The Society is run by a volunteer Board of Directors, and staffed with one full time coordinator, part time lunch assistant, part time book keeper, and various after school program instructors. After school programs presently run in 3 sessions throughout the year and this Spring the CCSS is offering 17 programs, servicing 196 students and parents! These programs are able to be run because of the generosity of volunteers who contribute their time and energy to make them possible along with important core funding from SD71, grants from the Coastal Spirit Fund and the Province of British Columbia, and contributions from local businesses and individuals.

There are many ways to support the CCSS and to get involved with strengthening the opportunities for youth and families in Cumberland.
Upcoming events include:

May 19th Cumberland Market Days: The CCSS will be running activities from 10-4 in the downtown area showcasing some of our after school programs. Come try out some Hula Hooping from 10:00-11:00, Environment Club and Lunch Program will be serving snacks from 11:00-12:00, there will be a Gardening activity from 12:00-1:00 and then head to the Masonic Hall to watch our Intermediate Theatre class perform their play from 1:00-2:00pm. The afternoon will be full of fun and games as Lantern Making for the parade float and Goofy Games happen from 2:00-4:00pm.

May 22nd Facebook 101 for parents: This free workshop is offered from 6:00-8:00pm in the Cumberland Elementary Computer Lab with instructors Alissa Vernon-Pratt and Marieke Holtkamp  who share a desire to help families support their children as they enter the world of online interactions and explorations, supporting youth to develop a safe and positive online footprint ( min.10 / max. 20). Register with the CCSS coordinator at ccss.coordinator@gmail.com or by calling 250-336-8521 during regular school hours.
May 27th The CCSS Huge Garage Sale: From 9:00-3:00 in the gym at Cumberland Elementary. All proceeds from donated items go to support programming at the CCSS. If you have any items to donate you can drop them off in the gym at Cumberland Elementary on Saturday May 26th from 10-4 or phone Jennifer at 336-7902 if you need items picked up.

If you have program ideas, please visit the website www.cumberlandcommunityschools.com and follow the link under “Get Involved” to submit an idea through the online form.

The coordinator can be reached at ccss.coordinator@gmail.com.
DONATIONS: The CCSS offers tax receipts for any donation greater than $20.00

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On Thursday, May 24, the Comox Valley Chapter of the Council of Canadians, in cooperation with Comox Valley Water Watch, will be presenting information on what you can do to protect our shared water resources in the face of increasing pressure to put water up for sale and privatize water resources.  Excerpts from the film Blue Gold will be shown.

The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm in the Evergreen Seniors Lounge of the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave., Courtenay.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information:  www.canadians.org/water/issues/Blue_Communities/index.html

For more information contact estuary.projectwatershed@gmail.com Visit the ‘Keeping it Living’ website www.keepingitliving.ca  for more activities & for more detail on the campaign, the art auction & other events.

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Other writers will point out many of the budget pitfalls, but I want to point out one which connects to my own past: In 1970, I was appointed to the National Council of Welfare (NCW) as a young professional. It then was a very innovative body which could recommend policies to the federal government. And it did just that, over the years, no matter which federal party was in power.

The over-riding principle of the NCW was to recommend policies which would help to make Canada more just and caring, i.e., to equalize resources, to help the poor, to help those with physical disabilities, to help the homeless, to help the unemployed, to help young mothers, to help students, to help seniors, etc. etc.

The NCW has been a positive body for over 40 years. Now it is gone—just like that. This current C-38 budget just removed the budget for it in one fell swoop. We wouldn’t even know about that if the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives hadn’t pointed it out.

Please, Prime Minister, make an amendment to split up this Omnibus Budget Bill, and make some changes for the betterment of Canada.

Sincerely,
Gwyn Frayne

CC:  Honourable John Duncan

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Join artist Michelle Peters from 1 pm to 3 pm at 325 Powerhouse rd. in Courtenay. Michelle’s program is focused on painting and environmental education through creative expression and fun for all ages.

Call 250-650-5317 or email cascadiancrusaders@hotmail.com for more information.

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Habitat for Humanity delegation

Habitat for Humanity was applying for variances on property at 1580 Percy. They plan to build 6 units, 3 three bedroom duplexes of approximately 600 sq.ft. each. Staff supported the project but with concerns about the site configuration, specifically about the lack of open space and reduced setbacks. Thirteen neighbours had filled out forms supporting the project with only one commenting about the lack of space.

Peter Sanderson, spokesperson for the group, explained that Habitat for Humanity had been in the Comox Valley since 2004 and had built houses before but this was the first time they played a ‘property developers’ role. They also are working with other groups such as the RCMP and the Construction Unit of CFB Comox. Also a group called ‘Woman Built’ will be contributing the expertise and labour of women volunteers to build one of the duplexes.

Jon Ambler asked what Habitat had learned from their previous experiences. Deb Roth, Habitat’s Executive Director, answered that they needed to focus on follow up with families and do more education about home ownership.

Doug Hillian asked how families were selected. Ms. Roth replied that there were national standards of need and anyone on social assistance or E.I. was excluded. Recipients had to agree to work 500 hours on the project in lieu of a down payment and agree to participate in future public relations campaigns. Habitat North Island also dealt exclusively with families with children and had a provision that the families couldn’t have ‘too much’ debt. Both presenters emphasized that this was ‘not a handout, but a hand up’ and that a ‘deserving’ family would be able to have a home.

Ronna Rae Leonard commended Habitat for increasing the stock of affordable housing by ensuring, even if the original recipient move out, that the property stays in hands of Habitat. Mayor Jangula explained when he originally sat on Habitat’s Board of Directors he was skeptical because he believed people would move in and in a short time would turn around and sell the property , pocket the cash and move on. That has not been the case.

The motion granting the variances was passed unanimously.

Habitat for Humanity is obviously a very worthwhile organization doing admirable work and deserves Council’s support. However its mandate is very limited and building 8 units over 9 years will not even put the slightest dent in the problem of the affordable housing problem in the Comox Valley.

What is interesting is the Common Sense councilor’s attitude to Habitat and to Dawn to Dawn on the one hand, and to people and organizations attempting to provide a homeless shelter on the other. There is a very old concept, actually dating back to Elizabethan times, of the deserving poor and the undeserving poor. Those who are too old, or too young to work, or have a disability, are part of the deserving poor, and worthy of charity. And of course, not too much charity that they might be comfortable. Those who are able to work but can’t or won’t are the undeserving poor and are to be coerced back to work by any means necessary, regardless of the economic situation. Fortunately, a more enlightened view grew out of the Depression and WWII that all members of society had certain economic rights such as access to food and shelter. The majority of this council still seems to buy into the phony deserving/ non-deserving dichotomy. Why would they be attempting to ban a type of temporary housing for a certain segment of citizens and yet praise to the skies organizations, no matter how well meaning, which serve a very narrow clientele? That whole question deserves more space than is afforded here but it is one worthy one for a real community dialogue away from the hothouse of an election.

Right of Way

A motion was passed to create a 10 meter wide walkway from Waters Place to Mission Rd, running along the back of Elderberry Crescent.. This will be an important part of any trail system in East Courtenay. The bonus is that if a commercial development goes into Block 72,  the walkway, along with the regulation for a 7.5 meter buffer zone on Block 72, would mean a 17.5 meter buffer for residences on Elderberry Crescent and hopefully avoid some of the noise issues that have plagued residents around Costco.

Local Governance Training

Jon Ambler presented a motion to bring in a well known consultant George Cuff to lead a training session on local governance for Courtenay Council. The motivation was ‘to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our Council’.

Since there was no dollar figure attached most of the discussion was on cost. Once Jon Ambler pointed out the budget had a provision for this type of training, everyone supported the motion. Bill Anglin had been given a copy of one of Cuff’s books after he had been elected and had found it useful. Mayor Jangula felt that Council ‘was working well together’ but could always improve.

Ronna Rae Leonard told of her experience at the Vancouver Island Communities meeting in Pt. Alberni recently where a young aboriginal representative on the Regional Board felt apprehensive about the reception he would receive. An experienced Councilor, at the very first meeting, welcomed this representative and said ‘this is a place where we can debate and agree or disagree but everyone’s view is welcome and respected’. The young man said this made all the difference in the world. She said if the intent of the training session was to create that kind of atmosphere, she was in favour of the motion.

Aside from Ronna Rae Leonard’s statement, it is difficult for me, outside the Council, to see what the publicly-stated motivation for bringing in an outside consultant is. The problems on Council aren’t necessarily those of efficiently passing of bylaws. The main problem is about the lack of respect certain councilors have for people who oppose their position. Like their hero Stephen Harper, they are interested not just in winning, but in crushing and humiliating their opposite number. This heats up debate and emotions and leads to distrust about motivations. If resolving that issue is part of Jon Ambler’s motion, then it would be money well worth spending because if it isn’t dealt with, it will be a very rough two and a half years.

Also I hope part of that training is on how to chair a meeting. Everyone has their own style of chairing and Mayor Jangula obviously is a very gregarious type of person. Also, he feels he was elected by a certain constituency to carry out a conservative program. However the chair is supposed to at least appear objective, and part of that objectivity is to refrain from always interjecting comments after someone speaks. It is a bit of a tennis match at times. Councilor speaks, mayor speaks, councilor speaks, mayor speaks so on and so on.    

 Reports from Council Reps

Jon Ambler reported on the Hospital Board saying that there was discussion on the Board about the announced plans for the two hospitals. Some of that discussion was around the funding model which Councilor Ambler feels is not in the Board’s mandate.

Jon Ambler also talked about his endeavours to force the Solid Waste Management Board to include plans for waste energy to be part of the strategy in the next 15 years. His notice of motion to that effect will be discussed at the next meeting.

 Council Round Table

Manny Theos, with the support of Mayor Jangula, attempted to have Council include a pseudo-referendum on the wooden covered bridge in the tax notices going out at the end of May.

Starr Winchester explained a vote had already taken place on the bridge and they must now move forward. Both Jon Ambler and Doug Hillian also pointed out that there wasn’t time to craft proper language and asking the right questions was important if you wanted accurate feedback. Jon Ambler reiterated they were all elected to govern as representatives of the citizens and he was not interested in direct democracy methods. He added that many public consultations, i.e. Regional Growth Strategy, were merely a few angry people spouting off and most were not even Courtenay residents. Bill Anglin stated citizens could correspond directly with councilors as the amount of e-mails he gets can testify to. Ronna Rae Leonard also pointed out that surveys needed an informed public and so education and dialogue also has to be part of any survey.

Manny Theos withdrew his proposal but said that next year he wanted a survey included.

Leaving aside Manny Theos ill-formed proposal, this debate was an example of how Council debate should be conducted. A proposal is put forward, different councilors point out the positives or negative aspects, and the mover of the proposal reconsiders and a resolution is reached. It was done respectfully. There is no agenda other than to resolve the issue. This may be a relatively easy item but it could have ended up as an ugly rehash of a previously heated debate. Due to good sense all round, it wasn’t.

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Two retired academics will discuss the results for the Estuary  Residents survey conducted last summer. Dr. Betty Donaldson and 11 Project Watershed volunteers knocked on the doors of 187 Estuary residents. The objective was to interview people who live and work  on or near the estuary   Donaldson formerly University of Calgary When professor in the Faculty of Education  and Dr. Peter Sinclair Formerly University Research Professor in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland will discuss and present the results of the survey (A Gathering Place).

“Our survey captured a representative sample of Valley opinions”, says Dr. Betty Donaldson, Vice Chair of Project Watershed.

The evening begins at 7 Pm with the business meeting and an overview by the Board Chair Short 5 minute presentations will follow by Don Casttleden chair Estuary Working Group Betty Donaldson, chair, Education Committee Wayne White, Chair, Technical Committee, and Steve Morgan, Manager of our mapping services.  A refreshment break at 8 PM will allow attendees to preview art submissions for the silent auction to be held at the Experience the Estuary event on July 28th The Survey Discussion will begin at 8:20 Pm

The Experience the Estuary Event in July will feature, in addition to the art auction, a Flotilla of Kayaks, Canoes dragon boats and other human powered water crafts.

“Our AGM is very special this year “says Horgen.  “We are enriched by the volunteer efforts of so many highly qualified retirees who have made the Comox Valley their Home, and who freely give their time in public education and stewardship activities.

For more information phone the Project Watershed office at 250 703 2871,

(Feature photo by Betty Donaldson of lagoon on the estuary)

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Based on a story by Mike Bell and with a dramatic rendition by two local actors, Ross Stephanson and Kymme Patrick, it tells how Rocky uses his special powers to discover what is really going on in the Comox Valley and how the mine will affect all its human and animal citizens.

We will also bring you up to date on this past year’s activities and outline the campaigns that we have been developing for the coming year.  We will talk about and seek your guidance on the implications of the new political environment in which we must now operate. And, we will be describing our new, simple and inexpensive membership arrangements worked out with Sierra Club B.C.

It will be a fun evening.  Everyone is welcome—members, friends and interested community folks.  Please come and bring some friends. We need your help and support for the challenges that lie ahead.

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We don’t have Rita MacNiel but we do have Steve Harvey, so as part of the evenings theme of coal mining, talented a cappella  singer Steve Harvey will introduce and sing two or three songs.

Unmistakable in the interviews is the sense of camaraderie among the men; a camaraderie that is the result of working in a profession where your life could easily one day depend on that of your co-workers. When the miners list some of their work injuries, it is a sobering reminder of just how dangerous the profession is.

In the end, as the Men of the Deeps ponder the inevitable end of the coal mining industry, the film begs the question: Can a community built around an industry be strong enough to survive after that industry dies?

To conclude the evening there will be a brief discussion about the future of coal, a very timely topic in the Valley these days.

Venue: Evergreen Seniors Lounge, Florence Filberg Ctr. , Courtenay
Time: 7pm cost: by donation
For more info phone 250-334-3624

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