Field Recreation Advisory Association Annual General Meeting and Town Hall Meeting, November 4, 2019

/in /by

In Attendance: Helen Barry, Ryan Cameron, Dave Selkirk, Brenda Selkirk, Juliet Van Vliet, Craig Chapman, Doug Mostert, Pauline Boisier, Bruce Bembridge, Marilyn Toulouse, Jeremy Shaw, Alicia Afeltra, Stephanie Fenton, Jerry Gallant, Beth Ashfield, Patrick Cais, Jana Skrlatova, Francis Bertrand, Josephine Bertrand, Flint Palmer, Kathryn Cameron, Boomer Lahti, Greg Dowman, Sally Watson, Miguel, Zoe Cristiano, Felicity Frost

Excused: Sonya Leenders, Karen Schmidt, Paulina O’Brien, Charisse D’hamers

1. FRAA Report and Annual Report August 6, 2018 to August 5, 2019

         Kathryn Cameron, President FRAA

Thanks to everyone who brought delicious food to share tonight!

Since the last Town Hall Meeting on September 30, 2019, we:

  • Bid farewell and offered best wishes to Mike, Charisse and Estelle as they move to Elkford, BC
  • Carried on with regular HIIT and introductory HIIT on Wednesday evenings with Laura Penner, and group lead HIIT on Sunday evenings
  • Started Yoga with Mardi Elliott from Banff, with a short hiatus for Halloween; resumes Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 pm
  • Attended two Not For Profit courses offered by College of the Rockies in Golden: Financial Management on October 2 and Fundraising on October 9
  • Met with Townsite Manager Juliet Van Vliet and Highway Service Centre Manager Mike Vanderveen to review snow removal operations and expectations for the coming winter season
  • Transferred ownership of the skidoo and trailer from Marilyn Toulouse and Kicking Horse Ski Club to FRAA, and licensed and registered both
  • Opened a chequing account with Columbia Valley Credit Union, deposited some money and initiated online banking options for the FRAA
  • Received excellent building maintenance service from Miles Dickinson. He replaced the failed hot water tank (and cleaned up the standing water mess) and replaced the cartridge in the upstairs bathroom sink faucet
  • Had mould contamination remediation work done in the storage room area, kids room and janitor closet in the basement by NexGen Super Clean from Golden
  • Did research on Advisory Board function by attending a Lake Louise Advisory Board meeting in October 2019
  • Communicated with CPR for answers to questions about the new controlled crossing operation, and the material piled in the CPR yard adjacent to the toboggan hill
  • Met with the Parks Canada Development Office October 30, 2019 to go over the Development Permit Application Process. We want to have the application submitted by December 1, 2019. We’re very close to starting the fine details: discussion with neighbours, and write the narrative to support the project and variances
  • Communicated with Field Fire and Rescue Department, Parks Canada and the community about cancellation and subsequent renewal of Field Fire and Rescue Department’s Group Accident and Health Insurance
  • Initiated lease renewal process for Community Hall site with CPR
  • Doug and Pauline swung the coquet mallet and tied the knot – twice! October 2019 – Congratulations!

Annual Report During the FRAA “Year” – August 6, 2018 to August 5, 2019

Condensed version. Minutes of Board Meetings and Town Hall Meetings are available online or in your email in-basket.

Programs

  • Tabata High Intensity Interval Training was offered two times a week
  • Yoga was offered twice weekly until the end of August, then weekly with short breaks for Christmas and a Spring vacation for the instructor
  • Shake It Up with Paulina débuted in June 2019
  • Kids’ Room was used by Josephine and Estelle on a frequent basis

Hall Rentals

Sally will report

Events

  • Mike Legrice 40th Birthday Party – September 2018
  • Christmas Pot Luck Supper and Concert – December 22,2018
  • Music at the Church with Carrington and Syena Mitchell – December 28, 2018
  • Pond Hockey Tournament organized by Kurt Devlin – January 2019
  • Yoho Blow – February 1, 2, and 3, 2019
  • Yoho Blow, Power Outage, Phone Systems Failure – February 3 to 4, 2019 (unplanned, not an FRAA event)
  • Yoho Blow Pot Luck Supper – February 10, 2019
  • Groove Is In the Heart – February 14, 2019
  • Sam Weber – March 28, 2019
  • Earth Day Town Clean Up, Bunny Hop and Easter Pot Luck Brunch – April 22, 2019
  • Spring Fling – June 2, 2019
  • Music at the Church with Pablo Euphoria – June 15, 2019 
  • Canada Day Celebrations – July 1, 2019
  • Field Summer Music Festival – July 7, 2019 

Projects

  • St. Joseph Project – Contracted with russell and russell design of Canmore to start the conceptual design, started weekly project meetings, held two public consultations, applied for three more grants (received one, received a second contingent on receiving the third which we are waiting to hear about), planning to apply for at least two more grants and do a public funding campaign, working on Development Permit Application with intent to hire contractor and start construction in spring 2020
  • Update Field Emergency Plan – in process, lead by Parks Canada
  • Update Constitution – in process
  • Memorandum of Understanding or Terms of Reference, formalize agreement with Parks Canada – in process
  • Kicking Horse Ski Club – management changeover in process

Meetings

  • Board Meetings – six: September 11, 2018, November 26, 2018, January 7, 2019, February 18, 2019, April 8, 2019, June 3, 2019 
  • Field Utility Board Meetings – three: September 19, 2018, February 18, 2019, May 1, 2019 
  • Town Hall Meetings – five: October 1, 2018, January 21, 2019, March 11, 2019, May 13, 2019, June 24, 2019
  • Town Hall Meeting and Annual General Meeting – one: November 19, 2018

Passages

  • Paulina and Darren became Canadian Citizens in July 2019 

2. Treasurer’s Report and Annual Financial Report

         Sally Watson, Treasurer FRAAGreg moved to accept financial reports as presented. Flint seconded.

Files included with Minutes email to community.

3. Parks Canada Reports 

         Juliet Van Vliet, Townsite Manager

  • First, to address the cancellation of Field Fire and Rescue Department (FFRD) insurance policy, there were problems processing the invoices. Parks Canada respects FFRD decision to not respond to calls from October 22, 2019 when the policy was cancelled by the provider through October 29, 2019 when insurance was reinstated. A new process to deal with invoices is in place. Juliet offered an apology to FFRD and to residents for the lapse, and for additional stress the issue caused.
  • Snow removal priorities for this area of the Field Unit explained. Hollie to send out digital copies of Highway Operations Unit Best Management Practise – Winter Maintenance in the Village of Field and levels of service in the Field Unit. Complaints and comments about how the guidelines are met will be addressed. Please communicate respectfully.
  • Emergency Management Protocols will focus on more frequent events. Anticipate a round table event in December to address relationships and focus on scenarios.
  • Field Elementary School: Parks Canada is working on License of Occupation Agreements with current tenants of school and teacherage to ensure valid agreements are in place before the lease transfer.
  • Anticipates a six to eight month process to complete either a Terms of Reference or Memorandum of Understanding with Field Recreation/Advisory Association.
  • Request for business signage at Field Visitor Centre in winter under consideration. Included short discussion about Parks Canada operating VRC in winter; Parks Canada not considering the option. Questions about the role of Field VRC in the Emergency Plan when it is not operational in winter. No resolution. FRAA wants to the building open and staffed by Parks Canada people year-round.
  • Management Plan Update: Draft expected in New Year to be followed by second round of public consultation.

4. Friends of Yoho Report 
         Brenda Selkirk, Manager Friends of Yoho

  • Fall Event on November 23, 2019 at Field Community Hall – Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. Posters in town and online.
  • $700 donation to St. Joseph Project, all from donations presented by participants in the Historic Walking Tour programs this summer. Thank you Friends of Yoho!

5. Field Fire and Rescue Report 
         Pauline Boisier, President, Field Fire and Rescue Society

  • Household Preparedness Guide available at the door. Great info from the Province of British Columbia
  • Fire Prevention Week Theme for 2019: Have a proper escape plan in place in case your house starts on fire. Fire Escape Checklist also available at the door.
  • Winter Safety: Information shared about safety when using space heaters; advised to regularly check all heating systems; danger to be aware of when using extension cords – use only for purposes they are rated for; smoking in bed when tired or under the influence of alcohol deemed the #1 source of death by fire.
  • 2020 Field Fire and Rescue Calendar available soon

         Patrick Caïs, Acting Chief, Field Fire and Rescue Department

  1. Call Outs –
    1. 2 in September, 4 in October.  51 for our year.
  2. Members – Sitting at 17 members (13 active only). 
    1. 5 Officers, 5 Firefighters, 6 Probationary Members, 1 Recruit
  3. New and Planned Purchases
    1. New purchases. Nothing significant.
    1. Planned purchases.  Heating one time use blankets
  4. Completed Training 
    1. Exterior fire (2 members), air brakes class, 4 members renewed their first responder certification (in house with Maggie).  
  5. Upcoming Training
    1. Strategies and tactics (2/3 members), 2 members to ICS 300
  6. Apparatus
    1. Engine 1 (all good) 
    1. Rescue 1 (all good) 
    1. Rescue 2.  Light bar.
  7. Ongoing Projects
    1. Waiting from BCEHS for our agreement for first responders.
    1. FFRD had a meeting with Superintendent and Townsite regarding a full time fire chief.  PCA position is to maintain a full volunteers fire department.
    1. Generator for Firehall – PCA is working on it.  Concrete pad has been built, generator in place.  Just need wiring.
  8. Events
  9. Fire department was not operational for a week Oct 22nd-Oct 30th
  10. Congratulations to Pauline and Doug who got married
  11. Upcoming AGM

Nov 5th.  No candidate for the fire Chief Position.

Discussion on Parks Canada position to maintain Field Fire and Rescue Department as a full volunteer organization. Concern expressed that Parks Canada appears to want reduced level of service from FFRD, to focus on Townsite service, that Highway, outlying commercial accommodations and CPR not priorities, but no conversations have led to this. What about hazardous material spills, avalanches or fires on the TransCanada Highway or on CPR property (with one longer siding in CPR yard there is elevated risk)? Current support for equipment, training and call-out is appreciated but given the level of due diligence necessary and administrative demands, it needs to increase to fund the department adequately to include a paid Fire Chief position and ensure there is still a Field Fire and Rescue Department in the future. Parks Canada and FFRD to continue discussion after results of FFRD AGM on November 5, 2019.

6. Election of Officers

Thank you to Sally Watson, Paulina O’Brien, Flint Palmer, Charisse D’hamers, Greg Dowman, Sonya Leenders and Karen Schmidt for the community- building volunteer service over the past year. 

  • For the first time in many years serving on the FRAA Board, Karen has decided not to stand for re-election. Karen, thanks for everything you have done to bring a lot of fun to events and thought to what the FRAA does. Come back anytime! 
  • Charisse has moved to Elkford; Field has lost a champion and Elkford has gained a wonderful resident. Same message – Charisse, come back anytime!
  • Sally is the longest serving member of the FRAA. # years? Many. Treasurer, beautification, sober second thought, adventurous, leadership on every level. Staying on!
  • Paulina is full of energy, great ideas, action and positivity. Staying on!
  • Flint – sometimes you leave me speechless with your creativity (not an easy accomplishment!), ability to get things done and contacts within the community. Staying on!
  • Greg is an accomplished juggler who has carved a place in his busy life (family, business owner, employment) to contribute to the community. Staying on!
  • Sonya demonstrates daily that life happens one day at a time, meets challenges, talks about what matters to her and brings energy and commitment to all of her projects. Staying on!
  • Kathryn to stay on Board for one more year to see the St. Joseph Project through to completion and to update the Constitution. 
  • Diverse and really interesting group to work with – we truly do need each other in the community.
  • Six people have submitted nomination papers. Still need two more Board members.

7. Round Table – Yoho Blow tentatively scheduled for January 31,February 1, and 2, 2020. Christmas Concert on December 19, 2019 and Christmas Pot Luck Supper on December 22, 2019. Stay tunes for details, but definitely mark your calendars.Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.