Local Gov't Meetings in Cariboo-Chilcotin - Week of May 9-13

With all local governments in the Cariboo-Chilcotin attending the NCLGA (North-Central Local Gov't Association) AGM this upcoming week (see the NCLGA AGM Agenda here), May 11-13, in Prince Rupert, it'll be a pretty quiet scene for local government meetings

Monday, May 9th - City of Quesnel:

Public Hearing/Delegation Session and Special Council Meeting which all starts at 7pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (410 Kinchant St)

See the Agenda/Reports here

Thursday, May 12th - City of Williams Lake

Public Consultation Meeting #1 (Steel Shipping Containers) which goes from 7-9pm in WL Council Chambers (450 Mart St)

Friday, May 13th - Cariboo Regional District

Local author D'Arcy Christensen will visit the CRD Williams Lake Library (180 North 3rd Avenue - across from WL and District Credit Union) at 7pm - see here for more details

Two Final Points:

1) At an event I was attending last night, I was asked for an update to the Duncan Barnett vs CRD Court Case #2 and I wanted to advise my blog readers that I have learned that the court case has been moved into mediation for resolution so hopefully the CRD/Mr. Barnett can settle out of court and thereby saving CRD taxpayers' money for legal fees, etc

2) For a period of time - the local Board of Education for School District #27 has been at the beginning of their meetings acknowledging the fact that they (Board of Education) are meeting on the traditional territory of the Shuswap people or Secwepemc.  Yesterday - I emailed Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook and suggested that WL Council should do the same at its' Regular/Special Council Meetings as a form of respect to our First Nations neighbours.  Pls Note - the City of Williams Lake has included a chapter on First Nations in our new OCP (Official Community Plan).  Yesterday afternoon, I received the following response:

Hi Steve,

this is something that we have put in the OCP. I agree wholeheartedly on the importance.

Thanks for your comments.

Unfortunately - this was not quite the answer I was looking for.  This doesn't require a change to any City of WL Bylaw except the Mayor agreeing that she will do this at the beginning of all future WL Council meetings for the remainder of the current term.  If she needs time to consult with the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC), then go and consult with them but I can't reasonably see how the NSTC would be opposed to this.  Hopefully - she'll have a change of heart between now and May 24th (next regularly scheduled WL Council meeting)

But I congratulate the local Board of Education for signifying respect to local First Nations that they are meeting on their traditional territory and both WL Council/CRD Board should do the same at its' meetings' as a sign of respect to our First Nation neighbours