Sustainability Audit Report:

Executive Summary

Using the free impact assessment tool provided by B-Labs, our group audited the sustainability of the Parksville Chamber of Commerce. As a group, we met with Kim Burden, the Executive Director, and completed the online survey. In addition to completing the survey we also discussed sustainability with Kim and his goals for making Parksville, British Columbia, one of the most recognizably sustainable municipalities in Canada.

I have spoken often in this space in the past about the benefits of managed growth. Since it is a new year, I thought I would put a new spin on the same subject.

One of the concerns I hear as I speak to my neighbours and friends is that growth is inconsistent with retaining our current need to improve the environment and the services that contribute to our current lifestyle.

As all of you know, Mayor Ed Mayne has decided to resign his position and run for higher office.  What an incredible start to 2011.  I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to Mayor Ed Mayne.  Your service to our community is greatly appreciated and I want to thank you for all the good you have done for Parksville.  I wish you luck and success in all your future endeavours.
With the departure of Mayor Mayne, it was left to our council to decide on either appointing a replacement, or holding a by-election.  While I always want to err on the side of ensuring that the will of the people is well-heard and adhered to, I feel the council did the right thing in appointing Chris Burger as acting Mayor.

Mayor Burger has served this community well for many years, and has demonstrated himself to be a man of intelligence, integrity, dedication and commitment.  It is my privilege to take this opportunity to express my support for Mayor Burger, and to express my willingness and enthusiasm to work with the mayor to the benefit of Parksville.

Let me begin by saying how honoured I am to have an opportunity to address the people of Oceanside each month.  This forum has provided me an opportunity to express the will of the business community on a number of issues.  I want to thank the Oceanside Star for being such a strong and valuable partner to the Chamber.

As this year comes to a close, I find myself looking back.  As with every year, I find joy, kindness, triumph, innovation, love, laughter and music.  As with every other year, I find sadness, tragedy, struggles, hardship and fear.  After sifting through it all, I find myself very optimistic about the future of Parksville.

I know there have been many differing opinions over the past few months, and some of the debate has become quite heated.  It demonstrates our passion and commitment for our community.  Few other places have this level of involvement from the citizens, and it couldn’t come at a better time.

These are pivotal times for our community, our province, our country and our planet.  As our societies, economies and governments emerge from their infancy, it is incumbent upon each of us to make sure that we stake our claim on how we see the future.  In Parksville, we are doing just that, and I am proud to be a part of it.

I recently attended an OCP Community Advisory Committee meeting, and I was so pleased to hear views emerge from a variety of positions.  I believe that the broadest possible spectrum of views are represented in that committee, yet every member of the committee behaved in a professional and respectful manner that leaves me filled with optimism and enthusiasm for this process going forward.  We are united by our common interest, to help shape the best community possible.

2011 is going to be a great year for Parksville as we begin to shape a future.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a joyous and prosperous New Year.

Gary Child
President
Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce

The tree is up, the outside lights are on and I have even managed to do some shopping. As we head full tilt into the festive season, and brace ourselves for another festive onslaught, it can be a good time of year to pause and enjoy some perspective on how far we’ve come. Perhaps take a moment to pat yourself on the back for a job well done, and then turn your thoughts to things other than work, such as friends and family, and Christmas giving.

Reflection starts at home and I would be remiss if I did not start by giving our Board of Directors my sincere thanks for their faith and support.

To the fine group of Chamber staffers I work with, their patience and ability to both educate me, and learn from me, has made such a difference, a difference that has translated into a fun and efficient workplace.

To The City of Parksville, a pat on the back for getting the boardwalk started (hopefully there is a phase II & III), installing some excellent signage; beautifying the entrance to the Visitor Centre with the treed boulevard of Exit 46 and doing a spectacular job of maintaining our parks and streets.
To the residents of Parksville who have finally become involved in the decision making process. Well done. Respectful open communication is the only way we can work together to accomplish all the things that get talked about but rarely acted on.

To all the great volunteers in our community that enhance our quality of life. Thank You. Without you it wouldn’t be Parksville.

To the business community that gives and gives and gives; without you our community would not have the great events; sports teams and social organizations that are the lifeblood of this community.

During this Christmas season, May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season, which is peace
The gladness of the season, which is hope
And the heart of the season, which is love

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year.

Kim Burden

Executive Director

In addition to my duties here at the Chamber of Commerce I am also a member of The Parksville Historical Society, and based on some recent conversations with a variety of concerned citizens it wouldn’t hurt to take a quick look at some Parksville history.

1917 - The Island Hall was opened by Winifred Philpott and Joan Foster on March 31st, Good Friday. The population of Parksville was 1,000.

1923 - The community park property was purchased by a group of interested local residents who formed the Parksville District Community Society.

1947 - Mary Sutherland and Eileen Allwood bought the Island Hall Hotel, and would run it for the next 16 years.

In 1971 the population of Parksville was 2100.

In 1982 the population of Parksville was just over 5,000.

In 2000 it was just over 10,000 and today it is just shy of 12,000.

History is important to ensure that current decisions are made in the appropriate context and also to ensure credibility when putting forth concepts and ideas. 

Statements about unmanageable growth, as you can see by the population change in the past ten years, measured against growth in the previous 10 years, are untrue. Parksville experienced enormous growth in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, however, in the current decade it has been a mere 2%.

There has been a great deal of discussion in the past few months about growth in our community, and expressions that growth is contrary to our quality of life.  In the recent past, I have heard some special interest groups express the objective of economic decline in the interest of our quality of life and the environment.  Wow!

How can the reduction in our property values, increase in unemployment, exodus of our productive youth, closure of our local schools and businesses, and a rejection of proven economic principals be in the interest of our quality of life? 

Change, Growth and Adapt are actions which are considered as positive attributes in people. We admire people as they take on personal growth challenges. There are people who make a good living counselling these attributes in individuals. We look on those who grow, adapt and change in their personal circumstances with respect; but apply these words to a community and we fight these actions with tenacity. Organizations spring up as alliances are formed to oppose growth and change.

So, if personal growth and change is an attribute in individuals why can’t we apply that same perspective to the growth of a community?

I attend a number of meetings where the growth discussion is the ‘topic de jour’. At most of these meetings someone is putting forward a belief that it is desirable to stop any further growth by stopping people from coming to live here. How is that first of all possible and second moral or realistic? Most of us came here from somewhere for a variety of reasons; surely we didn’t honestly expect to be able to pull up the drawbridge and stop others from coming once we had arrived to put our personal stamp on our interpretation of paradise.

As you know, School District 69 has recently engaged in a facilities review.  This review resulted in three recommendations for consideration by the board of trustees.  All of these recommendations include the closing of one of our secondary schools, KSS.

We have considered the issue of school closures carefully, and we are told the problem is declining enrolment.  It is the position of the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce that declining enrolment is not the problem, but rather the symptom of a far larger and greater problem.  Municipal policies and public sentiment that is contrary to economic development.

I am excited about the future of Parksville!  A few nights ago I had the opportunity to listen to Michael von Hausen speak about the development of downtown.  It was not anything tangible; it was just a discussion about what might be.  Michael took us on a virtual tour of a number of projects he has done around the world and painted a beautiful view of a vibrant and welcoming downtown.  This view included high residential density, open promenades, and significant commercial offerings for consumers.  Parks, trees, markets, wide sidewalks, beautiful new buildings with one story commercial and 2 stories residential… Ah, but wait, we first must complete an OCP review.  Could there be a more critical time for business to make its case?

I have heard discussion recently about denying business its voice in this process.  I have heard it in the media, in the council chamber and in the community.  I have heard suggestion that the business community is acting solely in its own self interest, and therefore is not eligible to sit at the table.  I thought it was time to remind everybody the importance of business to our community.

I want to take an opportunity to articulate a danger that I see looming on our political horizon. Municipalities throughout the civilized world have adopted a predominately non-partisan democracy. There are many good reasons for this, including:

• Ensuring our elected officials are not beholden to a party apparatus that got them elected, and are not subject to restrictions on how they vote.
• Ensuring the character of our candidates is being evaluated by the electorate as a whole, and not by a single interest group or party.
• Increase the potential of the emergence of traditionally-overlooked candidates.
•  Mitigating polarization and divisiveness in our municipality, as the officials are empowered to consider the merits of the issue without consideration to the reaction of a single interest group or party.

The recent tenor of Parksville politics seems to me to be  moving away from this tried-and-true form of government to one more driven by single issue and interest groups. The PRA (Parksville Residents Association) recently released a position statement in regards to the OCP review that seems very partisan to me. They have clearly articulated their mandates and positions as curbing economic growth, and establishing a carbon-neutral municipality in the next 10 years. They further articulated as part of this position the exclusion of opinions and individuals that don't share these basic ideals. Given their growing political power in our community, and the tendency of some councillors to tailor their positions to in response to this growing power, we should all be concerned that the result is the worst possible government structure; a one-party partisan government.

I said it before, “We are special!”. It could be because of the coffee from Pacific Brimm or the parties from Black&White. Who knows? There is this feeling of confidence and optimism which permeates into our businesses and our people in general.

The USA just elected a new leader and we can feel a wave of energy sweeping that country. If they keep the momentum, it could make a huge difference for everyone, including us in Canada. In Parksville, we would be happy to ride this wave when it reaches our great beaches.

Anton Checkhov said: “Man is what he believes”.I personally endorse this statement but I also realize that belief and passion can be overwhelming unless you have the energy to take the first step forward when others are retreating. As the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, I am proud to work side by side with entrepreneurs who are charging forward. Here are two more businesses who represent the Parksville spirit.…