Guest speaker Sandra Cunningham and Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS) board member Andy Jones-Cox presented the exciting new plans for the SCCSS building to the attendees of the September Elphinstone Community Association (ECA) meeting. The society has served the Sunshine Coast for more than 40 years, offering over 30 important programs for the community, like counselling services, Parents & Tots, the food bank and so many more. Their new Building Together project will see a complete redevelopment of their space near downtown Sechelt that will combine their services into a marvellous new building. The unusual building has so much to offer; in addition to space for all their programs it will provide 34 affordable housing units for women and children, complete with inner courtyard and community gardens.
Sandra and Andy described plans for the building in detail, describing the entrances, quiet areas, and outdoor walkways that act like “sidewalks in the sky.” SCCSS will deconstruct the existing building and create a new community hub that will revitalize the neighbourhood into a safe and welcoming place for all. Most of the $23-million cost will come from BC Housing and grants but they are asking the community with help to raise $3 million, of which over $600,000 has already been raised. Sandra urges people to take up the Sunshine Coast Credit Union offer to donate $50 toward the project for anyone (not just members) who completes a no-obligation financial wellness assessment. The SCCSS is a charitable organization, so tax receipts are available for donations; go to buildingtogether-sccss.ca/donate.
The Living Forest Institute is offering a series of informal hikes this fall around Mount Elphinstone. Why not take the opportunity to get out and enjoy our many wonderful trails in the company of a knowledgeable leader? The next hike will be Saturday, Oct. 2, a moderately easy, 2.5-hour trek exploring the old forests and creeks of the historic Old Wagon Road. Check out the details of this and other hikes, including where and when to meet at: LivingForestInstitute.ca. All ages welcome.
Shirley Samples, chair of Sunshine Coast Streamkeepers Society, says that the spawning season has begun! “There are numerous creeks that have spawning pink salmon making their way up our local creeks. So far we have seen pinks in Dakota Creek (over 500 pink), Stephens Creek (a few sightings), Chapman Creek (2,000+) and Roberts Creek (137). In the first part of October the chum and coho will start their return to their home creek.”
Shirley notes that the Pacific Salmon Foundation has featured the SC Streamkeepers Society’s Climate Change and Salmonid Project in a recent blog and has given them a grant so they can install 18 temperature loggers in 10 different creeks along the Coast to record both water and air temperatures every hour of every day. She says, “The data we collect will be important historical data to make the best future decisions including development and logging of forests in the riparian zones of our creeks,” and adds that Streamkeeping is fun, rewarding and seeing spawning salmon is quite magical. If you’d like to help, contact them at [email protected]. There are interesting articles and videos on their website: sunshinecoaststreamkeepers.com.
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