HELOISE D-W - CRD AREA B DIRECTOR (DEC. 2011

Sunday, November 27, 2011

CLAYMINE PROPERTY TOUR

On Nov. 27, 1011, I was fortunate to meet up with Phyllis and Brenda of the Claymine Trails Committee to tour the Claymine Property. I met with these 2 lovely ladies at 10 am; the temperature was above 0 deg. C. and the weather slightly drizzly and misty / foggy. We walked and chatted for upwards of 2 hours discussing plans for the property, their vision, and some politics. It was, for me, a well worthwhile meeting and I so appreciate the time they gave on this Sunday morning. We walked through what is a typical mixed forest stand, for this area, comprised of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, spruce intermixed with paper birch and some aspen. The area was, at one point, heavily infested by mountain pine beetle, but much of these dead and damaged trees have fallen and /or been removed.

Brenda LeBeck & Phyllis Robertson - my tour guides

Claymine Property is located on Claymine Road in the Bouchie Lake area. To access the trail, turn right on to the Blackwater Road and right again on Claymine Road. The parking lot and trail head is on the left a short drive along Claymine Road. The property is 48 acres (Lot E of DL 8639) and is owned by the Cariboo Regional District. It is managed by the Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission as per the CRD Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission Bylaw No. 4712, 2011.

These trails are a jewell to the Bouchie Lake area. Trails have existed throughout this property for many years; they were comprised of previously used logging roads, wildlife trails, and quad (ATV) trails. Plans have been in the works for several years to develop a walking trail system on the property for local & non-local residents to enjoy and use. Through the dedication, perseverance and hardwork of a small number of local volunteers, this dream has been realised.

In 2010, the Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission accessed a $2000 grant through the Quesnel Community Foundation (http://www.quesnelfoundation.ca/) for signage and fitness stations. There are now 3 fitness stations which are accessible via the trail system.

It was decided to chose the section of trails to develop and improve, taking into consideration neighbours and other issues. The result is a "figure 8" loop. Other funds were received through Action Plan D'Action.

Phyllis demonstrating the use
of this fitness station

Heloise using this fitness station

One of the aims for the Claymine Property is to engage people so that it be used on a regular basis and for activities and events. Currently, Bouchie Lake Elementary School has adopted approximately 100 metres of a section of a trail and are looking after its management. This includes removing any fallen debris and keeping the trail free and open. This section of trail is marked with beautiful markers designed by children at Bouchie Lake School.

Other features at the property include a well maintained and clean outhouse, a bridge, parking lot, and excellent front entrance signage. For 2012, it would be wonderful for some events to be planned on the property so as to raise funds and increase its profile within the community. Volunteers are always needed to assist with maintenance and clean up. Areas of the property have experienced a substantial amount of blow down.

As the property is managed by the BLRC, I will be recommending that an appointed commissioner have Claymine Property within their portfolio of responsibilities. In January, 2012 I will also be recommending to the incoming commission that a Claymine Property Committee be established comprised of a designated commissioner and 3-4 community members at large who have a vested interest in developing a 1-3 year plan for Claymine Property. This committee will create their own Misson Statement and establish their own mandate, priorities and goals which are reported to the BLRC for final comment and approval. If you are interested in being on this Committee, please let me and /or the incoming Commission know.

Thank you again for Phyllis and Brenda for being such wonderful guides and for working so hard for the community.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

CARIBOO REGIONAL DISTRICT 2012 MEETING SCHEDULE - as of Nov. 23, 2011

Date	Meeting Type	Time	Location
January 20, 2012	CRHD/CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0930/0945	WL
February 17, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
March 9, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
March 30, 2012	CRHD/CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0930/0945	WL
April 20, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
May 11, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
June 2012 Meeting Date TBA	COW	TBA	Barkerville (Board on the Road)
June 2012 Meeting Date TBA	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	Barkerville (Board on the Road)
July 13, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
August 24, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
September 13, 2012	COW	TBA	Kersley (Board on the Road)
September 14, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	Kersley (Board on the Road)
October 4, 2012 (Thursday)	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
October 25, 2012	FIN	TBA	WL
October 26, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
November 15, 2012	FIN	TBA	WL
November 16, 2012	CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0945	WL
December 14, 2012	CRHD/CCRHD/BOARD/TAC	0930/0930/0945	WL

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WE NEED YOU... VOLUNTEERING WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Within Area B, there are two Recreation Commissions, namely Parkland Recreation Commission (PRC) and Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission (BLRC). These Commissions are governed by Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Bylaws and members of each respective commission are volunteers. One of my tasks upon being sworn in as Director of Area B will be to recommend to the CRD volunteers who wish to take on the role as members of these Commissions. These people will then be appointed by the CRD.

Although volunteering can be frustrating, it can have a meaningful and positive impact on your community. Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. Unlike many things in life, there IS a choice involved with volunteering. As a volunteer you have made a decision to help on your terms, free from pressue to act from others. My belief is that volunteers should be treated with the uptmost of respect and any time and /or resources someone is willing to give, is a gift to be valued. Above all, volunteering should be fun and rewarding. If it's not... why would anyone give their valuable time??

Here are a few benefits of volunteering:

(i) Volunteering Connects you to others

One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. However, volunteering can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. It will expose you to people with common interests, neighbourhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities.

(ii) Volunteering is good for both your mental and physical health and well-being

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view of your life and future goals.

Reducing the risk of depression is another important benefit of volunteering. A key risk factor for depression is social isolation. Volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others and helps you develop a solid support system, which in turn protects you against stress and depression when you’re going through challenging times.

Volunteering is good for your health at any age, but it’s especially beneficial in older adults. Studies have found that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not, even when considering factors like the health of the participants. Volunteering has also been shown to lessen symptoms of chronic pain or heart disease.

(iii) Volunteering can advance your career

If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet people in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization.

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly at an organization that does the kind of work you’re interested in. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.

(iv) Volunteering can teach you valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

(v) Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Information in this post extracted from http://helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering.htm

Sunday, November 13, 2011

RECREATION COMMISSIONS WITHIN AREA B

Within Electoral Area B, we are fortunate to have two Recreation Commissions - Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission & Parkland Recreation Commission. Both of these are governed by bylaws, specifically Bylaw 4712 for the "Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission" (BLRC) and 4271 for the "Parkland Recreatoin Commission" (PRC).

These commissions are ideally comprised of a diverse group of volunteers who are interested in their community, are positive, forward, progressive thinkers, are action & project oriented and are dedicated to making their communities a better place to live, work and play. For the PRC, the commission will be comprised of the CRD Director of Electoral Area B and 6 members-at-large of which 4 must be residents of the 10 Mile Lake area. For BLRC, the commission consists of the CRD Director of Electoral Area B and a minimum of 6 members to a maximum of 10 members-at-large, of which 2/3rds must be residents of the Bouchie Lake area.

For both commissions, it is one of the responsibilities of the CRD Director to recommend Commission members to the CRD board so that they can be appointed.

As per their respective bylaws, the purpose of each commission is to manage the land and buildings as described in the Schedules which form part of the bylaw. Management of the identified properties ensure its use and enjoyment for the public. For both, the lands shall be utilised to conduct public recreation & other community activities.

The properties identified as being managed in Bylaw 4712 (BLRC) include (i) Bouchie Lake Community Hall & Grounds & (ii) Claymine Property. The properties identified as being managed in Bylaw 4271 (PRC) is the Parkland Community Area (also known as Costas Cove on Ten Mile Lake).

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING INVOLVED IN YOUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES BY BEING A COMMISSION MEMBERS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

NORTH CARIBOO RECREATION & PARKS - A Summary on Governance

North Cariboo Recreation & Parks (NCRP) is a service of the Cariboo Regional District and governance authority for the NCRP lies with the CRD Board. The Board receives recommendations from CRD established Recreation Commissions (e.g. Bouchie Lake, Parkland, Barlow Creek) and the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (NCJPC). This latter committee is comprised of 4 CRD Northern Directors (Areas A,B, C, & I) and 7 City of Quesnel counsellors.

The NCRP is primarily funded through taxation & user fees. Policy decisions related to the NCRP are made by the North Cariboo Recreation & Parks Commission (established by Bylaw 4391). Policy decisions outside of the authority of the Commission are considered by NCJPC with recommendations to the CRD board for ratification. This Commission is comprised of 2 CRD Directors from Electoral Areas A, B, C, & I, 2 members of Quesnel City Council, 1 SD #28 representative, & 2 members of the general public (1 selected by the CRD Northern Rural Caucus and 1 selected by Quesnel City Council).

The City of Quesnel, through the Quesnel & District Leisure Services Department, manages the NCRP on behalf of the CRD under the terms of a 5 year agreement. Services are primarily offered through the Quesnel & District Arts & Recreation Centre & the Quesnel & District Twin Arenas. School & some outdoor facilities are also utilised. Bouchie Lake Recreation Commission, Barlow Creek Recreation Commission, Parkland Recreation Commission, and Alex Fraser Park Society also provide services with funding support received through NCRP. Pioneer Park, on Dragon Lake, is operated by the Quesnel Archery Club, at no cost to NCRP with the exception that NCRP pays for their public liability insurance.

In terms of the Recreation Commission within the rural areas, Parkland, Bouchie Lake, & Barlow Creek Recreation Commissions were all established by the CRD & are governed by Bylaws (4271, 4272, & 4273 respectively). These Commissions were established to manage specific CRD lands & buildings to ensure that they can be enjoyed by the public for purposes of recreation & community acitivities. The Director of the CRD Electoral Area in which the properties lie is a member of the respective Recreation Commission as is set out in the bylaws for the Recreation Commission.