January 2024 Highlights

With the bulk of the holiday celebrations over, the Campaign Team has been hard at work planning the upcoming year and creating a strategy to win the riding. We've had many Zoom calls diving deep into numbers and analyzing the recent win in Kitchener-Waterloo by Aislinn Clancy. If you haven't heard about it, here's a news brief from Global News. The Campaign knocked on over 60,000 doors with the help of hundreds of volunteers and Aislinn won by a fantastic margin, capturing over 10,000 votes (with 18 candidates running!). It's a fantastic template of what we need to win here in Courtenay-Comox.

Volunteer Connect

With that in mind, the team held its first event of 2024 on January18th - Volunteer Connect, at Guerilla Pizza in Courtenay. Despite the snow, over 80 people showed up to support the Campaign, hear about the vision, sign up to help with the Campaign, and have a lot of fun. We had a great time hearing about the Communications, Phoning, and Canvassing roles, with Ron Kelly putting on a wonderful skit of what door knocking looks like for those who have never done it before. It convinced many to try their hand at it!

Our Earth - Pearl Ellis Gallery

If you haven't been already, I highly recommend a trip to see the current show at Pearl Ellis Gallery on Comox Ave. in Comox. Artists from around the community are showcasing pieces around their connection with the planet. So many of the images are haunting and convey messages that words often can't. Local artists enrich our community and spark conversations about difficult topics, so do get out and support them wherever you can.

Water Bottling Issue

On a more serious note, if you have been following the events surrounding the bulk water application on Sackville Road, local resident Bruce Gibbons has taken the CVRD to court for allowing the application to move forward under "Home Occupation". In his update, Bruce writes:

Our Supreme Court case against the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is tentatively scheduled for either the week of Jan 22nd or the week of Jan 29th.  Unfortunately, we will not know the exact day and time until later this week, or potentially next week...Our lawyer has advised that he doesn't feel strongly one way or the other about having people attend the court on hearing day, but also said he doesn't see any downside to having a physical presence at the courthouse or in the courtroom.  HOWEVER, he has indicated that in-person attendance in the courtroom will be very different to attending a CVRD meeting.  The courtroom will expect silence, and appropriate behaviour.  Outbursts will not be tolerated, and will be viewed negatively. 

I will continue to support Bruce through the court case. BC Green Leader, Sonia Furstenau, has also taken a special interest in this file and sees the ground water situation in the Comox Valley indicative of the mismanagement by the government, especially during the 2023 drought year. I have been asked to take a lead role in advising Green policy on the issue.

Events

January 30 - If helping to create a community-led radio station is something you'd like to support, please join us at Match Eatery for a Beer & Burger fundraiser for CVOX Community Radio. Veggie Burgers & Gluten-free buns are available. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by contacting Arzeena at arzeenahamir@shaw.ca

February 2 & 3 - World Community Film Festival - The 33rd film festival, featuring films on human rights, LGBTQ2S+, refugees, Indigenous rights, and environment. The closing film on Saturday evening, Common Ground, speaks to how regenerative agriculture could sequester carbon and bit a force for positive change on the planet.

February 24 - Please join us as we walk in the Coldest Night of the Year to raise funds for Dawn 2 Dawn and the CV Transition Society. We would love to see you there and have a huge team walking together. Our target is to raise $5000 and we're already almost half way there!

Donate

Lastly, we are growing our campaign to win the Courtenay-Comox Riding. Please donate to help elect me as the first Green MLA in our riding!

December 2023 Message

As 2023 comes to a close, I would like to share my gratitude and reflections on events over the past year

This year was significant for both the Comox Valley and for me personally. Collectively, we saw record-breaking drought that stressed our ecosystems and farmers. Like many farmers, I ran out of water for some of my crops, but still was able to supply food to many groups and families. Thankfully we were spared from wildfires that devastated many communities in our province.

For many folks in the Valley, the impacts of the affordable housing crisis are felt daily, with the challenges of record-high rents, low vacancy rates and increased mortgage costs. 

Despite our dedicated and amazing Comox Valley health care professionals, our health care system continues to experience unprecedented pressure stemming from the closure of a walk-in clinic, doctor shortages at our hospital emergency room and many residents who are without the primary care of a family doctor. Fortunately, thanks to the hard work of a few Comox Valley residents, we have seen an increase in the number of General Practitioners here. The BC Greens recognize the system needs structural reform, and we will continue to advocate for changes to remove the costly bureaucratic obstacles imposed by our provincial government.

Looking ahead, 2024 will bring opportunities and challenges. To begin, there will be a provincial election— possibly sooner than the October legislated date. And let’s be honest, we’ve all seen the polls. The current BC NDP government is on track for a massive majority government. There are many reasons for this, but the main take-away is that we will need strong BC Green opposition voices in the legislature to hold the government to account on the issues that affect us every day. 

On the personal front, I want to express my gratitude for the support I received when I announced my candidacy for the BC Greens in Courtenay-Comox on November 17. I am humbled by your support, and I am eager to reach out and engage with the broader community.  With a strong cohort of BC Greens in the Legislature after the next election, I’m confident that we can be the voice to effectively advocate for the things that matter for most Comox Valley residents, including housing affordability, better healthcare, and real climate action.

My sincere best wishes to you and your families for good health and happiness in the New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2024.

Here's what gives me hope

1. We’ve just seen people from across the political spectrum work together to table a Climate Action Plan in the Town of Comox. A number of Greens showed up at Town Council when the Action Plan was tabled to ensure that things went forward smoothly

2. We’ve seen the K’omoks First Nation, City of Courtenay and hundreds of citizens and businesses work together to turn the old Field sawmill site into Kus-kus-sum, a vibrant and productive habitat for salmon and other wildlife.

3. We have a new Environmental Reporter based in the Comox Valley that is writing for The Discourse, helping shine a light on issues that our traditional press ignores. Make sure you sign up for her feed: https://thediscourse.ca/comox-valley/meet-madeline-dunnett-the-discourses-comox-valley-community-reporter 

Mark your Calendars!

Our first event of 2024 is a chance for you to meet other Greens, sign up for volunteer teams, and have some great food and drinks together. Here's a chance to introduce a friend to the Campaign. Children & youth are always welcome.

We would appreciate your RSVP so we can pre-plan how many pizzas will be needed.

Host: Team Arzeena Courtenay-Comox

Where: Pizzeria Guerilla
444 5th Street, Courtenay

When
January 18, 2024, 05:00 PM — 08:00 PM

RSVP Here