Most of City of Powell River council attended the Tapping the Groundswell conference on Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, at Powell River Recreation Complex to address social planning for the community.
While organizers said they were disappointed at the turnout from the general public, with about 70 people attending the Saturday session, they were optimistic that government representatives were there and involved in the discussions.
“I’m happy with the level of commitment that people brought to this conversation,” said project coordinator John Young. “I wish more people were here. What’s important to me is that there is action, so I’m glad there are city councillors here, because a lot of this falls to them to take the energy that’s here and to make some tough decisions.”
Tapping the Groundswell’s goal is to write a report and make recommendations on a social plan for city hall and the community at large by summer. The project is funded by the Job Creation Partnership of the provincial and federal governments and sponsored by the Powell River Diversity Initiative (PRDI), which is a part of Powell River Employment Program Society (PREP).
Powell River does not have a social action plan that deals with child poverty, poverty in general, housing, transportation and seniors. The two-day conference focused mainly on child poverty and affordable housing for low-income people.
According to Lyn Adamson, executive director of PREP and chair of PRDI steering committee, one of the main concerns in the past has been the ability to take recommendations for a social plan and take action. However, she said she is optimistic about the outcome of Tapping the Groundswell.
“People are here, people are engaged, city council is here, our regional district was here,” said Adamson. “People are interested in seeing action; they’re not interested in just talking about it anymore. They want to see change.”
Councillors Russell Brewer, Karen Skadsheim, Maggie Hathaway, CaroleAnn Leishman and Rob Southcott represented city hall. Absent were councillor Jim Palm and mayor Dave Formosa.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons and North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney were also in attendance, as well as some Powell River Regional District staff
Leishman expressed frustration with bureaucratic red tape and some of the processes at city hall regarding challenges such as housing.
According to Leishman, housing issues could be addressed by the city almost immediately.
“It’s frustrating because we could house 50 people right now,” she said.
Leishman cited the former Olive Devaud Residence seniors-care facility with 82 rooms that are currently unoccupied and could be used for social housing.
When conference attendees broke off into roundtable discussions relating to a cohesive social strategy, guest speakers, representatives of social agencies and the general public recognized the critical need for affordable housing in Powell River.
Guest speaker Christien Kaaji has lived in Powell River for nine years and has spent her professional career examining social planning regarding housing issues.
She spoke about housing as it relates to the high level of child poverty in the region. The child-poverty rate in Powell River was the focus of day one of the conference.
“That’s quite often housing-related,” said Kaaji. “If too much is spent on housing, then there’s no money left for other things and the kids are left behind.”
Kaaji said Powell River is facing a huge issue related to how taxes and income are divided.
“The income disparity is growing,” she said. “The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.”
