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2026 Minutes

 

HIRRA’s Guide to Meeting Etiquette

Minutes of HIRRA Committee meetings are available for viewing by HIRRA members by contacting the Administrator at (250) 335-131 or office@hirra.ca.

Minutes of HIRRA General Meeting

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Hybrid at the Community Hall and by Zoom

Administrator; Angeleah Hoeppner, Financial Administrator, Daniel Arbour, CVRD Area A Director, 15 other HIRRA members and one guest (20 in person)
By Zoom: Ted Goodden, First Vice President and 55 other HIRRA members, 76 total participants

7:32pm: Lend your voice: Jodi Laine appreciated the opportunity to sing two songs for the community.

Call to order: 7:42pm

Introductions: Executive and staff introduced and HIRRA’s Etiquette of Meetings guidelines reviewed.

  1. Agenda and minutes: The circulated Dec 10, 2025 HIRRA meeting minutes were approved by general agreement.
    M/S/Defeated Kent Lukinuk/Stephanie Wells “That the agenda be changed from “MOTION: to support Hornby Is. Arts Council ongoing tax funding” to “To discuss Hornby Is. Arts Council ongoing funding.”
    TIE: President voted to break the tie and the agenda was approved as circulated.
  2. Community Announcements:
    Dates announced:     Heron Rocks Friendship Centre pruning workshop and Seedy Saturday, Coastline running marathon, Words on the Salish Sea Literary Festival, on-island water testing, tax clinic session, CHI Herring Fest, “Can Machines be Conscious?” talk, weekly life drawing group, Emergency Preparedness FireSmart public education event.
  3. Executive report: Jeff Rabena, President: Two vacancies on the Executive. Receiving first half of tax-funding. New Recreation Coordinator hired. CUPE Collective Agreement up for renewal this spring. Moderated Community Conversation planned for April 26.  
  4. Community Appreciation: Jeff appreciated June Cannon for years of teaching fiddle, organizing the Celtic Festival, calling at Family Dances, and teaching Scottish Dancing.
  5. Recycling Waste Management Committee updates: Stani, Depot Manager: We Store building supply re-use area now open Fri-Sun. Garbage prices increased. Graphs presented of waste and recycling shipped.
  6. Community Hall Committee updates: Vicki Bale, Committee Co-Chair: Plumbing upgrades, hand railings and hearing loop installed. Appreciation for funding from Community Fund including Green Roof completion project planned this Spring. Applying for grant for Accessible Washroom addition. Advertising for part-time Hall Manager position. Hall’s 100th anniversary in 2027. CVRD can give tax receipts for donations to the Hall.
  • MOTION: to support Hornby Is. Arts Council ongoing tax funding: Melissa Moore, Hornby Arts Executive Director: Hornby Arts is already receiving operational tax-funding from CVRD. Arts Centre opened last year ($3.1 million invested in the building) as a public, non-commercial Arts Centre with mixed income from tax-funding, earned revenue, grants and donations. Seeking increased tax-funding for core administration costs to apply for, oversee and manage diverse funding sources, volunteers, programs and shows. Requesting an increase in tax-funding from $35,000 to $60,000 (which would result in approx. $15 to $20 increase per household per year) as a reliable base of about one third of Hornby Arts’ annual operational costs. Cultural investment brings significant economic returns to the Hornby community as art grant funding flows through to island artists, workers and businesses. Presentation made to CVRD as part of budget request is available online. Public, non-profit Arts Centre will never be completely self-sufficient. Local tax-funding or endowments are required for leveraging larger ongoing Provincial and Federal arts funding. Hornby Arts has to be flexible to organize programming as soon as grants are approved (or not if they are not).

    Daniel Arbour, CVRD Area A Director:     Committed to being objective and hearing what the community wants. CVRD looks at each service budget on its own merits. Prefer to not have significant fluctuations in tax requisitions from year to year.
    Discussion: Request for Hornby Arts’ specific financial plan going forward. HIAC does have a draft business plan, but it will take several years to get fully established and stable. Public can attend HIAC Board meetings by pre-approval. Suggest HICEEC contribute $30,000 of MRDT funding for Hornby Arts. (Noted: MRDT funding cannot be used for core operations.)

    In favour: Arts funding has a good “return on investment.” Want assurance that Hornby Arts will benefit a diverse range of people and groups on Hornby. Grant funding for arts is very specific and is not available for other services. Approving this does not take away from other community needs that come up. Arts administration is a highly skilled profession and the Executive Director is organizing a diverse range of cultural offerings in the new Arts Centre.

    Against: Keep tax-funding for Hornby Arts at current level. Concern that organizations will be in competition for scarce funds as many Hornby groups need funding. Suggest considering a tax-function for a Social Service Coordinator (as Gabriola has). Suggest CVRD hold a referendum on increasing Hornby Arts funding. Concern about lack of community consultation on projects and tax funding. Arts Centre was supposed to be “tax neutral.” (Noted: Arts Centre capital costs did not come from local taxes.) Suggest a “forensic audit” of Arts Centre funding. Suggest charging fees for workshops/events/showing art with a large enough percentage to cover all operating costs. (Noted: this would make Hornby Arts ineligible for many grants.) How will Hornby Arts rebuild trust with those who are unhappy with their track record?

    M/S/C Sheila Morissette/Jan Kennedy     “That HIRRA provides a letter in support of Hornby Island Arts Council’s request for enhanced CVRD operational tax-funding.”

  • Public Participation: Opportunity to give feedback on CVRD budgets. Noted that the Regional Parks budget has increased since CVRD took over management.

Adjourned: 10:12pm

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Minutes of HIRRA General Meeting

Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Hybrid at the Community Hall and by Zoom

Present in person: Jeff Rabena, President; Melanda Schmid-Ochieng, Second Vice President; Patrick Lui, Treasurer; Reina LeBaron, Executive Administrator; Angeleah Hoeppner, Financial Administrator; 5 other HIRRA members and 2 guests (12 in person)
By Zoom: Ted Goodden, First Vice President and 21 other HIRRA members, 34 total participants

7:31pm: Lend your voice: Chelka and the Taizé singing group.

Call to order: 7:43pm

Introductions: Executive and staff introduced and HIRRA’s Etiquette of Meetings guidelines reviewed with a reminder for everyone to do their best to communicate respectfully in good faith.

  1. Agenda and minutes: The circulated 11, 2026 HIRRA meeting minutes were approved by general agreement.

  2. Executive report: Jeff Rabena, President: Melanda Schmid-Ochieng appointed as Second Vice President; audit is underway; discussed strategies for maintaining respectful meetings; agenda is decided by the Executive and publicized before the meeting so is no longer open for revision at the meeting, Digital Assistance/AI Policy for approval in April, moderated Community Conversation planned for April 26 including providing childcare.

  3. Community Appreciation: Jeff appreciated Daniel Siegel for serving on the HIRRA Executive and other Hornby Boards and for his calm, graceful and supportive mentorship.

  4. Community Announcements: Reminder to call MainRoad about any Hornby roads maintenance issues 1-877-215-7122.
    Dates announced:     Coastline Endurance Running Race, Joe King HIAA birthday event, Emergency Preparedness FireSmart public education event, Non-profit Fair, Literary Festival, REDIP Affordable Workforce Housing report, Recreation Community event, Pysanky workshop, Herring Fest art show and sound bath, Community School art auction fundraiser.

  5. Conservancy Hornby Island (CHI) updates: Melanda Schmid-Ochieng, Executive Director: Appreciation for everyone making 10th anniversary Herring Festival so successful, including a performance event, art show at the Arts Centre, “herring school” speakers and film, Herring Ball dance. Planning some CHI film nights this summer and Forest Fest in October.

  6. Hornby Is. Community Economic Enhancement Corp. (HICEEC) updates: Marilyn Kopansky, and Sheila McDonnell, HIRRA appointees to HICEEC: HICEEC delivers tax-funded services for economic enhancement via contract with CVRD. HICEEC is involved with advocacy, grants to various community projects, management of MRDT “pillow-tax” funding. Board bases decisions on personal experience, but always responsive to community needs within long-term strategic plan categories (e.g. fibre-optic internet and summer bus). MRDT funding is reserved primarily for affordable housing. A portion is available for off-season community events and projects.

  7. Hornby Is. Fire Rescue (HIFR) updates: Doug Chinnery, HIFR Fire Chief: Renewed Superior Shuttle Tanker Accreditation for reduced insurance rates within range of neighbourhood water tanks. Smaller Community Emergency Preparedness grant from BC Government than hoped for. “Soup can” water tank was moved across the road as community art and replaced by two functional plastic tanks. Co-op water tank also needs replacement with plastic tanks. Potential for the mural to be retained as a screen for new tanks. Reviewed the fire safety plan and practiced using the “dry hydrant” for fire protection at new Beaulah Creek housing. Seven firefighters signed up for the Coastline Endurance running race. HIFR got confirmation that they are within their mandate to transport patients as First Responders. HIFR is becoming a leader in remote rural firefighting. Appreciation for the volunteers’ dedication and skills.

  8. Hornby Is. Education Society (HIES) updates: Caroline Farquhar, HIES Administrator: Seeking Board members. HIES is the umbrella for multiple programs: After School program, Toddler Drop-in, Teen Night, Natural History Centre, Lifelong Learning sessions, Raise a Reader, Adult Literacy program, and The Kitchen. The Food Bank has now transitioned to Comox Valley Food Bank. HIES owns Room to Grow, currently used as a classroom, but also available to rent. Community auction fundraiser this Fall.

  9. Public Participation:
    1. BC Parks advocacy: Does HIRRA have any influence in BC Parks regarding plans for the forested area? Apparently they don’t have any plans for the area at this point. In the current campground project they are creating a rain garden, protecting native crab-apple trees. BC Parks representative Derek Moore will be making a report to the June HIRRA meeting.
    2. HIRRA Meeting requests: Limit time for speakers. Encourage in-person speakers to have visual presentations as well. Appreciation for the volunteer HIRRA Executive for their calm and respectful moderation.
    3. Appreciations: Thanks to firefighters and all the volunteers working for the community.

Adjourned: 9:11pm

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NOTE:

Minutes of HIRRA meetings are posted after approval by the HIRRA assembly (usually at the following month’s meeting). Generally there are no HIRRA meetings in January or August.