62 new cases recorded Thursday, BC CDC data provides local snapshots of COVID across the province

Today's COVID report was a live presentation day for Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix, with both sharing some thoughts on the latest notes related to the provincial approach towards the coronavirus.

"Today, we are announcing 68 new cases, including four epi-linked case since we reported on Wednesday, for a total of 5,372 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 906 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, 2,810 people who are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases, and 4,253 people who tested positive have recovered.  

Currently, 22 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19, seven of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people with COVID-19 are recovering at home in self-isolation. "

The daily cross country review provided for the following amounts: 

1,737 cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 2,818 in the Fraser Health region, 173 in the Island Health region, 429 in the Interior Health region, 137 in the Northern Health region an increase of four from Wednesday.

78 cases of COVID 19 have been recorded in people who reside outside of Canada. 

Both officials also made note of one passing over the last 24 hours. "There has been one new COVID-19 related death, for a total of 204 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic." 

Dr. Henry and Minister Dix also reviewed some of themes from today's release of expanded date from the BC CDC, which provided for local community information on reported cases of COVID.

“Today, we have provided the latest local health area map of COVID-19 cases. The map will be updated each month and available on the BCCDC website. What the map tells us is that virtually every part of our province has been touched by the virus – communities large and small." 

You can review that information here. 

With the province also rolling out the Back To School restart themes over the last few days, the two public health officials outlined more information for students, parents and school teachers and officials.

 “Despite the spread of COVID-19, we must continue to find the balance of restarting our activities once again, while protecting our most vulnerable by doing our best to keep ourselves and those we care about safe. 

We recognize that many parents are feeling anxious about the well-being of their children with the start of ‘new school’ in September. We understand the importance of keeping our children safe. 

As parents take the time to review the back-to-school plans for their schools and districts, they can take confidence in knowing the plans were built from widespread input from B.C.’s education experts, combined with the latest public health research from around in the world. 

Children in B.C. will join millions of others globally who are going back to in-class learning. We will be there to support our children as they learn and adapt to the new school experience in British Columbia. 

Equally important, as children get back into the classroom, public health teams will be right there with them in every school throughout our province to ensure classrooms are as safe as possible for everyone."

You can review the full COVID 19 report for Thursday here.  

The BC Centre for Disease control has some valuable Coronavirus notes related to COVID-19 you can explore that information here.

You can learn more about the outbreak from both the Province and the Federal government from the links below:

Federal Government site

British Columbia Government site

The World Health Organization website also offers up the latest advisories on the global situation.

More from  Northern Health can be reviewed here 

You can review our archive of past statements and local information here.

Local governments and organizations have also provided for increased awareness of COVID-19 issues, the string of statements that came quickly at the end of the week can be reviewed here.

For notes from across Canada and British Columbia we have been archiving the latest items through our political portal Darcy McGee

Ottawa Observations

Victoria Viewpoints 

City's Loan plans for Woodworth Dam, Ridley Island Landfill site clear of Alternate Approval Process

The path is clear towards the City of Prince Rupert borrowing money towards two key infrastructure projects, that after Corporate Administrator Rosa Miller outlined the nature of two recent consultations with city residents.

Her verification of the results came following some notes earlier in the evening from the City's Financial Officer who noted that the Alternative Approval Process consultation was complete, with the results providing for approval towards borrowing for the Woodworth Dam project and that of the Landfill Expansion on Ridley Island.

At Monday's Council Session, Ms. Miller provided the results of the two Alternative Approval Process consultations that took place over the summer, noting for Council that with a total of 10,767 potential respondents, City administration received no positive or negative responses to the public process.

The AAP initiative, rather than a full referendum process has been used a few times in recent years by Prince Rupert City Council. The move normally noted as one that would save on the cost required towards the full referendum option. 

Though in previous years some past council members have questioned its use, expressing concerns over what they suggested was a less than democratic instrument to use towards seeking the approval of the community.

City Council moved the twin AAP proposals forward in June, seeking elector support with the deadline for participation set for July 24th.

We provided a wider overview of the AAP initiative earlier this summer, exploring some of the background on the two projects as well.

The review of the results can be viewed from the City's Video Archive with Ms. Miller's presentation to Council starting at the 2 hour, 20 minute mark of the night's session.

The Council members offered up no comments related to the results, they then moved forward with the required fourth and final readings of the Loan Authorization Bylaws that are required.

In a background item from the city's website, the Finance Department notes that It's anticipated that the loan request for the Woodworth Dam will be 10 million dollars, while the Landfill loan request is also listed as 10 million dollars.

For more notes related to the City's Infrastructure themes see our archive page here.

Further background on the Monday evening Council session can be reviewed from our Council Timeline Feature, as well as our Council session archive.

A wider overview of past Council Discussion themes is available from our Council Discussion page. 

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Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce on the search for new Executive Director

There will be a new face and voice to greet those at the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce sometime this fall, with the local Chamber making note of the upcoming departure of current Executive Director Anthony Yecyec.

Mr. Yecyec has been the helpful guide for many at the Chamber office on Third West for many in the community and beyond; ready to share information on questions and take in comments about matters related to the city's commercial sector.

Chamber President Michelle Boomars-MacNeill, shared some thoughts today on his upcoming departure, offering up praise for his work and offering the best wishes of the Chamber membership towards his future plans.

“We are very grateful to Anthony for his service, and for his teamwork in cooperation with successive Boards of Directors. His positivity, integrity and drive have shaped and sustained Prince Rupert’s business community. We applaud Anthony’s contributions and join our members in wishing him every success as he takes the next steps in his career journey.”

As they prepare to begin the search for his replacement, the Chamber offered up an overview of the work he did on behalf of the community organization, and the growing list of responsibilities that were assigned to him since he took up his duties two years ago.

Mr. Yecyec was hired as Chamber Manager in early 2018 and has served the organization for over two years of its growth and transformation. Only a year into his tenure, he was promoted to Executive Director to reflect the increasingly tactical nature of the responsibilities in his portfolio. 

As the Chamber refined its mission and vision through a series of strategic planning exercises, Mr. Yecyec was a key contributor to its evolution as a leader and champion for the business community.

Among some of the high profile work that he did on behalf of the chamber, was membership recruitment and the coordination of the Chamber's high profile events such as the Business Excellence Awards, Fall Chamber and the Rising Stars program.

The recruitment process to select the next Executive Director is now underway, towards that process the Chamber of Commerce has struck an executive search committee to oversee recruitment and hiring. 

The position will be advertised provincially and locally. 

For more notes of interest related to the Northwest Business Sector see our archive page here.

Racquet Sports enthusiasts enjoy new look at Racquets Centre thanks to $21,749 contribution from Port Community Investment Fund

A local racquet player takes to the newly renovated courts at
the Prince Rupert Racquets Centre
(photo from PRPA)

The rallies and smashes are in full view of the public now at the Prince Rupert Racquets Centre, after the local racquet sports facility received some helpful funding for renovations from the Prince Rupert Port Authority's Community Investment Fund.

Half of the total 43,498 dollar cost of the project was covered off by the Port's Fund, helping put in place the upgrade which included the installation of new safety-glass walls and doors at the rear of both squash courts. 

These new floor-to-ceiling windows replace the original solid walls, creating an unobstructed view of the action on the courts from the lower level. 

The facility has been a fixture in the community since the early 1980's, with interest in racquet sports ebbing and flowing as the population of the city did the same. 

Squash is now the game of note for the city, with local and visiting players making use of the only international sized courts available year round in the region.

As part of an announcement to celebrate the new look, Richard Haley, Director of the Prince Rupert Racquet Association noted how he looks forward for more residents of the area to drop in and test out the sport.

“The new glass transforms the space, giving it an open feeling that creates a whole new appeal. We regularly rent our facility for special events and now with these enhancements we can expose every visitor who sets foot in the Racquet Centre to the game of squash, hopefully encouraging more people to try it.”

That was a sentiment shared by Prince Rupert Port Authority President Shaun Stevenson, who observed on the importance of recreation for the community and how the Port enjoys contributing to the community's recreation needs.

“Our city’s indoor recreation facilities are vitally important and we are pleased to be able to help the Prince Rupert Racquets Association improve the look and overall function of their space to make it more appealing to new and existing users alike. We also commend the volunteers here on their efforts to promote and support another opportunity for participation in our community—we hope that everybody takes the opportunity to check it out and try it out.”

Included in today's statement announcing the completion of the project, which is phase two of the Racquet Associations larger development plan for the facility, was a video that provides a tour of the new look and a snapshot of the plans in place.

In June of last year we featured some of the plans ahead for the Ninth Avenue West facility adjacent to the Golf Course, which is when the potential partnership with the Port Authority was first made mention of.

With the progress made on the wall remediation work, the Association can now turn its attention to some of the other items on the impressive To-do list.

More items of note related to past Prince Rupert Port Authority Community Investments can be explored here.

Wanted Prince Rupert man now in custody

Prince Rupert RCMP have announced that a man wanted in connection with a bank robbery in 2017 has been arrested.

In a statement issued today, the Prince Rupert detachment outlines the details related to the arrest of Prince Rupert resident Stephen Glover, who was arrested on Wednesday near the Fairview Docks on the west side of the city.

Mounties offered their thanks to the public who provided tips and phone calls which eventually led to the arrest.

In June the Prince Rupert RCMP relayed their request for assistance towards the case file that had remained on the unsolved list for close to three years.

Upon being taken into custody, Mr. Glover has subsequently been charged for a robbery that took place on October 6th of 2017, he remains in custody where he will attend a future court date.

You can review the full statement here.

For more items related to the work of Emergency responders in the Northwest see our archive page here.

Following City Council rebuff of Park Avenue plans Prince Rupert Port Authority to review its interest in acquiring site, explore other options with DP World towards container storage situation

Ken Veldman, Prince Rupert Port Authority VP for Communication
and Sustainability speaking Monday night at Prince Rupert
City Council's review of the Port's request for a Temporary Use
permit for land on Park Avenue

With Prince Rupert City Council having turned down a request from the Prince Rupert Port Authority for temporary use of land on Park Avenue, Port officials are now reassessing their interest in the land in question and reviewing their options towards alternative solutions for container storage. 

The latter, part of the preliminary work required as DP World prepares to ramp up its work on container terminal expansion on the city's waterfront.

As we noted yesterday, the city's elected officials turned down the request towards the temporary use permit, expressing concerns over noise, taking note of comments from nearby residents of the Graham Avenue area, as well as to share their hesitancy towards the initiative, advising that  there were too many unknowns related to potential future development for the site. 

Council's final decision came following ninety minutes of discussion that featured a presentation from the Port's Ken Veldman, as well as the participation from representatives of residents of the Graham Avenue area, who believe any development on the site would have a significant impact on their Quality of life.

The area in question related to the now denied PRPA request
for a temporary land use permit along Park Avenue

In the wake of the City's decision and in response to an enquiry for comment from the North Coast Review, Monika Côté, the Manager of Corporate Communications provided a statement on behalf of the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

 

The comments deliver a review of some of the key elements that were featured as part of Mr. Veldman's Monday evening presentation; as well as to reaffirm the Port's commitment to ensure that any impact on the container terminal expansion project is minimal.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s (PRPA) long term interest in acquiring the Park Avenue property is to formally buffer heavy industrial activity near Fairview Terminal from adjacent residential areas through the creation of recreational green space such as an extension of Moresby park and light industrial activities that are complementary to both port activity and residents. 

PRPA applied to the City of Prince Rupert for a temporary use permit because of an immediate opportunity to improve Fairview Terminal’s ability to maintain near capacity volumes and employment during its upcoming expansion construction, a use that aligned with the historic OCP designations for the property. 

In light of the inability to economically activate the property in the short term, PRPA will need to review our interest in acquiring the land and explore alternative solutions to empty container storage with DP World to ensure the operational impacts of terminal expansion are minimized.

As part of the proceedings of Monday, the City did suggest that the Port consider applying for a full rezoning of the property, a process which would require extensive consultation with the public and Council, as well as to provide for a Public Hearing on any rezoning request.

Some of the background on the request for the Temporary Use approval can be explored below.

Prince Rupert Port Authority plans for Park Avenue could one day include potential purchase for buffer between industrial and residential areas

More notes related to the Prince Rupert Port Authority can be reviewed here.

SD 52 releases individual school Restart plans

The path ahead for education on the North Coast was revealed on Wednesday, as SD52 released the details of the individual Restart plans for each of the Districts Schools.

The documents which you can access here from the SD52 website, or from each individual school's website, outline the schedules that students will follow and the measures that have been put in place towards addressing the COVID-19 situation for each school.

As they review the information, Parents will find detailed back to school plans on their district website. 

In addition to health and safety measures, the plans include: how learning groups will be organized; when masks are required; daily schedules for classes, lunch and recess; daily health assessment requirements; pick-up and drop off times; protocols for common areas; hand washing directions; and orientation information. 

The local restart plans were released on the same day that Education Minister Rob Fleming provided an update on the provincial plans towards the September restart of school.

“There is no better place than in-class learning. With these plans now in place, parents can feel confident about sending their children back to school and assured that strict health and safety measures are in place to protect students and staff. I know that some families will continue to have medical or health concerns, and my expectation is that school districts will be flexible and work with families to provide remote options that keep children connected to their school community.” -- Education Minister Rob Fleming

The full review of yesterday's announcement of the provincial program can be examined here.

Earlier this week, SD52 Superintendent Andrew Samoil provided his own  update on the preparations at the Prince Rupert School District, you can review those notes and view his video presentation here.

For more notes related to education in the Northwest see our archive page here.