Sunshine Coast Youth Outreach provided the Town of Gibsons with an update Tuesday night on their 2012 activities, providing statistics they felt demonstrated the organization's expanding role in the community.
"We feel very proud about these numbers and we want to emphasize these numbers are not trumped up," said outreach worker Daanish Ali. "On a regular basis myself and my staff will go to the schools and talk to classrooms or groups or just meet with kids."
During the first half of 2012, Youth Outreach reported interactions with 519 youth across the Sunshine Coast in their effort to provide young residents with someone to speak with in confidence, "without bias and/or repercussions.
"Each staff member has formed valuable connections and obtained a positive reputation within the community," Ali said.
The organization tackles a variety of youth issues including parent-teen conflicts, poverty, sexuality and drugs and alcohol - "something we deal with a lot," Ali said.
Youth workers performed over 390 hours of direct service and offered 151 safe rides home during this period, he added.
Residents young and old can learn more by visiting the group's website at www.coastyouth.com.
Ballet coming to Gibsons
Kathleen and David Holmes appeared before council to request a letter of support for their efforts to hold ballet performances of the Tchaikovsky classic, The Nutcracker.
"We are planning on presenting it here in Gibsons at the Heritage Playhouse this December," Kathleen said. "It's a wonderful production and it's something that the Coast has not had. It's definitely something that's needed."
The couple said that two of the performances had already been sold.
"It's an annual event," David said.
They predicted at least two shows a day with possibly a double cast.
"I'm sure it will be very popular," said Coun. Gerry Tretick.
Municipal security
Council approved the borrowing of $993,600 from the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia and requested the consent of the Sunshine Coast Regional District to borrow the funds over a 20-year period.
The funds are to be used for the creation of a dedicated water reservoir.
Last year, Gibsons passed a loan authorization bylaw using an alternate approval process, giving residents the chance to reject the proposal.
"The creation of a dedicated reservoir fed solely from the Town's groundwater supply will improve water quality and ensure adequate water volumes for fire protection," read last year's notice to electors.
