Issues & Community Blog - Andrew Weaver: A Climate for Hope - Page 193

Today I had the the great pleasure of attending the launch of ARTISHOW 2014 at the Laurel Point Hotel. Through partnership with local galleries and hotels, ARTISHOW provides a unique opportunity for local artists to showcase their exhibits to the broader community and to interact one-on-one with visitors to our region Below is the text of my speech.

It’s a great pleasure for me to speak at this, the 5^th annual ARTISHOW and the first such show for which Barbara Adams acts in her new role as Oak Bay’s Arts Laureate.

Art in all its forms enriches our lives. And in particular, community-based art provides us with a personal and authentic experience that both engages those who live in the area and inspires visitors coming to our region.

Victoria is known locally as a city of artists. Each year, communities like Oak Bay, Saanich, Fairfield and others host studio tours. We have an exceptional Art Gallery located in the Rockland area. The University of Victoria’s Legacy gallery displays its fine collection in the heart of downtown. Our elementary, middle and high schools offer wonderful art programs.  We are home to the Victoria College of Art.  And each year, many local artists participate in the annual –not to be missed- Moss Street paint in.

We are fortunate to have such a diversity of artistic talent in the Capital Regional District. We are even more fortunate that ARTISHOW provides our local artists with a unique opportunity to showcase their exhibits to the broader community and to interact one-on-one with visitors to our region.

This year I am particularly excited about the very special artists who will be in residence at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. In August, Winchester Galleries and the Oak Bay Beach Hotel will showcase these remarkable sculptors who use specially designed tools to create their works.

So thank you to ARTISHOW; thank you to the seven host hotels in the Capital Regional District who are hosting artists in residence; thank you to the galleries who support them; and thank you to the artists who will be in residence from May to October. Thank you for enriching us all with your creativity.

Media Statement: May 5, 2014
Petition Calls on Province to Review CRD Sewage Plan
For Immediate Release

Victoria BC – Today Andrew Weaver presented three petitions to the House calling on the Provincial Government to pause and review the Capital Regional District proposal for secondary sewage treatment. The petitions totaling over 2600 signatures from residents throughout Greater Victoria were organized by The Prospect Lake Community Association and the Sewage Treatment Action Group.

In light of the rejection of re-zoning McLoughlin Point for a treatment plant by the Township of Esquimalt, following a series of public forums, and community concerns over the proposed plant at Hartland, the CRD plan appears to be on hold. The Minister of Environment has stated she has no intention of intervening on the Esquimalt re-zoning and has indicated the affected municipalities and regional district should come forward with a solution. She has also officially noted the deadline for completion is 2020 allowing time for alternative approaches to be discussed.

“These petitions, town halls, letters to editors and community actions clearly demonstrate that the residents and businesses in Greater Victoria are deeply concerned about the proposed project both in terms of its cost, as well as its appropriateness as a solution” said Andrew Weaver. “The region needs sewage treatment. And we know the province has promised to provide funding even with a 2020 deadline. What’s needed is a firm commitment of 1/3 federal funding so that the CRD will have full confidence that a review of the present plan is the right way to move forward”.

In submitting the petition to Andrew Weaver, Dr. Fred Haynes, Past President, Prospect lake Community Association noted: “ The newer technologies demonstrated at Dockside Green (Victoria), Ladysmith BC, Blaine Washington and Guadalajara Mexico show it is possible with this budget to invest taxpayers money in building a world leading system”.

Andrew Weaver will continue to work with community groups, regional mayors and councils, and community groups to encourage a sewage treatment plan that is affordable, meets current and future needs and is backed by the community.

Media Contact
Mat Wright – Press Secretary, Andrew Weaver MLA
mat.wright@leg.bc.ca
1 250 216 3382

Thank you to SHAW for the opportunity to report on the work Andrew Weaver is doing at the Legislature and in the community. Topics in this video include LNG, youth engagement, coal exports and working with both the government and opposition on issues that have a major impact to the constituents of Oak Bay – Gordon Head and everyone in the province.

Yesterday I had the honour of attending the 11th annual British Columbia Community Achievement Awards Ceremony where 32 inspiring British Columbians were honoured for their dedicated community service and contributions.

Of the 32 honourees, three were from Victoria. Below I have copied their citations with links to the original source attached to their names.

Congratulations to all Community Achievement Award winners and special thanks to Bonnie Leadbeater, Donald Brown and Daphne Good for enriching our community with your contributions and commitment.

“Dr. Bonnie Ledbeater, Professor of Psychology at the University of Victoria, is being honoured today for her work on anti-bullying programs for primary and middle school children. She is well known for her part in enhancing W.I.T.S., a program that means: WALK AWAY; IGNORE, TALK IT OUT AND SEEK HELP. Launched in Victoria, WITS is now in 170 schools around the Province and 500 schools across Canada. The program trains students, law enforcement, teachers, parents and families to be responsive to children’s requests for help. Bonnie and her team have also made inroads into the challenges of cyber bullying. Bonnie’s evidence-based research and dedicated leadership make our communities stronger and healthier.”

“Daphne Goode exemplifies community spirit through her professional career in media, community broadcasting and communications and through her countless volunteer initiatives. She is full of energy for Victoria and its residents and it shows: she has impacted a wide variety of fields: arts and culture, environment, healthcare, business, philanthropy, education, women’s issues, seniors and youth. For twenty years, Daphne has worked with Shaw Communications where as Program Director and as Community Relations and Access Coordinator, she has interacted with many community organizations. Her volunteer years have been tallied – 150! Daphne constantly contributes to the public good.”

Donald Brown “has had a long and distinguished career with the RCMP in Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Nanaimo, Richmond, Burnaby and Sooke. He has been a lifelong community leader wherever he has served. In sports and recreation, from youth to seniors, he has volunteered as a coach or referee…for soccer, curling, baseball, and track and field. For 45 years, he has been associated with the sport of lacrosse. On the civic side, Don has been a school trustee and a parks and recreation commissioner. He continues his service to the community as the Manager of the Capital Regional District Bylaws and Animal Care Services. Don is recognized today for his community service across the Province and over his lifetime.”

Madame Speaker, Today I would like to share an inspiring story about children at Campus View Elementary School in my riding that are making a difference in our community.

In 2011 Madame Speaker, two grade three students Reina Girvan-Randall and her friend Holly Edquist pitched an idea of creating an environmental club to their school principal — Mr. David Hovis. He thought it was a great idea. And so it all began.

The green team started small, but quickly grew, when Liv Dunsdon, Saffron Sobkin and four others signed on. By the time the green team was in grade 4, they had a vision — a vision of hosting an Earthfest at their school to coincide with Earth Day.

Thanks to the generous support of Maia Green and the Friends Uniting for Nature Society, otherwise known as the FUN Society, Reina Girvan-Randall and her team were able to launch their first Earthfest in 2012.

In 2013, Madame Speaker, Campus View’s Earthfest won a national prize – one of only 10 schools from 600 submissions to receive 25,000$ in computer equipment from Staples Canada.

This past week marked the 3^rd year that Campus View hosted its community wide Earthfest — the goal always being to have fun and create broader community environmental awareness and change.

There are now 42 students on the Green Team in grades 4 & 5, including Amira Ahmad, Ella Dunsdon and Calder Wheatley. They are coached by parent volunteers, Anita Girvan and Narda Nelson, Campus View teacher, Ladena Racine-Tran and Principal David Hovis.

Many organizations from our community participate in Earthfest including CRD Sustainable Education; Victoria Natural History Society; Capital Region Beekeepers Association, Orca Books and many more.

And what happened to those grade three girls who started this all off Madame Speaker? Well they are now in grade six at Arbutus Middle School. They’ve gone on to form another organization called VERT  — Victoria Eco-Rally Team!

Madame Speaker, we have so much to learn from the creativity and innovation displayed by the children and youth in our society. They are our future and their passion fills me with hope and optimism for a prosperous and sustainable tomorrow.