Comox Town Residents’ Association ANNUAL REPORT 2011-2012

2011 provided many opportunities for the Comox Town Residents’ Association to continue to fulfill its role as a community voice.

A year when the Official Community Plan (OCP) is revised becomes especially important to the community and this Association. The CTRA was represented at all the public meetings during the OCP process. Although improvements to the process were possible, there was ample opportunity for community input.  Now the Council, Residents’ Association and citizens of Comox have a duty to ensure the plan is followed.

Local architect Tom Dishlevoy to speak at CTRA AGM

Members of the Comox Town Residents’ Association, a small but active group of engaged Comox residents, invite the public to join them on Thursday April 19^th  from 7-9pm at the Comox Golf Club for an interactive presentation and visioning session with Comox architect Tom Dishlevoy, followed by the Association’s Annual General Meeting.

Tom Dishlevoy will give a thought-provoking presentation entitled, “Ideas for a Living Town of Comox: It’s Not That Difficult.” The presentation will explore how the Town of Comox can adapt lessons learned from the recent International Living City Challenge Competition in which Dishlevoy and several colleagues came up with plans for a redesigned City of Courtenay that embraced all facets of sustainability. The CTRA is hoping that residents will come to the meeting willing to discuss their ideas and suggestions for change. Dishlevoy, who has design experience with a wide range of buildings of all types and sizes, has recently expanded his field of work to include land use planning and sustainability, making each of his projects as “green” as possible: socially, economically and environmentally. Dishlevoy has spoken about his recent efforts to the CV Chamber of Commerce and at TEDx Comox Valley and has worked with the Business Improvement Associations in Courtenay and Comox to help develop a sustainable vision for a vibrant, resilient and complete community.

Tom Dishlevoy

CTRA Acting President Kerry Dawson would like to see some new members join the Residents’ Association. “The Comox Town Residents Association is a group of very dedicated residents who recognize how lucky we are to live here in paradise. If we want this Town to remain the special place that it is, we need to be involved as citizens, and we need to be vigilant. It’s easy to lose that small-town charm in just a few years.”

Memberships in the CTRA are just $10 per year, per household and will be available at the meeting. Refreshments will also be served. For more information, contact Pat Halliday at pat.halliday@telus.net.

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Comox Council recording meetings and posting on Vimeo

The Comox Town Council is now recording Council (and some Committee of the Whole ) meetings (with the technical assistance of My Tech Guys) and posting the videos on Vimeo. Meetings for 2012 may be viewed here: http://comox.ca/council/council-meeting-videos/

CTRA-sponsored All Candidates Forum to be live-streamed

The Comox Town Residents’ Association is sponsoring an All Candidates Forum at the Comox Recreation Centre to-night, November 3, 2011. Doors open at 7:15 pm and the meeting will start at 7:30 pm sharp. The event will be streamed live by My Tech Guys, Prestige Video Transfer, and Shaw High Speed Internet. The link to the live video can be found at www.mytechguys.ca.

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CTRA Sponsoring All Candidates Forum

Comox voters are invited to meet and question their municipal and school board election candidates during an All Candidates Forum sponsored by the Comox Town Residents’ Association.

The moderated and timed event will be held at the Comox Recreation Centre on Noel Avenue, Multi-purpose Hall 1, on Thursday, November 3, 2011. The doors will open at 7:15 pm for a meet and greet, and the Forum will begin at 7:30 p.m. sharp and run for a reasonable length of time before Candidate summations.

The Forum will be divided into three main sections: timed speeches from candidates, an audience question period, and a short summation statement by the candidates.

Visitors wishing to ask a question will be asked to sign their name on a card before the Forum begins. Cards will be drawn at random. Only one question is permitted per person. Questions may be directed to any candidate but both questions and answers will be timed to ensure that as many people as possible can participate. Debates will not be permitted.

Nominations for Comox municipal candidates must be received at Town Hall by Friday, October 14, so these Forums are an ideal opportunity for voters to meet and question the men and women who hope to guide Comox during the next three years.

The municipal election will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2011.

Further election data and Forum information is posted on www.tidechange.ca  and the Elections section of this site.
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CTRA Free Film Night – Thursday, September 29.

Free Film Night

The film “HOME”, a voyage around our planet by award-winning photographer Arthus-Bertrand, will be featured on the Comox Town Residents’ Association’s Free Film Night, on Thursday, September 29.

A unique film with breathtaking imagery, it spans 54 countries and 120 locations. It explores the Earth’s amazing landscapes showcasing its beauty and acknowledging its vunerability to change.

The film is 118 minutes long and will be shown at D’Esterre House, Comox Seniors Centre, 1801 Beaufort Ave.(downstairs). There will be discussion afterwards, if so wished.

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Welcome!

Welcome to the
Comox Town Residents’ Association’s
NEW online headquarters!

Here you will find the latest news, important documents and reports, links, related to our organization, the Town of Comox, and the Comox Valley.

Also, read all about our sister organization, The Friends of Comox Lazo Forest Reserve, discover who they are and what they do,  and how they are helping to preserve the “heart and lungs” of our Town – the area known as the Northeast Woods, now a provincial conservation area – for everyone.

Comments and suggestions are welcome.