Message from the Minister Victoria welcomes Canada Games torch I am pleased to connect with you in this Fall 2014 edition of our newsletter. The Union of British Columbia The Canada Winter Games Canada Games Roly Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention, September McLenahan Torch arrived in Victoria on October 17, 22-26 ushered in a busy autumn season, highlighted by marking the start of the 2015 Canada Winter the 3rd Session of the 40th Parliament. Games Torch Relay in British Columbia. Read more On October 6, the 3rd Session of the 40th Parliament opened with the Throne Speech from Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon. A few days later, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia appointed an Ministry professionals honoured by BC all-party Special Committee on Local Elections Expense Public Service Hall of Excellence Limits. The committee’s recommendations will support the development of legislation and regulations necessary to implement expense limits for local Premier Christy Clark presents Gary Paget with a elections in 2018. BC Public Service Hall of Excellence award. Congratulations to Gary Paget and Brian Walisser Towards the end of November, Finance Minister Michael on their induction into the BC Public Service Hall of de Jong introduced the Liquefied Natural Gas Income Excellence. Read more Tax Act to establish a comprehensive, competitive income tax applicable to the LNG industry. The tax gives LNG developers the certainty they need to make investments and ensures British Columbians will benefit from the industry. Fernie residents approve merger with West Fernie We have celebrated many great success stories this fall – a number of them included in this newsletter. The UBCM convention proved very productive and I was Congratulations to the residents of West Fernie pleased to meet with many local government Waterworks District, the City of Fernie and the representatives. Regional District of East Kootenay for on-going efforts to upgrade and replace the water infrastructure for 400-or-so residents in the small In the last week of October, about 30 British unincorporated community of West Fernie. Read Columbians age 16 to 18 came to Victoria from more communities all across the province to attend a Democracy In Action youth conference. Supported by the Government of British Columbia and B.C. Rotary Clubs, the conference helped encourage future leaders $400,000 helps put BC Youth back in to further understand and appreciate the importance of the Game democracy in B.C.’s history and civic life. MLA Richard T. Lee announces $400,000 grant for KidSport BC on behalf of Coralee Oakes, Minister of I look forward to continue working with local Community, Sport and Cultural governments, communities and citizens throughout the Development. Read more province to create opportunities for a successful future for all British Columbians. Please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy Upcoming 2015 Canada Winter Games holiday – and a bright new year ahead in 2015. Torch Relay events Sincerely, Eight communities went head-to-head in an online vote from Aug. 27 to Sept. 12 for the chance to Honourable Coralee Oakes hold a regional torch celebration for the 2015 Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Canada Winter Games. Minister Coralee Oakes and MLA for Cariboo North announced the successful communities at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention in Twitter: @coraleeoakes Whistler. Read more Facebook: /Coralee.Oakes Minister’s bio Province commits to rural development Vancouver hosts largest ever Special Olympics Canada Summer Games From left: Rhona Martin, UBCM President, Minister Steve Thomson, Minister Coralee Oake, Grace McGregor, Kootenay Boundary Regional District, Chair Team BC enters the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird and Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett. Sports Centre in Vancouver for the largest Summer Games in Special Olympics Canada history. A new rural advisory council is the key commitment More than 2,000 athletes, coaches and officials from from the Province’s new report on rural development, across Canada gathered for four days of intense Supporting Rural Development: Creating a Voice for competition from July 8 to 12, 2014. Minister Rural British Columbia. Read more Coralee Oakes helped kickstart the event with an address at the opening ceremony. Local elections expense limits committee appointed Nine communities receive Open for Business Awards The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia has appointed an all-party Special Committee on Local This year's winners are Grand Forks, Kelowna, Elections Expense Limits. The committee’s Langley, Surrey, Parksville, Port Coquitlam, Salmon recommendations will support the development of Arm, Smithers, and Vernon. The awards were legislation and regulations necessary to implement presented by Minister of State for Small Business expense limits for local elections in 2018. Read more Naomi Yamamoto and Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Coralee Oakes. Read more Minister Oakes joins Cabinet colleagues for UBCM panel discussion Local governments benefit from Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and funding for safety and services Cultural Development, speaks at the Cabinet panel session on September 24 at the Union of British Communities in B.C. are sharing almost $74 million Columbia Municipalities 2014 convention. Minister through the Strategic Community Investments Fund Oakes is flanked (left) by Stephanie Cadieux, Minister to help them invest in policing, community safety, of Children and Family Development, Don McRae, services and various projects. Read more Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation and (right) Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education. The 111th annual UBCM convention brought together Small Community Fund representatives of the B.C. Government, local governments and First Nations for discussions, Small communities can now apply for funding presentations, education and networking opportunities. to support local infrastructure projects including drinking water, wastewater, road improvements, and green infrastructure. $1.5 million for asset management Program guides and application information are available online at: The Government of British Columbia is providing www.gov.bc.ca/smallcommunitiesfund $1.5 million to establish a new asset management fund administered by UBCM. Local governments can apply to the fund to support cost-effective planning for their public infrastructure, including Applications being accepted for Capital water systems and local roads, to be ready to for Kids travel funding make the most of economic opportunities that lay Students from Westside Academy take part in ahead for British Columbia. Read more Capital for Kids. Travel funding is available for student and youth groups for educational field trips to Victoria to learn about B.C. history, governance and the democratic process. Read more Young British Columbians experience Upgraded Oval Park proving a big Democracy in Action success in Lumby As a participant of Democracy in Action youth With support from the community, local governments and the Government of British conference, Prince George’s Gemma Hansen Columbia, the White Valley Spray Park has become joins Minister Coralee Oakes and RBCM a popular recreational asset in Lumby. Read more archivist Ann ten Cate to look at WW1 letters, photos and diaries. Mark your Calendars Civic engagement and good citizenship were at the core of a recent pilot program initiated by the Ministry of Community Gaming Grants: Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Read more Government gaming grants allow eligible organizations to apply for gaming revenues to support a broad range of programs and services. Prince George: a great place to compete, train and study February 1 - May 31: applications will be accepted for the arts and culture, and sports sectors. The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is hoping athletes and officials participating in the 2015 Canada Winter Games will want to return to pursue April 1 - June 30: applications will be accepted for higher education. Read more Parent Advisory Councils and District Parent Advisory Councils. July 1 - Aug 31: applications will be accepted for BC Summer Games in Nanaimo a great Public Safety and Environment Sectors. success Aug 1 - Nov 30: applications will be accepted for More than 2,500 athletes between the ages of 11 and Human and Social Services sectors. 18 competed in 19 sports at this year’s BC Summer Games in Nanaimo from July 17-20. For more information visit: gaming.gov.bc.ca/grants/community-gaming.htm Competitions for athletes with a disability were also included with events in athletics, para-equestrian and swimming. Read more Barriere wins Provincial Heritage Conservation Award Black Diamond Gala celebrates B.C.'s Barriere's awarding-winning heritage mural heroes of Sochi 2014 Two green thumbs up to the District of Barriere From the left, Michelle Stilwell, MLA for Parksville- which was presented with the 2014 Provincial Qualicum, Kay Fulford, BCAS President, Andy Price, Heritage Conservation Award at the B.C. BCAS Director of Fund Development, Minister Coralee ommunities in Bloom conference held in Trail on Oakes and Wayne Leslie, Executive Director. Sept. 14. Read more In support of adaptive skiing and snowboarding programs in B.C., Minister Oakes attended the BC Adaptive Snowsports Black Diamond fundraising gala on Sept. 26, 2014. Read more Taylor Elementary School authors publish their books Congratulations