Dear Area F resident,
As we come to the end of another year, and the beginning of a new term, I wish to update you on several issues affecting our communities and the region. Firstly, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for the ongoing support with the extension of my mandate for another four years. I am gratified and humbled by this, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously. Thank you.
Mount Polley Mine Breach
Much of my time continues to be spent in meetings and conversations around longterm recovery strategies for the community of Likely, as well as working with Mount Polley Mine and provincial government officials to co-ordinate communication initiatives for community members and the public. A Quesnel Lake tourism recovery workshop was recently hosted in Likely, jointly by Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and Destinations BC, with a draft plan due around the end of January. I also sit on an economic development committee, together with representatives from Northern Development Initiative Trust and government, to help guide the economic recovery initiatives in progress. I am excited about the work in progress and very hopeful for the future for Likely and the entire region! I also wish to pay tribute to all those community leaders and volunteers who are working very hard to secure that bright future!
Budget
The Central Cariboo budget consultation meeting will be held January 29th at 6 pm in the Regional District Board Room in Williams Lake. The provisional budget for 2015 contains an overall 0% increase over 2014, with the exception of new services approved by the public through an assent process. In Area F, there will be an increase to the recreation service, for those living in the Williams Lake fringe and 150 Mile House, as a result of the successful referendum for the pool expansion. Also of note to Area F residents, the Board approved my request for additional funding in the Economic Development function which will allow for some modest support for economic recovery initiatives for Likely and the other eastern communities affected by Mount Polley. Grants for assistance have not yet been finalized, but the provisional budget contains a grant to the Horsefly Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear, as well as some small contributions to non-profit organizations serving the broader region of the Central Cariboo.
Recycling
Recycling is now available at the 150 Mile Transfer Station 5 days per week, (closed Wednesday and Thursday) from 7:30 am to 6pm. The site is gated, and users are greeted by a friendly attendant who will offer assistance if needed. The wood waste site will re-open in the spring.
NCLGA/UBCM
Together with local government colleagues from around the province, I attended the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference and AGM in Whistler in September. Our resolution, to require Telus to ensure that restoration of phone service for those users without cell service be given priority after an outage, was endorsed. Members of the North Central Local Government Association endorsed our 4-year strategic plan. (Visit http://nclga.ca/about/about-2 to see the plan.) Phyllis Webstad ( the Orange Shirt lady) and I presented the story of Orange Shirt Day and our vision for reconciliation and local government’s role as part of a day-long workshop hosted by Reconciliation Canada. Chair Richmond, CAO Bell and I met with our Premier and Ministers Polak and Oakes along with MLA Barnett and senior staff members to discuss a recovery strategy for Likely following the Mount Polley breach. All in all, a productive session, but there sure was a lot packed in a short 4 days!
Community Forest
The Standing Committee for Resource Values and Interests to the Williams Lake Community Forest has been established, and has held its first meetings. The WLCF Board declined to accept the Working Group`s recommendation to appoint members selected by the community associations of Big Lake, Miocene and Horsefly, but they did appoint me to the committee as the elected representative for the impacted communities. Work has begun on a Terms of Reference for the committee, and the draft Forest Stewardship Plan has been unveiled at a public meeting in Williams Lake. A second public meeting is scheduled for January 11th in Miocene to solicit input into the FSP. Input is very important as the licensee will be legally bound to follow the practices outlined in the Plan.
Representatives from Likely, Xhatsull and Big Lake recently attended a meeting in Victoria with Minister Thomson to begin discussion around the proposed expansion of the Likely-Xhatsull Community Forest in partnership with Big Lake. The meeting was productive, and we are awaiting word as to the next step.
Mental Health
The gap analysis into mental health services provided in the Central and South Cariboo has been completed, and a report is due by the end of the year. Meetings will be held in January and February to discuss the findings and next steps. I am encouraged to note that we are already seeing improvements to the level of service provided, especially with Interior Health`s recent announcement of the formation of a crisis response team for Williams Lake.
Agricultural Climate Action Advisory Committee
The work of the advisory committee is complete, with the identification of priority projects and a 3-year work plan overseen by the Cariboo Adaptation Strategies Working Group (of which I am a member). Work has begun with the identification of funding partners and responsibilities for carrying out the specific projects. For more information, visit http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/wp/wp-content/media/RegionalStrategies-Cariboo.pdf
Noise Bylaw – Input Needed
I have had a request for the implementation of a noise bylaw. If we were to proceed, it would apply to the whole of Area F rather than a specified community, and I would like to know that there is a general appetite for such a bylaw. If it were to be implemented, financial penalties would apply to the offender, and the RCMP would have the ability to issue tickets to offenders. Please let me know what you think.
For more information, or to discuss any issues, please feel free to contact me. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Sorley-Cariboo-Regional-District-Director-Area-F , or visit our webpage: www.cariboord.ca . It is my privilege to represent you at the Board table and elsewhere, and I thank you once again for your support. Vince and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy 2015!
Sincerely,
Joan Sorley
Director, Cariboo Regional District Area "F"
PO Box 147
Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0
250-243-2261, e-mail: [email protected]
As we come to the end of another year, and the beginning of a new term, I wish to update you on several issues affecting our communities and the region. Firstly, I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for the ongoing support with the extension of my mandate for another four years. I am gratified and humbled by this, and it is a responsibility I take very seriously. Thank you.
Mount Polley Mine Breach
Much of my time continues to be spent in meetings and conversations around longterm recovery strategies for the community of Likely, as well as working with Mount Polley Mine and provincial government officials to co-ordinate communication initiatives for community members and the public. A Quesnel Lake tourism recovery workshop was recently hosted in Likely, jointly by Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association and Destinations BC, with a draft plan due around the end of January. I also sit on an economic development committee, together with representatives from Northern Development Initiative Trust and government, to help guide the economic recovery initiatives in progress. I am excited about the work in progress and very hopeful for the future for Likely and the entire region! I also wish to pay tribute to all those community leaders and volunteers who are working very hard to secure that bright future!
Budget
The Central Cariboo budget consultation meeting will be held January 29th at 6 pm in the Regional District Board Room in Williams Lake. The provisional budget for 2015 contains an overall 0% increase over 2014, with the exception of new services approved by the public through an assent process. In Area F, there will be an increase to the recreation service, for those living in the Williams Lake fringe and 150 Mile House, as a result of the successful referendum for the pool expansion. Also of note to Area F residents, the Board approved my request for additional funding in the Economic Development function which will allow for some modest support for economic recovery initiatives for Likely and the other eastern communities affected by Mount Polley. Grants for assistance have not yet been finalized, but the provisional budget contains a grant to the Horsefly Volunteer Fire Department for turnout gear, as well as some small contributions to non-profit organizations serving the broader region of the Central Cariboo.
Recycling
Recycling is now available at the 150 Mile Transfer Station 5 days per week, (closed Wednesday and Thursday) from 7:30 am to 6pm. The site is gated, and users are greeted by a friendly attendant who will offer assistance if needed. The wood waste site will re-open in the spring.
NCLGA/UBCM
Together with local government colleagues from around the province, I attended the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference and AGM in Whistler in September. Our resolution, to require Telus to ensure that restoration of phone service for those users without cell service be given priority after an outage, was endorsed. Members of the North Central Local Government Association endorsed our 4-year strategic plan. (Visit http://nclga.ca/about/about-2 to see the plan.) Phyllis Webstad ( the Orange Shirt lady) and I presented the story of Orange Shirt Day and our vision for reconciliation and local government’s role as part of a day-long workshop hosted by Reconciliation Canada. Chair Richmond, CAO Bell and I met with our Premier and Ministers Polak and Oakes along with MLA Barnett and senior staff members to discuss a recovery strategy for Likely following the Mount Polley breach. All in all, a productive session, but there sure was a lot packed in a short 4 days!
Community Forest
The Standing Committee for Resource Values and Interests to the Williams Lake Community Forest has been established, and has held its first meetings. The WLCF Board declined to accept the Working Group`s recommendation to appoint members selected by the community associations of Big Lake, Miocene and Horsefly, but they did appoint me to the committee as the elected representative for the impacted communities. Work has begun on a Terms of Reference for the committee, and the draft Forest Stewardship Plan has been unveiled at a public meeting in Williams Lake. A second public meeting is scheduled for January 11th in Miocene to solicit input into the FSP. Input is very important as the licensee will be legally bound to follow the practices outlined in the Plan.
Representatives from Likely, Xhatsull and Big Lake recently attended a meeting in Victoria with Minister Thomson to begin discussion around the proposed expansion of the Likely-Xhatsull Community Forest in partnership with Big Lake. The meeting was productive, and we are awaiting word as to the next step.
Mental Health
The gap analysis into mental health services provided in the Central and South Cariboo has been completed, and a report is due by the end of the year. Meetings will be held in January and February to discuss the findings and next steps. I am encouraged to note that we are already seeing improvements to the level of service provided, especially with Interior Health`s recent announcement of the formation of a crisis response team for Williams Lake.
Agricultural Climate Action Advisory Committee
The work of the advisory committee is complete, with the identification of priority projects and a 3-year work plan overseen by the Cariboo Adaptation Strategies Working Group (of which I am a member). Work has begun with the identification of funding partners and responsibilities for carrying out the specific projects. For more information, visit http://www.bcagclimateaction.ca/wp/wp-content/media/RegionalStrategies-Cariboo.pdf
Noise Bylaw – Input Needed
I have had a request for the implementation of a noise bylaw. If we were to proceed, it would apply to the whole of Area F rather than a specified community, and I would like to know that there is a general appetite for such a bylaw. If it were to be implemented, financial penalties would apply to the offender, and the RCMP would have the ability to issue tickets to offenders. Please let me know what you think.
For more information, or to discuss any issues, please feel free to contact me. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Sorley-Cariboo-Regional-District-Director-Area-F , or visit our webpage: www.cariboord.ca . It is my privilege to represent you at the Board table and elsewhere, and I thank you once again for your support. Vince and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy 2015!
Sincerely,
Joan Sorley
Director, Cariboo Regional District Area "F"
PO Box 147
Big Lake Ranch, BC V0L 1G0
250-243-2261, e-mail: [email protected]