Here in the Alberni Valley the City and the Regional District use a combined approach to preparing for and responding to emergencies. Because the COVID-19 global emergency affects all citizens of the Alberni Valley, we have implemented our combined response plan. For that reason, I am speaking to you now as Mayor of the City of Port Alberni, and representing members of City Council and Electoral Area Directors from Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek and Beaufort. 

The elected officials of the Alberni Valley intend to continue to communicate to our constituents with one voice, so whether that voice is mine or that of another elected official, we want you to know that we are aligned and responding as one.

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that we all adopt the recommendations from Dr. Henry, the Provincial Health Officer. We need to slow the spread of COVID-19 virus, and to do that we all must … 

o  MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING from anyone who does not live in your household.

o  STAY HOME unless your work is considered to be essential to the public good. It’s okay to be outdoors and even in public places, but we all must maintain that critical 2-meter distance between ourselves and others.

o  WASH YOUR HANDS

o  BE KIND. This is time when we should all be more considerate of others

As we move forward with conducting certain aspects of our regular business, we want to know the following:

Both the Regional District and the City provide our constituents with essential services. We intend that those services will continue uninterrupted. We have had to change the way that we conduct the business of local governments during this COVID-19 crisis, and we have had to close our facilities and playgrounds to the public. We regret any inconvenience that our closures have caused members of the public.

Both the Regional District and the City will be continuing as much as possible with regular meetings of elected Board and Council. The work of government must continue if we are going to provide essential services, continue to respond to the COVID-19 issue, and prepare for the recovery phase of this event.

We will do our best to collectively communicate information to you about local government services. I encourage you to also communicate with each of us, your elected leaders. We are here for you. Let us know what your needs are, and we will do our best to support you or put you in touch with an agency that can. 

On behalf of all members of City Council and Electoral Area Directors, I remind you that the more we do now, the better we will be able to protect the residents of the Alberni Valley and move forward as a community after this event is behind us.