[BCMA] CMA Clip Serv: Big bucks for Courtenay projects

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Big bucks for Courtenay projects 
Marcel Tetrault, Comox Valley Echo, Tuesday, September 29, 2009 

New money from the provincial and federal governments will be used 
to upgrade an old building and an old sewer line in Courtenay. 

A total of $3.5 million will be spent to refurbish Courtenay's Native 
Sons Hall and replace a kilometre-long portion of the Arden Trunk 
sewer line. 

"I know everybody is so excited this morning and so am I," said 
Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan. "I don't have to feel guilty 
every time I walk past the mayor any more." 

Mayor Greg Phelps was on hand for the funding announcement early 
Friday morning in front of the Native Sons Hall on Cliffe Avenue, 
built in 1928 by assembly number three of the Native Sons of Canada. 
The building served a wide variety of roles in the community over the 
years, including wartime recruitment, post office and museum. Most 
recently it has been used for events like weddings and parties as well 
as a musical venue. 

In the late 80s the City of Courtenay designated the building a 
heritage site and, several years ago, the Native Sons' sister affiliate the 
Canadian Daughters donated it to the city. 

"This hall brings a lot of memories back for so many people," said 
Phelps. "It was a great gift for us from the Canadian Daughters ... but 
it also had the potential of being a bit of a white elephant if we 
weren't able to maintain and upgrade the building. 

"This is going to be sort of the first step of an ongoing process for us, 
but it is a building that is definitely worth preserving." 

The building will get almost $2 million in upgrades including new 
floors, windows and doors, new washrooms and a new kitchen. 

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning system will also be 
replaced, as will the building's wiring, and its exterior will be 
repainted and protected while preserving its heritage character. 
"I'm a history teacher by heart and by trade and I have just so much 
respect for history and the past," said Comox Valley MLA Don 
McRae. 

"This building, built in 1928, is an absolutely amazing facility. When 
you go inside of it you're just blown away by the lovely beams and 
the acoustics and the colours. 

"The ability to make sure this building will last for generations 
beyond is, I think, one of the truly great things about being in 
government." 

The building has been sorely in need of upgrades for so long that the 
city was considering whether to close it permanently or fund the 
entire project out of the wallet of the local taxpayer. 

"We were actually getting to the desperate stage," said Phelps. "We 
had cancelled all of the events in here ... so this was really a lifeline 
for us." 

The feds and the province will each pick up $644,000 of the total cost 
with the final third being paid for by the city. The money comes from 
Canada's Economic Action Plan and B.C.'s Infrastructure Stimulus 
Fund. 

"This is really nice because it's not shovel ready, it's hammer ready," 
said Phelps. "We can start this right away." 

The other project announced on Friday will require a whole lot of 
shoveling -- the existing pipe in parts of the Arden Trunk sewer line, 
some of which is 40 years old and contains asbestos, will be replaced 
with all new piping next spring or summer. 

The $1.6 million project, also equally funded by the federal, 
provincial and local governments, will go to tender late this year or 
early next year. The portion of sewer to be replaced runs from 
Riverside Lane to 20th Street and is part of a line that services 23,000 
local homes. 

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