Serious Accident Involving families from Tsaxana and Tahsis Mayor Jude Schooner

My sincere condolences to all involved!

Economic Development Strategy on North Vancouver Island

The communities of Tahsis, Zeballos, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations and Ehattesaht/Chinehkint First Nations are receiving a $91,000.00 grant from the Rural Dividend fund to conduct the environmental assessment and stream crossing engineering work for the multi-purpose trail project linking Tahsis with Zeballos.  This component of the project will provide the communities with the necessary information to seek provincial government approvals for the trail.  In addition to the Rural Dividend funding, the communities have also received $30,000.00 from the Island Coastal Economic Trust for the trail.

Here is the announcement from the BC government: 

 From the News Release Province of BC website: 

CAMPBELL RIVER – Building on the economic benefits and jobs created by getting to yes on major projects and provincial investments in infrastructure, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson today announced immediate investments and a long-term action plan outlined in B.C.’s rural economic development strategy that will create jobs and economic opportunities in Campbell River.
Building on our Rural Advantages: B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy outlines the Province’s three-pronged approach to build, strengthen, and diversify rural communities. These investments are expected to support up to 26,600 direct and indirect jobs with an overall impact of $2.8 billion to provincial GDP. Targeted initiatives include $40 million to expand and enhance high-speed Internet and an extension of the $25-million Rural Dividend Fund to reinvigorate and diversify more local economies. These will ensure British Columbians in all regions of the province have the opportunity for good-paying jobs and a high quality of life in their community.
To strengthen the Province’s commitment to supporting rural communities and in recognition of the unique challenges and opportunities they face, Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett was recently appointed Minister of State for Rural Economic Development.  Building on our Rural Advantages delivers on a key priority in the minister of state’s mandate letter.
With the release of Building on our Rural Advantages, the Province is also making targeted investments that will benefit rural communities throughout B.C., including Campbell River:

• $15 million over three years for trades equipment in B.C. secondary schools so students can explore the trades earlier in their education, including $716,400 in Campbell River.
• $7.5 million over three years to upgrade BC Wildfire Service facilities throughout the province, including the Quinsam fire base, creating jobs and improving safety in rural communities.
• More than $871,700 under the Rural Dividend Fund for projects in six communities, including:
  • $500,000 for the Regional District of Mount Waddington to develop a strategic economic development plan to create jobs in the forestry sector,
  • $100,000 for the Nanwakolas Council Society to deliver job readiness and skills training to youth,
  • $91,720 for the Village of Zeballos to develop local trails,
  • $90,000 for the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation to hire and train local workers and develop an overnight accommodation business in Kingcome Village,
  • $80,000 for the Village of Port Alice to support the redevelopment, expansion, and increased services for a campground, and
  • $10,000 for Port McNeill Kids in Motion Society to develop a summer camp geared for local youth with a focus on physical activity, health, and nutrition.

The rural strategy is a key commitment of the 5-Year Jobs Plan Update, which recognized the need for focused action to support rural communities. The new targeted actions outlined in the strategy build on the significant investments in Balanced Budget 2017 and respond to what government heard directly from British Columbians living in rural communities. To that end, the strategy includes immediate investments that will lay the foundation for economic diversification in rural B.C.:

• A significant $40 million investment to extend high-speed Internet access to rural and remote B.C. communities, bringing faster broadband speeds that will create new economic opportunities and lay the foundation for new investment and jobs in B.C.’s burgeoning tech industry.
• Extending the $25 million per-year Rural Dividend Fund for a fourth year to support the strength and sustainability of small rural communities.
• $150 million for the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia to plant tens of millions more trees, which will help fight climate change and create over 3,000 jobs in rural British Columbia.
• Begin phasing out provincial sales tax on electricity purchases by reducing it to 3.5 per cent on Oct. 1, 2017, and eliminating it by April 1, 2019. This will improve business competitiveness and economic performance, especially for resource industries that are key to rural B.C. such as commercial agriculture, forestry and mining.
• Reduce the small business tax rate to 2% from 2.5%, effective April 2017, which means B.C. will have the second-lowest small business tax in Canada.

Planning for a Local ATV Trail Network

From Island Coastal Economic Trust:

NORTH ISLAND COMMUNITIES PLANNING ATV TRAIL NETWORK TO ATTRACT NEW VISITORS

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

COURTENAY – The Village of Tahsis is taking the next steps in creating an off-road ATV trail system to bring new visitors to the region.

Partnering with the Village of Zeballos, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Ehattesaht First Nation and working with more than ten other regional stakeholders, the communities will be developing a comprehensive business case and plan. The Island Coastal Economic Trust is contributing 50% of the $30,000 project budget.

An economic development strategy prepared by Zeballos in 2013 identified recreational trails as a potentially strong tourist draw. A subsequent strategy developed in Tahsis in 2014 prioritized working with the local First Nations to develop new tourism experiences as a way to attract new visitors to the region.

“Creating a network of ATV trails, developing the marketing tools to promote it, and all the other components of this project requires a great deal of collaboration and cooperation,” said ICET Chair Phil Kent. “Bringing together local government, First Nations, the Province of BC, and private sector partners requires significant effort, but it also means a stronger probability of success in attracting new visitors and economic activity.”

Creating the business case will include everything from trail development plans and route designs, to market research and economic impact assessments.

"Since the completion of our economic development strategies, the Villages of Tahsis and Zeballos in partnership with the Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Ehattesaht First Nation and our other partners, have been exploring the multi-use trail network concept," said Tahsis Mayor Jude Schooner. "We're intent on moving from the preliminary planning stages into concrete action as quickly as possible, and that's a gratifying step."

This phase of the project is funded through the ‘Quick Start’ module of ICET’s Economic Development Readiness Program. The key objective of the Program is rapid implementation of action items identified in recent economic development strategies.

“There are miles and miles of deactivated logging roads crisscrossing the region, and we realized that we have a great opportunity to showcase the region and its history by creating a great trail network,” said Zeballos Mayor Donn Cox.  “By working in partnership, we can create real change for our communities.”

About the Island Coastal Economic Trust

The Island Coastal Economic Trust is a $50 million fund established in 2006 by the Government of British Columbia to help diversify the economies of central and northern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. 

ICET is guided by a Board of Directors and two Regional Advisory Committees which include more than 50 locally elected officials and MLAs and five appointees.  This exceptional team of leaders collaborates to set regional priorities and build vital multi-regional networks. 

Through a community-centred decision-making process, ICET has approved $49 million for over 160 economic infrastructure and economic development readiness projects on the Island and Sunshine Coast since implementing its grant program in 2007.  ICET investments have generated over $278 million in incremental funding into the regionA full overview of ICET can be found at www.islandcoastaltrust.ca

-end-

For further information:

Line Robert, CEO
Island Coastal Economic Trust
Tel. 250-871-7797 (Ext. 227)
line.robert@islandcoastaltrust.ca

Mayor Phil Kent, ICET Chair
City of Duncan
Tel. 250-709-0186
mayor@duncan.ca

Mark Tatchell,CAO/CFO
Village of Tahsis
Tel. 250-934-6344
mtatchell@villageoftahsis.com

Raising of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Flag in Tahsis

There was a very welcome sight as the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Flag was raised on Sunday at the Tahsis Cenotaph.  In attendance were Tyee Ha'wilth Mike Maquinna, Tyee Ha'wilth Norman George, and Chief Dan Savey from the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation Council of Chiefs.

Also in attendance were Mayor Jude Schooner and the Tahsis Village Council, Rachael Blaney, our Member of Parliament, and Cpl. Colin Douglas, Nootka Sound RCMP.  A crowd of friends, family and cheering neighbours greeted the new flag and the first cedar tree ceremoniously planted as part of the ceremony.

The flag raising is a further step to denote that Tahsis is situated on the traditional territory of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht Nation, and to signify the historical and cultural importance of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation in Tahsis.

 

Flag Raising

Click poster for larger view

Shared Vision Statement

 

From the Civic Info BC website:  

Gold River, Mowachaht / Muchalaht, Tahsis Sign Shared Vision Statement

Gold River, Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation, Tahsis

GOLD RIVER - On Thursday March 17, 2016, the Village of Gold River, along with the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation and the Village of Tahsis signed a shared Vision Statement solidifying their commitment to work together to enhance the well-being of each community and the region.

This historic step forward unites the three communities by enabling collaborative participation through shared values, respect and a newly established working relationship. The new relationship will strengthen their ability to pursue business and economic development strategies for the betterment of their residents, members and businesses.

The Vision Statement states, in part:

“We are progressive communities that share a desire to responsibly manage our natural resources in a manner that will stimulate new business opportunities and develop a diversified economy whilst always respecting each other.”

“This is a defining moment in the long history of the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation.  This Vision Statement reflects the truth of the respectful, trusting and mutually beneficial relationships with our valued Tahsis and Gold River neighbors,” said Chief Mike Maquinna of the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation Council of Chiefs.

“Revitalizing our local and regional economy in a sustainable way requires working closely with the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation and the Village of Tahsis.  We know that open and meaningful relationships are fundamental to our economic growth,” said Mayor Brad Unger of Gold River.

“We are stronger together than apart,” said Mayor Jude Schooner of Tahsis.  “We have put into our daily lives the relationship and reconciliation that is often talked about but not always delivered.  We have done it here.”

The communities will now work on a Co-operation Agreement to implement key aspects of the Vision Statement.

The Vision Statement was a product of a series of Community to Community meetings made possible by funding from the Government of British Columbia.

Michael McGee, Administrator
Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation
(250) 283-2015

Larry Plourde, Administrator
Village of Gold River
(250) 283-2202

Mark Tatchell, Chief Administrative Officer
Village of Tahsis
(250) 934-6344

Uchuck Visit

MV Uchuck III visited Tahsis Friday night, and dropped off 30 passengers to enjoy evening supper and live music at Westview Marina. Guests also shopped at the Tahsis Artisans' Co-op and toured the local museum before turning in for the night.  They had breakfast on the ship and left at 10 am Saturday morning to visit Yuquot (Friendly Cove) before returning to Gold River.

For more information on Uchuck cruises, click here:  Get West

Photo by Stella Richards

Photo by Stella Richards

 

Important Presentation from Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation

Changing the Landscape

During the community gathering to go over the new Economic Development Action Plan, we were able to listen to a presentation from the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation about the history of our area, the current challenges and the future plans and actions being taken now for the benefit of the MMFN territory and Tahsis, which is part of that territory.  

Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation was represented at the Economic Development meeting in Tahsis by Chief Larry Andrews - Elder Advisor to the Council of Chiefs, Chief Patrick James, and Michael McGee who presented the information, and spoke eloquently about the exciting outcomes if we work together to face our challenges.  

Thank you so much for coming to Tahsis and sharing your information with the community!

Here is the link to the Mowachaht Muchalaht First Nation presentation for Tahsis:

  Changing the Landscape 

from left front clockwise, Kathy, Brenda, Doug, Michael, Randy, Jude and George
meeting after the presentations.