January 2018 Quarterly Director’s Report

Welcome to 2018! We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are off to a happy and prosperous new year!
Here’s what your Board and OPSRRA have been up to in the fall of 2017.

Hwy 14 Safety and Access

This issue has probably been foremost on everyone’s minds lately, and OPSRRA was pleased to host a panel discussion held on November 5, 2017, at the CRD Services Building in Otter Point, called Safety, Speed and Noise on West Coast and Otter Point Roads. This included representatives from the RCMP, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement, Timberwest, Forest Safety Council, first responders, and CRD, as well as a representative attending from the office of our MLA and Premier John Horgan. With over 50 people in attendance, there was some good dialogue and discussion on possible solutions as well as the issues. 

This panel session, and OPSRRA’s September 21, 2017, letter to John Horgan’s Office, seem to have helped in providing input to the Premier’s announcement on November 20, 2017, that the province will be expanding its study and review of Highway 14 (including Sooke and West Coast Roads) extending to Port Renfrew. OPSRRA submitted a letter to the editor in newspapers in the region emphasizing the safety issues, our efforts, and lauding the Province’s announcement. OPSRRA’s president and a resident from JDF EA also had a meeting with CRD and representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on November 29, 2017, to discuss immediate safety issues along West Coast Road, as well as ongoing discussions on upgrades to Otter Point Road between CRD and the Premier’s Office. Discussions amongst these and other agencies continue.

Community Signage

OPSRRA submitted a request letter on November 21, 2017, to Mike Hicks for funding from CRD and/or BC Hydro to replace deteriorating community signage (“Welcome to Jordan River”) at the east and west borders of the Jordan River along Hwy 14 (West Coast Road). BC Hydro responded that they would look into it, and we will continue to follow up with them.

Board Member Change-up

Wendy Morton has stepped down as director from the OPSRRA board, but will be continuing her good work supporting OPSRRA’s activities in the community.

We’re also pleased to welcome Dan Peiser as an interim director to the board. Dan has spent over 30 years working in the not-for-profit sector in Canada and the U.S., and has served as volunteer, staff, consultant, or board member with dozens of organizations, in social services, environment/conservation, health, higher education, and international development. He is currently a consultant in not-for-profit management, communications, and fund development based in British Columbia and now resides in Otter Point. We look forward to his knowledge and experience as our newest board member in assisting OPSRRA with its communications activities. Welcome Dan!

Next Board Meeting

Our next Board meeting will be February 4, 2018, at 7:30 PM at the CRD Services Building on Butler Road in Otter Point.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, concerns, and/or you wish to volunteer your time and assistance in any way at president@opsrra.ca. In the meantime, have a safe winter and we hope to see you at our Annual General Meeting this spring (date to be announced).