November 18 2024

Submitted by site_admin on Mon, 12/02/2024 - 03:35

BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY

General Meeting Unofficial Minutes-Draft

Monday 18 November 2024 at 6.30 pm
via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock (Chair)

Attendees (14): Jamie Willock (Chair), Tom Jensen, Bob Beckett, Bob & Robin Schmitt, Mandy Ross, Julie Bradley , Ben West, Jaslyn Haberl, Susan Derasp, Stella Wenstob, Frank Novak, Stacy Denton and perhaps others.

Regrets: Jan Teversham, Sean Rogers

Guest Presenters:  Jodi Frank ACRD Solid Waste Projector Coordinator

                                     Paulo Eichelberger ACRD Service Manager

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Lands: The BCAS acknowledges that the land on which we meet is within the Traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations where indigenous peoples have lived since time immemorial.

The meeting was called to order about 18.32.

Adoption of Agenda

Adoption of Minutes of October’s Community Affairs Meeting.

ACRD DIRECTOR’S REPORT – by Bob Beckett

  1. Peace Train. I would like to acknowledge Keith and Bernadette for their initiative on the Peace Train, and I happen to be one that supports the work that they're doing and the communications that they're trying to trying to share with folks across Canada in this day and age. We need to have more conversations about finding peaceful resolutions to our challenges, both internationally and locally.
  2. Grief Support counselling. Our communities have faced several loses over the past year and a half, and two weeks ago we were able to host two drop-in sessions at the Bamfield Community School for folks to come together in a time of grief and reflection. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Toby and Johnathan from BC Disaster Psychosocial Services for facilitating the Grief and Loss Circle, as well as Jaslyn from the BCSA for providing an inviting environment complete with treats and refreshments.
  3. Bamfield Sewer Collection Referendum Staff that participated in the referendum voting stations wanted me to thank Phil Lavoie and Max Salamon for helping to get them set up and comfortable at the east side fire hall, and thanks to the Wreckage and Flora’s for the amazing meals.

With respect to the process and community engagement surrounding the matter of Bamfield Sewer Collection, I have suggested to James that there would be value in the BCAS executive board along with myself and ACRD staff conducting a critique to evaluate what went well, and more importantly, what we could learn from this process that could be applied should we be faced with other matters of community interest like the OCP review, parking, moorage, affordable housing etc.

PRESENTATION- Jodi Frank and Paulo Eichelberger ACRD

The intention of the presentation was to go through the process of a solid waste management plan, provide  some background that sets the stage and go through what has been done to date. This includes the draft strategies, the goals, the guiding principles, and the targets that the group has set. The presentation will be emailed with the BCAS minutes

Question

Where does Bamfield stand in relation to the average annual volume of  540 (?) Do you have any idea where we stand locally?

 Response: ACRD doesn’t have specific data for Bamfield. Bamfield ‘s garbage is dumped in the landfill along with the rest of the Alberni valley. But we  can get you that number. I just don't have it in front of me.

Question: And you mentioned diversion. So is that trying to move stuff out of your waste stream into a separate, like commercial waste stream with commercial operators and they  would deal with it separately. Or how does that work?

Response :  Yes, Diversion is a term used. Basically, anything that can be diverted from being buried into the landfill itself is material that's being diverted, so the more we can divert, the less we have to bury and every time we bury garbage essentially, that shortens the lifespan of our landfill. We are trying to extend the life of our landfill as long as we possibly can.

Question: The amount that  goes into landfill is clearly already being handled in a different way in some jurisdictions within Canada and perhaps Europe. So,  the plan you have is  still at very high level  and I wonder when you will be moving forward with some specific initiatives?

Response: Basically, we've got 8 strategies that we're consulting the public on. We're not providing  details quite just yet, though in the report it shows some examples of what  programs could look like

TREASURER’S REPORT (October 31,2024) Susan Derasp

Chequing account                          $13,281.19

High interest savings account -   $33,108.49

Member Equity Shares                        $5.21

Total Assets                                $46,393.89

COMMUNITY REPORTS

  1. Bamfield Harbour Authority - Tom Jensen

Nothing to report

  1. Bamfield Community School - Robin Schmitt

We are planning our Christmas concert/ family fun night on December 17. More details to follow.

  1. Arts Council- Julie Bradley
  • The Christmas Craft Fair will be on Sunday, 1 December at the Rix Centre from 11-2. Twenty tables have been booked with a wide variety of goods to be sold. The Wreckage is serving/selling lunch  and Phil Lavoie and Malcolm Richards will be performing live Christmas music as usual.
  • It is best if you bring cash, because  Wi-fi is always tricky in that building,
  • There were 36 tables last year and that was a lot and it  was unfortunate to split the tables into 2 rooms: however, we can't physically fit more than about 22 tables in the front room. This year, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that the insurance had gone up for the society, we put the price up for renting the tables, and we asked for it in advance. That seems to have limited the numbers a bit. So  maybe we'll fall under 22, and we'll all be in that front room. If not, we'll open up the one of the classrooms with some more tables.
  1. BCSA- Jaslyn  Haberl
  • A big thank you to our wonderful and generous community from the BCSA staff and Board of Directors for a very successful Oysters, Authors, and Ale. We had a wonderful evening with lots of laughs, delicious food and drink, and great stories, and fundraised around $7,000 for the BCSA's literacy programming. Extra special thanks to all of our amazing volunteers for their help and support, to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre for hosting, to Nova Harvest for donating their tasty local oysters, to Dog Mountain Brewing for supplying their ales, to the Bamfield Wreckage for providing non-ale beverages and yummy snacks, and to the many businesses and individuals who donated items to the silent auction. We are so grateful for the support of our community!
  • Big thanks from the BCSA and the teachers of the BCS to the Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department, whose firefighters brought their truck and turnout gear to the school in October to engage the kids about fire safety and show them some of their equipment. The kids had a blast spraying water from the firehose, turning on the truck lights, and wearing the firefighters' gear.
  • We teamed up with the Huu-ay-aht Child and Family Wellness team on some really cute and fun Halloween celebrations this year, with a Family Halloween Party at the school involving candy-fuelled games, pumpkin carving and a costume contest, and supporting families to trick-or-treat the west Bamfield Boardwalk and enjoy Halloween snacks at the Bamfield Wreckage. Thanks to everyone who came out with candy to make this such a memorable and fun evening for the kids, thanks to the Wreckage for hosting, and thank you especially to our wonderful bus and water taxi drivers for transporting everyone safely!
  • We are grateful to Director Beckett and the Mobile Response Team for their efforts to bring Grief and Loss Support workers to the community at the beginning of November. It was very appreciated to access some professional assistance and to connect with one another to support our grief processes; if anyone would like to access some of the paper resources and online information that the support workers left, they are welcome to come check them out at the BCSA office.
  • Stay tuned, the BCSA's Annual General Meeting date will be announced soon on our website (https://bamfieldcommunity.ca), on Facebook, and on the message boards around town. We would love to have your energy, ideas, and passion on our Board of Directors!
  • We are hiring! Join our passionate team as the Literacy Outreach Facilitator, and help Jaslyn to coordinate and create recreational, creative, and educational opportunities for our community! The application period has been extended, and now closes November 28th. Details can be found on our website and on Facebook.

Programs in November and December:

  • Weekly drop-in Adult Sports at the school on Monday nights from 7:30-9pm.
  • We host After School Programming on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for different age demographics in the school.
  • Yoga resumes this week, join us for a fun and beginner-friendly yoga class on Wednesday nights at 5:30pm.
  • This month's Friday Night Chill youth hang is on November 22 from 7-9:30pm.
  • Little Buddies Playtime will be on Tuesday November 26 from 10-11:45am.
  • Come make holiday cards and gifts in our Linocut Printmaking workshop with Jess on Tuesday November 26 from 5:30-8:30pm. Participants will learn how to carve a block of lino to make art prints and cards, all equipment and supplies provided. The class is $30; please register in advance by reaching out to BCSA Staff on Facebook, or emailing bcsacoordinator@gmail.com
  • Learn how to hand build and glaze in our upcoming Ceramic Ornaments Workshop series with Julie from Sea Star Ceramics! Join us from 6-8pm on December 3 and 10 to make 5-10 ceramic ornaments to decorate your home or gift to loved ones this holiday season. The workshop series is $60; please register in advance by reaching out to BCSA Staff on Facebook, or emailing bcsacoordinator@gmail.com
  • Our last Community Lunch of the year will be on December 11th. We will skip January, but be back again in February on the second Wednesday of each month.
  • You  may have seen that I was going to present a Grant and Aid request tonight as well, and I've postponed that to the New Year, because in evaluating our budgets, I think I actually want to ask you guys about spring break and summer camps, and I have not thought that far ahead yet. So, I will be presenting to the Community Affairs Society in the New Year.

OLD BUSINESS

GIA-Mandy Ross

Mandy made her second presentation for a GIA for Lomi Composters . The presentation is the same as last time except there are now 31 requests for the Lomi.

This is  cost share program. The goal of the project is to help people purchase products that will help reduce human wildlife conflict and help secure attractants. Through this program, we can subsidize up to 50%of the  purchase price to a total of $250. By tackling the composting issues, we will also be helping address the cougar issue. Thirty one people have now requested a Lomi composter ( up from 27 at the previous presentation).

Last year in June I received a $2,000 Grant in Aid. We do have people interested in buying electric fencing and bins, but I put that on hold, knowing that the Lomi purchase needed to be a bulk purchase. Combining today's request of $5000, and the previous $2,000 would make $7,000. To purchase the requested composters.

 Discussion

  • Tom -In Nelson they bought 600 of them- full price and so they maintain ownership of them But  here, because of the subsidy, can that  unit  stay with the house? Perhaps when people receive the subsidy they can sign to say it will stay in Bamfield.
  • Perhaps the ACRD could purchase all of them?
  • Jas- Perhaps we could flood the ACRD with requests?
  • Stella- Local businesses should get on board with composting too. BMSC cafeteria? Restaurants

Mandy said that the Lomi   and the Jora composters are too small for commercial purposes. She mentioned a few years ago  a woman in Tofino who put compost buckets into all the stores and collected them and put them into composters in her yard. These composters had oxygen blown into them to speed up the composting process. She then sold the compost..

Stella added that she had in the past collected compost from BMSC and that the Wreckage had asked if she was interested in getting theirs.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on 20th January 2025

Meeting Adjourned at approximately 19.22   m/TJensen s/JBradley