This photo was taken just downstream from the 17th street bridge facing Comox Harbor (With the Courtenay Air Park to the right)

If you are interested in submitting a photo for use in our featured section, you can do so here!

One of the properties will provide an extension to the Nymph Falls park. The extension is 5.5 hectares in size and includes an existing 435 metre trail that runs along the Puntledge River and is used by pedestrians and mountain bikers. The newly-acquired parkland connects to trails within Nymph Falls and also to trails on Crown land to the west. The CVRD is seeking a permit from the Ministry of Forest, Lands and Natural Resources Operation to operate and maintain the trails on the Crown land.

The other property is a four kilometre section of the former Comox logging railway grade, in Black Creek and is part of the proposed north extension to the One Spot Trail. It is accessible from Macaulay Road, 100 metres north of the CVRD?s Macaulay Heights park. The long-term vision is to extend the trail from the Condensory Bridge to the Bear Creek nature park on the Oyster River.

“People use these pieces of property for a variety of recreation activities now – walking, jogging, mountain biking and horseback riding – and it is great that we have been able to purchase the land and ensure that it will remain as outdoor use areas for our residents for all time,” said Edwin Grieve, chair of the CVRD board of directors.

The Nymph Falls extension property cost $379,000 and the One Spot trail north property was $150,000. Both purchases were funded by the parks and greenways acquisition fund for Baynes Sound (Area “A”), Lazo North (Area “B”) and Puntledge-Black Creek (Area “C”). There are no immediate plans for park improvements, and users are asked to respect adjacent private property boundaries.

Both the One Spot trail extension north and the Nymph Falls extension trail were identified as priorities for acquisition in the rural Comox Valley parks and greenways strategic plan. See www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/parksplan for more detailed information.

Gabriel Callicum – photo by McKinnon Photography

YANA would like the community to know about an amazing offer from McKinnon Photography. Karen will be in the Driftwood Mall by their Christmas Tree Auction area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, December 6th, 7th and 8th. She is offering gift certificates for a full photography session for families, couples, or children. This is a regular value of $165 and an amazing experience. For these three days only, the gift certificates are being offered for $80 with $40 of each one being donated to YANA.

About the session, McKinnon said, “We will learn about your family, and we will chat (and likely laugh) as we talk about options for personalizing your session. Although I have a really fabulous studio, most of my sessions are outdoors and I have a plethora of ideas. The images from your session are going to have buckets of meaning to you now, and in the years to come.”

McKinnon talks about her passion for YANA. “I place a high value on giving back and contributing and YANA has a special place in my heart. Through my ongoing volunteer work with YANA I have come to know many of the families that have been helped, and thus changed by this amazing charity. A YANA apartment was also home for our family when my then 5 year-old stepdaughter battled Leukemia. Currently I have two clients, whose children are fighting hard for their health, using YANA’s services. So this year we are combining giving back to YANA with a meaningful gift for you to put under the tree.” For more information check out McKinnon Photography at www.mckinnonphotography.com or check out their Facebook page.

YANA (You Are Not Alone) is a local non-profit society founded in 1986 by Sandra Williams after her family experienced the financial and emotional devastation of having a very sick child who required treatment at Children’s Hospital in Vancouver for many months.

YANA provides accommodation and funding to Comox Valley families who are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or have a child under the age of 19 and need to travel outside our community for medical treatment. Can you imagine the costs involved in covering travel, accommodation, meals, childcare for other children, and other expenses related to running two households, especially for extended periods or on a frequent basis? These additional costs could easily bankrupt a family already dealing with the stress of a sick child. This is where YANA comes in, to relieve some of that stress and keep the family together. Totally funded by community donations, YANA’s support of families is only as good as the support of the community. Your donations stay right here to help Comox Valley families. For more about YANA go to their website www.yanacomoxvalley.com or follow them on Facebook.

Charlene Christiansen, Investors Group looks on as her 4 year old son Cayden carefully places one of their homemade decorations on her tree.

Individuals, Families, Businesses and Organizations decorate trees that are on display for two weeks at the Driftwood Mall. Some trees even have gifts under them already. The public is encouraged to view the trees and place bids on their favorites.

A newcomer to the event this year is Charlene Christiansen from Investors Group. She chose a fruit theme for her tree, engaging her 4 year old son Cayden by drying sliced fruit for their decorations. “Participating in this fundraiser, to me, was about rising up and supporting families and individuals just like ourselves, it is what a community is all about and it is how we all move forward collectively and I am proud to be a part of that movement. Thank you so much YANA! ”

While you’re there, vote for your favorite tree. It will be hard to choose. The YANA Christmas Crackers are also on sale at the mall during the Christmas Tree display. These popular Crackers usually sell out well before Christmas so don’t wait too long before you purchase yours.

If you are inspired to participate by decorating a tree next year, just let Heather know (she’s there every day of the event).

All money raised goes to YANA and then directly to help Comox Valley families who must travel to other centers for medical treatment for their children. The display is open to the public now until December 8th when bidding closes.

For more information about YANA visit their website www.yanacomoxvalley.com or follow them on Facebook.

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) board of directors has approved a new fire services administration model for the electoral areas that will see the chiefs of the fire protection services for Hornby Island, Denman Island, Fanny Bay and Black Creek-Oyster Bay becoming employees of the regional district, and service agreements being developed that will reduce direct liability for volunteer firefighting associations.

As part of the electoral area fire services administration model review, key objectives were identified that included liability coverage for the fire department members, as well as regional district oversight and risk management of the fire services.

A consultant worked with the CVRD and the fire departments and recommended that a step towards achieving an appropriate level of fire service oversight would be to have the fire chiefs become employees of the regional district, reporting to the manager of fire services.

“Clarification of reporting line and authority will provide the oversight essential for the CVRD to manage the risks associated with providing fire services,” said Edwin Grieve, CVRD board chair and co-chair of the Black Creek-Oyster Bay fire service.

The Hornby Island, Denman Island and Fanny Bay fire departments are all within the CVRD’s Baynes Sound-Denman/Hornby Islands (Area ‘A’), whereas the Black Creek-Oyster Bay department provides fire service in the CVRD’s Puntledge-Black Creek (Area ‘C’) and also across the boundary of the Strathcona Regional District’s Black Creek-Oyster River (Area ‘D’).

Because the Black Creek-Oyster Bay fire department serves an area north of the Oyster River as well, decisions for that fire service are voted on by the representative from the SRD’s Area ‘D’ and the CVRD’s Area ‘C’.

“The new administration model will provide better liability protection for our Oyster River volunteer fire crews, while maintaining the identity and integrity of the service in terms of the ability of elected directors to effectively represent the interests of the people in Black-Creek-Oyster Bay,” said Brenda Leigh, SRD director for Area ‘D’, and co-chair of the Black Creek-Oyster Bay fire service.

The fire chiefs and fire department members actively participated in the administration model review, and the fire departments and their associations support the new model.

The implementation of the new fire service administration model does not directly affect the operational delivery of the service, and the long-term outcome is the recognition and protection of the volunteer firefighters, a more efficient fire service able to meet the increasing demands of the public being served, as well as the increasing requirement for regional district oversight and risk management.

The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.

Mike Marchi is no scrooge! Mike, the owner of Comox Valley Dodge, is pledging to give away up to 100 bikes to kids in need this Christmas. He Believes (as do we) that no child should go without a bike.

For parents out there who simply can’t afford to get their kids a bike, and for kids age 5-12 who don’t have one, getting a free bike is as simple as requesting one! Deserving kids will receive a free bike in time for Christmas!

Simply fill out this request form.

For more information visit Mikes-bikes.ca!

When: 2:00 pm, Sunday December 9, 2012

Where: Shelter Point Distillery, 4650 Regent Rd
(Off Hwy 19A at Terrain Rd – Formerly UBC Farm at Oyster River)

Tickets: $10

For more information contact:
Jan at 250-338-1439 or
Anne at 250-287-4236

or visit www.islandvoiceschamberchoir.bc.ca

For more info on Biking in the Comox Valley, Check out our biking page!

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The 55 piece concert band under the direction of Patrick Hoenmans, in conjunction
with the Evergreen Seniors, performs musical selections for the entire family.
Titled “Sounding Off in the Face of Winter”, the band will play Alfred Reed’s
Russian Christmas Music, Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah as well as highlights from Les
Miserables. The program will include marches “Under the Double Eagle” and “The
Procession of Nobles”. Besides the wind orchestra, a recorder ensemble will perform
traditional favourites. The band will conclude with seasonal selections. Tea and
coffee will be served.

Florence Filberg Center, Courtenay
Sunday November 25th 2:00 pm $5.00 at the door
Music for everyone.