Recently, the re-elected CRD Chair (Area 'G' Director Al Richmond) delivered the following year-end statement celebrating the successes of the Cariboo Regional District in 2009:
"As we look towards 2010, the Cariboo Regional District is more than ever poised to continue providing quality services and strong regional representation to all residents of the Cariboo Chilcotin. As another year at the CRD is drawing to a close today, I have the great satisfaction of looking back over 2009.
Our region can be proud of its achievements. It was a year of accomplishments and reward. These rewards were the result of many hours of hard work by both Board members and staff. Despite the current economic conditions, the affects of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic and the various other challenges we have all faced throughout the year, I can assure you that the CRD remains committed to striving to provide the best in service quality to our residents in a cost efficient manner.
Public consultation has always been of prime importance to our organization and in 2009 we once again undertook a rigorous schedule of activities starting with the Town Hall meetings in January and February. We presented the five year financial plan and proposed budget to residents in all 12 electoral areas and our four member municipalities. The Regional District also conducted two regularly scheduled Board meetings in rural communities of the Cariboo Chilcotin—on June 18/19 in Lone Butte and September 17/18 at Chimney Lake.
2009 was also a great year for the CRD’s participation at both the North Central Municipal Association (NCMA) and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conventions. On Friday May 8, 2009, at the NCMA conference in Dawson Creek, the Cariboo Regional District was awarded the coveted 2009 Gold Star Award for its successful resolution "Continuation of the Union of British Columbia (UBCM) Community Tourism Funding Program". The CRD resolution spoke to the continuation of the UBCM Community Tourism Funding Program which has allowed for the development of many tourism based projects throughout the region and the province.
During that same conference, the CRD presented a number of other successful resolutions including; taxation to support the SPCA; local government access to the proceeds of crime, corporate voting category for non‐resident business owners; and access for people with mental disabilities.
In September 2009, the NCMA changed its name to the North Central Local Government Association to be a more inclusive association that will service all local governments including municipalities, regional districts and First Nations.
2009 proved to be another busy year for CRD Directors and staff at the UBCM conference in Vancouver. From September 28 to October 2, local government representatives including the CRD Board and staff met in Vancouver to attend workshops, vote on proposed resolutions from across the province and lobbied the provincial government through ministerial meetings on local issues on behalf of their constituents. During the
UBCM conference, the Cariboo Regional District received an award for its 2008 Annual Report and Town Hall Meeting Budget Booklet. The Report won Honourable Mention in the category of Financial Reporting. 2009 marked the second time in CRD history to win the UBCM Excellence Award Honourable Mention for Financial Reporting with its first win coming in 2007 for the inaugural Annual Report.
The awards were not limited to the local government conferences. In June 2009, the CRD’s award winning ways continued as the CRD along with the City of Quesnel were presented with the Canadian Public Relations Society’s National Don Rennie Memorial Award for Excellence in Government Communications. The project, which had been submitted by the Regional District of Fraser Fort George staff, was focused on open and transparent communications to allow residents to make an informed decision for the future of the North Cariboo Multi‐Centre and its future borrowing.
And during the year, our very own Area J Director Alex Bracewell was honoured in Victoria after receiving a BC Community Achievement Awards for his work in developing wheelchair accessible trails in Tatlayoko. His commitment to developing the Cariboo Chilcotin as a wheelchair tourism destination and on a greater scale; an accessible and inclusive region, is extremely admirable and we are very proud of his accomplishments. Congratulations again Alex.
Throughout the year, we accomplished a lot. We met and continue to meet our residents’ needs:
In January, we officially opened the long‐awaited new library branch in Quesnel and construction on the CRD’s 100 Mile House branch is well underway with an estimated completion date of March 2010.
The Environmental services department made some vital improvements to the Horse Lake water system and completed the newly constructed Alexis Creek water system. Our water systems now service approximately 2,600 properties.
Our Protective Services Department and the CRD Emergency Operations teams were almost constantly activated this summer starting in May with the 70 Mile Fire until mid September with the Lava Canyon fire and many other fires in between. Throughout the earlier of months of 2009, this same team was activated for approximately eight different flooding events.
We signed two new Memoranda of Understanding with the Cities of Quesnel and Williams Lake.
And to cap off 2009, on November 30, the CRD was awarded the prestigious title of the Forest Capital of Canada for 2010 and 2011. Along with its member municipalities and the CCCTA, the Forest Capital program will be highlighted at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, BC with representation at BC Street Pavilion as part of the City of Richmond’s Ozone celebrations.
Building and creating partnerships, enhancing services, undertaking capital projects, informing the public and responding to residents’ needs is what building this region together is all about. Our organization will continue to respond to community and residents’ needs and thereby achieving our goal of Building Communities Together.
I would like to thank all the Board members and staff for the support during 2009 and look forward to working with each and every one of you in the upcoming year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to each and every one of you. Thank you."
No comments:
Post a Comment