COAL CREEK HISTORIC PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

The regular meeting of the committee was held October 27, 2008 in the Village Office Counsel Chamber.

PRESENT: Marie Lowe, Joyce Lowe, Dwayne Rourke, Imogene Lim, May Gee, Jo Peyton, Carol Snaden, Grace Doherty and Donna Lemay

The Chair, Grace Doherty called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.

MOTION: Approval of the Agenda. Dwayne Rourke/May Gee. Carried.

Minutes read as circulated. Errors and Omission.

MOTION: to adopt the Minutes as amended. May Gee/Dwayne Rourke. Carried.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

A. Update on the Picnic Shelter, Bridge and Torii

John Leung contacted Structural Engineer Frank Lukay who visited the site of the proposed bridge and took preliminary measurements. A meeting with representatives of the Rotary Club, Mr. Lukay and John Leung will be arranged. It was felt that the bridge should be wide enough to accommodate ATV‚s as these would be useful in maintaining the area.

B. THE FILMING DONE AT CHINATOWN

It is probable that the finished film will not be ready until perhaps February 2009 at which time we hope a finished copy will to given to the committee. A donation of $500.00 was given to the Park. Perhaps a future event for next year could be an open air Chinese Opera. It was felt that having a film crew and actors come to the Village was beneficial to the business community.

C. PARK BOUNDARY

Several persons expressed and interest in walking around the boundary of the Park with Rocky Williams. Date and time and where to meet will be arranged.

D. HERITAGE SIGNS

A heritage sign for No.5 Japanese Town has been requested. The committee felt that this request should be referred to the Heritage Commission and Judy Walker the Planner for Village Parks.

Judy Walker informed the committee that only the most obvious mistake on the Chinatown sign has been corrected.

The committee would like to meet with John Watson of Economic Development and Ron Bannerman local tour guide to discuss what we see as cultural oversights with the hopeful desire that there will be greater consultation between interested parties in the future.

MOTION: That we accept the invitation to meet with John Watson. Dwayne Rourke/Jo Peyton. Carried.

E. WATER CONNECTIONS

Judy Walker, Village Park Planner informed the committee that:-

the connection at Jumbo‚s cabin was shut off 2 years ago and it is not clear that could be re-activated.

A water line from Comox Lake Road to the old gun club site would cost $17,580.

A hose bib in No1. Japanese Town (using a water line off the Souther‚s line) would cost $3,180.

Another suggestion was a simple well with a hand pump as here is no electrical power at the site. This would be non-potable water to be used for gardening only. There would be liability issues regarding a well and non- potable water.

F. Kuan Kung update.

Kuan Kung is now on display in the Cumberland Museum. Thank you to May, John and Joyce for their help in setting up the display. Thank you to Dwayne for delivering the statue to the Museum and to Ralph Thompson for donating the statue.

Marie Lowe will check the display and perhaps provide the correct incense/joss stick holders. Joyce Lowe provided a note about the history of Kuan Kung in Chinatown. Dwayne created posters that could be used for a newspaper release asking for information as to the whereabouts of the 2 statues originally from Chinatown. It is believed one went to the Chinese Masonic Hall in Port Alberni.

NEW BUSINESS:

The recent Harvest Fair event that was held in Cumberland prompted the idea of having a more permanent display that could be presented repeatedly at other events that crop up during the year. Dwayne and Imogene will work on developing a power point display.

Fundraising: May Gee is going to work on creating design for shopping bags. Jo and Carol will confer with May regarding costs of producing this product.

NEXT MEETING: Nov. 24th. 2008

Adjourned.

Donna Lemay

Secretary