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PHC gets community input on future
Clients looking for chance at a decent living
By Janina Stajic
Monday, February 8 2010

People for a Healthy Community (PHC) took steps towards establishing a strategic plan for the organization, when the board and staff met for a day-long planning session on Saturday. Their aim was to prioritize the goals of PHC by looking at the feedback they’ve been gathering from community members during the past few months. «more»

The greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of various sectors in our community are described in a report released by Island Futures this week. The biggest culprit was the fuel we used for our cars and trucks, which contributed 39 percent of the emissions. Second in line was the ferry at 19 percent; and third was transportation of our food at 15 percent. Based on the total figures the annual average GHG emission was 3.57 tonnes CO2 equivalent per Gabriola resident. «more»

At the latest Parks and Open Spaces Advisory Committee (POSAC) meeting, a five-year parks priority draft plan was put on the table by Lesya Fesiak, parks planner for Gabriola. «more»

What feeds our roots to the community and gives us strength? What gives us a sense of belonging? What does community mean when we all arrive as individuals with roots in other places and we are here for different reasons? How can we make sustainable choices when it means giving up personally for the sake of the community? «more»

“Steady as she goes” is the theme looked for in the Gabriola housing market for 2010, according to Jennifer Lynch, Manager, Coast Realty Group, Gabriola Village Ltd. «more»

Making the transition from high school to the job world can be difficult, but thanks to work opportunities at Artworks and Village Foods, Andy Rollerson is getting work experience before he leaves school. «more»

Green’s Landing (better known as Green Wharf) has been given the go ahead for divestiture by Transport Canada Harbours and Ports Branch (TCHP). «more»

Gabriola Elementary School has its very own beautiful Stream of Dreams mural! Last week each child, teacher, a few lucky parents and some of the local homeschoolers, learned all about their local watershed and how to keep water clean for people and fish, and then painted the beautiful “Dreamfish” that are now part of the amazing mural outside their school. «more»

After months of debate and waiting for staff data reports, the Gabriola Local Trust Committee (LTC) has voted to forward the Brown/Foley application for bulk water extraction in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). «more»

The Gabriola Local Trust Committee (LTC) has given the go ahead to the ad hoc Gabriola Transportation Committee Cycle Path group to create a “Gabriola cycle route plan” to present to the LTC at the end of March. «more»

“I was off on an adventure and I found my soul mate,” says Gabriolan artist Carl Billington. Unfortunately, his soul mate, Denise Sintima, was in Port-au-Prince on January 12th, when the earthquake hit Haiti. «more»

Nancy Nevison, Health Care Auxiliary chair, announced on January 25th, “It is with great disappointment that the Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary has to let you know that the results of the AVIVA Community Fund online competition will not bring any money to Gabriola. But, it has built a community spirit that is priceless!” «more»

Power outages are a fact of living on Gabriola; we accept it, plan for them and continue on the best we can until the power comes back on. «more»

Gabriola Elementary School will be amongst the 18 schools in the district to offer full-day Kindergarten starting in September 2010. «more»

Sunday, January 24th, the fundraiser, “Help Haiti,” was a resounding success raising over $16,000 for humanitarian relief in Haiti. Bob Bossin and Gail Lund produced the event. Following a whirlwind, ten-days only, get-it-together by countless good folk, a standing-room only audience at the Community Hall enjoyed an exceptional roster of talented performers, a compelling slide show, delicious treats, and a silent auction to outbid all. «more»

A volunteer group of concerned Gabriolans, including Steve Elder, Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley, Gail Lund, Sharon Hooton, Nathan Tinkham and many others—musicians, performers and filmmakers of all ages—has posted a satirical music video on YouTube to make people question why 1 in 5 children in British Columbia continue to live in poverty in one of the world’s richest regions. The video has been growing in popularity over the last few days, as the world focuses on Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Olympics. «more»

Taking the next step in opening communication lines, Sustainable Gabriola representatives met with the upper management team of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) last Monday afternoon. «more»

Gabriola Island RCMP were called to attend and investigate a residential break, enter and theft which occurred sometime between January 16th and January 18th. Stolen from the residence were a 46” Samsung flatscreen television, a 37” Sharp flatscreen television, an Acer computer modem and a 22” Acer flatscreen monitor. A large quantity of firewood was also stolen from the property. «more»

Starting mid-February and continuing through the end of April, BC Ferries will be upgrading the electrical service at Descanso Bay Terminal on Gabriola Island. Improvements will be made to the terminal’s electrical supply and to the shore-to-ship power capability. The work will require trenching in the ferry access lane and down the length of the terminal between the vehicle lane and the passenger drop-off lane. «more»

The Gabriola Volunteer Fire Department wants to hire some local contractors to build a permanent helipad at the back of the fire hall property. This would allow for medevacs and other helicopter landings to take place in a more controlled area than the ones used currently on Gabriola. «more»

The Gabriola Health Care Auxiliary presents “Cupid’s Clinic”, a Valentine’s fundraiser, at Dragon’s Lodge on Sunday, February 14th from 7 to 11pm. «more»

So it’s time for my new year’s resolution. I love new year’s resolutions. «more»