Regional briefs: Recommends bridge repairs; Partners in Pink Shirt Day

Recommends bridge repairs
At its meeting on February 8, Powell River Regional District’s committee of the whole forwarded a recommendation to the regional board that $80,000 be included in the 2017 regional parks budget to repair the Haywire Bay Regional Park access bridge. Installation of a temporary steel bridge deck 10 years ago was never done properly. The old and failing wooden bridge structure has been slowly deteriorating and threatens to harm the fish-bearing stream below. A consulting biologist’s review recommended fixing the bridge as soon as possible. Work could begin as early as this spring.

Partners in Pink Shirt Day
Due to lack of time before the next regional board meeting, committee of the whole moved to allocate $600 from the general advertising account to participate in a Pink Shirt Day initiative. Tla’amin Nation hegus Clint Williams requested funds to include the regional district’s logo on t-shirts the nation is producing for the anti-bullying campaign, which takes place on Wednesday, February 28. Pink Shirt Day originated in Nova Scotia in 2007. One year later, the first provincial Pink Shirt Day was declared in BC.

Supports ocean society
A letter of support was approved by committee of the whole for Wild Ocean Whale Society to apply for a Powell River Community Forest grant and regional district staff was directed to report on funding for the society. The money would go toward installation of permanent displays in the regional district that identify and create awareness of marine wildlife. Marine mammal interpretative signage would be installed at Lund Harbour, Savary Island Dock and on Texada Island.

Approves festival funding
A $5,000 grant for Townsite Jazz Festival was moved by committee of the whole to go forward and include in the budget and financial planning for 2018. The festival takes place April 5 to 7.