January 24 - Council Highlights

From the meeting of January 24, 2022

Mayor’s Update

On January 17, Mayor Pranger met MP Brad Vis to raise issues of concerns on the Federal funding and flood relief program and thanked him for doing work on our behalf.

That same day, the Lets’emot Community to Community Forum, which was attended by MLA Kelli Paddon and MP Brad Vis, agreed to prepare a submission to Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland for disaster relief funding. This program was announced after the November flooding and landslide events. The submission will be a joint effort of all our Lets’emot members which include Cheam First Nation, District of Kent, Sq’ewlets First Nation, Seabird Island Band, Stó:lō Tribal Council, Sts’ailes, and Village of Harrison Hot Springs

I’m happy to see the renovations on the Aberdeen building are mostly completed. I am grateful for the new addition of solar panels. I hope we continue with those changes to reduce our overall emissions footprint.

historical building with solar panels on roof

Stay safe, be kind and shop local.

Congratulations Welding Students

In his report, Councillor Post congratulated the four students from Agassiz who graduated from the welding course. The students travelled to Hope Secondary School where they participated in a dual credit program. Students enrolled in this program, receive high school and university credit from Thompson Rivers University up to their first year of apprenticeship. This program is of no cost to the students, “it is great that the school system is helping students get off on the right foot and into a trade and help determine what they want to do workwise”.

Hours Reduced at Library

Councillor Schwichtenberg raised the issue of staffing shortages at the Fraser Valley Regional Library due to COVID-19. Libraries continue to remain open with the potential for operating hours to be reduced. Hours of operation can be found at www.fvrl.bc.ca or by calling (604)796-9510.

Chamber of Commerce Receives Shop Local Grant

Councillor Spaeti informed the meeting that the Agassiz-Harrison Chamber of Commerce was successful in their grant application from the BC Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $40,000. With this grant, the Chamber will be developing their social media presence as well as a Shop Local Campaign for both communities.

A Valentines event will take place in Agassiz during February 12^th and 13^th. Watch for more details in the Observer closer to the event.

For information on the benefits of becoming a member of the Agassiz-Harrison Chamber of Commerce please see www.harrison.ca.

Grant-In-Aid Program

The District of Kent receives grant-in-aid applications annually from various community organizations and not-for-profit societies. The Financial Assistance/Grant-in-aid information package describes the application process and criteria for an application to receive Council consideration. The deadline for submission of operating grant funding requests (grants-in-aid) from community organizations is November 15^th of each year preceding the budget year.

Historically, Council has set aside funds in the annual operating budget to provide grants to organizations in the community. Grant requests for 2022 (including a $2,270 contingency) total for $20,000.

Council approved the funding requests to Agassiz Agricultural and Historical Association, Kent-Harrison Arts Council, the Agassiz Harrison Aquanauts, Agassiz-Harrison Community Services, Agassiz-Harrison Historical Society, Cheam Vista Classical Concert Society, Harrison Festival Society.

Information regarding the Grant-in-Aid program is available at kentbc.ca/Grant.

AFD Food Drive a Success!

The Agassiz Fire Department along with the Kent Harrison Search and Rescue held its annual Christmas food drive in support of the Agassiz Harrison Community Services. The event was a resounding success with total food numbers at 6635 lbs, and monetary donations of $4,315.00. Both numbers are up by close to 1000 over the previous year. Thank you to everyone who donated.

Epilepsy Awareness Month

Council moved to have Municipal Hall lit up in purple on March 26th in support of Epilepsy Awareness Month in March.

International Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness is a time when people in countries around the world wear purple and take part in events and activities to raise awareness of epilepsy. To learn more about the BC Epilepsy Society and Purple Day, visit www.bcepilepsy.com/.