 |
| Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach reprised his calls for Federal funding for Prince Rupert's water infrastructure issues |
City of Prince Rupert officials will be pleased to know that their quest for over 80 million dollars in Federal funding for water infrastructure is still on the radar in Ottawa, that as Skeena-Bukley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach noted of the city's application as part of the Tuesday House of Commons session and the importance that infrastructure has for municipal governments.
His comments came in the afternoon portion of the House of Commons yesterday, part of an exchange with Liberal MP Francesco Sorbara, who is a former resident of Prince Rupert. He noted of the global standing for the Port and the community.
 |
| click on above to enlarge |
 |
| Former Rupertite Frranceso Sorbara, now a resident of Vaughn, Ontario and the MP for that Ontario riding |
 |
| click on above to enlarge |
 |
| click on above to enlarge |
 |
| click on above to enlarge |
Since the return to City Hall following the holiday period, Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond and City Council have not provided any updates on the progress of the city's funding request with the Federal government.
You can review all of those commentaries through the House of Commons video archive, starting at the 16:35 point of the discussion on the Bill. Other contributions come at the 16:46 mark and again at 18:15
More notes related to the House of Commons can be reviewed here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review.
Some significant changes are on the way towards the International Education programs in Canada, that as both the Federal and provincial governments announce new measures to address a number of concerns related to the surge in International students coming to Canada in recent years.
That volume is something of note for the Prince Rupert campus of Coast Mountain College which has seen a strong number of International students enrolled stud for a number of programs offered at the Fifth Street Campus downtown.
While the current cohort of students through to 2024 seem to be secure towards their education plans, what may come from 2025 and beyond is still to be delivered by Ministry and college officials.
That following the announcement of a moratorium on International recruitment for colleges and universities.
Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Sills provided some focus for how the Province plans to move forward earlier this week.
“International students come here for a good education, but too many are being exploited or taken advantage of. That’s why we’re introducing more stringent requirements for institutions and robust safeguards to protect international students against bad actors, provide them with a better path to success, and make sure B.C. continues to attract the talented students we need to fill significant gaps in the labour market and drive our economy forward.”
 |
| The Prince Rupert Library on Sixth West at McBride is the venue for a February 29th info session on the city's approach to climate change planning |
An opportunity for residents of Prince Rupert to catch up on how the City is approaching its work on Climate Adaptation will come in late February, with City staff set to host an information session at the Prince Rupert Library.
The session which will take place Thursday, February 29 from 7 PM to 8:30 PM will be looking for feedback from community residents towards the development of a Climate Plan for Prince Rupert.
 |
| click to enlarge |
So far, 25 residents have indicated interest in the initiative through the event page created for the February 29th session, the Event page for the Library gathering can be reviewed here.
You can learn more about the project from the Rupert Talks Portal page here.
Earlier this month the City issued a call for some help from the public towards climate change planning by way of a mapping program to track potential climate hazards found in the community
City Council provided for a blue print of sorts towards their Climate Action initiative in the fall of 2022.
October 3, 2022 -- City's Climate Action plan to be revealed at Council Session tonight
The most recent update to that program came in April of 2023.
April 20 -- City of Prince Rupert outlines steps ahead for launch of Civic climate plan
More notes on City Council initiatives can be reviewed through our Council Discussion archive.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review. |
| The City's Bylaw office has compiled a list of vehicles set for demolition owing to abandonment around the community |
 |
| click to enlarge |
 |
| The site of the former Westview School on the city's far west side |
If you're walking your dog, you're probably OK, but if you're using a west side property for dumping household materials, or other anti social use. Then the School District is making plans for you.
The site of the old Westview School made for a significant part of the SD52 Board meeting discussion at their mid month gathering of January.
The building which was taken out of the School District education stock in 2010 has for the most part been unused since and the lack of anyone around facility has seemingly given rise to concerning activity around the building at the end of Second Avenue West.
The topic came up following a Report on maintenance and other themes from Operations Manager James Warburton, with Trustee Janet Beil asking towards vandalism and other concerns related to the property.
Warburton provided some background towards those questions from Trustee Beil and noted of the measures taken to this point to try to keep people off the School property.
He observed that in addition to the vandalism, residents had been using the property as a form of dumping grounds for a number of goods.
Trustee Beil suggested that with a number of concerning activities taking place on that property that proper signage to alert people that there is No Trespassing allowed on School properties.
"It's been a never ending saga to be painting over the vandals when it happens up there.
We've been watching to see what know of activity is happening, sometimes people will drive in and they'll drive all the way around the back of the school and we don't know why that's happening.
So made the decision to put that rope back up to keep stop people from driving in there now.
We have cleaned things up there, people will dump old mattresses, pallets and sometimes used oil and a bunch of thing that we've picked up from around the Westview property" -- Operations Manager James Warburton
Trustee Beil noted of those instances and other concerns that she has about those trespassing on the property while Trustee Horne noted that some residents from the area use the area for recreation activities, but concurred with the need for signage.
Board Chair Toye noted that they don't have those signs on other school properties, with trustee Beal observing that in this case the school is not in use and that there are significant dangers for the Westview property without more attention from the Board.
"It's a vacant piece of property, it can't be managed and when it can't be managed we're at higher risk, I mean if it was like a School property it's a little different that there's students going to the facility
But there isn't the school is being abused by citizens of Prince Rupert for activities that aren't conducive to what the School Act is. Dropping mattresses, drinking, eventually there's going to be a fire and that school's going to be on fire, I'm telling you I'm concerned about that school" -- SD52 Trustee Janet Beil
 |
| Units of the Prince Rupert Fire/Rescue Department were observed at the Westview location this week |
For Trustee Horne the issue of the building not being in use is making it a target for those in the community.
"Also graffiti that James's had said as well, so because there's nobody there, people feel that it's an opportunity to come in as opposed to a school that's populated. And I think that based just off of what he saying it would be a good idea to to do, it doesn't have to be anything crazy, but just some signage" -- SD52 Trustee James Horne
The board members then voted to take measures towards the issue at the property.
The full exchange on the topic can be reviewed through the School District Video of the January meeting starting at the 24 minute mark.
The Westview property has been the subject of some past redevelopment plans for the School District, at one time proposed as a new location for the School Board offices.
Those plans found some challenges in 2018 when a land sale for the Kanata School property fell through after the land developer and the City of Prince Rupert appeared to have had a difference of opinion on the development for the site.
The School District at the time noted of their disappointment at that turn of events and the impact that it would have on their plans.
There was no mention of what the future for the property may be as part of the January 15th discussion.
 |
| Skeeaa-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach has been assigned some additional Standing Committee duties in Ottawa |
