City of Courtenay Annual Report 2021 draft

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR On behalf of Courtenay Council, I’m pleased to present the City of Courtenay’s 2021 Annual Report. This was a monumental year on so many levels, with our day-to-day lives continuing to be dramatically impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As our society gradually resumed activities thanks to a global vaccination roll-out, so too did our City programs, including cautious, incremental reopenings of Courtenay Recreation programs and City facilities, all while following evolving public health orders and guidelines. Despite the ongoing challenges from the pandemic, the City made steady progress on our Strategic Priorities, balancing the concerns of today’s residents while considering the needs of future generations. All commuters in the Comox Valley will benefit from the 5th Street Bridge Project, with construction in 2021 and early 2022. We’re so grateful to area residents and all commuters for their patience throughout this necessary and complex project which has preserved and extended the life of this key link in our community’s transportation network. Our Council continued to prioritize our relations with K’ómoks First Nation on whose unceded territory we reside. Our Council is deeply committed to strengthening our relationships with the traditional keepers of the lands that include and encompass Courtenay, as well as other Indigenous peoples living on these lands. The updated Official Community Plan (OCP) that has been in development since 2019 has embedded principles of reconciliation as a cardinal direction of the plan, along with equity, community well-being, and climate change. 2021 was a year of weather extremes, with record-breaking heat over 40 degrees in summer and major snowfall in winter. At both ends of the spectrum, temperatures and environmental conditions resulted in hardship and concerns for the health and welfare of members of the community lacking adequate and safe shelter, with particular risks for the elderly. Our Council and staff took proactive measures to offer respite from extreme temperatures, including temporary cooling centres during heat waves, and leased space for the Connect Warming Centre and Extreme Weather Shelter, all coordinated by the skilled, compassionate team at the Comox Valley Transition Society. Despite these climate-related challenges, our community was fortunate compared to many others in the province. Our hearts go out to those who were affected by catastrophic wildfires, flooding, landslides, road and highway closures in B.C. Social issues are another area of concern. Our Council has heard compelling, heartbreaking, and personal stories from families and service providers about the impacts of mental health, trauma, brain injury, addiction, and the need for more services at the local level. We are advocating at the provincial and federal level for additional support and recovery resources in the Comox Valley and North Vancouver Island region, as well as more resources for affordable housing, community outreach services, and skilled staff.

I encourage you to review this report to learn about the many activities and progress made throughout the year, with gratitude to City staff, regional governments, and organizations that have been involved. It is a privilege to serve this amazing community. Mayor Bob Wells

City of Courtenay | 2021 Annual Report

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