JEPP Funding supports CRD Emergency Preparedness and Planning - October 12 Edition

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) received Joint Emergency Preparedness (JEPP) funding to continue its emergency operations planning and preparedness activities throughout the region. The grants, totalling $7,682.00 were used to purchase equipment for the CRD primary Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), backup portable communication equipment and also partially funded a Spring Readiness Symposium that brought stakeholders in Emergency Planning and Response together to discuss possible events and share ideas and lessons learned from past events.

Whether it is used for training, the purchase of emergency response equipment, or emergency planning exercises, the JEPP investment is a pro-active method aimed to reduce the loss of human life, injuries, as well as property damage costs associated with an emergency. 

The Government of Canada, in consultation and co-operation with provincial and territorial governments, contributes to emergency preparedness and critical infrastructure protection projects and initiatives through the JEPP. 

Cariboo Regional District Board Highlights – October 6, 2011

Health Recruitment and Retention Project Received

Nancy Wagner and Melanie Reed, Thompson Rivers University graduate students, and Catherine Whitman, Community Health Integrated Services Health Service Administrator, with Interior Health (IH) provided a presentation about the new Recruitment and Retention Project. The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) funded the project which focused on developing a strategy to recruit physicians and other health care providers to the region, and in particular the 100 Mile House and Williams Lake areas.  

Karen Brunoro, Residential Nurse Manager for Interior Health also provided the Board with an update about Deni House in Williams Lake. The renovations are almost complete and will see the opening of 28 news beds on November 28, and will be fully operational by December 15, 2011. Further information about IH and Deni House is available online at www.interiorhealth.ca 

Youth Parliament 2011

The British Columbia Youth Parliament’s 83rd Parliament will be held in Victoria at the Provincial Legislative Chambers from December 27 to 31, 2011.  This project is non-partisan and applicants should have a keen interest in learning about parliamentary proceedings and in serving their community. The Youth Parliament is a province–wide organization for young people ages 16 –21 and teaches citizenship skills through participation in the session and in community service activities throughout the year. The deadline for submissions is October 26, 2011. Further information about the program is available online at www.bcyp.org or by contacting the program registrar at 604-728-0446.

CRD Endorses Policies

The Cariboo Regional District endorsed a number of recommendations from the Cariboo Regional District Committee of the Whole meeting held on September 15, 2011. The policies include a code of conduct and ethics, director’s remuneration, election period communications, Regional Development Framework and a new process for appointing representatives to the North Central Local Government Association.  The policies are posted on the CRD website at www.cariboord.bc.ca 

Energy Efficiency Upgrades for Kersley

Up to $6,000 of Community Works Funding was approved for the Kersley Community Association to install a new furnace in the Kersley Arts Building. This building, along with the Kersley Arena and the Kersley Community Hall, is part of the Kersley Recreation Complex. The new furnace will have an efficiency of 90-95 percent, replacing the current furnace which has an efficiency rating of 50-60 percent.

Wildwood Disc Golf Course

The Cariboo Regional District gave approval in principle to the Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department Association to construct a disc golf course on CRD property adjacent to the Wildwood fire hall. The approval-in-principle is for a two-year agreement with the association, subject to confirmation that there are no operational conflicts with the fire department or safety issues with the location. Disc golf is a game in which individual players throw a disc into a basket or at a target.

Lac La Hache Fire Department Service Expansion

The Cariboo Regional District gave three readings to Bylaw No. 4723, which deals with the expansion of the Lac La Hache Fire Department Service Boundary. The Board ratified the Certificate of Sufficiency for the Lac La Hache Fire Protection Service Area Expansion to include one additional property on Dickie Road.

Opportunity Funds for 108 Mile Heritage Site

The Regional District Board approved a request from The 100 Mile & District Historical Society for emergency funding to replace the roof on the 108 Heritage Site Museum. The funds will be allocated equally from Electoral Areas, G, H and L for a total of up to $9,000 to complete the required repairs. The Society is concerned about major structural damage as well as damage to the valuable and irreplaceable artifacts as a result of the current roof leakage. Further information on the 108 Mile Ranch Heritage site is available online at www.historical.bc.ca/index-108.html                         

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, October 27 – CRD Finance/Budget

Friday, October 28 – Board Meeting

Golden Moments for the CRD at UBCM - October 12 Edition

Regional District has banner year on the resolution floor

Vancouver, BC – Over the past few days, the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) was honoured with two prestigious awards at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Conference and AGM which took place in Vancouver from September 26 to 30, 2011. 

On Wednesday, September 28, the CRD received a 2011 Community Recognition Award presented byWoodWORKS!BC. Last year the CRD was honoured with this award for its post and beam style construction of the 100 Mile House Branch Library.

This award is presented annually to a community that has shown leadership in the advocacy of wood and wood products. This may be demonstrated through the specification of wood in a community project or through visionary initiatives that work toward building a community culture of wood. WoodWORKS! is a national industry-led initiative of the Canadian Wood Council, with a goal to support innovation and provide leadership on the use of wood and wood products.  

During the resolutions session on Thursday, the CRD learned it won an annual Gold Star Award for its successful resolution “Public Telephone Access”.  This marks the second consecutive year the CRD has earned a Gold Star Award after winning with aPalliative Care Feesresolution in 2010. The Regional District also earned Gold Star Awards in 2005, and 2008.  

The Gold Star and Honourable Mention resolution recognition initiative was launched at the 2003 UBCM convention, and is intended to encourage excellence in resolution drafting and to assist UBCM members in refining their resolutions in preparation for submission to the annual convention. Each year the UBCM executive presents Gold Star and Honourable Mention Awards to members for the best-crafted resolutions.

“It was truly a productive conference with excellent speakers and professional development opportunities,” stated CRD Chair Al Richmond. “I would like to commend the Board and staff for taking concepts and issues raised by our residents and turning them into successful resolutions such as the Public Telephone Access.”

In 2011, the Cariboo Regional District submitted a total of 17 resolutions which saw a majority of success; a total of 16 receiving endorsement by the UBCM membership. The results are as follows:

Resolutions Endorsed

-      Flood Mitigation Programs

-      911 Call Levy

-      Infrastructure Costs

-      Regulation of the Sale of Plants & Seeds

-      Agriculture Policy

-      Barriers to Small Scale Food Production &

Distribution

-      High Speed Internet/Cellular Phone Coverage

-  Authority to Control Weeds