I N S I D E : Ashcroft neighbourhoods, Feb. 24. Page 7
Journal ASHCROFT t CACHE CREEK
Volume 120 No 8 PM # 400121123
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Graffiti Days theme defended
Woodsmoke from burning slash piles near Walhachin near the beginning of the month combined with smoke from a file at Tolko’s railway tie plant northeast of Ashcroft on Feb. 13. The fire was in a waste pile of sawdust and untreated ties.
Seniors Fit for Life program extended to year end Cache Creek Council voted to extend the Seniors Fit For Life program until December, keeping Vicky Trill on as facilitator. Trill was at the Feb. 12 meeting to report on the program so far, as well as a conference held Feb. 2 in Cache Creek. The Village’s contract with her ended on Jan. 31. Treasurer Lori Pilon said the program, which started with a $20,000 grant from the province, was being paid for by the participants at no cost to the Village. Mayor John Ranta pointed out that the program was being funded by money left over from last year, and if there wasn’t an increase in membership, the program might not be sustainable by the end of the December. Ranta added that he supported the program. So did Coun. Darrell Raw-
cliffe, who noted that even though the majority of participants were from outside Cache Creek, “it’s a fantastic program.” Earlier in the meeting, Trill recounted how the program had begun last June with a $20,000 grant from the Age-Friendly Community Planning and Projects grant program. The program incorporates several different activities, such as Aqua Fit, Functional Fitness level 2 and 3, Bocce Ball, outdoor walking, line dancing and a planned family dance night. She also recommended to Council that a Chair Fit component be added for seniors who are at a low level of fitness. “People are excited about the program,” she said. “It’s making a difference in lives.” She told Council that she is trying to figure out “who is still out there and
what’s holding them back.” Although her classes fill the Community Hall, the low fee paid by participants means that the program isn’t really breaking even yet. Although there are some Cache Creek participants, the majority are from out of town, coming from as far away as Loon Lake. She says that she is starting to reach the people who didn’t think they could exercise anymore, and they are finding out that it is never too late to start. Trill said the highlight of the program so far was when Lt. Governor Judith Guichon came to see them as she toured Cache Creek on Jan. 29. Her Honour even joined in the hula hooping, much to the excitement of the regular participants.
Cache Creek Council gave the first two of three readings needed to adopt the revised Official Community Plan (OCP) at its Feb. 12 meeting, but only after an unexpected discussion initiated by Coun. Herb Hofer of whether the Village should dump its graffiti theme. All BC municipalities are required to have an OCP and to revise it about every five years. The new OCP updates the 1998 plan with minor changes that mostly reflect changes in provincial policy as well as local policy. It includes land use policies, Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Strategy, Development Permit Areas and also the municipality’s “vision”. The vision in the OCP refers to “A Nifty Fifties ‘Graffiti’ theme” that has been adopted by the Village to reflect the importance of the service sector. In the Development Permit Areas section, it says “Every effort should be made to incorporate a ‘graffiti days’ theme in the construction of new or the renovation of existing buildings...” There are also specific references to the use of neon - which has been changed to LED lights - on businesses downtown, which were also in the old OCP. Hofer felt the requirements to follow the graffiti theme was restricting the downtown business people when, in fact, “everything should be done to eliminate restrictions and make it easier.” “I can’t do what I want to do with my own business?” he asked. “We can’t afford to be that way in these times. We’re in dire straits. I don’t think it’s a good idea to have it in there.” It doesn’t matter where you live, said Coun. Darrell Rawcliffe, there are always requirements for any building permit. “If we’re going to abandon the graffiti theme,” says Mayor John Ranta, “it should be a resolution of council rather than an amendment to the OCP.” The Village officially adopted graffiti days as its community theme in 1990, he said. “A fundamental resolution to eliminate the graffiti theme is worth considering if that’s what you want to do.” “I’m not going to lie down in front of the bulldozers if you guys want to carry on,” said Hofer. “The only way to find out if Council wants to abandon the graffiti theme is to make a resoSee OCP on p. 8
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