We had an exciting couple of days this week at City Hall as we took part in the province’s first Climate Action Boot Camp.

We talked about sustainability, climate change, climate commitments, greenhouse gas emissions and community engagement.

The two-day workshop was designed in part to help prospective members of the Quesnel Sustainability Task Force come to grips with the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability planning and, more specifically, climate action.

The task force, which will be formed in the next two weeks, will provide guidance to City Council regarding how to make Quesnel more sustainable over the long term.

Sustainability is becoming a way of living, thinking, governing and doing business.

We’ve embraced it at the City and are ready to incorporate it in all facets of our organization.

Sustainability has to be driven and endorsed by the masses to succeed.

There will be many opportunities for community engagement and involvement.

I’m hopeful we’ll see as many people involved in this process as possible.

The Boot Camp was presented by two groups.

The Community Energy Association supports local governments throughout British Columbia in accelerating the application of energy efficiency and renewable energy in all aspects of community design, infrastructure and community engagement for sustainability.

BC Healthy Communities is a province-wide organization committed to the ongoing development of healthy, thriving and resilient communities.

It supports communities in identifying and developing the processes, assets and skills needed to explore and act on the root causes of the issues they face.

For information about the City of Quesnel’s Sustainability initiatives, visit www.city.quesnel.bc.ca/Planning/sustainability

Trail

construction

You’ll notice there’s some paving and construction work going on in South Quesnel along Valhalla Road.

We’re putting in more trails to connect the new underpass and the Riverfront Trail network with South Quesnel.

We received more than $80,000 in grant funding for this, which will cover approximately 50 per cent of the cost.

The road is going to be realigned somewhat to make space for the trail to run down one side of Valhalla.

I ask motorists to watch out for construction workers and flagpeople and to be aware of the minor road changes that are coming.

Vote for Quesnel in Games Town 2010

The countdown to the 2010 Winter Games is on.

There’s an initiative taking place called Games Town 2010.

Quesnel is registered and people have been telling the organizers and the world how individuals and organizations in our community are making a difference in supporting sport, healthy living, environmental sustainability and of course, the Olympic Games spirit.

Now it’s time to vote.

We could win as much as $100,000 for sport or healthy living facility improvements.

Visit www.gamestown2010.ca, click the link for the 5,001 to 10,000 category and cast your vote for Quesnel.

H1N1 clinics

in Quesnel

There are a number of H1N1 clinics taking place.

Next week, clinics run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. These clinics will be for:

• children 6 months to five years

• Health care workers,

care providers or household contacts for those:

– with infants younger than 6 months.

– Persons who have compromised immune systems.

There are other clinics coming, but we’ll talk about those next week.

Remembrance Day

Finally, it’s that time of year when we pay our respects and show our thanks to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our way of life.

Next Wednesday is Remembrance Day.

I encourage the community to visit the cenotaph and take part in the ceremonies.

It’s important we demonstrate how important our veterans are to us.

We can also show our troops who are engaged on battlefields far from home that we support them and are appreciative of all they do for us.

If you can’t join us at the cenotaph, please take a moment at 11 a.m. and pay your own personal tribute to our brave men and women in arms.

Do you have a question for Mayor Mary Sjostrom? E-mail it to mailto:newsroom@quesnelobserver.com

Mary Sjostrom is Quesnel’s elected mayor.

v2