Winter reminders and infrastructure funding among notes from Port Edward for November

The District of Port Edward
Cenotaph
(From the District's FB page)

With winter fast approaching the District of Port Edward is reminding its residents that part of their response to the changing seasons will require some help from them.

The Port Edward Public Works Department is making their preparations for what may come and have stockpiled salt and sand for use on the District roads, though they advise residents that vehicles and boats should be parked off street in order to allow the District's workers to conduct street clearing if it becomes necessary.

The winter advisory is just one of a number of themes covered by the District in their November report, which also focuses on the ongoing work on the District's Zoning Bylaw which will change a number of requirements for property use and home construction. 

The Port Edward Council notes how their work will update some of the outdate bylaws as well as to bring more clarity to the provisions for property used in the District.

Their work on the Official Community Plan is also moving forward, with the District Council observing that it will soon be brought forward for a public hearing and to gain further community feedback.

The District is hopeful of grant funding approval towards
some much needed work on the Port Edward fire hall

Mayor Knut Bjorndal also provided an update on the District's plans towards some funding made available by the provincial government, with the Mayor advising Port Edward residents that municipal officials have put in application to the Economic Recovery Fund, with work on the North Pacific Cannery and the Port Edward Fire Hall the subject of their interest. Mr. Bjorndal observes that they hope to have approval for the work in the New Year.

Former Port Edward resident Carlotta "Carly" Edwards
is a participant in CBC's Battle of the Blades
(Photo From CBC program website)

The Mayor also offered up a television recommendation for the District's residents, highlighting the participation of a former Port Edward resident Carlotta 'Carly' Edwards who is a contestant on the CBC Television program Battle of the Blades, Ms. Edwards has been paired with former NHL player Kris Versteed.

You can catch up with the program from the CBC website.

Mayor Bjorndal and Fire Chief Giesbrecht
making their way to the Port Edward Cenotaph
(From the District of Port Edward)

Like many communities across the Northwest the District commemorated Remembrance Day on November 11th, with the Mayor and Fire Chief Jason Giesbrecht laying a wreath as part of the District's Socially Distant Remembrance.

District officials also issued a Public Notice last week advising of the Closure of the Rainbow Crescent - West Junction with Highway 16, that after a section of the road became unsafe follow the recent heavy rainfall in the region.

The full November report from the mayor is available through the Port Edward website.

The next public council session in Port Edward is schedule for Tuesday, November 24th

You can review more themes from Port Edward through our archive page here.

As case counts rise in Northern Health Region, the tone of their guidance sees a shift

There was a significant jump in COVID cases recorded by Northern Health on Tuesday, with the Northern totals making note of 21 new cases in the 24 hour reporting period from Monday to Tuesday, bringing the Northern total to 540 cases to January.

And the surge in the North, combined with growing numbers from the Lower Mainland and other areas of the province have shaped the narrative of an information statement issue on Tuesday afternoon, which offers up a range of guidelines towards attention to the risks of COVID across the North.

In their statement the Health Authority has urged caution and expresses concern with the upward trend and frequency of new cases and clusters in the region.

Towards the guidance, much of the Northern Health elements are taken from the Lower Mainland orders and the themes offered as part of the goal of preventing transmission across this region.

The five points include:

Maintaining our social connections are important for our well-being. However, please keep your bubble small and limited to your household and a handful (up to six) close friends or family (your “safe six”). 

When planning your holiday gathering, please avoid travel and choose to celebrate with individuals in your bubble. 

Physical distancing measures are especially challenging for young people. It is important they also keep their bubble small and, as much as possible, limit their interactions to a close group of friends from within their school cohort. 

Essential workers, such as health-care workers and teachers, play a critical role in our communities and therefore it is imperative they also keep their bubble small. 

Remember: The provincial health officer’s orders to household gatherings applies province-wide. This means no more than six people from outside your household bubble should gather in your home.

The Tuesday update from the Province did not specify where in the vast expanse of the Northern Health region that the 21 cases had been recorded.

You can review the full Northern Health information statement here.

For more notes related to Northern Health see our archive page here.

Items of interest for the Prince Rupert area are explored through the Northern Health Prince Rupert Facebook page.

Our Daily Archive of COVID information from Doctor Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix can be reviewed here.

BC's COVID Surge continues: 11 new deaths, 717 new cases of COVID-19 from Tuesday's update

The month of incrementally bad news continued on Tuesday, as Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix released the most recent update on COVID-19, marking another one day record for reports of COVID cases in the province.

“Today, we are reporting 717 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, for a total of 23,661 cases in British Columbia. 

There are 6,589 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. There are 198 individuals currently hospitalized with COVID-19, 63 of whom are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation. 

Currently, 10,960 people are under active public health monitoring as a result of identified exposure to known cases and 16,469 people who tested positive have recovered. 

“There have been 11 new COVID-19 related deaths, for a total of 310 deaths in British Columbia. We offer our condolences to everyone who has lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic."

We have had 177 new cases of COVID-19 in the Vancouver Coastal Health region, 484 in the Fraser Health region, 16 in the Island Health region, 18 in the Interior Health region, 21 in the Northern Health region, a significant one day spike that brings the Northern BC count to 540 cases since January.

One new case of COVID has been recorded with a person who resides outside of Canada. 

The escalation of reported cases served as the preamble to another reminder for the public to work together towards the goal of reducing the steadily rising curve, with the two health officials noting that increased levels are now being seen in all regions of the province.

“We need everyone working together to stay small, stay local and help us slow the spread of COVID-19 in our province. 

The biggest impact you can make is through the small actions you take every day. 

Just as we put on our jackets to keep us warm in the rain and snow, so too are our COVID-19 safety layers there to protect all of us. Washing your hands, keeping a safe distance and always wearing a mask in places where you are around people you don’t know – these things make a difference. 

We have seen an increase in new cases on Vancouver Island, in the Interior and in the North, many of which are connected to travel to and from the Lower Mainland. That is why is it important that we stay local and travel less right now. 

When we spend time inside with people from outside of our household, our work group or school cohort, the risks increase for everyone. Instead, let’s stay connected virtually and make it a safer winter for all of us.”

You can review the Tuesday COVID update 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, those past advisories  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 

First significant snow of the season begins to accumulate along Highway 16 corridor

What is shaping up to be the first significant snowfall of the season is currently underway east of Prince Rupert, with a Winter Storm Warning in effect for many communities along the Highway 16 corridor.

The Port Edward Turnoff, makes for the last of the clear pavement for those travelling today, with snow accumulations beginning to arrive in Terrace, Kitimat and Smithers

Port Ed Turnoff

Kasiks

Terrace

Onion Lake between Terrace/Kitimat

Smithers

The further into the Bulkley Valley one travels the more challenging the conditions with snow, blowing snow and limited visibility the key concerns for those on the roads this afternoon.

An update from Bulkley Lakes-Stikine District was recommending a delay for any travel plans as the storm continued to build through that region of the Northwest.

To review the weather forecasts for all regions of the Northwest see the links below

Prince Rupert

Terrace

Kitimat

Smithers 

Burns Lake

You can access the latest road conditions from the Drive BC website and twitter feed.

Messaging on Masking brings familiar themes from Doctor Bonnie Henry and a call for personal responsibility

What has become an ongoing debate over the use of masks and their effectiveness in matters of COVID-19 has spurred the Provincial Health Officer Doctor Bonnie Henry to deliver another statement of note on the topic. 

Taking to the pages of the Provincial news site on Monday to highlight the use of masks as one of a number of protection actions.

Her commentary comes with a renewed call from a number of sectors for the province to impose a full mask requirement for all public indoor spaces and other areas that may be a risk to the spread of COVID.

Towards  the prospect of mask Mandate, Doctor Henry outlines the following.

Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C. The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19 safety plans, and is embedded in our health-care facilities’ operational policies and restart protocols in other public institutions. 

 Despite how it might appear when we watch the news or go on social media, research shows that most of us in B.C. are doing the right things most of the time. Ordering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization. We need only look at the COVID-19 transmission rates in other jurisdictions that have tried using such orders to see what little benefit these orders by themselves have served. We also know that when orders and fines are in place, it is racialized people and those living in poverty or homeless who are most often targeted.

Part of her review on the theme, also notes that much of the current surge in cases is coming from areas where people may not be wearing a mask anyways and how the use of masks is included in part of the COVID safety plans in place by businesses and workplaces.

Each day, we are continuing to learn more about the virus and how it spreads. Right now, we are seeing rapid transmission in social gatherings where masks would not be worn anyway, in certain workplaces and risky indoor settings, like group fitness activities. Provincial health officer orders are always a last resort and we have used them carefully to address these recent trends. 

The orders we have in place now complement our clear and expressed expectation that people will wear masks in indoor public places like shopping malls, stores, on ferries and transit. 

Our orders also mandate that businesses and workplaces must have COVID-19 safety plans in place. These should include mask wearing, in addition to barriers, reduced numbers of people in spaces, screening of workers and the public and availability of hand cleaning and sanitation. Staff and customers must abide by these plans and businesses must offer virtual, online or contactless alternatives to customers who cannot wear a mask. COVID-19 safety plans are enforceable and something businesses and workplaces now plan for and have in place, in accordance with our orders.

The latest guidance falls short of a full declaration that masks must be worn at all times, tempered instead with the advice that wearing one makes for a significant part of the layers of protection.

They include: include maintaining a safe distance from others, cleaning our hands and staying home if we get sick. 

As part of her review the Public Health Officer notes how using masks appropriately is another important example of an individual act that results in a collective good. Each of these is a layer of protection to guard against a virus that never rests. 

The Doctor also notes how an order will never replace a personal commitment, calling on the residents of the province to take up the responsibility on their own to work towards reducing the spread of the virus.

You can review her full statement here.

For more notes on the provincial response to COVID-19 see our archive page here, which includes material from the BC CDC as well as the daily updates from Dr. Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.

City's Variance Report for September continues to tell the tale of COVID challenges

City of PR CFO Corrine Bomben
outlined the latest financial
projections at last weeks
Council Session

Last week's City Council session featured the monthly update from the Chief Financial Officer as to the pulse of the city's financials, with Corinne Bomben outlining the latest results from the September  departmental reports.

And as they have for a number of months now, the Variance reports provided a glimpse into how the challenges of COVID related revenue reductions are impacting on the overall financial snapshot, with revenue expectations remaining down, while expenditures are still required.

At last weeks twenty two minute session, the council members in attendance had no follow up questions for the CFO following her review and findings to highlight areas where some financial re-balancing will be required by years end.

From last weeks review, a number of areas continue to struggle in the revenue area:

Among them the Airport Ferry which had budgeted for revenues of $1,287,000 for 2020 and as of September had realized only $422,284. 

While on the expenses side of the Airport Ferry ledger the City has spent $1,520,033 of the $2,844,000 budget to September.

On the waterfront, the City owned and operated Cow Bay Marina has taken in $125,777 in revenue as of September, that still well short of the $219,000 that had been budgeted for at the start of the year. 

While they  may not be taking in much money, the city continues to spend on the vessel mooring facility having spent $143,049 in expenses to September, that from a budget of $189,000.

Recreation Centre revenues continue to show challenges as well, with Ms. Bomben's report for September making note of the following elements:

Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Actual Revenues -- $94,367  
Budgeted for $256,000

Earl Mah Aquatic Centre Actual Revenues -- $101,568 
Budgeted for $428,000

Jim Ciccone Arena Actual Revenues -- $90,520 
Budgeted Revenues of $194,000

When it Comes to the Expenses Ledger the September results were as follows:

Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena Expenditures -- $207,414
Budgeted for $408,000

Earl Mah Aquatic Centre Expenditures -- $869,145
Budgeted for $1,502,000

Jim Ciccone Civic Centre  Expenditures -- $1,165,451
Budgeted for $2,008,000

The City's Transit system is also finding 2020 to be year of reduced revenues, with $138,252 collected to September, the budget at the start of the year had estimated revenues of $344,000

So far the City has spent $535,074 on Transit related expenditures from a budget of $883,000 

Ms. Bomben also called attention to the deficit facing the city's water utility, which is projected to be at the 100,000 dollar mark.

"The utilities budgets are performing as budgeted with the exception of the water utility, it is expected there will be a deficit for the year, by year end, given the reductions in commercial revenue experienced related to the pandemic. 

This combined with the increased testing related to the Water Advisory issued in August and again at the end of October from the significant rainfall events, means that we are projecting the deficit to be 100,000 dollars or five percent of the budget in the water utility"-- City of Prince Rupert Financial Officer Corinne Bomben on the City's water utility budget issues.

Later in the evening as part of the discussion on the proposed increases for the city's utility fees, Councillor Cunningham observed on the recent receipt of Provincial funding for COVID-restarts by municipal government.

As part of her reply to the Councillor, Ms. Bomben noted that some of that two million plus dollars in funding provided by the province may be put towards the Airport Ferry, Cow Bay Marina and Transit shortfalls.

Some of the financial findings explored in the
September Financial variance reports 
(click to enlarge)

You can review her Report for Council from the City's Video Timeline starting at the one minute mark, the follow up conversation on the Water Utility and the provincial funding comes at the eight minute mark.

For more items of note from the City's Finance Office see our archive page here.

Further background on the November 9th Council session can be found here.

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

Passing of Gunther Golinia touches many in Prince Rupert; Go Fund Me page launched to help assist with operations

A popular presence in Prince Rupert has passed away, with 
the Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter advising the community of the
passing of Gunther Golinia
(photo from Go Fund Me page)

Some Sad news from the Prince Rupert Wildlife Shelter, with word of the passing of Gunther Golinia, with the much loved and respected advocate for animals in the community passing away earlier this month.

Gunther and his wife Nancy have been operating the Wildlife Shelter for over three decades, a familiar location found at the eastern end of 11th Avenue East which has largely existed through the generosity of local residents and businesses.

As it was unregistered non-profit society it relied mainly on the work of volunteers and the donations from the community.

The shelter has been a destination for many residents young and old over the years, where they assisted the Golinia's in their mission towards animals and their recovery; as well as to serve as a hands on educational space to learn more about the animals that were brought there.

The news of Gunther's passing was relayed in a posting to a Go Fund Me page that has been created to help provide funds towards the costs of operation for the shelter on the city's east side.

Gunther Golinia passed away on November 13th after a long battle with diabetes. Nancy, his wife, is now the sole barer of all the responsibilities of the operation. If you can assist the shelter by making a donation, please do so! Any donation are greatly appreciated and will help ensure the continued survival of the shelter and the wildlife for this region. -- From the Go Fund Me page created to assist with the Shelters operations

As of this morning, 36 donors have contributed $1,990 towards the initial goal of $25,000, you can access the Go Fund Me page here.

Last year, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice brought an award of recognition to the Golinia's for their three decades of service to the community, highlighting both the work and the challenges that the couple faced as they cared for wildlife in the region.

As word began to make its way across the region, the first of the tributes began to appear, with Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain among the first to express his condolences using his social media page to share some thoughts.

As more are made public, we will record them on this post.

More notes from the Community can be explored from our archive page here.