I hope that all of you had a great Canada Day, in whatever way that you celebrated it. I am starting my day by writing this report! Part of being Canadian is taking part in our governance and I guess I will consider this my part for this day. And what a beautiful day it is. Summer seems to have finally arrived.

I have four items to report on for this issue:

Scallop farm application south of Rebecca Spit Park
I met on June 20th, along with the Chair of the Board and the Chief Administrative Officer of the Strathcona RD board, with the Chief and Council of the Cape Mudge Band, and their staff. We had a very productive and friendly meeting and discussed their reasons for wanting to apply for the area that they are applying for to grow scallops on about a 130 acre site just south of Rebecca Spit Provincial Park. We went over the process that must be followed to conform with local government zoning and had a good discussion about jurisdictional issues. While the Band does not necessarily agree that the Regional District has jurisdiction over zoning off-shore from Indian Reserve lands, they have agreed to respect the process that is in place as residents of Quadra Island. I certainly understand their concerns and am very pleased that they have decided to cooperate in this regard. We all live together and have gotten along and prospered together for many, many years. I have encouraged participation in Regional District processes and decision making and will continue to encourage a more active role on the part of the Band at the Board table through my representation.

The Band has now applied for a Temporary Industrial Use Permit for the area in question for a period of two years (with an option of one renewal for another two years) so that they can investigate the feasibility of growing scallops in this location. This process will require a Public Hearing. All concerns and comments will be dealt with through that process.

Gravel pit application
A meeting was sponsored by the applicant on June 23rd at the Community Centre and attended by officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines and about 35 residents. There was a moderator who conducted the meeting. The residents of the neighbourhood where the pit is located expressed their concerns about how this application has and will continue to effect their quality of life; other residents of the island expressed their concerns about the need for aggregate on the island. No decisions were made at the meeting about the application but all comments were to be considered by the Ministry and a decision is to be made by them in the near future concerning the permit to remove the gravel.

In the mean time, the applicants will need to apply for a Temporary Industrial Use Permit for the commercial removal of gravel from the site. This process will require referrals to other agencies and a Public Hearing to be held on Quadra where comments and concerns will be considered.

Granite Bay floats update - calling all volunteers!
Well, we are finally getting there!. After many lengthy bureaucratic delays, we have had a number of very positive meetings in the past two weeks. The first was with SRD staff and the engineer regarding the suitability of the floats that were being offered as a donation to upgrade the facility at Granite Bay. That meeting confirmed that the floats are not only suitable but in great condition and in need of very little modification to make them work for our purposes. Tasks were assigned at that meeting and staff are doing their research, the engineer is doing his and I have done mine and am now arranging a subsequent meeting with all parties. I have also taken on the job of "project manager" to insure that this moves along as quickly as possible. Our RD staff are keeping up with many other projects besides this one, so they need someone "on the ground" on Quadra, and I'm it!. I also met with Marine Harvest regarding the items we will need and they are going to coordinate a meeting with all of their staff and then with all of us in the next two weeks to finalize a work plan. I have been in contact with DFO to explain the modifications that we will be making and have received approval under all of the required conditions that they want met, which will be no problem.

So, now it is time to once again put together a volunteer work party that will be able to do work at the Granite Bay site and also at the storage site in Campbell River on at least one occasion assembling pieces prior to shipping. We need at least one welder with portable equipment, a couple of people that can handle grinders and such, and some folks that can bolt together some rub rails, tie-up rails and brackets.

And that brings me to the lumber required! We will need about 450 lineal feet of 2x12 cedar and about 450 lineal feet of 4x4 cedar (all full dimension, rough cut desired but not necessarily required). Are there any local saw mills out there that are willing to donate the above or provide it at reduced rate for this community project? Think of how happy you will make the community, not to mention the exceptional public relations value to boot! Please contact me directly for details if you are interested. Perhaps a number of mills could donate small portions of the above... just a suggestion to make it less of a burden on any one mill owner.

Let's make this another Quadra Island success story at little or no cost to the tax base. This will once again be a partnership between local government, the community and industry.

Hoskyn Channel Landing completion celebration - it is all about giving!
On Saturday, June 28th, I gathered together with the community and our local businesses to celebrate the completion of the upgrades to the Hoskyn Channel Landing floats. This was stage two of the works at Hoskyn Channel Landing that started a few years ago with the construction of the wharf and ramp at the end of the Surge Narrows Road. (I should really say it was "stage three" since the entire road upgrades were all part of this project also!). The floats were donated by Maine Harvest and delivered by Sea Roamer Services after necessary modifications at DKS Welding in Campbell River (see press release). The SRD staff provided help along the way and secured the lease expansion necessary to extend the anchors out further than the original placement

The part that I would like to emphasize is the community involvement and cooperation that made this project happen. Rob Wood of Rob Wood Designs, was the "project manager" for this upgrade process. He set up the time line and work plan and liaised with me regularly to make sure all was well at the SRD end. He gathered the volunteers and kept everyone informed and energized. This celebration was not just about the completion of the physical structure of the floats, it was about the huge community effort that made it happen. I secured in our Quadra Island Official Community Plan in 1995 the provision that the two public access roads on either side of Quadra Island (Surge Narrows and Granite Bay) would be maintained in perpetuity as public access points for all of the public to enjoy. It has taken years to complete that vision, in the Surge Narrows (Hoskyn Channel) case, and is still ongoing in the Granite Bay case. But it is happening. And that has been my main goal as your director: making things happen for the people of Area J. I have always said that I want to see local control of local issues and that I want there to be community involvement. I have also said that I don't like government anymore than the next person. That still holds today.. even more so.. but I do understand the usefulness of our local government and how to work with it or around it; whichever is necessary to get what we need for our communities.

The spirit, the energy, the caring and the love that was evident in the celebration at Surge Narrows last Saturday is what makes a community. And it is what makes this job as your director so fulfilling. It is that same sprit that generations before us experienced and that same spirit that built the communities that we live in today. If we are to continue with our unique lifestyles and sustain those lifestyles in these out-of-the-way places, then we will need to work on maintaining our sense of community and be willing to give of ourselves for the benefit of all.

Well, I said four items and I believe that is it. As always, there are many other issues and activities that deserve mention,but I think I have gone on long enough and the sunshine is calling! So, that is it for now. Feel free to call me between the hours of 8:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday (not on weekends, folks!) at 285-3355, or you can fax me at 285-3533 or you can email me anytime at abramfamoberon.ark.com , or by mail at Box 278 in the Cove, V0P 1N0... Lots of choices!

Respectfully submitted,
Jim Abram
Director, Discovery Islands - Mainland Inlets (Area J), SRD