City of Powell River councillors were provided an update on recreation at a recent committee of the whole meeting.
Councillor Jim Palm, at the July 14 meeting, said he had a couple of items to bring up with regard to resumption of service at Powell River Recreation Complex.
He said summer camps are underway for youth in the community and are fully subscribed. The weight room started up and had 166 users the first week, he added.
“I’m very happy to report that many of those are our seniors,” said Palm. “They are taking full advantage of that facility opening back up.”
Palm said as far as a number of groups approaching the recreation complex and asking about ice in the facility, they have already booked 33 hours of ice time per week with minor hockey and it is hoped that ice will be in the facility in early September.
He said the pool facility is another cost factor for which the opening will be delayed until the city reaches its 85 per cent municipal tax collection threshold.
Regarding the Powell River Kings hockey team, the BC Hockey League has set a start-up date of December 1, 2020, said Palm, and that’s being optimistic that provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will allow bigger audiences than 50 in any group setting.
“They are hoping they will be able to have a season starting December 1 but there’s no guarantee,” said Palm. “That’s where we are.”
Palm said regarding the hockey academy, more will be known when the ministry announces guidelines at the end of August, a couple of weeks before school start-up.
He said he was happy to report that the campgrounds at Willingdon Beach are at full capacity. He said many outside of Powell River residents are using that venue.
Palm, who works for School District 47, said on the educational front, the provincial ministry of education made changes to funding for School District 47 in terms of its offerings on the dual-credit front in connection with the local Vancouver Island University campus. He said a month ago, school district graduates were no longer able to be funded.
“That caused a lot of consternation throughout the province, because last year, there were 460 youths who were still school-aged that took advantage of those types of programs,” said Palm. “Half of our students who do that type of programming are graduates.
“They stay at home, they learn at home, they mature at home and they are ready for the workforce and trades or they are ready to spread their wings and go to another campus in another community, fully prepared for what’s ahead, instead of a brand-new scenario facing them.”
Palm said he has been on the phone to mayor Dave Formosa and superintendent of schools Dr. Jay Yule, plus MLA Nicholas Simons. Palm is happy to report, after requesting a meeting of those individuals, that somebody in the finance department has been reached, who is dealing with the education ministry, and the problem is being worked on.
Formosa said when this issue came up, he and chief administrative officer Russell Brewer mentioned it in a meeting with the BC minister of municipal affairs and housing Selina Robinson, talking about bringing the economy back, and the issue of the students was brought up.
“I mentioned it to the minister and she said she was going to look into that,” said Formosa. “Sure enough, today, we got a call from the ministry of education and they want a report on what we can offer to help them with the issue so I asked for a document that can be sent to the ministry. Hopefully, we can get somewhere.”
