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Snowfall raises questions of Kent warming shelters

District staff investigating need for shelters
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As winter descends on the District of Kent, district staff look into the possibility of setting up warming shelters in the area. (Photo/Ulrieke Birner)

As winter creeps in, the need for warming shelters may increase in the District of Kent.

During the Nov. 28 meeting of the District of Kent Council, Coun. Stan Watchorn inquired whether or not discussions began concerning warming centres in the district as temperatures began to drop. Mayor Sylvia Pranger reported district staff members are investigating the local need for warming shelters.

Pranger mentioned a contributing factor to the need for warming shelters is the difficulty of finding low-cost, local housing. If any member of the public knows of any possible openings, they are encouraged to contact Agassiz-Harrison Community Services (AHCS) at 604-796-2585.

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On the other side of the coin, the district has offered use of their facilities during sweltering heat waves for at least the past few summers. However, there are historically not many people who took advantage of that opportunity.

In other council business:

- Pranger asked the district’s Public Works department to watch for unauthorized vehicles travelling on the dikes. This initiative comes after the volunteer group Friends of the Dikes raised

worries about said vehicles.

- Council approved Mike Veenbas as director of the Tourism Harrison River Valley board. Coun. Susan Spaeti was appointed as liaison to the board.

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- Council approved Spaeti as chair of the Regional Aquatic Centre Fundraising Committee with Mayor Sylvia Pranger as alternate chair.

- Coun. Kerstin Schwichtenberg told council that the date of the next Fall Fair and Corn Festival has been moved to the third Sunday after Labour Day to better accommodate more rides and attractions.

- The council received a letter from the City of Chilliwack, stating that the electoral boundary realignment proposal would not be “in the interest of the greater community.” The proposed riding change would, among other changes, put most of the Agassiz-Harrison community in the Fraser-Nicola riding, which stretches from Hope up to Boston Bar and North Bend. The district has already established a position in favour of keeping the ridings as is, and Pranger expressed relief that Chilliwack agrees.

The next regular District of Kent Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12 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.