suggests we’re in for a hot and dry summer,” said Comox mayor Russ Arnott. “So we’re reminding residents to do what they can to stay healthy and safe during those extreme weather events.”

Arnott is not alone in concerns over the weather events. Cumberland mayor Leslie Baird says the events over last summer and winter came on very quickly without any knowledge of what was going to happen.

“It really put us in a tough position so we’ve done a lot of work to correct that so that if it happens again we know the process to follow,” said Baird.

“We have our fire department and our rec centre that work together to coordinate solutions to the issues,” she added. “The rec centre was open for the heat dome, we put tents out on the street for protection for people out walking, our fire department was out on calls checking people out. It’s all the community working together to keep everybody safe.”

Courtenay mayor Bob Wells echoes the community involvement cited by Baird. He says he is very proud of the youth’s involvement in organizing an event on Earth Day at Simms Park.

He adds local politicians are open to the new ideas coming out from young people in the valley.

The local politicians say that they are very proud of how the municipalities have changed over the years.

For Baird, who has been on Cumberland council since 1990, the changes are highlighted in the number of people willing to clean up trash in the surrounding forest.

“It’s nice to see people out cleaning up the areas and the trails and the roadways,” said Baird. “But’s it’s true, it’s something that needs to be done every day. People need to be more aware of their surroundings and what they’re doing by leaving litter around for other people to pick up.”

Baird thanks volunteers for their help as some of the projects necessary to improve the environment can be quite costly.

But, the politicians are looking for more adaptations in the future to lower environmental impacts.

Baird says Cumberland has been getting lots of seminars from the province and is willing to help any other community that may be suffering from climate change.

Wells says Courtenay has committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. He says other changes to infrastructure will help them reach the goal.

“At the municipal level, we’re trying to make more liveable communities, 10-minute neighbourhoods so people can do most of the things they need to do right where they are,” he said. “Along with increasing BC Transit trips to make them more affective and convenient for people.”

Russ Arnott also adds the Town of Comox is working on ways to lower their carbon footprint.

Baird adds teaming up in the valley will be one of the keys for a more sustainable and responsible future.

“We all need to work together, we are on the island and it’s amazing how we can step forward,” she added.

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Comox BIA looking ahead to summer, winter events – Comox Valley Record

Comox BIA looking ahead to summer, winter events - Comox Valley Record

Despite a weekly seasonal market proposed for Comox not going ahead, the Comox Business in Action is gearing up for their Downtown Summerfest, amongst other events.

In an update for Comox council at the April 6 council meeting, executive director Haeley Dewhirst said they are preparing for the one-day festival on June 25 and asked council for permission for a road closure around Comox Avenue and Port Augusta Street from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dewhirst noted plans are also in the works for a Halloween and Christmas light-up event.

Additionally, the BIA asked council about the implementation of a permanent market business licence.

Following an inquiry from Coun. Alex Bissinger, Jordan Wall, the town’s chief administrative officer said the licences could be something the municipality could do fairly easily.

“We have a policy in place for a market permit; we would need to look to see if that market permit would encompass all of the business licenses underneath it. If a change is required, it wouldn’t be a major change.”

Wall added the town and the BIA still needs to work with BC Transit for street closures.



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Comox Valley students excel in region’s Skills Canada events – Comox Valley Record

Comox Valley students excel in region’s Skills Canada events - Comox Valley Record

Students from Comox Valley and surrounding districts showcased their talents in the skilled trades and technologies at the Skills Canada Competition held at G.P. Vanier Secondary School on March 2.

The event featured students from several School District 71 schools ranging from grades 6 to 12, and there was a buzz in the air as the competitions returned to being held in person after the past two years of virtual activities.

There were 250 competitors in 16 different events, from 19 schools in four school districts (SD 71 – Comox Valley, SD47 – Powell River, SD72 – Campbell River, SD69 – Parksville-Qualicum).

This event provides an opportunity for competitors to show off their skills and encourages participants to pursue careers in good-paying, in-demand fields.

The Skills Canada Competition lets young people from across our schools shine,” said Steve Claassen, trades & ADST coordinator for School District 71. “From welding, carpentry – to website design, computer animation, and electronics and robotics – this event showcases talent, connects youth with employers, and promotes careers in the skilled trades and technologies.”

The competitions celebrate and reward students for excellence in their mastery of skilled trade and technology skills, and create an interactive and engaging environment for the young people who attend the competitions as spectators.

Skills Canada offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trade and technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through regional, provincial/territorial, national and international events, as well as skilled trade awareness programs.

Winners in each competition area were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals.

Senior event gold medal winners from SD 71 this year were Caleb Elsasser (Vanier) in the automotive event and Austin Harris (Highland) in the electronics event. Both senior event winners are going to the Skills Canada provincials.

Other gold medalists from SD 71 were Timothy Sterk, Olie Phillips, Griffin Moquin and Ewen Chowdury of Highland Secondary in the Jr. Skills – VEX IQ Robotics competition. As well, Blaze Trickett and Quinn Sanderson-Stickley from Ecole Puntledge Park took home gold in Lego Mindstorm Gearbots competition.

Silver medals included Vanier’s Kali Brown in cabinetmaking, Isfeld’s Dalton Weaver in carpenty, Vanier’s Katie Brown in electronics, Highland’s Nate Weaver and Mikayla Roddam in Jr. Skills – Spaghetti, Highland’s Matous Karas, Logan Hildebrandt, Benoit Vaillant and Callum Whyte in Jr. Skills – VEX IQ Robotics, Cumberland’s Blake Peterson, Jonah Lywak and Jasper Sykes in Lego Mindstorm – Gearbots, Huband’s Callum Oxford and Max Bouchard in Lego Mindstorm – Gearbots and Vanier’s Kyle Noll in welding.

Several students also picked up bronze medals: Highland’s Hope Savard for digital art, Aspen Park’s Josh Read in Jr. Skills – Gravity Car, Highland’s Daniel Shea, Cal Kemya and Coltin Young in Jr. Skills – VEX IQ Robotics, Isfeld’s Shane Meyers in Jr. Skills – VEX IQ Robotics and Highland’s Morgan Gadd in welding.

The Skills Canada British Columbia Provincials 2022 will be held in various host sites around the province. The Skills Canada national competition will be held in Vancouver, May 25 to 28 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. WorldSkills 2022 take place in Shanghai between Oct. 12 and 17.

School District 71