Tamara Hedden, vice-president of the Cedar Grove PAC (Parent Advisory Committee) and fundraising chair, says that the school year has gotten off to a good start. She is very upbeat despite starting school a second year dealing with COVID; masks are mandated for students in grades 4 to 7 and recommended for kindergarten to Grade 3 students. Parents can only be in the school by invitation. Tamara says the PAC is “just great” and points out that the parents of every student automatically become members of the PAC. Their initiatives include the Breakfast Program, the Hot Lunch Program and traffic safety. This year’s hot lunches will rotate between pizza, subway and sushi, using local suppliers.
Tamara is so passionate about traffic safety that she spearheaded the effort to develop life-sized cut-outs holding “Slow Down” signs, after she saw a life-size policeman sign in Burnaby that had the effect of slowing traffic. A designer herself, she did the same with life-sized sandwich boards holding signs to remind drivers that they must slow to 30 km/h in school and playground zones. The local RCMP have been very supportive of their efforts and over the summer Tamara spoke with the school liaison officer about a school radar program. She has been contacted by PACs in other schools who are interested in the Cedar Grove approach to safety. Another initiative Tamara is focusing on for this year is advocating for a crosswalk on Pratt Road at Chaster, something the Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) has requested as well.
Although MLA Nicholas Simons is now unavailable for the September ECA meeting, Sandra Cunningham (an Elphinstone resident) has stepped in as guest speaker. She will discuss and answer questions about the exciting SC Community Services Society project in Sechelt. The Building Together project will provide 34 affordable housing units for women and children and includes a Community Services hub. They have outgrown the current location and plan to develop land they own in downtown Sechelt. The plan will revitalize the neighbourhood into a safe, welcoming location for all.
The ECA invites everyone to this informative meeting and looks forward to seeing everyone again; note the change of meeting date to Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. by Zoom. Director Donna McMahon will be on hand to give an SCRD update. Please contact Elphinstonecommunity19@gmail.com for further information or to request the Zoom code.
Have you heard that there is a federal election on Monday? The governments we elect have a profound effect on every aspect of our lives. Do your homework – research the parties; their platforms and leaders, then exercise your right to vote!
Note that work on water mains in the Cedar Grove area of Chaster Road area will begin on Sept. 20 after being identified for immediate replacement. Residents should expect traffic disruptions and some households on Chaster, Pratt and Malaview will experience water outages. Find out more at the SCRD link: ow.ly/lv4p50G9gKf.
Have neighbourhood news? Let me know at: author.ggneilson@gmail.com.
