Financials See Treasurer’s report below (presented during AGM)
Other Business
No December Meeting
Next Meeting – As Determined
Adjourn
Minutes – To be Provided
President’s Report
Dear Members,
Once again, we gather at the Annual General Meeting of the Alberni Valley Transition Town Society. This is the 14th year of our group. We have seen many changes in people, and programs in our midst over the years but especially since the pandemic. Some things haven’t changed though.
We still have three founding members on our Board today, myself, Dan Schubart, and John Mayba. Dan and John, I can’t express the depth of your contribution, and my gratitude for your commitment over these many years.
I want to thank Rob Powelson for your continued, steadfast and expert work as Treasurer.
I want to recognize and thank Jim Wright for another year as Director at Large and for his many contributions, insights and hours of volunteering.
I also want to thank some other members, Robert Gunn and Gail Morton, for their work on Alberni Climate Action, Dave and Leo for your many contributions this year including with the OCP Planning process and Dry Creek Restoration. Mike Youds for Seedy Saturday and the Earth Day Cleanup. Char, for your commitment and support of us for so many years. And so many of you who have committed, Val, Amber, Sandy, Ian, the folks at the Alberni Valley Food Security Society. The staff at the ACRD. Councillor Dame and City Staff. There are many more.
Everyone in Cycle Alberni, Ocean Friendly Port Alberni, Dry Creek Restoration Group, Alberni Climate Action, and everyone else, thank you. We don’t realize sometimes how big we are. Or how much of a contribution we are making.
I want to make three things clear at this moment:
I am standing for nomination as President for 2024.
I would like to step down and away from the Board of Directors.
If I am elected as President for 2024, then it will be my last year.
I have gained great joy and fulfillment from my time as President, both before I was on Council, and again after 2018. But as I have mentioned a few times recently, it is time for change and new energy. I will always be a member of the Society, I will happily support and guide anyone who takes on my or any other role in the Society if they ask, but in order for this Society to grow and meet its goals, there must be renewal.
And so, again, if I am elected to be President for 2024, then I will be happy to do so, but it will be my last. If someone is thinking of leading this organization, there is no time like the present.
We have built something over the past decade and a half that has become a fixture in the community. The City of Port Alberni, the people within the building on Argyle that is, hears us, and also seeks out the contribution of our members. Our MLA and MP regularly take our calls, listen to our input, help in our initiatives, and participate meaningfully in our events. We are recognized within the Transition Town movement on Vancouver Island, in Canada, and around the world.
The community listens when Alberni Valley Transition Towns, or any of its groups speak, and values the many contributions we make to it.
It is easy to look around at the world and be cynical or even to despair. It is easy to be discouraged, but at the same time we must also see the change that is happening. The most significant is that there is no longer a serious debate about our human responsibility for this crisis.
The question now, is simply how do we do it, and how fast.
Alberni Valley Transition Town has made an impact in this community, whether it is in Food Security, in Cycling, in Cleaning the Ocean, or influencing City Planning and Policy, we will continue to provide those answers and opportunities to our community where we can.
We will continue to promote resilience and kindness. We will continue to advocate for reductions in carbon emissions and provide tangible examples of doing so.
At our core, while we are not partisan, we will continue to agitate and advocate for social, practical, economic, and political change according to our Constitution that is in the best interest and for the well being of every person in this Valley.
Thank you all for your time and your continued engagement and I look forward to a productive and exciting 2024 for the Alberni Valley Transition Town Society.
Chris Alemany
Treasurer’s Report – To Be Provided
Aggregate: $4,923.69
AVTTS: $530.18
Cycle Alberni: $2,653.46
Alberni Climate Action: $1,740.05
Cycle Alberni Report
Winter 2023 (Feb.)
35 Total Riders 10 New Riders 766 Total Kms ridden 55 Trips 166 Kgs GHG saved
Spring (May/June) 2023
100 Total Riders 37 New Riders 3333 Total Kms ridden 325 Trips 723 Kgs GHG saved
Fall (October) 2023
55 Total Riders 14 New Riders 2422 Total Kms ridden 217 Trips 525 Kgs GHG saved
During the Spring GoByBike Week we gave away 45 high visibility GoByBike Tee shirts
We co-sponsored a booth at the Fall Fair where we promoted GoByBike Week and gave away a Mountain Bike
We replaced the Riderless ghost bike at 10th and Dunbar after it had been removed during the modifications to the intersection.
We hosted 2 electric bike safety courses for seniors in July and August that were funded by the BC Cycling Coalition.
We continued to provide safety and skills courses for students at our elementary schools.
We liaised with City Hall regarding changes made to the intersections at 10th and Roger and 10 and Dunbar
Ocean Friendly
No report at this time.
We are in the middle of planning next year’s activities with a meeting tomorrow, and trying to come up with an appropriate citizen’s science project for Haahuupayak students.
We’re also trying to locate our new liaison person from Surfrider, as Lilly Woodbury has a new job with Surfrider Canada.
We will no longer be providing a Zoom for our Regular meetings. Please do come and join us in person!
Time: (The Third Wednesday) April 19, 2023 – 6:00pm Pacific Time – Duration <=1hr
April 19, 2023 – Regular Meeting
Territorial Acnknowledgent – 6PM
Introductions
Unfinished Business
Upcoming Events
Sub Group/Committee Reports
Education and Networking – Dan
Alternate OCP – Leo
Cycle Alberni – John
Ocean Friendly – Jim/Gail
Dry Creek Estuary – Chris
Financials
Affiliated Group Reports
Alberni Climate Action
Food Security Society
Waterwatch Coalition
Other Fun Stuff
Active Transportation and Public Transport
Financial Report
Aggregate: $6,196.23
AVTTS: $1,170.11
Cycle Alberni: $3,039.99
Alberni Climate Action: $1,986.13
Report from ACA
1. ACA has achieved a place on the new Community Representative Team (CRT) to advise on the OCP. Robert Gunn will represent ACA. Marianne Wade, who leads the OCP project is moving to work in Courtenay but will maintain her endeavours on the Port Alberni OCP if possible.
2. Rob Dickinson, City Engineer, reports that the City will undertake a Master Mobility Plan funded, he believes, by the Provincial Growth Grant. Data being gathered include traffic counters and the vehicle-activated sign currently at Weaver Park, which helps change people’s habits and also takes down data. Approximately one year will be for data collecting and year two will indicate trending. A Master Mobility Planincludes ActiveTransportation whereas a Master Transportation Plan may not.
3. Rob Dickinson talked with the new CAO about resuming ACA/City discussions on reducing GHG’s. At this time, with underfunding and staffing shortages, we will not be able to meet. However, Rob is happy to meet with us on his own time as a city resident.
4. City response about the Nature Based Solutions Roadmap. Rob Dickinson has referred our query to new CAO Michael Fox and Corporate Officer Danielle. It may once again be too late to apply for this year’s cohort. However, Rob reports that the City’s intent is to place NBS policy into the OCP, then incorporate it into the Asset Management plan with all of our infrastructure. As an engineer this makes sense to him: considering NBS as an equal priority to our water systems and roads etc. This way, it is incorporated into the Asset Management Plan. Perhaps Robert can address exactly how this will occur when the Community Representative Team starts up.
5. WE CAN AGM: attended by Jim Wright and Gail Morton. ACA has been offered a presentation on getting Fossil Gas out of new builds. ACA is looking into this. Transportation: We need 25% reduction in miles driven by ICE vehicles by 2030, given that transportation is a top GHG priority. Involving unions and increasing numbers of groups working on stopping highway expansion projects suggested. The “Let’s Ride” campaign may be something we could work with. Reducing Cost of HeatPumps: Installation is the main cost. Costs of installation rose when the provincial government offered rebates requiring installation by government approved installers, so no real monetary gain on this front. The idea of a cooperative was raised for free installation with training students at college level a possibility. There is a Heat Pump Survey being conducted through Nanaimo Climate Hub which will help with data gathering. ACA has emailed Chris Allemany with the link to distribute.
Link to City of Port Alberni Active Transportation Plan
Etienne, Dustin Dame, J. Mayba, Gail Morton, Dave Reid, Desiree, Rob Powelson, ChrisAlemany
Unfinished Business
Upcoming Events
CAC The Grove Climate Change Art Submissions for a show 21 artists on the roster
Sub Group/Committee Reports
Education and Networking – Dan
MOOC
Alternate OCP – Leo
Meeting with Good Johns Ass’t. Ryan looking for some funding and resources ACP with the lens of Reconciliation Tofino as an example. Ambassador program 3 hour course on FN and place in the community. Dave’s idea: community knowledge exchange, start with small interactions. Look at brining FN presence into banners street signs. ACP proactive rather than reactive.
Cycle Alberni – John Bike event working with Mary Layton
Just finished winter go by bike, successful.
Money is available. Must teach kids to ride, especially with bike exchanges
Ocean Friendly – Jim/Gail
Clean up event in the estuary. Estuary presently seems clean, but safety might keep the group out of the dirty areas. FN Hahopayuk kids have been involved. Not yet in the works. Potential eelgrass study.
Dry Creek Estuary – Chris
Message going out to group in a couple of weeks, tying to OCP
What regulations for properties on the estuary? Has been discussed, not fixed.
Green drinks Last Tuesday of each month.
Financials
Affiliated Group Reports
Alberni Climate Action
Food Security Society
Waterwatch Coalition
Other Fun Stuff
Financials
Aggregate: $6,975.12
AVTTS: $1,227.86
Cycle Alberni: $3,761.13
Alberni Climate Action: $1,986.13
ACA Report
ACA sent in a request for a Transportation Study toward a Transportation Master Plan, to be included in this years’ budget. ACA emailed Rob Dickinson, Director of City Engineering. Rob’s request for finances to do such a study was not included in the ask to Council due to budget constraints. Rob is currently gathering data so that the city is ready to go when finances become available.Councillor Dame made a motion on Jan. 9, 2023, for staff to report on the Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI) toward engaging with MNAI on creating a Natural Assets Roadmap for the City of Port Alberni. Correspondence with Roy Brooke of MNAI indicated 4 spaces remaining in this cohort. ACA requested a fast track on the report to council process. ACA is waiting to hear back from Councillor Dame on the report and its results.Feb. 15 Old Growth Rally: One member from ACA was able to attend. The rally was peaceful and well attended, despite weather conditions. Banners and works of art included species endangered due to old growth destruction. First Nations representatives led with traditional song and dance. Judith Sayers spoke.For interested folks: There is a multimedia Climate Change art exhibit upcoming at The Grove, entitled “How Does Climate Change Make You Feel?” John Mayba initiated this and more submissions are needed. The deadline for submissions is March 18. For more info: Google “The Grove.”Next Meeting: ACA is planning a group meeting to discuss future steps. Anyone interested is asked to please email Gail: gailpmorton@gmail.com
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