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RDN to mark golden anniversary

Several initiatives planned to mark 50-year history of regional district

The regional district will reach its golden anniversary this summer.

RDN committee of the whole members, at their meeting Tuesday, recommended moving forward with a few initiatives to mark the 50th anniversary of the Regional District of Nanaimo’s incorporation on Aug. 24, 1967.

An open house or some other form of public gathering has been tentatively scheduled for Sept. 12.

“We are also looking at doing a social media campaign, looking to find ways of gathering old photographs, maps and information about the RDN,” said Joan Harrison, the RDN’s director of corporate services, in a report to the committee. “We also have a number of other activities that would have been happening anyway, but it just seemed like a good opportunity to tie them in to the 50th anniversary.”

A $20,000 website renewal has been recommended, and regular budget items that will be linked to 50th-anniversary celebrations include the May opening of the Parksville to Coombs E&N Rail Trail and the annual parks and rec Golden Shoe treasure hunt in April and May.

The only committee member to oppose moving forward with 50th-anniversary initiatives was Area F director Julian Fell, who had reservations about the region “patting ourselves on the back” and said his area, in the past, hasn’t been well-served by the RDN.

“In fact, I believe hanging the regional district in effigy has happened many times in my area,” said Fell. “I have a hard time celebrating the founding of an entity that has caused so much grief to my area.”