The City of Terrace has released its lists of committee appointments for the coming year.
Representatives on the new Homelessness Task Group are Michael Prevost and Stacey Tyers; Sean Bujtas and Lynne Christiansen will sit on the Housing Committee; Michael Prevost will be on the Youth Advisory Committee.
In terms of who sits on the Strategic Committees, James Cordeiro will be the city's appointee for the Kermodei Tourism Society; Cordeiro and Stacey Tyers are the city's appointed directors to the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine; mayor Carol Leclerc will sit on the Terrace Community Foundation; Lynne Christiansen will sit on the Terrace & District Museum Society; and Brian Downie will be liaison for the Terrace Public Library's committee.
For Community Liaisons, Sean Bujtas will be liaison for the Greater Terrace Beautification Society; Carol Leclerc on the Healthy Communities Committee; Brian Downie on the Riverboat Days committee; James Corderio on the Skeena Diversity Society committee; Sean Bujtas on the Terrace Downtown Improvement Area and Michael Prevost on the Rio Tinto Alcan Kitimat Public Advisory committee.
The Homelessness Task Group is also formed now, having met earlier this month for the second time. Apart from Tyers and Prevost, this group is formed of Nancy Benzer-Ross from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation; Raina Fumerton from Northern Health; Tara Irwin, city planner for Terrace; Danielle Lavoie from the Kermode Friendship Society; Julie Mahil from the Terrace and District Community Services Society; Blaine Stensgaard from Ksan Society; Linda Wilson, who is the executive assistant of the group and who works for the City of Terrace; Malachy Towhill from BC Housing; and Debbie Vanderheyden from the Salvation Army.
“We have discussed writing the Ministry of Children and Families,” said councillor Michael Prevost of the group's recent meeting. “They want to know what this group hopes to achieve.”
A homeless count paid for by the city found 74 people identifying as homeless this spring in Terrace. The Ksan emergency shelter has 16 beds financed by BC Housing and can squeeze in a maximum of 24 using alternative sleeping arrangements such as couches. Ksan's extreme weather shelter on Sparks St. can sleep another 20 on cold and wet nights when it opens from fall to spring with an additional three sleeping spots at its regular shelter.
Last night council was also presented with the most recent building stats that showed 26 new single family homes built this year and more than $51 million spent on construction this year.