Vouchers for free travel
School District 47 officials are working on finalizing the process which will allow Powell River youth to take advantage of free ferry travel to the Lower Mainland.
Since the end of November, an agreement has been in place between the school district and BC Ferries which grants free passage for students 18 years old and younger on Routes 7 and 3.
Powell River Board of Education Trustee Doug Skinner has been working with Jay Yule, district superintendent of schools, on the Powell River agreement with the ferry corporation’s management.
Now Powell River is in line with the Lower Sunshine Coast in terms of travel from Horseshoe Bay, said Skinner.
“If we are involved with any athletic or school activities in the Lower Mainland, we will be able to travel back and forth for free,” he confirmed.
The travel agreement with BC Ferries covers the cost of passenger fare only and does not include the cost of travel for parents, guardians, teachers, caregivers, chaperones or vehicles.
David Hendry, director of strategic planning for BC Ferries, wrote in a letter confirming the agreement to the school board that the ferry corporation is pleased to offer the program.
A voucher system is being established by the school district and Skinner said it is working to make sure that no abuse occurs.
Parents who are travelling for community activities would need to take a letter confirming their child’s participation to the board office and two vouchers, one for each ferry, would be issued, Skinner said.
He added that they are also working on having the agreement extended to include Route 17, Powell River to Little River. The vast majority of sports-related travel for youth is to Vancouver Island.
BC Ferries is looking at its ridership data on Route 17 to determine what the economic impact of the deal may be, Skinner said. If youth fares are made free, it would mean a slight increase in adult fares to cover the difference, he added. Before the agreement is extended BC Ferries will take the matter to the Northern Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory committee and to the community, Skinner said. The agreement on Route 3 raised adult fares between one to 1.5 per cent in 2010.
City distributes gifts
City of Powell River Council approved grants-in-aid totalling $13,000 for two organizations.
At its Thursday, December 18, meeting, council unanimously supported providing a cash grant of $8,000 for Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, and a further $5,000 for inclusion Powell River.
The grants will contribute to the ongoing operating costs for the food bank and will assist inclusion Powell River to enhance its mandate by educating the public. The grants were funded from the 2014 grants-in-aid budget.
Grants-in-aid have been provided to various organizations for a number of years. The 2014 budget for these grants is $40,300. Council also provides $19,000 in cash to Powell River Council for Arts, Culture and Heritage that oversees grant applications from local organizations pertaining to these specific functions.
Sustainability is a strategic priority for council. Approving these grants-in-aid for the food bank and inclusion Powell River is consistent with the city’s strategic priority number four, which encompasses fostering social and economic sustainability in the delivery of services that support the well-being of the community.
