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HIRRA Meeting Delayed to March 19

The next HIRRA meeting will be delayed a week to give Herring Fest priority. The meeting will be March 19, 2025 7:30pm at the Hall and by Zoom (hybrid). All HIRRA members with emails on file will receive an agenda notice and Zoom invitation a few days before the meeting. Everyone welcome! 

AGENDA

1. Executive report notice of upcoming Bylaw and Policy changes
2. Community Appreciation
3. Community Announcements
4. Islands Trustee updates
5. Hornby Island Fire Rescue updates
6. Hornby Denman Health updates
7. Public Participation: Open forum to bring up a topic of interest (max 2 min)

HIRRA Bylaw and Policy Revisions

As reported at the Feb. 11, 2025 HIRRA meeting, the Executive is proposing some Bylaw and Policy revisions for membership approval at the April 9 HIRRA meeting.

Due to the additional work needed to complete an Audit on HIRRA’s finances, as required by the Comox Valley Regional District, the Annual General Meeting will have to be delayed to May 14. Currently HIRRA’s bylaws require the AGM to be held within four months of fiscal year-end, so the Executive proposes revising it is as follows (new wording in italics): 

“3.   Meetings, Quorums and Voting Rights:

1. h)    The Annual General Meeting shall be held within five (5) months of the end of the fiscal year.”

Th Executive also proposes adding a clause to not allow Executive members to also be HIRRA employees as follows (new wording in italics):

“4. Executive Committee and Management Committees:

1. a)     No person shall hold more than one office on the Executive at a given time and no Executive member shall concurrently hold term on a Management Committee. No Executive member shall concurrently be an employee of HIRRA.”

The Executive has drafted a new DRAFT HIRRA Accessbility Policy to add to HIRRA’s Policy Handbook which would direct the organization and Committees to assess and improve accessibility to HIRRA services for people of diverse abilities. Finally, the Executive is proposing some revisions to the “Conflict Resolution Policy” to make the process clearer and easier to follow.

Ferry Advisory Committee Updates

Hornby/Denman Ferry Advisory Committee report to the Feb. 12, 2025 HIRRA meeting by HIRRA appointee Rob McCreary:

“There are a number of issues I wish to report on.  Also, this may be the last report the HIRRA Assembly receives from me as B.C. Ferries so far seems intent on maintaining it’s disbandment (as of the end of December 2024) of the Ferry Advisory Committees in favour of a digital engagement process with the Communities it serves.  In this respect, the Hornby members of the FAC thank the HIRRA Executive for writing a letter protesting the disbanding of the FAC’s and advocating for their restoration.  In my personal opinion, disbanding the FAC’s is an attempt by B.C. Ferries to be less accountable to the Communities it serves, as FAC members have much experience with B.C. Ferries and are very aware of its many flaws.

As some of you will be aware, B.C. Ferries is holding a pop-up community engagement information booth at Shingle Spit Terminal on Thursday, February 20^th from 10:00AM until noon.   There are a number of points that it would be beneficial to raise at this event that I recommend as many of you address as possible.

First, we as a Community need to advocate for a new, more reliable, and larger capacity ferry service on route 22 year-round. As an interim measure, we need to advocate for the Quinitsa to be put back on the Hornby route ASAP until the end of October 2025.  In 2026, four new Island Class ferries are due for service in B.C. waters.  Presently, B.C. Ferries is planning to deploy 3 of these to specific routes and reserve the 4^th as a relief vessel for that area.  This seems like a waste of the 4^th vessel.  Instead, it should be deployed to Hornby Island, as we are presently serviced by the oldest ferry in the minor fleet (the Kahloke) which has had a weight capacity downgrade by Transport Canada in 2021, and has consequently been particularly inadequate on our route.  Also, B.C. Ferries is presently planning to deploy the Quinitsa full time on route 22 starting in 2026, but the Quinitsa is almost 50 years old, and not fully sea worthy in the Winter environment of Lambert Channel (there are numerous days in Winter when high winds would force cancelled sailings by the Quinitsa).   It’s high time that Hornby received a new, higher capacity, reliable ferry that would adequately provide service for personal travel, access to essential services, commercial traffic, and the transport of goods.  Also, the Quinitsa could well serve as the relief vessel for the area where the other three Island Class ferries are being deployed, given that a relief vessel is going to be rarely needed for those three new ferries.

Second, we as a Community need to advocate for a much larger  capacity, conventional ferry on route 21 between Denman and Buckley Bay, as this is a vital element of our travel to Vancouver Island.  As circumstances have it, one of the ferries being freed-up by the deployment of the three Island Class ferries in 2026 is the 80 car capacity Quinsam ferry, offering the necessary capacity and increased reliability over the current cable ferry.

Third, it would be beneficial if our Community also advocated for retaining the Ferry Advisory Committees or a similar, in-person  representation system.

Also, it would be beneficial if the HIRRA Executive were to write another letter advocating for the first two points described above for our Community to Claire Trevena (the mid-island representative on the BCF Authority Board –  ClaireTrevena@bcferryauthority.com), Josie Osborne (our MLA –  Josie.Osborne.mla@leg.bc.ca), Eva Hage (BCF Commissioner –  Eva.Hage@bcferrycommission.ca), Nicolas Jimenez (BCF CEO. –  Nicolas.Jimenez@bcferries.com), Brian Anderson (BCF VP of Strategic Development. –  brian.anderson@bcferries.com), Premier Eby, (Premier@gov.bc.ca) MOTI Minister Mike Farnworth (Minister.MOTI@gov.bc.ca), and Brian Jonker of the MOTI Marine Division (Brian.Jonker@gov.bc.ca)   (as previously mentioned, the HIRRA Executive has already written a letter addressing the third point).  The HIRRA membership might also want to do this (the more letters they get, the more weight our requests will have. 

Also, it would be an advantage for our Community to have as many people as possible complete a survey currently on the B.C. Ferries website.  When completing the survey, be sure to use the “other” button to explain if the pre-set responses are not sufficient.  It takes about 10 minutes to complete and closes on March 18^th) The survey can be reached at https://www.bcferriesprojects.ca/letsconnect.”

Information Received from BC Parks:

Trails Survey Closed

Happy new year and thank you to the 131 people who completed the Trails Survey on-line or by hard-copy. The Regional Parks and Trails Advisory Committee will be compiling results of the survey on Hornby’s Roadside and Community Connection Trails  and reporting back soon.

HIRRA Committee Budgets Approved

Thank you to everyone who attended the November 13 HIRRA meeting and approved the 2025-29 budgets for all tax-funded services. Special thanks to volunteer Committee members and the Financial Administrator for the extensive work on the budgets and presentations.

Budgets:

• Comfort Stations (Privy Council) HIRRA_ComfortStns_5YearBudget_2025-29_DRAFT
• Community Hall HIRRA_CommHall_5YearBudget_2025-29_DRAFT
• Emergency Preparedness HIRRA_Emerg Prep_5YearBudget 2025-29_DRAFT
• Fire Protection HIRRA_HIFR_5YearBudget_2025-29
• Invasive Weed Control HIRRA_InvasivePlants_5YearBudget_2025-29_Draft
• Recreation HIRRA_Recreation_5YearBudget_2025-29_Draft
• Recycling Waste Management HIRRA_HIWM_5YearBudget_2025-29_DRAFT
  

New Sign at the Sollans Rd. Community Well

With some funding from the 2023 Community Quilt Raffle, HIRRA has installed a new information sign at the Sollans Road Community Well and Hand-pump. This is the last public well remaining on Hornby. The water is not treated so a “boil water advisory” is always posted, but it is available for anyone to access at any time.

Thank you to Darren Bond, Iggy Ochieng, Doug Chinnery, Melanda Schmid-Ochieng, and John McLachlan for work on design and installation of the sign.

Who Do You Call?

Call 911 for any emergency.

To report non-emergency fire concerns, call the Fire Hall: 335-2611.

Call the RCMP non-emergency number: (250) 338-1321 to report cars parked overnight in no-parking areas, speeding in the playground zone, or other enforcement issues.

To give feedback on any ferry issue, call BC Ferries customer service number: 1-888-223-3779.

Problems with Hornby roads maintenance can be reported to Mainroad Contracting: 1-877-215-7122.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is responsible for trail maintenance in the Regional Parks and Roadside trails. The Parks Technician can be contacted via their main switchboard: 250-334-6000.

Hall Accessible Washroom Plan

The Community Hall Committee has applied for a 2024 Heritage BC’s Legacy Heritage Fund grant for an accessible washroom upgrade to the Community Hall. Participants at the May 8 HIRRA General hybrid meeting approved the Community Hall washroom addition plans (see plans below).
Through 2023, Sarah Mulhall assisted the Committee to develop options for a handicap and family accessible washroom that fits with the “heritage” Community Hall, maintains needed storage, and doesn’t destroy the existing interior spaces that the community loves so much. AFC Construction provided budget estimates for the accessible washroom addition. After much consideration, the Committee selected this proposed plan as it met our goals for the lowest cost and least interior impact to the existing washroom facilities:

Current Hall washrooms and proposed accessible washroom addition.

HIRRA AGM Appreciations

Thank you to the 49 people who came to the HIRRA AGM on April 10, both in person and by Zoom to review the 2023 year-end financials, hear reports from twelve Committees and “acclaim” volunteers for the coming year.

Extra special appreciation for the many volunteers:
~Executive members who have served over the past year and are now stepping down (Ashley, Allie and Angeleah),
~Continuing Executive members (Jeff and Patrick)
~New Executive members (Ted and Heather)
~And FIFTY EIGHT other volunteers who serve on HIRRA Committees and appointments.

There are still NINE vacancies (2nd Vice President on the Executive, and openings on five Committees: Hall, Comfort Stations, Recycling, Emergency Preparedness, Fall Fair)
Please help us find enthusiastic people to help manage these services! Contact the HIRRA office (office@hirra.ca or 5-1131) for more information or to become a member.

The approved 2023 Year-end Financial Review may be viewed here: 2023 Year End Financial Statements – HIRRA

HIRRA Executive and other Committee reports on 2023 activities: HIRRA AGM Reports Apr 2024
Community Hall report: Hall AGM Report Apr 2024
HIFR report: HIFR AGM Report to HIRRA Apr 2024
Water Stewardship report: Water Stewardship AGM Report Apr 2024

In partnership with the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), volunteers on HIRRA Committees manage and oversee these tax-funded services:
~ Fire Protection via Hornby Island Fire Rescue
~ Recycling and Waste Management including the Free Store
~ Community Hall maintenance
~ Comfort Stations (outhouses) at various locations around the island
~ Invasive Plant Control
~ Emergency Preparedness planning and education
~ Community Recreation programs offered year round

HIRRA Committees also manage and oversee these services without tax funding:
~ Regional Parks and Trails Advisory to CVRD (including: Mount Geoffrey Regional Nature Park and adjoining Crown Land trails, Sandpiper Beach, Grassy Point, Hidden Beach, Clamshell Place, Periwinkle Place, St. John’s Point Road and Tralee Point, and the Hornby Roadside Trails)
~ Fall Fair organization
~ Cemetery maintenance and management
~ Boat Ramp Advisory to CVRD
~Water Stewardship research, education and soon: on-island water testing (for information only)

In addition, HIRRA is responsible for the Community Well and hand-pump on Sollans Road and the Crown Land lease that provides space for the Clinic; Hornby/Denman Community Health Care Society buildings; Farmers’ Market in the Copse, and Hornby Island Arts Council’s new Arts Centre.

The Doris Savoie Centre building that houses First Credit Union and the HIRRA administration office, and the RCMP office are both located on land owned by HIRRA.

HIRRA is truly at the heart of the island and the hard-working volunteers keep everything running smoothly for the benefit of the whole community. Please know how much we appreciate all that you give!

HIRRA Anniversary Event Appreciations

The Anniversary Celebration open-house was held on Feb. 25, 2024 at HIRRA’s treasured symbol of can-do volunteerism: the Community Hall. Thank you to the over 80 people who attended, especially the 20-plus Committee volunteers who came early and stayed late to share some history and current activities of their Committees.

Refreshments donated by the Co-op were appreciated and, despite last-minute challenges, there was an abundance of cakes made by kind volunteers on very short notice (particularly: Liz, Darren, Rachel, Juno, Eli, and Heather). Special thanks to Joanne Ovitsland who worked tirelessly in the kitchen and kept everything running so smoothly.
Thank you to Bob Cain for the many photos from his web-site (https://www.rcainphoto.com/) and to Angeleah for creating and running the slideshow of HIRRA history. It was wonderful to see so many long-time residents and former HIRRA volunteers visiting together, reminiscing, and celebrating HIRRA’s longevity.

There were speeches from former Executive members: Don Nixon (1971-73), Gabriel Jeroschewitz (1990, 93 and 95), Michael McNamara (1993-96), Phoenix Wolf-Ray (1993-94), Fred Hunt (2003-05), Rudy Rogalsky (2009-10 and 2019-20), Daniel Siegel (2010-15 and 21-22), and Andrew Mark (20116-17). Former Administrator Janet LeBlancq was unable to attend due to the afternoon ferry cancellation.

Unfortunately, the current HIRRA President, Ashley Stotts, also had to be away to attend to a family crisis, but thankfully, the Executive Vice-Presidents, Jeff Rabena and Patrick Lui, stepped up to greet people, give the introductory speech, and help with both set-up and clean-up (especially mopping the floor). Thank you to the other set-up/clean-up helpers (particularly: Angeleah, Joanne, Jan K. Ilze, Liz E., and Bernie). As usual, there are many, many people involved in an event like this and please know that you are ALL appreciated.

Three new HIRRA members signed up. Two members expressed interest in standing for election to the Executive. The door prize of oak firewood was won by Vicki Bale. It was a wonderful celebration of HIRRA and the Hornby spirit of community cooperation, self-sufficiency, and flexible solutions to our “unique” life on this island. 

Composting Toilet Residuals Project

At the February 2024 HIRRA meeting, a majority of participants approved signing the letter of agreement with CVRD to accept Hornby’s Composting Toilet Residuals as a pilot project. Stay tuned for opportunities for further discussion and decisions about the Pilot Project details.

Background documents include the original Sept 2020 CVRD staff report on the Hornby Composting Toilet Feasibility Study. View here:  Composting Toilet Study
CVRD staff updated their report in Nov. 2021 based on feedback from the HIRRA Recycling Committee. View here: Composting Tiolet Study Follow Up 
CVRD staff gave a presentation to the Feb. 2022 HIRRA meeting. View here: Hornby Composting Toilet Presentation Feb 2022.
The CVRD page has more information on Composting Toilets here

Collective Agreement with Recycling Depot CUPE Employees Ratified

Thanks to the HIRRA negotiating team, Recycling Depot staff and CUPE representatives, the Collective Agreement bargaining was concluded successfully.  The DRAFT Collective Agreement was presented at the June 8, 2022 HIRRA general meeting and ratified by the members. The Recycling Depot staff have also ratified the Collective Agreement. View the complete document here Draft_Collective Agreement 2023-26  All changes are highlighted in bold in the draft Collective Agreement. Note that an error was found in the pay table on p. 28. The corrected table may be viewed here: Corrected C.A. wage rate chart May 22

New Cemetery Land Needed 2017

In the spring of 2017 an ad hoc Committee was formed, charged with finding suitable land for a new Cemetery. The existing Cemetery can still accommodate cremated remains but has little room left for full body burials, so there is an urgent need for more suitable land. Contact the Administrator or Cemetery Committee members for more information.

Historic Reports:

In late 2022, HIRRA received a hard copy of Rogers Cell Tower Proposal for a 63 meter tall tower (including 3m lightning rod) housing “numerous panel antennas and dishes” and having a small fenced and locked “compound” at the base containing “equipment necessary to operate the facility”, to be located in the old gravel pit between Recycling Depot and Spark building.
A PDF of the proposal HIRRA received may be viewed here: Rogers Information Dec 22
Inquiries should be sent to the consultant, Brian Gregg by email: briangregg@sitepathconsulting.com).

Prior to the Nov. 8, 2022 Zoom meeting between HIRRA Executive members, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) and other stakeholders, HIRRA circulated a public survey to assist with discussion and prioritization of Hornby roads issues. This report summarizes the results of that survey: Hornby Roads Survey report Dec 1-22.

View the 2022 Report on Hornby Food Security here: Hornby Food Security Report 01 18 2022

The April 2021 Covid Community Conversation report is available here: Hornby Is COVID Community Conversation Report, April 2021. The facilitators took all the notes and feedback from the April 11, 2021 community conversation by Zoom and created this final report with accompanying whimsical artwork by Rae Mate.

Rats and us: Daniel Siegel created a worksheet on rat management and circulated to all at the November 2013 meeting. Download the rat control worksheet.