THURSDAY September 4, 2014 Vol. 29• No. 71 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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Supportive housing project takes step in the right direction
ating subsidies will be available. “How are we to maintain it? We have to be innovative,” said Courtenay council has direct- Leonard, concerned about the ed city staff to prepare a Request service component. The city has retained the serfor Proposal to select a non-profit organization or other qualified vices of social planning consulgroup to operate a proposed sup- tant John Jessup, who has met portive housing complex on the with neighbourhood residents about the Braidwood project, east side of town. The 30-unit complex at 810 which council has identified as its top priority for Braidwood Rd. 2014. would not be a At a previous homeless shelter Expandmeeting, Jessup but would address suggested applying a “wide range of ing the range of to the Real Estate in-need and at- people who can Foundation’s capirisk tenants,” CAO be serviced is the tal program for David Allen states operating funds. in a report. Along way to go. Annual operating with the working Ronna-Rae Leonard costs are estimated poor and the homebetween $550,000 less, the units could and $575,000 in the also accommodate families with children and first year, depending on construction costs and mortgage interest seniors. “Expanding the range of peo- rates. Jessup recommends havple who can be serviced is the ing two staff members working way to go,” Coun. Ronna-Rae at all times, considering problems are likely to arise with Leonard said Tuesday. “I’m pleased to hear we’re con- some of the more acute clients. He suggests issuing the RFP sidering seniors and families,” in the first week of October, and Coun. Starr Winchester said. Money is available to con- appointing a housing provider struct the building, but the issue to develop the Braidwood site by Dec. 15. In the meantime, is annual operating funds. Leonard suggests money staff will look into costs of a might be found by other means, hazmat survey of the existing such as enterprising non-profits, house, and of geotechnical and if senior governments cannot engineering surveys to detercough up funds. BC Housing has mine water, sanitary and storm provided $50,000 in the form of system capacities. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com a loan but has indicated no oper-
Scott Stanfield
Record Staff
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Comox Valley MLA Don McRae stepped out of his office Tuesday morning to address the concerns of parents, teachers and students over the ongoing teachers’ strike. PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
Parents rally for teachers Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Dozens of parents, teachers and students gathered Tuesday morning in front of Comox Valley MLA Don McRae’s office to show solidarity for striking teachers, and even called for McRae to step down. Organizer Alix Wilson, a parent of two, said she created the event because it was time for parents to step up and put pressure on the government for what they want for their kids and for the future. “(We want) to remind (the government) that they’re our voice
for what we want, and we want smaller class sizes for kids and we want public education to be successful for the future.” Nick Moore, president of the Comox District Teachers Association, explained despite the positive turnout, teachers would much rather be teaching. “We’re disappointed to be here right now. We’re ready for the Liberal government to invest in education. “We’re a service industry; we’re not a business and we need support now,” he added. He noted he believes more parent-run rallies will be springing up throughout the week, “as
parents start to see that this is not just about wages, this is not just about benefits but this is a long-term problem that needs to stop now.” Moore extended an invitation for McRae to return to a classroom, particularly following a letter which recently came to light which McRae wrote in 2008 as a teacher at G.P. Vanier to thenEducation Minister Shirley Bond about overwhelming class sizes. “Don’s a teacher. He felt what it’s like to be in classrooms. He penned that letter in the early 2000s, and it’s worse now,” added Moore.
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