THURSDAY March 21, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 24 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
NEWS
SPORTS
School District 71 trustees voted to give students better ‘screen time’ to go with their ‘green time.’ page A3
Eight Mount Washington Freestyle Club athletes qualified for the Junior National Freestyle Championships. page B8
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Gallery’s finances improved Scott Stanfield Record Staff
MARK AND DANIELLE Duncan have expressed interest in a new City of Courtenay program that encourages downtown business owners to improve their storefronts. PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD
City helping owners to improve storefronts Renee Andor Record Staff
Comox Valley residents could soon see some spiffed-up storefronts in downtown Courtenay. The Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association (DCBIA) recently announced its Façade Improvement Program, which gives downtown business owners and building owners a chance to receive grants for up to half of their storefront improvement costs to a maximum of $5,000. DCBIA executive director Kim Stubblefield notes members haven’t had long to ponder the incentive, as it was announced only last month, but already she’s had a number of inquiries. “The people who have inquired
have been really excited about it, the idea that it could really make a difference between them being able to upgrade their façades or not,” she says. The money will come from DCBIA members themselves via a special property tax levy applied to properties in the downtown core area, as it has been for years to generate funding for the DCBIA budget. According to DCBIA vice-president Deana Simkin, $10,000 has been set aside for the grants in the 2013 DCBIA budget. Danielle Duncan, who owns the Union Street Grill & Grotto with her husband Mark, is one of the people who inquired about the program so far. “Mark and I are looking at putting in an application for the
grant in order to do some needed maintenance to the front of our building,” said Danielle, noting they need to do some repainting and replace some siding on the front of their building. “This incentive has made us think about spending more and making a commitment to getting the project done this year. “We are now considering using more expensive materials, that would last longer, because of the incentive.” She added they are also thinking about changes to their signage and buying some custom flags to hang outside the restaurant. Adding to the incentive, the City of Courtenay will likely reduce development permit fees for renovations in the downtown core from $1,000 to $100. Coun-
cillors praised the recommendation and unanimously gave the amended bylaw first, second and third reading. The bylaw is expected to come back for final reading in early April. Coun. Manno Theos noted façade upgrades, like the one at Glacier View Plaza on Cliffe Avenue, can make a big difference. “These facelifts bring these buildings back to life and hopefully it’ll do the same for many of the buildings in the downtown area,” said Theos, adding the combined incentives could really help. “Along with the fees being reduced, the incentive of up to $5,000 to make the overall improvements on the façades is really going to potentially make a difference if people take advan... see CHANGE ■ A2
An $18,000 grant from the BC Arts Council helps to bring stability to the Comox Valley Art Gallery, says its administrator. The BCAC earlier this year approved nearly $117,000 to support arts and culture in the Comox Valley. The money is a “huge help,” enabling CVAG to progress on its strategic plan and to stabilize as an organization, says gallery administrator Sharon Karsten. “We’re finally able to move forward as opposed to just treading water,” she said. The gallery had been crippled in recent years by an accumulating debt. By last May, Karsten said CVAG was no longer in a deficit position but was nevertheless in danger of returning to a deficit. The galley had therefore scaled back staff hours, and forwarded a request to the community for support. The plea generated a couple thousand dollars. Since then, CVAG has received “positive funding results” from the arts council and the City of Courtenay. On a cautionary note, Karsten notes the annual gaming grant that normally arrives in September is still outstanding, which makes budgeting difficult. The gallery received $25,000 last year. It had previously been reduced to $6,000. “What we now need to do is make sure that’s sustainable,” Karsten said. “It’s a bit of a vol... see STAFFING ■ A2
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