BAMFIELD COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SOCIETY

General Meeting Unofficial Minutes

 Monday, 16 June 2025 at 18.30pm
via Zoom - hosted by Jamie Willock

Attendees (18): James Willock (Chair), , Julie Bradley, , Jan Teversham, Barry Sills,  Robin and Bob Schmitt, Jaslyn Haberl and Jomy, Sheryl and John Mass, Birgit Gagne , Betty Beyko, Mark and Mary Doherty, Ben West, Max Salamon, Laura , Alison Bird

Regrets: Bob Beckett, Susan Derasp, Tom Jensen, Sean Rogers, Stella Wenstob                       

Acknowledgement of Indigenous Lands: The BCAS acknowledges that the land on which we meet is within the Traditional territory of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations where indigenous peoples have lived since time immemorial.

The meeting was called to order at 18.31

Adoption of Agenda m/BSills s/JBradley

ACRD DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Bob Beckett

1. Addressing Bamfield East parking challenges

At the June 3^rd Bamfield Area Services Committee meeting, Nikki Schneider from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) along with Mike Irg, Planning Manger from the ACRD and the committee members discussed the ever increasing challenge of parking vehicles, boat trailers and vehicles with trailers on the east side. MOTI toured Bamfield last week and took time during their visit to acquaint themselves with the problem areas. The committee’s recommendation coming out of the meeting included:

1. Looking for solutions to an immediate fix for the area around the four way stop at the bottom of the hill (Bamfield Rd).
2. Create a longer-term plan to address parking challenges on the east side, recognizing that with increased tourism and development on the west side, so too will the parking problems on the east side increase. The upcoming discussions regarding the review of our OCP (Official Community Plan) should include how our community wishes to address parking in the long term.

2.Update on West Bamfield Submarine Waterline, Brandon Powers, Great Pacific

At the June 3rd Bamfield Area Services Committee meeting, Brandon Powers the project manager for the west Bamfield Submarine waterline provided the committee with an update on the project. The installation of the waterline is now scheduled for early fall this year. We were hoping that the line could have been installed prior to the busy summer season, but unfortunately acquiring all the necessary provincial and federal permits has been time consuming, and the contractor must also work around ideal tides. As soon as the install date is known, it will be shared with the community.

3.ACRD staff and Board hold board meeting in Anacla

On May 28^th , the ACRD Board and senior staff held their board meeting at the House of Huu-ay-aht. Each year the board holds one of their board meetings at one of the electoral areas within the region. This gives a chance for the community to attend a meeting in person, as well as allowing the area Director to showcase their community. The Board and staff toured BMSC., Bamfield Community school, Nova Harvest, and saw the start of the amazing community hall along with other sites of interest. Unfortunately, time did not permit for us to visit the westside but that will be on the agenda the next time the board travels to Bamfield and Anacla.

4.Shout outs

Just a quick shout out to:

1. Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department for their efforts to extinguish the house fire on the boardwalk using their fireboat equipped with the new pump.
2. Les and his team, and staff at ACRD, for finding the significant recent water leak and getting us back up and running as quickly as possible.
3. Louis and Rae for their years of producing the: The New Bamfielder, a great source of information for locals and those visiting our amazing community.

Jamie added that a new team has taken over the production of the New Bamfielder with Amaya as the editor. They have already published a June edition.

Chequing $5146,22

Savings $28,256.16

Member Equity $5.21

Total Assets $ 33,407.48

NEW BUSINESS

Second presentation of GIA for BCSA Summer Programme support.- Jaslyn Haberl BCSA

Jaslyn gave the second presentation for funding of  summer programming for students that would be free of charge for participants. The request is to provide supplies for the programmes and a top up to wages of the facilitators. The Board will meet next week to discuss the project.

COMMUNITY REPORTS

• BMSC- (late arrival )from Sean Rogers

• BMSC was invited to participate in the UN One Ocean Congress in Nice and is  being hosted by the Centre Nationale de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) to develop and foster international  collaborations with Bamfield in association with the French-Canada Declaration on the Ocean : https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/international/canada-france-eng.htm#
• We are currently teaching Marine Invertebrate Zoology and Place-Based Learning in Huu-ay-aht First Nations Territory. 
• A Request for Proposals was sent out in association with new researcher and staff housing at BMSC – as everyone knows access to affordable housing remains critical to the sustainability of our organization and community.

• Bamfield Community School Association. Jaslyn Haberl

• We are thrilled to welcome Jomy Thomas (he/him), our incoming BCSA Manager (formerly Coordinator), who will be overlapping with Jaslyn for the coming month!
• Our students have been in the garden a lot this Spring, and we are grateful for all the help we've had to build a new Medicine Garden at the community school. We are working towards building our School Greenhouse. Stay tuned for info. about a garden work bee to get involved!
• We are so proud of the four Bamfield Community School Graduates who will soon be celebrating the completion of their secondary education. The Grade 12 Graduation Ceremony will be held at the BMSC Rix on Thursday June 26 at 4pm.
• Big thanks to Coach Bradley and Coach Kranz for hosting the Bamfield All-Stars Tee-Ball League this spring! We had a great group of 4-8 year old sluggers who loved learning a new sport.
• Join us for the 3rd annual Bamfield Pride March on the afternoon of Saturday July 5! We will be marching from the Fisheries dock down the Boardwalk, finishing at the West Park for a potluck tea party with fun activities for all ages! Exact timing for start TBC.
• Come check out the amazing artwork that our local makers have been creating this winter at the Art in the Park craft fair on Sunday July 6 from 11am-2pm! The BCSA will be hosting a BBQ to fundraise for our Summer Camp Programming.

Ongoing BCSA Programs:

Adults

• Monday night Drop-in Adult Sports 7-8:30pm
• Wednesday night Yoga 5:15-6:15pm. Stay tuned for our summer yoga schedule, we are looking to add some West Side and Pachena Bay practices.
• Thursday night Group Fitness Classes 5-6pm

Kids/Youth

• After School Clubs Tuesday, Thursday. Year-end After School Club party for all ages will be Tuesday June 24!
• Imagination Station Arts After School Club Wednesdays - collaborating on a cool project with Tom to decorate the Fisheries dock, and learning some cultural beading with Linnea!
• Youth Peer Support Training with ADAPS based in Port Alberni - aiming to complete this training course in June!
• The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council youth workers are hosting NTC Youth Drop-Ins at Soaring Eagle on Mondays after school in June.

Upcoming Community Events:

• Huu-ay-aht First Nations are hosting a community celebration for Indigenous Peoples' Day on Friday June 20 from 11am-3pm at the Pachena Gazebo.
• The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is hosting a Community Beach Day at Pachena on Wednesday June 25 from 11am-3:30pm.
• The Bamfield Volunteer Fire Department is hosting their 41st annual Intertidal Golf fundraiser at the Inlet mudflats on Saturday July 12.
• Huu-ay-aht First Nations are hosting the House of Huu-ay-aht 25 Year Anniversary Celebration on Saturday July 26. Doors open at 9:30am, lunch and dinner will be served. Bring your shawls and drums! All are welcome

Jamie thanked Jaslyn for great work as the coordinator of BCSA and welcomed Jomy.

• Arts Council: Julie Bradley

The date for “Art in the Park” is July 6, 11am -2pm with a barbecue organised by BCSA.

• Bamfield Centennial Park- Sheryl Mass

Everything is running well.

This Tuesday and Wednesday there are septic system repairs to be undertaken so the adjacent playground will be closed

• Bamfield Community School:  Robin Schmitt

Classes are over next Thursday. Staff will finish next Friday.

The grad ceremony will be at the RIX centre on June 26^th at 4pm.

OTHER

Max asked what the Bamfield Services Committee was charged with. Jamie explained that there were people from the community who sit on it and it was set up to replace the water committee. They meet 4 times a year. John added that  the committee is involved with all the services that ACRD provides. He added that the meetings are open, as are all the APC meetings and ACRD Board meetings , but that no one ever attends. Jamie said everything is posted on the ACRD website and if you register to attend a meeting then ACRD will send the link.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on Monday  15 September 2025.

Meeting Adjourned at 19.09 m/MSalamon s/BSills

Have a great summer.