On November 28 from 10:00-11:30 at the Belle Petroleum Centre, Dr. Avi Friedman will do a public presentation on his plan for downtown revitalization in Peace River as well as a tourism action plan.
Council will adopt the plan as is or in a revised version to guide future decisions about development in the downtown core and encouraging more tourism. Your input is important.
What's on my mind these days, and a suitable topic for 2009 Blog Action Day on climate change, is local food production and how municipalities might help to make it easier for residents to produce food themselves and to buy locally-produced food.
The March 2009 issue of Municipal World ("Canada's municipal magazine since 1891") had an article talking about "foodshed strategy." It provides inspiring examples of ways that municipal governments and other organizations are finding ways to "shorten food chains and build community capacity."
A foodshed strategy, according to the article, includes three basic elements that depend on local resources and experiences:
- direct-marketing venues
- processes that connect producers and consumers
- avenues to develop greater access and security to food
There are aspects of these elements already in place in small ways in our region, and although we haven't completely lost our connection between food production and consumption in this area, we increasingly rely on food that comes from a great distance. Transporting food is a contributor to climate change; it also makes us vulnerable to disruptions in supply.
As a small step in this direction, since Peace River is currently reviewing its Animal Control Bylaw, I asked a local food advocate to do a presentation to inform Council (October 19, 5:30) about whether small scale poultry production Peace River might fit. It will be interesting to see how residents respond to this idea and to the more general idea of increasing local food production capacity.
There are visionary people in the region already working in practical ways on food issues. Municipal governments can provide support and leadership through appropriate bylaws, programs and other initiatives that could lead to a Peace regional foodshed strategy. The Town of Peace River is in the midst of developing a municipal sustainability plan; a foodshed strategy would fit in nicely. I'm looking forward to more discussion, but more importantly, action in this direction.
I encourage Peace River residents to take the time to do the survey on sustainability that is now on the Town's website. The results will provide important information for our municipal sustainability plan and the review of our Municipal Development Plan.
Grab a cup of tea and settle in--the survey takes awhile to complete (give yourself 15-20 minutes)--and know that you are making an important contribution by taking this time to respond.
I encourage Peace River residents to take advantage of an information seminar on Islam that will be presented on September 26, 4:00-5:00 PM, at the Sawridge Inn by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMC), an international organization that rejects terrorism and advocates for the separate of mosque and state.
Peace River Town Council passed a motion yesterday supporting the seminar in the interest of promoting interfaith knowledge and harmony in our increasingly diverse region. I will bring greetings from the Town and moderate the question and answer period.
Councillor Laurin and I met with an AMC delegation from Calgary earlier this month. They explained that the group tries to add new communities each year to its annual educational offerings, so Peace River and Whitecourt were being asked whether they would welcome the seminar.
The topic this year is "Concept of Jihad in Islam." It seems like this will be an excellent opportunity for anyone unfamiliar with the Islamic faith to learn more and to ask questions in an open learning experience. I hope there will be a good crowd on the 26th.
Do you have broadband access to the Internet? Do you wonder about the speed and how it compares with other parts of the province and country?
Well, here's an opportunity for you. The federal government program called Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians is asking for consumer and ISP provider feedback to establish where broadband access is available and about the level of service.
You can participate by running a speed test and submitting the results. It's pretty simple and actually quite interesting. Communities without Boundaries did this kind of an exercise in Alberta last year and the results showed variation in service around the province.
The feedback being solicited now is described as the "first step" to "get a clear picture of where broadband services are available, and where they are not. Industry Canada is working with other levels of government and the private sector to define a detailed map of service availability."
Be aware that this feedback is only being used for information purposes in the design of the broadband program, "and will not necessarily change the availability of high-speed Internet in your area." But there is money available to expand broadband access and that program will be rolled out later in the year.
Avi Friedman from McGill University is in town today and tomorrow with two of his architectural students to do consultations about tourism and downtown revitalization. I expect we'll hear a thing or two about community walkability along with many more thought-provoking ideas.
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine that looked at data from 11,541 survey participants in 11 countries came to the conclusion, according to this article, that "those who live in an urban neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active as those in the suburbs," with the most important factor being "accessibility to sidewalks."
The article goes on to say that the study found that "Those individuals who reported living in a city neighborhood with easy access to sidewalks were 15-50 percent more likely to get moderate-to vigorous activity at least five days a week for at least 30 minutes each day."
Peace River has lots of sidewalks as well as the paved paths along the dike and up the West Hill. This valley is so beautiful--let's take the time to savour it by walking, biking or taking the bus to work or activities, even just once in awhile. It's good for the environment and good for our bodies!
The Town has declared a Level 1 restriction (Bylaw 1810). Please help out by minimizing all water usage until further notice, but the following restrictions are required by the bylaw:
LEVEL I
Residents at ODD numbered addresses may water lawns: Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Residents of EVEN numbered addresses may water lawns: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday between 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again between 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens may be watered by hand, at anytime, using a watering can or a hose with a nozzle with a trigger shut off to restrict water flow.
The Water Park opening on June 19 will have to be postponed until further notice.
Updates will be posted on the Town's website and information about saving water is available there as well.
Come tour the new Horizon Learning Centre today between 4:30 and 7:30 and find out what it's all about. The Centre is located on Main Street at 9807-100 Street (tucked between the Horizon Credit Union and Domino's Pizza).
There will be music, munchies and mingling and a short program (where I'll be speaking briefly) from 5:30 to 5:45.
See you there!
It looks like there will be great weather this weekend for the Aboriginal Gathering & Pow Wow, being held in its new location--the Twelve Foot Davis Ball Park--on Saturday and Sunday.
Peace River and area residents will want to take advantage of the scenic location to come and watch the wonderful dancers, singers, drummers, and Metis fiddlers and jiggers. There are also children's activities, food booths, and displays.
This is one of only a few off-reserve events on the Pow Wow Trail and a great opportunity to learn about Aboriginal culture.
Councillor Milligan, CAO MacQuarrie and myself are in beautiful Whistler at the Federal of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference. Yesterday's theme was Capacity Building and "green" and "sustainability" were the main topics of discussion and presentations.
In a session called "Community Energy Systems: Greening Your Bottom Line," we heard about a new Canadian organization called QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow) and inspiring presentations about the exciting work that Guelph, Ontario, Calgary, and our neighbour over the BC border, Dawson Creek, are doing on community-based approaches to integrating land-use, energy, transportation, and waste and water systems. This is resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions and saves the municipality money.
Another session I attended was on brownfields, which are, according to a new document from the FCM's Green Municipal Fund (Brownfields) is "an abandoned, vacant, derelict or under-utilized commercial, industrial or institutional property where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination or threat to public health and safety and where there is active potential for redevelopment."
There are a number of contaminated sites in Peace River that if remediated could provide valuable land for development on the East side of the river. The message in the session was encouraging as well as cautionary. During the Q&A, I learned about the Town of Cochrane's brownfield initiative and I've since made contact with some of the councillors to hear more about that project.
I also attended a demonstration of Microsoft's new Surface technology. Very intriguing.
Today's theme is Policy and Advocacy. More on that later.
Once again the Peace Region Aboriginal Interagency Committee is hosting the Aboriginal Gathering and Pow Wow. It's being held on June 13 and 14 in Peace River at a new location--the Twelve Foot Davis Ball Park.
With the move to this new location, we expect a few growing pains but are hopeful that this beautiful natural amphitheatre will be a great location for this year's event and those in the future.
I encourage everyone to come and see the wonderful dancing, singing, drumming, Metis fiddling and jigging, displays, food and more. It's a full two days of celebration of Aboriginal culture.
This is an alcohol and drug free event that is very family-oriented and includes children's activities coordinated by the Town's Community Services Department.
One of the aspects that I especially enjoy is the presentation of blankets and feathers to people of Aboriginal heritage who have graduated from high school in the past year. And this year, graduates from college and universities are also being honoured. As well, Northlands School Division is celebrating its 25th anniversary and this milestone is being celebrated.
The AIC is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks to make the event go smoothly. If you can contribute a few hours, contact Dianne Lavoie at 780-618-9268 (diannelavoie@telusplanet.net) or Tracy Zweifel at 780-624-2443 (tracy-sagitawa@telus.net) to find out where your help is most needed.
For more information about the Gathering and Pow Wow, contact Christina Hogaboam at 780-624-6316 (christina.hogaboam@gov.ab.ca) or Dennis Whitford at 780-624-6367 (dennis.whitford@gov.ab.ca)
The very successful Sisters in Spirit Walk, an activity of the Aboriginal Interagency Committee, was held again this year in Peace River on May 19. This walk, with others across the country, honours Aboriginal women who are missing or murdered.
A large number of people--Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, men, women and children--gathered at the mall and then walked, with RCMP in red serge in the lead, down Main Street and towards Riverfront Park. Since the weather was cold and unsettled, organizers decided to move the event from the park to the basement of Athabasca Hall.
People were smudged as they entered and handed a tobacco pouch and then formed a circle. Elder Helen Piper offered an opening prayer and then the names of missing and murdered women were read aloud. The good news was that there were no names added to the list for this year's event, but there were still 40 names to read. An honour dance was performed by two male and three female dancers in traditional regalia.
Greetings by Mayor Callioux on behalf of the Town, Brandy Mitchell of Region 6 Metis Nation of Alberta, and Kitty Brown from the Sagitawa Friendship Centre were followed by keynote speaker Linda Roy from Awo Taan Healing Lodge in Calgary. Linda spoke of her personal and professional experience with violence against women.
After a beautiful flute interlude by Danya Auger, we heard testimonials and remembrances from family members of four missing or murdered women: Arlene Thunder, Jessica Noskey, Rene Lynn Gunning, and Rhonda Whitehead. Others were invited to speak and a number of people from the audience chose to do so.
Elder Helen Piper offered a closing prayer and then the group did an innovative round dance in a very small space (so much easier to do outside!). I really enjoy these dances and appreciate how they join people together with the singing and drumming. After the dance we had a social time with coffee and bannock in the Anglican Church basement.
The evening was emotional and a reminder of the terrible legacy that has resulted from colonization. The Sisters in Spirit Walk offers all of us an opportunity to bring attention to the continuing problem of violence against women--Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal--and to remember and honour the memory of the murdered and missing women as well as to stand in solidarity with their families and the Aboriginal community. It's a privilege to take part.
This is the week (April 27-May 1) designated by the Town of Peace River when residents who want to help clean up the town are encouraged to get out and pick up garbage that has accumulated over the winter. The Town and Tim Horton's are the sponsors of the event--thank you!
I'm a little late on this, but I'm going out tonight to pick up garbage (meet at the East side of the Mall at 6:45 if you want to join me) and decided I should also advertise the event.
Here's the information from Community Services:
At your convenience, drop by one of the three dispatch points between noon and 8:00 PM (Tim Horton's, the pool, and the Rec Centre). There you will be provided garbage bags, gloves and a participant T Shirt. Choose an area you think needs a bit of cleaning, pick garbage to your heart’s content, then return the filled garbage bag to the dispatch point. Filled bags can be left near the on-site dumpster for pick up by Town staff the following morning.
A thank you wind up Barbeque for all the volunteers will be held at the Public Works yard (off River Road just north of the bridge) on May 9 from 11-3 PM. This BBQ is also intended to raise awareness about E-Waste Recycling.
The Peace River Municipal Library has been open on Thursday nights until 8:00 for awhile now, but since use isn't very good, I thought I'd remind people. If attendance doesn't improve, the Library Manager will need to make a decision whether or not to continue, so if you like having evening hours, take advantage of Thursdays!
Peace River and region residents should plan to attend the Community Safety Forum on Wednesday (April 8), 6:30 PM at the Belle Petroleum Centre. The forum is co-hosted by the Town of Peace River, Northern Sunrise County and Peace Regional RCMP.
This Peace River Record-Gazette article outlines the program for the event. It's an ambitious agenda (maybe over-ambitious for 3 hours) that we hope will help to kick-start greater community and regional collaboration on the issue of reducing crime.
The keynote speaker is Bill Pitt, a criminologist affiliated with the University of Alberta and MacEwan College who will speak to crime trends in this area and the Alberta context. There will also be an opportunity for those in attendance to discuss ideas for reducing crime in our area.
I tend to look at the big picture and want to know what is at the root of problems, which is where I think we need to put effort. So I'll be listening to hear whether Professor Pitt talks about this at all or whether he is more focused on the enforcement level (important, but only a small part of the issue).
Creating or maintaining safe communities is everyone's concern--crime affects each of us directly or indirectly. The more informed and willing to work together for solutions that we are, the more likely it is we can make a difference. Please plan to attend and bring another person or two with you.
Yesterday I was thrilled to be present in Council Chambers when a $5 million cheque for a 46-unit affordable housing complex in Peace River was presented to the North Peace Housing Foundation by our MLA, Frank Oberle. Many thanks to Frank, who advocated on Peace River's behalf for this much-needed funding from the Alberta government's housing initiative. A news release outlines some of the details of the project.
Also at the small gathering were representatives from the Peace Regional Affordable Housing Coalition, which worked hard to bring the issue of housing need to the attention of decision-makers, and the Town of Peace River. The Town's decision to donate land for the project was likely a factor in the success of the proposal and I'm very proud of Council for making that commitment.
How exciting that Peace River will soon have affordable housing options suitable for people living on a low or moderate income who have disabilities, are single, or have small families.
There may also be units that rent at market rates so that there are more housing options for people like seniors who are not eligible for subsidized senior's housing.
North Peace Housing Foundation will have its office in the building and there will be space suitable for social or educational activities that can be used to help build a sense of community within the complex.
The building is right on the public transit route, making it easier for tenants without vehicles to get around, and is within walking distance to a grocery store, several schools, and churches. A bit further, but still at a walkable distance for many, are recreation facilities, the daycare, elementary schools, and downtown.
I'll be eagerly awaiting the sod-turning for this wonderful new initiative!
Mark this date:
Tuesday, March 17, 9:30 to 11:30.
Readers in rural and small town Alberta will want to plan to attend the inaugural videoconference/webcast meeting of the Communities without Boundaries Alberta Network.
In addition to the business of launching this Alberta-wide not-for-profit organization, the session will include three addresses on citizen engagement and community broadband planning:
You can participate by videoconference at any of 17 locations across Alberta or by webcast. The Peace River site is at the NAIT/Northern Lakes College Campus.
For more information and to register. go to:
February 12-15 will keep residents in the Peace River-St. Isidore-Grimshaw area (and beyond) busy and with lots of choices for entertainment.
Our part of the province will be hosting two huge events, both of which rely on legions of volunteers, donors, financial and in-kind contributions, and lots of collaborative effort--hallmarks of the Peace Country.
The oldest of the two is the 27th annual St. Isidore Carnaval, one of the largest francophone parties in Alberta. There is snow sculpting, hay rides, poutine and pattes de lynx, maple snow taffy, log sawing, and snow volleyball to mention just a few of the activities and food offerings. And of course, lots of francophone music and dance, including local and "imported"talent.
This year I'm finally going to attend and my bilingual and unilingual friends assure me that language is no barrier to having a great time!
Alberta Pond Hockey at Lac Cardinal is in its 3rd year and just gets bigger and better, with 80 teams (including one made up of Edmonton Oilers) registered this year. Check out the 2008 photo gallery to get an idea of what pond hockey looks like.
This year there will be around 400 players playing over 300 games of hockey on 19 natural ice rinks that are now being built by what the Pond Hockey website calls an "army of volunteers."
I'll be taking in the Gala on Saturday night as well as the Sunday pancake breakfast at the Lac Cardinal Regional Pioneer Village Museum (click on the museum link for a 360 view), great entertainment and of course, some hockey games.
See you there!
Pi Kennedy - A Métis Trapper
Local photographer, Stuart Barr, has collaborated with Libby Gunn of Fort Smith to produce a photography exhibit about another "life of Pi," in this case, Pi Kennedy, an 86-year-old trapper. The exhibit will run throughout February and March.
The opening gala (Thursday, February 5th, 6:30-8:00 PM) will feature an unedited documentary film and stories in conjunction with the regular storytelling event.
Wop May Mercy Flight Re-Enactment
We are awaiting the arrival of the Wop May Mercy Flight portion of the Spirit of Edmonton Project, honouring the 100th anniversary of aviation in Canada and Alberta and the 80th anniversary of the original mercy flight in 1929.
The date of arrival of the bi-plane in Peace River depends on weather and mechanical conditions and will be announced on the local radio station, via word of mouth and on the museum blog (http://peacerivermuseum.blogspot.com/).
The museum blog tells the story of the original flight and this article from the Edmonton Journal describes the whole project:
http://www.where.ca/edmonton/article_feature~listing_id~66.htm
Walking around Peace River is a standard feature of my days because when I was elected to Council, I decided to walk to meetings whenever possible. So for two winters now, I've tromped through the snow and have become a lot more aware of which homes and businesses keep their sidewalks shovelled and which don't.
There is a house on my regular walking route that has been sale for two winters now and the sidewalks not cleaned. This results in what someone has called a "goat track," a narrow path that makes walking very challenging. If this was a side street where there is little pedestrian traffic, it would be less of an issue, but this is a major pedestrian route.
There is a large, empty building downtown where the owner has not made snow removal arrangements. A large store on 101st Street removes snow from one side, but not the other. More goat tracks.
It seems like time to look at a snow removal bylaw (it's surprising to me that the Town doesn't already have one). As the Complete Streets workshop I attended this winter reminded us, if people can't comfortably walk around town, it's going to be very difficult to get them out of their vehicles, whether for fitness or to reduce our carbon footprint.
A bylaw would need to be reasonable and manageable for residents and businesses (as well as for the Town itself). But with a bylaw, the Town could do more than just try to educate. Warnings could be issued to those who aren't clearing in a timely way and if the warning wasn't enough, then the Town could arrange for clearing and bill the owner. And we walkers would find winter life so much easier!
