City of Courtenay Annual Report 2022

PUBLIC WORKS Planning for Organics Program, Automated Collection In November, Courtenay announced two big changes to Curbside Collection over the next two years. As of 2023, single-residential and duplex households can place food waste at the curb for composting along with their weekly yard waste through the City’s residential curbside collection service. The new Organics program will lower garbage volumes going to the regional Comox Valley Waste Management Centre in Cumberland, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Collected organics materials are delivered to the new Campbell River Waste Management Centre regional organics facility. In January 2024, automated collection service is coming to Courtenay. All households with curbside collection will receive three new carts for garbage, organics, and recycling prior to the launch of this new service.

PARKS

ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNANCE EXCELLENCE

Mile of Flowers The Mile of Flowers is a tradition dating back to 1967, when Kathleen Kirk set out to commemorate Canada’s centennial year. That year she planted 7,800 seedlings as a welcome to tourists. What began as the initiative of one woman now involves hundreds of volunteers and around 30,000 flowers. In 2020, the Mile of Flowers was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, then returned in 2021 in a limited capacity, with all blooms that year planted by City parks staff over a period of several days. Thanks to the easing of public health restrictions, 2022 saw the return of community volunteers to the Mile of Flowers Plant-In, filling Cliffe Avenue boulevards with colourful blooms. Everyone was welcomed to help fill the flower beds, and the event included participation by several youth groups. Following the plant-in, the City of Courtenay maintains the flower beds, watering as needed, using compost and mulch to improve water retention. Water-efficient drip-irrigation systems have been installed in a number of beds. Some have also been converted to water-efficient perennial blooms and shrubs. The City of Courtenay sends heartfelt thanks to all the community volunteers, clubs and organizations who have helped beautify our community for so many years.

For more informationon on Curbside Collections, visit courtenay.ca/wastecollection

Solid Waste Courtenay Collects App The Courtenay Collects app is a convenient way for households with curbside collection to subscribe to weekly reminders, service alerts and customized calendars.

Year

2019 2020 2021 2022

Households subscribed to Courtenay Collects

782 2011 3418 4026

% of households subscribed 9% 22% 38% 43% Calendar views 20,246 31,052 139,275 184,924 First time visitors 4,428 7,087 14,457 20,656 New addresses 2,100 2,383 2,051 1,113 Waste Wizard material views 9,469 9,414 14,209 12,296 Millard Piercy Watershed Steward Signs City of Courtenay Parks and Communications staff partnered with the Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards and the Pacific Salmon Foundation on the development and installation of ten new interpretive signs at Piercy Creek. The signs are located along the Copperfield Trail and behind Piercy Creek Estates (off Cumberland Road, near Arden and 20th Streets.) Check them out and learn how we can protect these diverse ecosystems and the aquatic life within them.

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City of Courtenay | 2022 Annual Report