British Columbia is no longer the one province out of step on Canada's two official languages, that after Adrian Dix introduced a new French Language policy to help guide the province towards improving and enhancing services for French speaking residents.
In a statement today, the Health Minister, who now also carries the duties of the Minister responsible for Francophone affairs outlined what today's new measures will bring.
“Prior to today, British Columbia was the sole jurisdiction in Canada without an overarching policy on French-language services, despite providing information and services in French to its numerous residents.
The new policy represents a positive step to increase the Province’s capacity to engage with and provide services to its French-speaking residents. Greater co-ordination and access to information and services in French will bring the added benefit of fostering the vitality of the B.C. and Canadian Francophonie.”
Up next is an implementation program, which will be developed in collaboration with francophone partners. The policy will come into effect on April 1, 2024, and be subject to regular evaluations.
British Columbia is home to more than 328,000 people in British Columbia (6.6% of B.C.’s population) can conduct a conversation in French, making B.C. the jurisdiction with the third-largest population of French speakers in Canada after Quebec and Ontario.
More than 76,000, or 1.5% of B.C.’s population, speak French regularly at home.
The New Year is offering some new chances to expand on your career aspirations, learn a new skill or just check out items of interest from the Hecate Strait Employment Development Society.
The organization has listed a number of their initiatives for 2024, with many of them set to start in the next week or so.
Among some of the options, an OFA Level 1 course with Transpiration endorsement, the Popular Blade Runners program as well as some February dates ahead for SuperHost and Food Safe courses.
Attempts for repairs to the fibre connection between Haida Gwaii and the North Coast mainland continue to be dogged by weather issues off the coast of the Islands, which means the ongoing outage for residents will continue on into the first weekend of 2024.
The connectivity issues first were noted prior to Christmas, with a string of weather systems keeping CityWest repair crews on shore awaiting for a break to take on a full repair program.
The latest updates from CityWest came on Wednesday, with Repair crews still waiting out Gale Force winds and heavy seas before they could take on their work.
CityWest also noted in their update of plans to provide discounted services for those impacted by the outage, that to come once full restoration of services is in place.
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What has been described as an 'Unplanned Subsea Fibre break' has brought an interruption to services for CityWest customers in Massett, Old Massett, Skidegate and Tlell
Environment Canada still has the marine region under a GALE Warning with winds of up to 40 knots and seas of up to 3 metres
The Prince Rupert Recreation Department is making the shift from their holiday programs to the larger Winter season options, the latest Recreation Guide making for your blueprint for a range of activities available through the McBride Street facility.
The sixteen page guide provides a look at what's happening at the Earl Mah Aquatic Centre as well as for Gymnasium and Arena programs for the months of January and February.
The programs are designed for participants as young as Pre School age through to those nearing their Senior years or already there.
Should you find something that catches your eye, you can register by Phone at 250-624-6707 or drop into the office in the Civic Centre complex on McBride Street.
How the Port is faring when it comes to sustainability themes is the focus for the Prince Rupert Port Authority this first week of 2024, with the Port releasing the findings of their Sustainability report for 2022.
The document providing a review of how the Port views the importance of their commitments to sustainability and highlighting some of the initiatives that they have taken on towards their goals.
The introduction to the Report from PRPA President and CEO Shaun Stevenson notes of the focus on Environmental, Social and Governance themes towards the sustainable development along the Port's North Coast footprint.
The pages that follow note how the Port has incorporated the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, along with its work with partners both locally, nationally and internationally.
The work focused on some key guiding principles that the Port has in place towards its goals.
The report outlines initiatives such as Green Wave, to investments in port infrastructure that serve to further their work on sustainability themes.
The scope of their work that which includes both the Port Gateway footprint and the communities of the region.
Today marks the final day for Christmas break for students, parents and staff of Prince Rupert area schools, with the resumption of classes coming on Monday morning.
As they head back to class, we take advantage of the opportunity to review the work of the Board of Education from last month, the elected officials and senior staff members putting the wrap on their work for 2023 with their final Board meeting of last year.
The occasion one which marked the return of Andrew Samoil to his hosting duties for the Board gatherings, that following his return to work of November.
His first duty on the night was to introduce Andree Michaud with a look at Food Security that is in place at Pineridge Elementary.
Ms. Michaud noted of the efforts of community volunteers and corporate partnerships through the Prince Rupert Port Authority and City Furniture; as well as the involvement of the Moose Lodge which helped in funding for renovations for the Breakfast room program, while the Rotary Club has assisted through their Apple program.
The assistance of the schools PAC was also part of the presentation towards the program.
The overview highlighted how the program has expanded from a simple hot plate to the current set up of the range of options that students now have available to them in a dedicated room towards the initiative.
Trustees praised the work of the program and observed how the initiative has grown and developed a welcoming space for the children of the school.
Trustee Horne called for the Board to write letters of thanks to those who have helped to shape the program.
In reply to a question from Trustee Beal, it was noted that the core group of those taking part with the program is 15 though it ebbs and flows through the year to higher amounts.
Superintendent Samoil expanded on some of the success of the program and the volume of involvement in the community.
Other trustees explored the importance of nutrition in the schools and the impact it can have on learning in the city's classrooms.
A review of the travel plans for field trips generated one question as to what age students have to be to no longer require parental approval, towards that the answer was 18 years of age.
The look at enrolment found no changes from the last report, with 1,838 students enrolled in SD52 classrooms, Sandra Pond noted of the trends upward for enrolment numbers from recent years.
She also outlined the new approach and proficiency scales applied to the reporting order, with staff learning the new rules that have been put place by the province, with the assessments for students starting to be delivered to students and their parents/guardians.
This fall also saw the annual FSA testing program with 67 percent of Grade 4's and 60 percent of Grade 7 students participating.
Trustee Pucci asked towards the volume of those students who did not write the FSA's with Ms. Pond outlining some of the reasons towards those numbers.
He asked for the Board to provide a comparison as to how the Prince Rupert results relate to those found province wide. Trustee Dalton also asked for some additional details towards those students who did not participate.
In other Board related assessments, Ms. Pond observed that some of the Districts Grade twelve students also wrote their literacy assessments in the fall, while January will bring a Numeracy and Literacy assessments for Grade ten students.
She, also provided some snapshots of some of the specific classroom initiatives that are found around the District.
A review of the current status of the Child care programs in the community was also provided, along with a look at some of the initiatives in place, including one in conjunction with Coast Mountain College towards child care instruction.
Mr. Jerry Slykhuis, who continues on as the District's contracted SecretaryTreasurer returned to the meetings participating from the Fraser Valley; he provided for some explanations of some of the financial variances and the work underway towards Budget planning.
He noted that the Amended Budget will be evolving over the next four weeks, making use of the most recent enrolment numbers and other elements.
He observed that with additional staffing that comes with increased enrolment, the District will be facing continued challenges in funding which have not increased to had been hoped for.
He also noted that the District would be coming out of Funding protection within the next year.
The Operations and Technology reviews followed, with trustee Horne praising some of the work done on security themes.
On financial themes, the District set out its plan for Budget consultation work in the New year.
Some policy work was also a focus on the night, among the themes, the topic of trustee remuneration and how the District may want to address it. Trustee Horne introduced a number of talking points towards that theme for Board members to consider as the work towards that project continues.
The Board reviewed their scheduling plans for 2024, with the Board deciding to hold to their schedule of Monday meetings, which has been a temporary measure, one which would be extended to the end of April.
The final element of the session was a short Question and Answer period for the public to participate in.
Former SD52 trustee spoke to the theme of uncertified teachers in the schools at the December 18th Board meeting
One participant from the public gallery contributed to the Board meeting, that being former Board Trustee Tina Last. In an exchange with the Board that lasted for the final four minutes of the night, she posed questions related to staffing for teaching positions with the District.
Ms. Last, who has grandchildren enrolled in District schools, noted of the use of uncertified teachers to fill positions that the School District can't find certified educators for at this time.
While acknowledging the challenges that the Board faces in attracting teachers, she also observed how those classrooms in Districts that are using the uncertified teachers, are not getting the level of teaching that they should be getting.
"What can we look forward to, or what do you need from your voters in the community to say hey, this is not going to work, we can't sustain this, we need qualified teachers ... How do we get what our kids deserve, what do you need" -- Former SD52 Trustee Tina Last at the December 18th Board meeting
In reply, Board Chair Kate Toye observed how it was a topic that the Board discusses quite frequently.
But the Chair also noted that she was a bit concerned about going off script related to what is on the Board's agenda and setting a precedent in answering a question that is not on the Agenda.
Superintendent Samoil then offered to meet with Ms. Last in his office to go over how the District is addressing the issue, as well as what options the public could provide to contribute to the topic.
The Full presentation of the night can be reviewed below:
Northern Health in Prince Rupert has issued an advisory for residents, noting of some steps put in place at Prince Rupert Regional Hospital following an outbreak of Influenza A at the health care facility.
The advisory was relayed at 5 PM through their Prince Rupert focused social media page, from it Northern Health notes that they are asking that non essential trips to the Hospital be postponed for the time being.
As well they advise those who have not kept their immunization program for influenza and flu up to date, to do so to lessen the impact of the current outbreak.
Health officials did not outline how extensive the outbreak has been, or how many patients may be impacted by it to this point.
To book an appointment for a flu or COVID-19 vaccination follow this link.
More notes on how Northern Health addresses disease outbreaks at their facilities can be reviewed here.
