Alberni Valley Transition Town Society
Minutes 24 March, 2025
Present: Mike, John, Peter, Jim
Meeting with MLA Josie Osborne, on Climate Change 4 April, 2025: There is a risk it will be cancelled again because she is busy + federal election. Plan to be organized to use time most effectively. Mike will resend meeting plan from first attempt to meet last month.
Somass Lands/Owatchet Creek Development: Expected announcement from Matthews West hasn’t happened yet. Discussed lack of council response to our list of questions. The response from staff was perfunctory and provided no real information.
Cycle Alberni: John has acquired extra funding for the next Go By Bike Week, 31 May to 6 June, on the basis of incorporating a First Nations component. We lack appropriate contacts at the moment. John will follow up but would appreciate any suggestions for collaboration.
Federal Election All Candidates Meeting: We are planning to co-host an all candidates meeting with the Chamber of Commerce. Perhaps we would contribute $200? Roles will need to be defined well in advance. John will follow up (a tentative date has been set).
Public Transit Lobbying: Peter and Jim have written letter to Alberni Valley News. Have been encouraging people to respond to BC Transit survey. Peter has been in contact with Todd Littman from ‘Better Island Transit’. Consider Littman as a possibility for a public event on transit. Discussed a widely distributed petition. Fall Fair would be good venue for promoting that. Peter and Jim will present our argument to Josie Osborne at 4 April meeting. We need more factual background.
Mike took part in a recent WE-CAN conference. WE-CAN members on the Island agreed to focus on improvements to public transit as goal for 2025.
Community Garage Sale 19 April, 2025: Mike reported that we have 7-8 tables spoken for. That would be enough to make the event worthwhile. Mike will work on soliciting more tables. $15 for individuals or businesses, $10 for non-profits. We will put up our large banner. People are encouraged to bring their own tables, card tables, etc.
Food Security: Mike and Anna Lewis met and agreed to do an event on food security, but this is best put off until later this year.
AVTTS Quarterly Newsletter: Mike is working on a newsletter
AVTTS Strategic Review: Mike is collating answers to the survey but will first focus on the newsletter and the April events.
ACRD Regional Parks Working Group: Mike is filling out an application for AVTTS
Reviving Green Drinks: Char is willing to host Green Drinks before the Skysong Choir event on Tuesdays. But Skysong is moving in April. Format should change to explicitly invite community activists. Jim will continue to explore
Shipbreaking: Mike will share correspondence from Baynes Sound residents who have been fighting this industry for years. Letter warning Port Alberni about allowing the industry to set up shop here was sent to city in January but has not appeared in council correspondence.
Next meeting: 14 April, 2025
Category Archives: Meeting
Minutes from Feb. 18, 2025
AVTTS Executive Meeting 18 February, 2025
Present: Mike, John, Robert, Jim
Regrets: Judy, Leo, Sylvain, Gail
Land acknowledgement as said.
Seedy Saturday Membership 15 or so signed up for the newsletter. Three memberships have been recently sold. Robert will get the forms to Jim. 15 or so people signed up for the newsletter. Mike is working on a newsletter.
Port Boat House Parking Loss of Waterfront Parking Discussed Port Boat House lease and loss of waterfront access. No action at this time.
Banner. The small banner is still not located. Mike will ask Chris if he has it.
Community Garage Sale: Hard to find a site. Tuesday before Easter, Easter Saturday? Discussed several possible venues. Abbyfield? Char’s parking lot. Char’s has tables. Purpose to build community profile, raise money. John will explore with Char and Robert will check with Abbyfield.
Dry Creek Restoration: Chris hasn’t heard back regarding the questions he asked.. Informal talk with Mike Fox? Mike Youds will look into FOI, and Mike Y will attend next committee of the whole.
Also discussed with respect to Somass Lands: ;Are there rules for flood plains? Tsunami zones? Robert (and Jim?) may sit down with Roland Smith re tactics (was owner of Lady Rose and is active individual on city issues).
Cycle Alberni Winter go by bike just finished, at least 20 people came by Jumping Slug. John has $750 coming for GBB. $1700 fot June GBB. (must include First Nations component) and will involve schools.
Long Range Strategic planning. Mike has some replies in to the questionnaire he sent out, will wait to get more.
Ocean Friendly Report (see Gail’s notes) Robert suggest giving Ocean Friendly PA money to buy thrift store rubber boots for cleanup project. Group concurred.
Grass roots action needed: Regenerative agriculture, flood mitigation,
Meeting with Josie Osborne MLA: Climate Emergency Action Unit Report :John will send climate action report. Is pressure off on climate action in BC government? How are we going to get 2030 targets? Ask Josie if there a climate caucus? We will all bring forward concerns in our interest area. Jim and Peter will focus on regional public transportation.
Meeting postponed
Shipbreaking: What’s going to happen here? Discussed whether regulations are adequate. There appear to be two proposals. Why did a barge company buy the APD lands? Is this an issue for the Air Quality Group? Robert will talk to Keith Wyton about the issue.
CME wants to work with DFO to create group that breaks federal ships. If so Department of Fisheries and Oceans would have a lot of control over the process. Mike has contacted Baynes Sound group who have been fighting a problematic ship breaking operation at Union Bay.
Somass Lands: We need to stay on top of it. Discussion that our position of complete naturalization of the site may be unreasonable and seen as unreasonable by the public. No consensus.
OCP review status: Sooner or later something will happen. Robert will try to figure out where the process is at.
Food related collaboration: Anna Lewis from Food Security Grouop wants to collaborate. Mike will follow up
Electrifying city waste management? Noted that the city has a new garbage collection truck so is unlikely to replace it soon. Discussion of electric school buses? Is there an electrification plan? We will do research on e-buses for schools.
Mountain Bike Tourism: Len Readshaw (sp) has joined AVTTS wants to collaborate with mountain bike tourism. There was a discussion of the need for more signage? Laurie Morphet has been making signs. John will follow up.
Green Drinks: There was a discussion of re instituting Green Drinks as outreach, a means of connecting with membership and others. Jim will talk to Char about what might work.
Recycling reality check: John talked about putting everything in recycle. Is recycling worth it?
John: most of recycling is packaging Should work on less packaging. Consumers need to be aware that recycling doesn’t make it go away. What is being recycled? What is rate? Recycle BC doesn’t tell us anything about what is happening with the waste stream.
Next Meeting: March 17, 2025