Okay, thank you. 6:00 p.m.
It's my honor to
welcome each and every one of you.
It's August 25th.
The council meeting
and council
Angie Delainey is not with us tonight.
She's busy with her work um
to the Cariboo
Fire Centre fighting fire.
It's my honor to acknowledge that we are
gathered in the William Lake
First Nations Sepwepemc people's unceded
territory.
Thanks to the elder chief the nation
allowing us to do the business.
And equally I'm honored to
welcome Dr.
uh Director Forsythe.
Very kind good neighbor
us.
And welcome Director.
Agenda on the table, please.
>> Some second.
>> Moved and second Councillor Flash Flood,
Councillor Nelson. Any addition
deletion? Hearing none, all in favor.
Carried.
Minute of the regular council meeting
held August 11.
>> So moved.
>> Moved and second council Nelson,
counselor Flasholler.
All in favor.
I also like to welcome uh
our downtown Business Association
executive director.
Very welcome.
I had a very exciting
and rewarding news to share with you.
I don't know how many of you have heard
before I move further on down the
agenda. It's not on the agenda, by the
way. Don't scroll your
uh laptop or computer.
Pat Matthew,
one of our best uh
announcer, part of the Goat family,
is retiring from the Goat
after 45 year being on air.
>> Mhm.
>> So, if any one of you see him
downtown somewhere, please wish him
good luck and congratulate him.
It's a honor to work with the guy.
I remember many election
I have done, he was always there.
Cuz he made my ads. That's how I know.
Very good man.
Hell of a person, you can always see him
walking anywhere on the city of Williams
Lake.
Well, moving along,
uh computer checks, please. Staff.
Oh, sorry. Counselor Moses.
>> Um on on the topic you were just
speaking of, have have we had your
worship provide provide Pat with an
achievement award yet?
>> I am not aware, at least.
>> Okay.
Um could we uh
>> I'll second the motion.
>> motion for that?
So what
>> Um, your worship through the council, so
it actually doesn't need a resolution,
just a request to the mayor. The mayor
provides a certificate
>> we uh
>> second the recommendation from
Councillor Moses.
>> The resolution is the mayor be
authorized to provide a letter of
achievement award to Pat Matthew at the
gold uh on the next council meeting.
>> Along with the certificate.
>> Is that okay with the mover and
seconder?
>> Perfect, thank you.
>> All in favor?
Carried [clears throat] unanimously.
Congratulations, Mr. Matthew.
Okay, computer checks.
» The recommendation that the accounts
payable computer check and EFT listings
dated August 13th and 20th, 2026 be
received for information.
>> So moved.
>> Moved and seconded, Councillor Nelson,
Councillor Beam. All in favor?
Carried unanimously.
Council attending UBCM annual
conference.
>> The recommendation that pursuant to the
report of the manager of administrative
services dated August 19th, 2026,
council approve compensation, registration, and travel
expenses for interested council members
to attend the UBCM annual convention
being held in Vancouver, BC from
September 14th to 18th, 2026.
>> So moved.
>> Moved and seconded, Councillor Nelson,
Councillor Slash Fuller.
Uh some of us are traveling on 13th, so
we can join
on 14 our
um schedule, and I believe some staff
member are traveling on 14th morning.
Councillor Moses, please.
>> Thank you, your worship. Yeah, uh UBCM
is an event where we get to have the
ears of of the provincial government and
of the the Union of BC Municipalities
itself. I think this is a really
important year for us to be attending to
make sure that our community's needs are
heard and that we can continue obtaining
the the services and the funding that we
need to to live the lifestyles that we
we've we've earned up here in Williams
Lake.
>> Thank you, Councillor Mozar, explaining
that. All in favor?
Carried unanimously. Next item is
cannabis license referral for 420-
1185 Prosperity Way,
Marlon Den.
>> The recommendation that pursuant to the
report of the planner dated August 17th,
2026, Council direct staff to initiate
the public notification and agency
referrals process for the proposed
relocation of an existing retail
cannabis store to be located at 420-1185
Prosperity Way, legally described as Lot
3, District Lot 7046, 7047, and 8836,
Cariboo District Plan BCP 38739
for the provincial license referral, and
further this application be brought back
for final consideration of Council at
their October 6th, 2026 regular meeting
following receipt of the public input at
the meeting as well as agency and public
comments received after completion of
the public notification process,
including notices to be posted by the
applicant in the required time frame,
conducted in a format as approved by the
chief administrative officer.
» Moved and seconded. Before anybody
raise your hand, I just want you to know
this is not increase in licensing in
Williams Lake.
This is only relocating from point A to
point B, number one. Number two,
uh I was asked to let Council member
know
we should not be discussing anything
in particular. Should just process
starting point.
The proponent of the license is here. If
you have any question, I can request the
proponent to come to the podium and
answer any question.
At this point, I would respectfully
request
try to stick
with the starting of the process.
That's it. No more, no less. It's not
approval or disapproval. It's
authorization
so staff can start the process. That's
what it is.
>> I'll call the question.
>> Thank you. Question been called. All in
favor.
Carried unanimously. Thank you.
Free transit service municipal day,
Saturday, October 17th.
>> The recommendation that pursuing to the
report of the director of municipal
services dated August 19th, 2026,
council approve free transit service I
conventional and Handi-Dart for
municipal election day taking place on
Saturday, October 17th, 2026.
>> Move the recommendation, your worship.
>> Moved and second, Councillor Nelson,
Councillor Beams. Tradition we have done
every election.
So, the people have no excuse that they
could not travel or do not can't afford
the taxi or couldn't get the ride. It's
to promote democracy. Any question,
comment, concern? Hearing none, all in
favor. Carried unanimously.
Committee of the whole council report.
>> Committee recommendation that pursuing
to the report of the chief financial
officer dated August 1st, 2026, and
pursuing to the report of the chief
financial officer dated Nope, let's
repeat. Sorry. Council approve the
proposed budget 2027 and 5-year
financial plan preparation timeline. And
further that, one, staff be directed to
prepare budget based on maintaining
services and staffing levels at existing
levels. Two, achieving a 0% increase in
the mill rate to be a goal for preparing
the budget. Three, a report be prepared
for council's consideration on options
for funding the water treatment plant
project. Four, staff be directed to
investigate options for grants to offset
the cost of capital projects. And five,
analysis be provided showing the cost of
maintaining the status quo service
levels compared with 2026 costs.
>> I'll move the recommendations, your
worship.
>> Moved and seconded. All it is
the council is
basically guiding the staff. I got you.
To start the process,
this council have
almost 2 months
under their operation.
The door is open for anybody and
everybody. Three council member are not
running.
Three council member including me are
running. Whoever is in here
on November,
December onward, they will finalize.
As of today,
the guideline, this is just a strictly
guideline given
to the staff by the council committee of
the whole. We spent an hour
uh last Tuesday
on this item.
We're requesting the staff to maintain
the service level.
Highest priority is this council has
worked very hard
to obtain 25
.3 million-dollar project, 19-plus
million-dollar
on the water treatment plant.
The cost has gone up.
We just
approved the council member
going to UBCM. That's where we do
the arm wrestling with the provincial
and federal government.
We have requested last year to the
premier's office
that the budget for the water treatment
plan has gone way, way high than 25
million.
That's where we would be.
Basically, council has given the
marching order
letting the staff know water treatment
plant is the highest priority.
We will hold everything else
the way it is.
The service level,
manpower level, there's no
at this point a reduction
or increase in services.
But again,
the new council when they're sworn in,
they would have the final say.
They would decide how they want it.
Most of this council wanted to hold
the service level, the level we are in.
Nobody
is the saying one way or the other, but
hold the line.
Everybody respecting being a physically
responsible,
they wanted to make sure
the ends are met with our budget.
I'm going to call Councillor Flash
Councillor Nelson
to speak, please.
>> Thank you, Your Worship.
Yes, I just want to state to the
community I will not be supporting this
um recommendation that came from the
committee. I did have uh quite a few
words um to support or to explain that
position in the Committee of the Whole
Council meeting. Um
So that it's here on this live stream, I
want to explain that I cannot at this
stage support anything that has a 0%
tied to it. And it's for multiple
reasons. I feel at this point you
shouldn't be determining what a taxation
rate should be. And I noticed that it is
stated at 0% for the mill rate.
Um I think it's really important for
community members to understand how
taxation works.
When you look at most communities and
they talk about how much their taxation
has gone up, they're talking about how
much of a difference that taxation was
from the year prior and what you paid.
When we're talking mill rates, most of
the research I've done most communities
don't talk about mill rate. Because a
mill rate is there
to assist a local government. if your
assessments go up
and you keep your mill rate at zero at
the same and you don't change it, guess
what? You're going to be paying taxes.
Because those assessments go up and if
you keep it at the same mill rate,
you're going to be paying more. I've
seen members come into meetings here
where they've stated,
"What's the 0% I hear about? Why did my
taxes go up?"
That's part of how it works. A mill rate
is here for a local government so that
if your tax assessments also drop
substantially
and we have to increase the mill rate so
we get the same revenue to maintain the
services that we want to maintain for
this municipality. It's a tool for a
municipality. And I feel that this type
of talk just confuses the
community and I cannot support this type
of recommendation that my colleague put
on the table.
I feel that
we need to be fiscally responsible and
we do need to be fiscally responsible
for the constituents of this community
and that means planning for the future.
If you sit there and say, "Oh, we're not
changing anything right now." But all of
a sudden we realize and we are realizing
because we are doing asset management
finally that there are pipes in the
ground that need repair, we need to plan
for the future. We need to incorporate
that into our financial planning. Right
now determining a a set zero is, in my
opinion,
just a political position to gain
attention and votes.
And I'm going to be flat out, that is my
opinion.
And I won't support that and I will not
take that position. It's not fair to
staff. It's not fair to the community.
So, I will not be supporting this. Thank
you so much.
>> Thank you, Councillor Flashman.
Councillor Wilson, please.
>> Well, for 4 years, I guess I've been
campaigning every year at budget time
because I voted against three of the
budgets because they had significant tax
increases in them. The last one I voted
for because it was at 0%.
I'm [clears throat] clear.
It is an affordability issue out there.
Well, some members around this council
table want to open up the back of the
truck and start throwing out the money
and eat steak and corn and lobster.
It's okay to be thin right now because
people are asking you to make sure that
you're running a thin, tight
organization.
It's called affordability.
Pick up any newspaper right now.
This council previously This council
previously
had had a $16 million debt 10 years ago.
Today, we owe $465,000
on five projects.
We're going to be just about debt-free.
We've got millions of dollars in the
bank.
It's called affordability.
There isn't a mayor that I haven't seen
yet, including the Vancouver mayor, has
gone on record
of running at 4 years at 0%.
So, they're feeling the pressure as
well.
The residents are saying,
"Make sure you're running a very tight
organization." There are geopolitical
clouds that are coming across British
Columbia.
And those are some of the impacts that
we have no control over.
These are the guidelines that we've
asked staff to do
4 years in a row.
This very same recommendation is almost
carbon print for the last 4 years.
And the success that we have been able
to gain
out of being able to ensure that we
target a 0%
has been fantastic. It has brought us
significant capital projects
through grants. A significant amount of
projects of capital items that we have
spent money on.
So,
I'm not into wrapping up and looking to
spend lots of money. I want to be
fiscally responsible. And so, when
people turn to you and say, "It starts
at the local level." Thank you for
making it affordable
as a community to live in.
And while some of my colleagues want to
continue to eat lobster and steak and
a few extra pieces of corn on the side,
I think we just want to be a little bit more frugal with what's
going on with the tariff wars, what's
going on in the forest sector.
Let's continue to lead like we've led
for the last 4 years.
Being smart,
understanding where we want to go,
and capitalize on the key project, which
is the water
project that we want to put in.
We already know that's going to be 17 to
20 million dollars. While we might be
debt-free,
we've got to figure out a way to ensure
that we can have safe,
potable
water in our community. So, I'll be
supporting the recommendations, Your
Worship. I think they're absolutely
fantastic.
>> Thank you. Appreciate Councillor Moses,
please.
>> Thank you, Your Worship.
Yeah, dur- during this budget process,
we're we're always bringing up that
we're accountable to the community for
keeping the costs low. And I agree this
is important.
But, I I also feel like that in this
process, we're often overlooking that
we're also accountable to our community
for providing quality services.
Our our goal in this budget process
should be to provide the best services
possible to our community for the lowest
cost possible and while being fiscally
responsible.
Uh fiscal responsibility in this instance
could mean running as lean as possible
as my one colleague is pointing out or
it could mean making sure that we have
the funds to provide the services that
our community aspires to as my other
colleague is pointing out. And I I
really feel there's a middle between
these two that we're aiming to reach so
that we can keep the affordability while
also
really really trying hard to provide the
services that our community has grown
accustomed to. The these are services
that that we may have had for decades or
that we're even still trying to get. But
we're we're doing our best to ensure
that we can provide these and not only
that but to provide them at the lowest
cost possible. So
these are the hard goals that we're
trying to reach right now and I can see
the benefits in in all of my colleagues
views on it and I'm I'm really open to
ensuring that we can reach some of those
goals from each. Thank you, Your
Worship.
>> Thank you, Councillor Moser, Councillor
Beam.
>> Thank you, Your Worship, and I'm just
going to put my two cents in and as I
reiterated the other night at our
meeting at last week this is going to be
a brand new council. Budget is over
months. It is not a one-day thing. So I
think it's a starting point it's staying
at zero. Your council, your next
council, whoever's elected, it can all
change and that's why there's such a
variety and so many points on how this
budget is coming through is because it
really depends who's here at the table.
And it's going to be a lot of debate and
it's a lot like the amount of
information that first term that people
have to from every department and how
everything is going is a lot to take in
and a lot to discuss and I just think
that that discussion is going to be in
the next group. There's no point in us
getting in big debate. We've done it for
four years. Let's wait and see what this
new council does and leave it for them.
Thank you.
>> Excellent point.
Second round, Councillor Flash will go
before Councillor Nelson.
>> Thank you, Your Worship. Um yeah, I I
understand what all my colleagues are
stating here and and I think it's
you know, all their points are very
important and very relevant. And and to
Councillor Brain's point, these will be
newly elected members and some of them
may be completely newly
elected members. And I want to make sure
that they're starting off
with a fresh open plate. I feel that if
this was wordsmithed a little bit
differently, it could be
um drafted so it's not already setting
um a 0% kind of conversation because
they could be deep in conversations and
it's going to come up at the table of
Listen to this council, you all voted
for 0%. I've seen and I've heard it.
And then there'll be pressure on those
individuals and I don't want those
individuals to have pressure. I want
those individuals to be able to look at
a budget that's created that's looking
at everything that a community possibly
is requesting.
How many groups have we seen come in
here that want a sports facility? They
want pickleball courts. They want active
transportation.
How's our waterfront development going?
We're not discussing that. It's like the
planning happens, a bit gets done, and
then it stops because big bucks take
is what is it what is needed to actually
make that stuff happen and that comes
from planning and budgeting
and now then transferring it into the
organizational plan.
That is part of that process. It's
important and I feel that we need to
listen to all these people that have
come here and said, "We want these
things." Sitting there and supporting a
feasibility plan doesn't mean you're
getting it.
And if you set a 0% kind of mentality
right after that, guess what? All you
individuals that want that, it takes
money.
It really does. So,
think about the words that are being
said. Is it for your vote or is it for
the actual reality of creating
something? Because there has to be
strong planning that has to be through
all of the process through the future.
So, I think I just want the community to
think about that when they're making
their decisions
and
listening to the words that are being
said. I will not be running again.
But, I want the best for this community
and its future. Thank you.
>> Thank you, counselor. Welcome, counselor
Fleischhauer. Thank you. And counselor
Nelson, please.
>> Thank you very much. I I I I think that
I agree with all of you. I think that
this just creates a solid template, uh a
direction that has been very successful
for this community over the last 4
years.
Um look look Let's not kid ourselves. We
we've got some big thunderstorms heading
from the south towards Canada. And uh it
doesn't look like it's going to end
soon. So, we need to ensure that that we're we're ready for them, that
we're prepared for them, that we are a
community in transition that will be
able to handle the storm. And this is no
ordinary storm. This is the perfect
economic storm that's going to ruin a
lot of communities in Canada.
So, we are well positioned to handle
this thunderstorm that's coming our way.
And by being extra frugal on this,
I'll even go one step further.
Councilor Moses and I were the two
that did not support removing the
permissive tax exemptions against
non-profit organizations.
And I can tell you today out of the 30
some odd permissive tax exemptions that
we give,
a number of those were were church
related. I have never seen the churches
come out and be so supportive over the
last couple of years.
Those tax dollars that that we grant
them back are significant. The amount of
work that they give to our community
is just beyond words of thank you. So,
there's something else that you need to
pay attention to. I truly support and I
believe that this is the right direction
to go. This is a template. If seven new
people get elected and say, "Hey, no,
we're changing this." It's a policy.
They get to change it. But, this
certainly provides a good guideline that
has given this community a very bright
future over the last four years. Thank
you.
>> Uh I totally agree with the both side of
the point. I think the word should be
here most of you said being physical
responsible.
I don't want to get stuck on the 0% or
4% or 5%. Long as we are zero physical
responsible, that's what the community
is asking for. And another thing is I
don't want it to tie hand for the next
console like this console really cried
when the previous console give us
$160,000
hand tight beside other things.
It was excellent program. Nobody said no
to that, the child care, to the school
board. And
I rather be physical responsible.
Nothing get done free.
I totally agree. But, we cannot afford
to raising 10, 20, 15, 30% taxes. We had
a good meeting today, folks.
But, the working team
we got a eight
I think I said other day, if I didn't we
got a eight bid for the feasibility
study for the indoor facility. We short
listed three. Um we're working staff and
giving the direction
to invite those three to have a
interview system set up done. Then we'll
pick whoever's going to do.
And we're looking forward. Yes. Those
issues came uh during those CP.
We have done
record high capital, folks, last year.
We are doing record high capital this
year. Longer you wait
to do any infrastructure,
any work for the community, more it's
going to cost more.
So, we are holding. We're doing our
best.
Um
I was out and about yesterday and today.
Couple hours yesterday, couple hours
today.
Trust me,
anybody that I talked to,
this council got kudos from the people.
There wasn't one person
who
was upset. Yes, there was a minor
concern raised. Yeah, we are concerned
about the
drug being used in the publicly in the
open, the homelessness, the mental
health.
We know all these things and they know,
they realize it there's nothing this
council can do, but we are keeping the
community informed.
We're working with the senior level of
government. We'll keep working. This is
just like I said the previous item, one
of the item. This is the guideline
for the staff. But final budget going to
come November, December, January at '27.
So, don't get stuck on this. Council
motions, please.
» Yes, thank you, Worship.
Yeah, I agree with you, Worship. We
don't want to be leaving the the hands
tied of the next council. Um if if these
final budgetary decisions are going to
be made by the incoming council in
November to January range, I feel like
our goals should shift slightly. Uh
rather than leaving them with just our
direction, maybe our goal should be to
leave them with that open plate of
options that Councillor Flaaten was
talking about. And this this
recommendation that we're we're making
tonight or that we're voting through, in reality, it's going to be a
recommendation from us to the next
council.
>> Correct.
>> Yeah. So, so we need to make sure that
we leave them with the best options to
choose from possible.
Um
if we end up leaving them with a plan
that's lean, they can they can rework it
and add in what they believe that our
community needs
once they're once they're elected. It's
very difficult for us to add in their
ideas right now because we don't know
who's going to be in these chairs in a
few months. But if we if we leave them a
strong template that they can add to, I
think that's probably our our
way of moving forward. Thank you,
Worship.
>> Thank you. I'll call the question. All
in favor.
Opposed. Councillor Flaaten opposed.
Motion carried.
Uh
>> Thank you, Worship.
>> Thank you, Councillor Nelson and
everyone else.
UBCM resolution.
>> Clerk note that the letter from the UBCM
dated August 11th, 2026 regarding
extraordinary resolutions 2025 ER1
existing policy as related to City of
Williams Lake's 2026 healthcare provider
crisis resolution submission be received
for information.
» Moved and seconded Councillor Flaaten,
Councillor Moses.
Councillor Bain, please.
>> Thank you, Worship. Yeah, as I was the
person that wrote this one. Of course,
I'm disappointed, but I'm also the
person on UBCM. So, I just want to
provide some clarification. Although I
wasn't part of the discussion of having
these cuz I think they continue to be as
you can see by all of the uh many uh
resolutions that were put forward on
this issue that it's not going to not be
an issue, but the plan from UBCM is you
just get as you all know so many
resolutions and you cannot possibly
follow up. So, the goal is to of course
streamline them, to make them to put
them together because there are just so
many. I mean, what uh
what does FCM have? Three or four? I
mean, like we have hundreds every year
and so to go through. So, I understand
the mentality on the UBCM board side, of
course, being part of that decisioning
board, but doesn't mean I won't be
following up on this one and seeing how
I still think there needs to be a huge
task force. I've actually
um mentioned that, I mean,
to the premier uh that this needs is a
big issue to get more education through
to to to people, but anyway, this will
be something I will follow up with and
uh although disappointing to not be able
to bring it forward, it is obviously
such an issue as multiple have brought
it forward and will continue to be in
front of UBCM, I'm sure.
>> Thank you.
Councillor Beam. Keep up the
good work. Councillor Moses.
>> Thank you, Your Worship. Yeah, I agree
with my colleague that it's
disappointing that this won't be brought
to the floor at the UBCM convention. Um
in in response to this, could we perhaps
make sure that these topics are added
into our meetings with the provincial
ministers at the UBCM convention so that
we can still do our own personal
advocating for for these topics that are
important to our community?
>> That point will taken and we have to
see. I'll talk to the staff.
>> Okay.
>> And what is the other priority? Because
in 15 minutes, I don't want to lose the
time for more important subjects. Then,
I'm not saying this is less important,
but I'll point well taken.
>> Okay, if if they can fit
>> Definitely.
>> Thank you.
Your Worship.
>> Thank you. I call Councillor Fasbender,
please.
>> Thank you, Your Worship. Yeah, I have
question actually for my colleague
Councillor Bayne in regards to this. Um
Ultimately though, is this
transpiring, Councillor Bayne, because
there's other resolutions that are so
consistent coming from other
municipalities? So, I if that's true, I
just want the community to understand
that as much as this is being indicated
as being put on the back burner, and
this is 2025 resolutions, correct? Not
what we have coming up for 2026.
This is last year.
>> That's when we put it.
>> And yeah, so I just want to provide
clarity to the community that these may
get bypassed by UBCM, and they're
letting us know, but it's because
there's other resolutions from other
communities that maybe are somewhat
consistent. I see one from Dawson Creek
and Alberni-Clayoquot
Regional District. So,
>> I'll get to Councillor Bayne to respond
to that. Please, Councillor Bayne.
>> Thank you, Your Worship, through to
Councillor Flash Blur. So, actually
what's happened is what they're saying
is within the last 5 years or that there
have been similar resolutions, and
they're listing all of them, how many of
us have come up with. So, that's what
I'm saying, it's a consistent problem
because so many communities are
continuing to say in the regional
northern regions, we are still and and
rural, that we are missing providers, we
need help, blah blah blah. But if these
have have already been put through and
dealt with, like been escalated to the
government, so these could be from this
year, but they're saying they're just
listing ones that were in or near the
same, but it could have been last year.
And this is our this year, 2025 was we
had to have them in
last year, like we did these in February
or March or whatever. We put them in
before NCLGA. So, this is our 2026 or
whatever, but yeah.
it would have it we I just wrote
this one for February or whatever this
year before NCLGA. So, and I think they
had to be in by March. But that said, so
these are very similar. What they're
saying is we've addressed this or it's
been it's too similar, so they're just
trying to streamline.
Um that doesn't mean it's not part of
the conversation because so many of us
are still dealing with this as an issue,
but they're saying it has been brought
forward and they are not going to like
they'll do it as a group. We know that
that's an issue kind of thing. Yeah.
>> Perfect. Okay. Yeah.
Good. Thank you.
>> Okay,
have you got all your question answered?
Excellent.
>> Yeah.
>> All in favor of receiving
carried.
Well, and next one is proclamation
recognition, please.
>> I move that the list of recognitions in
the agenda be approved in accordance
with council policy number 235 just be
received for information.
>> So moved.
>> Moved and second. I got
um
representative of IHA sitting here. If
you had any question,
she's available. She could be talked and
we got the information and color. It's a
pretty disturbing news and information.
It's quite heart-touching information. I
would request everybody please read and
pay attention to the cause of Moses.
>> Thank you, Worship. Uh you're saying
we've got a representative from from the
>> IHA.
>> I um
I've seen them.
Yeah.
>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Um could could you uh would you be
willing to give us a a rundown of the
event that that's in the
in our notes here, the International
Overdose Awareness?
Yeah.
Um Is is it
>> Hold Hold on. Let me get the
>> Well, you said we could ask her a
question.
>> I have to get the protocol first.
Is it okay to
Okay. Is council uh my direction is it's
okay if council approve it. Are you for
council okay?
Please, floor is yours.
>> Thank you, counselor.
>> Thank you very much. My name is Sophie
Gallivan. I work for CMHA and I am the
chair of the community action team.
is actually
organizing our International Overdose
Awareness Day on Monday, the 31st.
I would invite you all to attend and I
would invite anybody in the community to
attend.
The statistics that I gave you are
actually pulled from into Interior
Health.
And the most I think the most shocking
one, something that I want for everyone
to keep in mind, is the 68% of our
overdose deaths are happening in homes.
>> Yes.
>> These are our neighbors, our friends. I
have encountered, met with many people
in the community who have said, "I know
someone who passed away. I know that my
family member is struggling with,
you know, substance use."
I would love for everyone to consider
the possibility of spreading that information out there.
The stigmatization is the thing that
keeps people away from asking for help.
That keeps people away from
possibly even utilizing some of the
services that are available in this
community. And we have a lot of services
in this community
that are ready to help, to educate,
inform.
And so the 68% is the one that really
sticks with me because I've seen the
reaction of people in the community.
These are people that are voting for
you.
They are people that are part of our
businesses, our organizations. Men in
trades, specifically,
are a high number, a high risk.
And so, I would just encourage you,
please, to spread that word around. It's
really important. We want people to be
curious
about how to prevent this, how to
support our family members, how to
support our neighbors.
are dying.
And so the number increased by I think
11 or 10, I'm going to say 10. I'm going to
keep it there over 1 year.
That's a lot. It's a lot. And everybody
else who is at risk and we all know how
the um substances are more and more
toxic.
Right? So, um for the day itself, we
will be starting at 11:00 in the
morning. We will be at Herb Gardener
Park on Oliver Street. Purposefully,
too, because we want people to see us.
We want people to be curious to come by
and to maybe pick up an overdose kit and
learn how to use it.
Learn what uh what they can do.
Um and again, this is this is not just
on the streets in our community. This is
in homes. And to normalize a
conversation around substance use and um
overdose.
To normalize this.
It would be an ideal situation. So, we
would like to invite the community and
even yourselves to please attend. Uh
come by. We're going to have many
tables. There will be
hot dogs and there will be ice cream and
we will be uh handing that out to the
community that does attend.
Yeah?
>> And once again, once again, it's 31st
August and what time you said?
>> From 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
>> 11:00 to 2:00. So, we welcome you.
>> have speakers as well that will be
sharing their stories. We will have some
activities. There will be a community
canvas that we are going to be working
on uh where people can place names of of
those they have lost or
um just messages of hope and
encouragement and um there will be some
music as well.
And so we
are going to make this event a a
successful one. And I hope that
everybody
>> No, I excellent. Excellent. We'll
encourage the community to come and
attend and share the information on the
back of the page which is in the
package. There's number of a phone
numbers where we can get the help.
Councillor Moazzam, I think you had your
hand up, please.
>> Yeah, thank your worship. Thank you for
this information. I've seen a lot of
these numbers before through different
organizations, but they're they're
always shocking. Um do you happen to
have a digital copy of this to share and
yes um would is it okay if the city were
to share this page if if it were
forwarded to us?
>> I don't see any reason why
>> So, we can send it out.
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> So long as you send it out.
>> Yes,
would you please email it to to our
office?
>> Mr. Gubbay, Mr. Gubbay.
>> Yes, sir.
And thank you very much for the support
because we will be posting something on
social media and you've allowed me to
place some posters out and so we're very
grateful for that support.
>> Thank you.
>> All right.
>> Appreciate it.
All in favor of the motion.
I'll vote if any carried unanimously.
Information announcement and round
table. There's no round table, but
anyway council information package.
>> Council note that the council
information package for August 25th 2026
be received for information.
>> So moved.
>> Moved and second. All in favor.
>> Move to adjourn.
» Moved and seconded. All in favor.
Carried. Thank you, folks.
>> Good job.
>> Appreciate it.