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Qualicum Beach to apply for national grant to revitalize aging FRA building

This and other news in brief from the most recent meeting of Qualicum Beach town council

At their regular meeting last week, Qualicum Beach town council directed staff to apply for a grant from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program to help revitalize the town-owned building at 181 Sunningdale Road West (the Family Resource Association), a former police station. The grant could cover 50 per cent of the cost, up to $500,000, in honour of the country's 150th birthday in 2017.

Staff pointed out that the Old School House arts centre also plans to apply for a grant for a public 3-D art project, which shouldn't have any impact on the town's application, or affect any other groups that want to apply.

• Protective services liaison, Coun. Bill Luchtmeijer, introduced a motion on behalf of the Select Committee on Public Safety, which passed unanimously, to ask staff to explore the possibility of an entirely separate trail along Laburnum Road, especially for Qualicum Beach Elementary student's safety.

• Coun. Anne Skipsey responded to a letter to council from Tom Pope regarding Skipsey's comments calling the Downtown Business Association's Thursday evening summer market a place "for people to come out for the evening and be entertained," (The NEWS, May 14).

"I would like to apologize, if I didn't make it clear, that the Thursday market is about doing business as well," Skipsey said at the council meeting last week. "I guess I thought that by the very definition of market it implied the shopping aspect, but I would like to say I

am sorry."

• Donna Meadows expressed concern that possible job action by Qualicum Beach town employees could negatively affect the Qualicum Beach Triathlon on June 28 and asked if there was any way council could prioritize to make sure the 19th annual event, which is sold out, goes ahead.

• Mayor Teunis Westbroek praised the town and resident's efforts during bike to work week and the bike with the mayor event, pointing out five staff members regularly bike to work and it's common to see a dozen bikes in the town's basement bike locker area.

• The town received funds through the RDN towards the development of an airport business plan, due out soon.