Terry Fox challenge accepted by Terrace
The city has accepted a challenge from one municipality and is challenging another to see who can raise the most money per resident in support of the annual Terry Fox Hometown Run to be held Sept. 20.
Last year residents here raised $2,600 and city council hopes to hit the $12,000 mark this year.
The challenge was issued by Greg Moore, mayor of Fox's hometown of Port Coquitlam.
"I am challenging each of you to raise one dollar per resident,” he told mayors across the country.
In 1981 Fox famously ran for cancer research and raised $24.1 million by generating an average of one donated dollar per person in Canada. He had to cut the run short when his cancer returned.
The country's population has since risen such that $35 million must be raised to match the target this year of one dollar per person in Canada.
“I am super excited to get involved,” said councillor Stacy Tyers, who suggested challenging Smithers mayor Taylor Bachrach.
In the past Terrace has faced off with Smithers during Bike to Work Week which the city to the east handily won.
“The challenge creates momentum,” said councillor Brian Downie. “We can build on it from other years.”
To reach the one dollar per Terrace resident mark mayor Carol Leclerc said partnering with local organizations would be a good strategy.
Youth advisory committee speaks out
Local reps Grace Thompson and Shamus Damstrom of Terrace’s Youth Advisory Committee told council last night they hope to boost membership now that some members have moved on since the school year ended.
Thompson cited such initiatives as the rainbow crosswalk concept to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community as important steps to respond to youth concern and need.
Councillor Michael Prevost is the city’s liaison on the youth advisory committee.
“We would love for other people to come join us,” said Damstrom, adding that in the past there have been as many as 20 youth on the advisory committee whereas currently there are fewer than 10.
He said in cities like Edmonton such committees have proven to be a strong voice in shaping municipal policy, and crafting the voice of the future.
Development permit calls for land rehab
The owner of a property on Floyd Ave. on the west side of the Bench was granted a development permit by council for an unspecified project but not before being told by the city to replant trees the owner had been taking down before applying for the permit.
The owner of 3402 Floyd had begun cutting trees on the sloped property until the city intervened and told the numbered company that owns the property they needed a development permit.
Two engineering studies were then required.
One conducted by Golder & Associates said that ground stability could be a future issue on the site.
Another assessment report by Allnorth recommended revegetation of the almost one hectare of environmentally sensitive area on the property the owner had logged. Council in turn made the replanting a necessary part of the permit granted last night.