Each new year beckons with bright promises and hopes for a better world. As we cast our eyes forward, however, we should take a moment to reflect on the promises of the old year and the results of our best efforts. Serious concerns about our abuse of the environment are still with us but at the same time work on the Resource and Recovery Centre is well underway. All of the regulatory hurdles have been overcome and we will soon be breaking ground. Still a long way to go to “zero waste” but the path is clear.
We were fortunate and escaped a serious urban interface fire but we can not relax our precautions. The Community Wildfire Protection Plan will continue to guide us towards a truly FireSmart regional district.
The year opened with the unfulfilled promise of a new name that would better reflect the expanse and diversity of the regional district. The wheels of government turn very slowly however, but better late than never, the qathet Regional District was born in July.
Out with the old, in with the new was not quite the result of the local government elections held in October. Of the seven directors [five rural, two municipal] on the regional board three are still there. Nonetheless, four new minds offering differing thinking and different approaches will make for a rejuvenated government. Stay tuned.
So, the concerns of yesteryear are still with us but so is the resolve to do better by the environment and make the world a better place. By all means, party hearty and swing into the new year knowing that we live in the best place on earth and we’ll keep it that way.
Happy New Year!
