By Roy L Hales
A little over a year ago, a year since Cortes Island approved the idea of funding our two community halls through our property taxes. Early last December, Strathcona Regional District (SRD) staff received the go-ahead to start negotiations with the Whaletown Community Club (WCC) and the Southern Cortes Community Association (SCCA), which manage Gorge and Mansons Halls. The WCC and SCCA still haven’t received any funding, or been told what is holding things up.
Photo credit: Mansons Hall reopens for the Friday Market – Roy L Hales photo
Not being informed about the delay
Myrna Kerr, President of the SCCA Board of Directors, emailed, “The Southern Cortes Community Association Annual General Meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2020. The Board and SCCA members are concerned that funding for 2020 has not yet been received, and despite phone calls and emails to SRD staff, we have received no information on this very serious issue. We would like to inform our Members at the AGM why there has been a delay, assure the community that funding will be received, and when the funds can reasonably be expected to be provided. The SCCA Board will continue to request clarification on this issue and also regarding SRD 2021 funding delivery dates for our budgeting. The Board is writing to request a formal statement from the SRD regarding these important issues, for delivery to our Members at the AGM.”
A Whaletown Community Club spokesperson added that the SRD has not given them any clear communication about the delay, or when they can expect funding to begin.
An SRD Response
The SRD has not yet responded to Cortes Currents’ query and, when they do it will be added to the written version of this story.
When Cortes Currents interviewed SRD Chair Michele Babchuk last January, she explained they had to pass a budget – but the halls could receive their first cheques by mid-March.
That estimate was too optimistic. Babchuk and the SRD’s Corporate Officer finally received authorization to sign five year agreements with the halls at the board’s August 19th Board Meeting.
Babchuk has moved on and was recently elected MLA for North Riding.
She answered Cortes Current’s query, “it’s my understanding that the payment for the hall is currently processing through finance.”
Gorge Hall prior to COVI - courtesy the WCC
Gorge Hall
Gorge Hall is still closed and thus not able to hold the events that would normally provide some income.
The little savings the WCC has accumulated over the years is being drained away to pay for cleaning, general upkeep, hydro, water, propane and water testing in Gorge Hall.
Though the SRD is only funding Gorge Hall, the WCC also maintains the Whaletown cemetery, the Whaletown library, and the Old Schoolhouse Art Gallery.
Even in the midst of a pandemic
Even in the midst of a pandemic, Mansons Hall continues to operate as a central hub for the Cortes Island community.
When the Mansons Friday Market started up again on May 29th, It became a model for staging community events with all the BC Health requirements carefully in place. The SCCA came out in force, to directing the one way flow of traffic. Strips of masking tape, laid out at six foot intervals, marked the route. There were initially four stalls. By mid July, that number had gradually increased to about 17 – a little more than half of which were in the parking lot.
“A new option was offered, a ‘Boot Sale’ where the community have an opportunity to sell or give household items, offering from their vehicles in the Hall parking lot again with the appropriate spacing,” said Kerr.
She added, “Manson’s Hall is convenient to the Co-Op, a post office, the Health Center, Museum and Cortes Market. I believe this adds to the ongoing wellness of the community. Friends meeting and talking outside for a few minutes, or getting a lunch from the cafe, or some needed clothes for themselves or their children, does, we hope, will make this very frightening time a little easier for the community to manage!”
“This fall the Play School Is operating and Parents and Tots available, thanks to the staff who carefully follow the strict guidelines while workIng in these programs. They are a bright star in the community of young families.“
“Seniors lunches, Seniors meetings, and the Wednesday Carpet Bowling have resumed.”
“A plan is in place to offer an extended Christmas Craft Sale over four days so that the Christmas Crafts will be available to the community in a carefully structured healthy and safe way.”