The Comox Valley Regional District is asking you to save water this spring and summer.

The district is encouraging residents to focus on water conservation, with the goal of conserving the district’s water supply as the effects of climate change continue to grow.

Senior manager of water and wastewater services Kris La Rose says educating people on water conservation is becoming more crucial.

“As we continue to see reduced rain in the summer months and higher average temperatures, fresh water becomes an even more limited and precious resource,” said La Rose.

“Water conservation is extremely important to protect supply for domestic use and emergency fire protection purposes.”

According to the district, last year saw over 10 billion litres of water used, with water consumption almost tripling in the summer months.

Ways to save water include installing low-flow showerheads and faucets, planting native species that adapt to dry summers, using smart control irrigation timers, checking for leaks, watering your lawn either in the early morning or late night, and turning the tap off while brushing teeth or shaving.

For more tips, click here.

The city of Courtenay is looking for volunteers for a plant-in event set in late-May.

The Mile of Flowers Plant-in is a tradition that started back in 1967, when Kathleen Kirk commemorated Canada’s centennial year by planting 7,800 seedlings for tourists.

Since then, hundreds of volunteers have planted flowers each year, with this year marking its 57th anniversary.

For this year, Courtenay is looking for volunteers, aiming to get between 200 to 500 of them.

Mayor Bob Wells says the plant-in is an opportunity to connect with the community.

“We’ll often see multiple generations of Comox Valley residents who have made volunteering at this event an annual tradition,” said Wells.

“We’re hoping for another great turn-out this year and encourage everyone to come out and join in the fun, it’s a beautiful way to spend the evening.”

They say no prior experience is needed, but you are asked to bring garden gloves and a trowel/spoon to dig and fill the garden beds located on both sides of Cliffe Avenue.

Snacks and refreshments will be available. The plant-in starts at 5:00 p.m. on May 28, running until 7:00 p.m.

A housing needs report will be presented to Cumberland council tonight.

Senior planner Karin Albert is presenting the report to give an overview of the current and expected housing situation in the Village, using 2021 Census data.

The report shows that population and housing having gone up by 20 percent and 18 percent respectively between 2016 and 2021, while the median home price went up by 58 percent between 2019 and 2022.

Albert says by 2043, the population is expected to go up to 7,390.

“Dwelling units, including affordable housing need to meet that need at an estimated 1,210 units,” said Albert.

“Back in 2016, we had 10 percent of residents in core housing need, and 9 percent in 2021. In both cases, renters, single parents, and single individuals living on their own were the most affected.”

Albert says rents went up by 51 percent in the last few years throughout the Comox Valley, with the highest increase seen in studio apartments at 111 percent between 2019 and 2023.

She says the report must be used for the official community plan review.

“We have a public meeting coming up next week on the 22nd and 23rd, and on Wednesday we will talk to the community about housing,” said Albert.

“We will be presenting different growth scenarios to get input on where people want growth.”

She adds some ways to improve affordability are having more rental supply and advocacy.

The meeting is set for Monday afternoon at 5:30 p.m., which can be watched live on Youtube.

For where to watch, click here.

A new provincial housing project is causing concern for local neighbours.

In late March, the province announced they bought property on Braidwood Avenue to build 60 supportive housing units for people in need in Courtenay.

Related: Province purchases land in Courtenay for homeless supportive housing – My Comox Valley Now

Spokesperson for the 925 Braidwood neighbours group Scott Larsen says they were surprised by the purchase.

“We heard about it through media, we read about the purchase back in March and the six of us went to the city council meeting to talk to them,” said Larsen. “We had our first public meeting at Ricky’s Grill, and it was about an hour and a half to two hours and people fielded a lot of questions and I tried to answer as many as possible.”

He says they weren’t informed about the purchase beforehand, resulting in the group being formed to get more transparency about the process of the project.

The viability of the two shelters along Ryan Road is a main concern, according to Larsen.

“Is it safe for the homeless to be there because they are going to be crossing the street, is it safe for the motorists?” said Larsen. “A lot of their support network, like healthcare and mental health, are across the river so how are they going to transport back there?”

Larsen says in response to a lack of forthcoming information, the group held their own press conference earlier this month.

He hopes they can ask questions to both the City of Courtenay and BC Housing and have their concerns about the project considered in its development.

A new bylaw aims to create a multi-unit residential housing zone in Courtenay to encourage housing development.

The bylaw would amend older zoning, changing the definitions of accessory dwelling unit, duplex, secondary suite, and yard, among other terms.

The city says it comes after the province enacted the Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which requires local governments to permit four small-scale, multi-unit housing units on properties zoned for either single residential or duplex use.

If put into effect, the new housing zone would cover 16 existing properties throughout the city, with the 15 not suitable for zoning classified under another zone.

The city adds council will consider the first three readings of the bylaw at the May 22 council meeting, starting at 4 pm.

To review the bylaw yourself, click here.

As of this week, Comox’s five-year financial plan has officially been adopted.

In a release, the Town says the 2024-2028 financial plan will see a 5.3 percent increase in the municipal levy, an extra $83.17 for the average homeowner.

Along with the increase, the plan includes an infrastructure renewal fund, aiming to address the gap between available funding and what is needed to keep current infrastructure. The fund will have an investment of $51.70.

Mayor Nicole Minions says they understand residents are feeling a lot of financial pressures.

“There are many economic inflationary pressures that are beyond our control, but within our mandate, we are focused on efficiencies and fiscal responsibility as highlighted in our Strategic Plan,” said Minions.

The town adds this new plan will focus on capital and operations projects for the future.

For more info, click here.

Comox Fire Rescue will be unveiling a new fire truck to the public later this month.

According to the Town of Comox, it is a new aerial ladder fire truck with a reach of 110 feet, and features a three-person platform bucket. In a rescue, it can lower people to the ground two or three at a time.

It can also pump 1,000 gallons of water per minute, and has a built-in idle system.

The truck is dedicated to John Marinus, a community member who volunteered in multiple projects, including the Rotary Club. He was a Comox councilor for five terms, and was part of Fire Rescue for 37 years.

To celebrate the truck, Fire Rescue is unveiling it in an open house and ceremony where mayor Nicole Minions and Fire chief Gord Schreiner will speak at the event.

The event is happening at Comox Fire Hall on Friday May 24, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Comox Valley RCMP are asking for your help in finding a missing teenager.

Police say they are looking for 16-year-old Aidan Forrest, who is described as 5 foot 10 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has brown hair, and blue eyes.

They say if you see him, or know where he is, you are asked to call Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 or your nearest police department.