The District of Kent recently hosted some international guests.
District Mayor Sylvia Pranger updated council and the public on a visit from Michael Rama, the Mayor of Cebu in the Philippines during the Sept. 7 meeting of the district council.
Rama and his delegation attended a reception, special Mass and dedication of the shrine of the Santo Niño de Cebu. The shrine was a gift to the Archdiocese of Vancouver as a commemoration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. It is located at St. Anthony of Padua Parish.
During the festivities, a troupe of traditional Filipino dancers entertained a crowd of approximately 2,000 people.
In other council business:
- The Bilingual Buddhist Association approached council about building a Buddhist temple in the Mount Woodside area.This would require rezoning of the area to an Institutional Assembly (PS3) zone and would also require an amendment to the Official Community Plan. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Municipal Hall.
- Council reminded the public that the Agassiz-Harrison Terry Fox Run will take place on Sunday, Sept. 18, starting at 10 a.m. at 1525 MacKay Crescent. Registration starts at 9 a.m.
- The Aug. 27 Swim-A-Thon fundraiser raised approximately $13,000 toward the new Regional Aquatic Centre. Members of council also participated in the swimathon themselves as members of the “Council-nauts” team.
- Council approved decorative wraps for eight utility boxes in the community with future plans for more wraps in the Mount Woodside neighbourhood.
- Pranger declared September Literacy Month and October to be Circular Economy Month. The Literacy Month proclamation is a time-honoured tradition that usually follows the final summertime Storytime in the Park, which is hosted in various locations throughout Agassiz-Harrison and neighbouring First Nations. Literacy Month “is to help raise awareness of the important role that literacy plays in the lives of adults, children, and families, as well as the impact it has on youth, Indigenous and immigrant communities,” according to a release from the district.
Circular Economy Month is designed as a way to show commitment to conservation, recycling and other practices of sustainable living.
The next regular District of Kent Council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at Municipal Hall. Online attendance is also available via Microsoft Teams; those interested can register through kentbc.ca.