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Fraser Valley Conservancy collabs with District on planting project

The Haig Highway Walking Trail to see more plants for habitat, shade
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District of Kent Municipal Hall. (File Photo)

During the Nov. 14 meeting of the District of Kent Council, project biologist Aleesha Switzer and executive director Joanne Neilson of the Fraser Valley Conservancy (FVC) introduced themselves to district officials.

Since 1998, the Abbotsford-based FVC is a land trust designed to conserve critical habitat space and protect wildlife throughout the Fraser Valley.

Members of the FVC will soon start a planting project along the Haig Highway Walking Trail to provide shade, habitat and beauty to the community trail connecting McDonald Road and the Pixley Lane Dog Park. They plan to plant native trees and shrubs, which include Pacific crabapple, red-flowering currant and Nootka rose.

“Adding native trees and shrubs will provide so many benefits to this trail,” Switzer said. “Not only do they provide food and shelter for local wildlife, but they also provide shade for people walking the trail and add to the beauty of this space. We are very excited to partner with the District of Kent on this project.”

A planting event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is open to all district residents with no registration required. All planting supplies will be provided.

In other council business:

- Mayor Sylvia Pranger acknowledged the “grim” anniversary of the atmospheric river disasters, which stranded hundreds of motorists among flood waters and landslides in mid-November last year.

“Today, we are blessed with beautiful weather, she said. “The recovery continues and we hope and pray that our community does not face another event like this anytime soon.”

- Council received a letter recently saying the last payphone in Agassiz would be removed on or after Nov. 8 due to declined use. On average in the past seven years, the payphone – located at the local RCMP detachment – was used for about 20 calls; there were no calls made in 2020.

- Council released a resolution from their Oct. 24 in-camera meeting, which approved closing Pioneer Avenue from Shoppers Drug Mart to Remedy RX Dec. 3 to 10 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for Winter Night Light activities.

- The district has sold its surplus dump truck –a 1991 Ford LNT800 – after receiving one bid for $7,000 plus tax.

- The council recommended Coun. Duane Post to the board of directors of Community Futures North Fraser. Community Futures is a Mission-based non-profit dedicated to promoting local economic development in Mission, Agassiz-Harrison, Deroche and Dewdney.

The next regular District of Kent Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. at Municipal Hall (7170 Cheam Avenue). Online attendance is also available via Microsoft Teams; those interested can register through kentbc.ca.