Town Tidings - October 2022

The Fire Department Celebrates Past & Present

The Town’s Fire Department invites you to commemorate past and present at their Open House on Saturday, October 8 (10 am to 2 pm, at 130 Rupert Road East) celebrating both Fire Prevention Week and the Department’s 75th anniversary.

The Open House will feature live demonstrations including a vehicle extrication and high-angle rope exercises. Visitors are invited to tour the Fire Hall, investigate fire trucks, learn about apparatus and tools, operate a fire extinguisher, and visit memories from the past 75 years. There will be a hotdog barbeque and visits from Sparky, the Fire Department’s mascot.

For more information read the media release.

Freeman of the Town Honoured with Memorial Benches

Under Council’s direction the Town’s Freemen are being honoured with memorial benches that have been permanently installed and dedicated in “recognition and appreciation of their fine qualities of mind and personality, and their commitment and dedication to the Town of Qualicum Beach.”

The title “Freeman of the Town” is bestowed on residents of note who have contributed significant service to the community. Over the years Council conferred “freedom of the Town” status to six people: Margaret Little in 1998, James Robert Storey in 2006, and Anne Maria Klees, Leo Klees, John E Collins, and Arthur Norman Skipsey all in 2011.

Staff contacted each Freeman and/or their families to discuss areas in Town that they would appreciate having a park bench located, and the following locations were chosen:

Leo and Anne Maria Klees – Fern Road across from The Old School House.
John E Collins – Judges Row.
Margaret Little – Saahtlam Park (formerly known as St. Andrew’s Waterfront Park).
Arthur Norman Skipsey – Civic Centre.
James Robert Storey – Qualicum Beach Train Station.

The benches have been installed at the above locations and will be regularly maintained by Town staff, at no cost to the recipient, and stand as a reminder of the exceptional service of these honoured citizens.

Freeman pictures and details are located in Town Hall foyer next to the Council Chambers for viewing.

Naming from Qualicum First Nation

The Town of Qualicum Beach respectfully, and with gratitude, accepts the gift of the name Saahtlam for the park, formerly recognized as St. Andrews, from Qualicum First Nation.

The Town approached Chief Recalma approximately a year ago to visit the park with the invitation to name the area. Chief Recalma went away and reflected on the vision of the area and its significance before proposing the name.

A plaque recognizing the gifting of this name from the Qualicum First Nation will be included on the park’s naming sign, as well as an interpretive board to indicate the history of the site and the naming gift from Qualicum First Nation.

The name Saahtlam refers to the green at the mouth of the river and is pronounced

“Saht-lam”.

East Village - Phase 2 Tender Awarded

The Town awarded the East Village Phase 2 Upgrades to Milestone Equipment Contracting Inc. in the amount of $1,831,624.20.

A total of five tenders were received and included a $50,000 contingency allowance, $10,000 in cash allowances, and 5% GST. The cash allowance is for potential costs associated with erosion and sediment control.

The work will perform upgrades and beautification similar to Berwick Road and continue to transform the area into a unique, energetic neighborhood. The project will help foster and attract new economic activity in the Town’s commercial area, as well as attract a residential base to support economic growth. Project completion is expected in 2023.

For more information read the media release.

Elections Updates - What to Expect on Voting Day

Advance Voting Dates: October 12, 8am to 8pm, Civic Centre

General Election Day: October 15, 8am to 8pm, Civic Centre

What is on my Ballot?

On Election day your ballot will provide the opportunity to vote for:

Up to ONE Mayor
Up for FOUR Councillors
Up to TWO School Trustees
Two Non-Binding Public Opinion questions

Non-binding Ballot Questions

Two non-binding questions will be included on the 2022 ballot to help inform Council of public opinion. The two questions will be:

1) Are you in favour of the Town of Qualicum Beach Council increasing in size from four (4) Councillors to six (6) Councillors?

2) Should the Town spend the necessary funds, up to a maximum of $700,000, to refurbish the St. Andrew’s Lodge building?

Visit qualicumbeach.com/ballot2022

for more information.

Mail Ballot Voting

Voting my mail is available to all eligible electors of the Town of Qualicum Beach.

Visit qualicumbeach.com/mail-ballot for more information and to register for a mail ballot package online.

The deadline to request a mail ballot package is Thursday, October 13, 2022 at 4:00 pm.

The deadline to pick up a mail ballot package is Friday, October 14, 2022 at 4:00 pm.

Visit qualicumbeach.com/mail-ballot for more information.

Fall Chipping

Chipping will commence for:

Residences EAST of Memorial Ave - Oct 11

Residences WEST of Memorial Ave - Nov 1

Follow the guidelines for smooth collection:

ONE pile per property
Small trees, branches, woody shrub materials
Maximum pile of 8ft x 8ft x 5ft high
Wood under 4 inches in diameter
Neatly stacked at the roadside with butt ends facing the same direction

Grass clippings, leaves, soft plant materials (eg. flowers)
Piles in excess of 8ft x 8ft x 5ft high
Piles with gravel, dirt, or roots covered with dirt
Wood in excess of 4 inches in diameter

Visit the Town's Chipping webpage for more details.

The Town Celebrates Communities in Bloom

This year the Town is participating under the non-competitive Friendship category of BC Communities in Bloom and celebrating The Year of the Garden (TYOG) 2022.

The most prominent of these two initiatives is The Rotary Friendship Garden on Memorial Avenue as you enter Town, which celebrates anniversaries for both the Qualicum Beach Fire Department and the Qualicum Beach Rotary Club.

Over 326 red fibrous begonias (the 2022 theme colour) went into the fire hydrant display, and a further 180 fibrous begonias and 144 alyssums made up the main flower display. The garden was designed and planted by the Town’s talented Parks Department staff and is a memorable way to commemorate these significant anniversaries.

Another planting that will also receive attention at this year’s CIB is the Eaglecrest Entry Garden initiative. This planting will be presented as a ‘Showcase Project’ later in October at the CIB Symposium and represents the work of volunteers in the Eaglecrest neighbourhood.

One notable Eaglecrest volunteer is Vern Black, who was honoured with a “Garden Heroe” award for his work coordinating volunteers on the garden’s redesign, as well as on the creation of the Eaglecrest Drive “Superbox”, recognized nationally in 2004 as a “Special Mention”.

Two CIB Welcome signs were also recreated and act as a reminder of the Town’s awards over the years, notably the Canadian Classic award won in partnership with the City of Parksville in 2004. The signs are located on Highway 19A at the Town boundary just before Yambury Road, and on Memorial Avenue just past the Rupert Road Roundabout.

A Symposium linking TYOG and CIB will be held in Victoria later in October and will wrap up the two initiatives and recognize this year’s participants. The Town is being represented by Marlys Diamond who will highlight the Town’s reconnection with its CIB legacy between 1999 and 2006, and other Town Showcase Projects submitted by various groups, including one from Broombusters, a group that began in 2006 with a CIB connection.

For more information visit qualicumbeach.com/2022garden.