City of Courtenay Annual Report 2021 draft

ARTS AND CULTURE

Urban Agriculture Zoning Council established new land uses allowing urban agriculture opportunities, improving local food security and supporting climate change mitigation and sustainability. The new bylaw allows small-scale commercial urban food production on residential property in the City. • Produce sale stands may display and sell urban agriculture products grown on the property, including fruits and vegetables, flowers, native and ornamental plants, edible berries and food perennials. • Honeybees , maximum two hives per lot, on properties at least 15 metres wide and 550 square metres in size. The hives must be at least five metres from property lines, with honey for personal consumption only. • Chickens , up to six hens in single-residential backyards. Sorry, no roosters! Eggs and chicken manure are for personal consumption only; sales are not permitted. Before diving into urban agriculture, residents are strongly encouraged to learn the responsibilities and full lifespan costs, particularly when raising chickens and bees, to protect the health of the creatures in your care as well as curb the potential spread of disease. View the detailed regulations and find helpful links at courtenay.ca/urbanagriculture Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) Re-implemenation The Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT) is a tax of 2% on the purchase of accommodation in the City of Courtenay, with funds used for tourism marketing and programs. With the tourism marketing contract termination of the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS), the existing MRDT regulation in place for the City of Courtenay was repealed by the Ministry of Finance effective August 31, 2021. To re-establish the tax, a new application and bylaw were submitted to the Ministry of Finance in June. Thanks to the rapid turnaround of this application and the tax re-implementation became effective on September 1, 2021, avoiding a gap in collection. Tourism Vancouver Island (TVI) will administer the MRDT funds through tourism marketing for the Comox Valley.

PURSUE VIBRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The City of Courtenay owns and maintains three major cultural facilities downtown. The City has agreements with the cultural organizations which occupy the facilities, each with their own non-profit societies and board of directors. In 2020, the City of Courtenay signed an agreement with Comox Valley Arts that identified their role as a centralized resource for the local arts and culture industry. Fresh look for Sid Williams Theatre The Sid Williams Theatre was due for repainting, and instead of recoating with the same beige, the Sid asked for a more colourful look that would more closely align with the vibrant performances happening on the inside. Each side of the building was given its own treatment in blue, crimson, and yellow, matching the Sid's iconic brand colours. The freshly painted, multicoloured exterior in a prominent downtown location has created a bright new landmark on the City's skyline.

CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS 2021

Sid Williams Theatre Live performances Virtual performances

35 82 96

Rehearsals, workshops, recording sessions

"Front door" public attendance

7,290 1,934 2397 1,564

"Stage door" performer/cast attendance

Virtual event viewers

Volunteer hours (restarted August 2021)

Comox Valley Art Gallery Total visits School tour participants

20,000

2,000 2,000

Community make-art workshop participants

Youth Media Project new films

20

Volunteer hours

1,050

Courtenay and District Museum Total visits (includes field trips, special events)

24,500

Volunteer hours

850

Comox Valley Arts Workshop attendees Art kits distributed

400

1,200

Volunteer hours

833

35

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report