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Community Identity, Tourism & Economic Development…

Communications for Area “B”:

Goals: Website and Newsletter

We want to tell our stories through this Community Portal. We will be connecting to people within our own community and beyond. We will share our landscape - Identify clearly who we are and increase our potential!

•Assess our potential through area meetings.
The Structure is Director Kettle’s APC committee & sub committee's such as the communication's; we are taking on the task of compiling information from the communities within this region of study and reporting back so it is a fair and equitable process so every community is heard.

•The starting point will be mapping of assets:
Clearly Identify community resources;
Tourist locations, Industry, Businesses;
Physical buildings & Sites: Playgrounds, Halls, Schools;
People assets- Associations, Volunteers, Professionals;

•Vision Statement for Area


Erickson Community Association

Mission Statement:


ERICKSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
 








The 2008 - 2009 Erickson Community Association Directors are:

Les Mawson, Chairperson
Brad Rae, Vice-Chairperson
Jeannie Longhurst, Treasurer
Elaine Keeling, Secretary
Merv Sloss, Director
Ralph Moore, Director
Elvin Masuch, Director
David White, Director
Jim Posynick, Director

Anyone wishing to contact us may do so by email at
 
Erickson
Archived Material

Responsible Outdoor Lighting
"A Better Idea"

Public Presentation
by
Arnor Larson
was held
April 16, at 7:30
at the Creston Community Complex. 

Director Ralph Moore with the Erickson Community Association, assisted by a grant from Director Kettle, was able to bring Mr. Arnor Larson from Invermere to give a presentation in Creston once again.  Mr. Larson is a specialist in the areas of light pollution, energy waste, light trespass, glare and sky glow.  On April 16, he spoke to a crowd of about 60 at the Rec Center and presented a slideshow that gave examples of light waste and light pollution, through photos of the Invermere area and the Town of Creston.    Something many of us have never considered is the negative impact that this can have on wildlife, who need the cycles of both light and dark to carry out their lives.

Lights pollute our air because polluting coal fired plants produce the electricity needed to run them.  Turning off unnecessary lights will prevent tons of coal plant carbon dioxide from going into our atmosphere.

Mr Larson also showed how unnecessary light and glare can be reduced.   Basically, streetlights and other lights should be of the full cut off type.  This kind of light has a flat bottom on the fixture that is slightly inset from the edge of the surrounding outside shade.  It casts light downward instead of up and/or outward.  Lights on buildings and in our yards should also be the type that cast light downward.  

This significantly reduces glare, which is a safety hazard to motorists.   It also allows RCMP to respond more effectively to crime events.  As  perpetrators move into less contrastive shadows, they are easier to see.    Mr. Larson offers proof that less light reduces criminal activities.   It makes no sense to illuminate the contents of a shop or building or yard to ease the work of a robber!   In addition, he shows how numerous buildings and other areas such as churches, schools and parking lots are lit all night long, which is doing no useful thing, and is a terrific waste of energy.  They would be just as safe and intact with no lights on at all.

We also must get rid of the mercury vapour lights because they have the worst glare and are most costly to operate.  They also have a half life which diminishes their light over time.  Many people suffer from the lights in their neighbour's yard, and we do have a right to ask the owners of polluting lights to adjust their lights to shine only in their own yards.  As well, technology exists whereby we can utilize a switch to turn on our outside lights only when needed.

In addition to fixtures that reduce light pollution, there are certain types of lightbulbs that are more efficient and economical.  So when replacing lights, be sure the fixture casts the light downward and that an environmentally friendly lightbulb is used with it.

Mr. Larson may be reached at 250-342-7252 or online at www.wildsight.ca.


Please mark this date on your calendar, April 16, at 7:30 at the Creston Community Complex. 

Please share this announcement with others and other groups, and we hope to see you there!

Sharon Sadler,
Secretary,
Erickson Community Association



ERICKSON RESIDENTS "SIGN-UP" FOR SAFETY

Soon it will be much easier to find addresses in Erickson, especially in an emergency!

The Erickson Community Association (ECA) has successfully launched an Emergency Services House Numbering Project.   The goal is to assist Emergency Services Personnel (Fire, Ambulance, Police, Utilities, etc.) to quickly locate a premise when responding to a Call for Help.

The Committee, comprised of E.C.A. Vice Chair Brad Rae, Treasurer Jeannie Longhurst, Secretary Sharon Sadler, and Director Les Mawson, have  received assistance from the Columbia Basin Trust and worked with the RDCK and Emergency Services First Responders to determine what these organizations would most like to see in a rural house numbering system.  Not surprisingly, they all endorsed,  "Hi-Vis, Reflective numbers, posted adjacent to the premise driveway, so that the house numbers are visible to vehicles traveling in both directions."

Properties with multiple residences/ businesses were also specified as requiring individual house numbering at both the street and at each dwelling.
This ensures that Emergency Vehicles and equipment can be correctly positioned upon arrival, and that valuable time isn't wasted attempting to find the correct premise when responding to an emergency at a property where more than one is located.

The ECA's goal under this Community Safety Program is to have every property in Erickson voluntarily conforming to this new "standard", with a majority of signs in place in 2007.

This is a cost-effective D.I.Y. home improvement project that contributes to everyone's safety and security. It's also a reasonably affordable gift item for Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Special discounted bulk pricing was obtained from a local supplier for the house numbering signs. They are professional quality 6" X 18" aluminum sign plates, with a green background on both sides.  4" tall Hi-Vis Reflective White house numbers are applied horizontally to both sides.  The aluminum plate may be easily drilled for mounting.   Installation guidelines accompany each sign, so that some consistency of placement is achieved for visibility and esthetics.

Volunteers from the ECA will assist residents who may be physically unable to install their own signs.

Everyone who walks, jogs, rides a bike, skateboards, or drives a tractor in Erickson can benefit from the up-coming draws taking place to promote the sale of the Emergency Services House Numbering signs.
Each sign sold before Mother's Day (May 13), Father's Day (June17) and Labour Day (Sept. 3) enters the buyer's name in a draw for Hi-Vis Traffic Safety Gear. The sooner you order your sign, the better your chances to win!   Draws will take place in May, June and September.

As prices may be going up soon, the ECA is encouraging Erickson residents to order their signs as soon as possible in order to benefit from the low pricing of $25, all taxes included, that is currently available.  Signs may be ordered through Jeannie Longhurst at 428-7060 or Sharon Sadler at 428-9096. 

The Regional District has indicated that if Erickson is successful at implementing house numbering, they may adopt the Erickson model as a prototype for uniform house numbering throughout the Regional District.  Who knows, perhaps Erickson will set the precedent for other rural areas of B.C. and Canada!

Erickson House Identification Signs!
Erickson Community Association

Rural Challenges...
Sponsored by...  RDCK Area B Tourism, Economic Development & Communications Society
(2008)
ECA Members, and everyone in the Creston area,

Area B Director John Kettle has  approved a grant in aid for the Erickson Community Association to bring Mr. Arnor Larson from Invermere to give a presentation in Creston once again.  Mr. Larson is a specialist in the areas of light pollution, energy waste, light trespass, glare and sky glow.  He will be presenting practical problems that reduce unnecessary light, including the light pollution that can also have a negative impact on wildlife.  We will learn of the potential for environmental lighting for our own yards and communities.
Archived

RFP
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 17 of the Woodlot License Planning and Practice Regulation, that a woodlot licence plan has been prepared for following woodlot, near Creston, within the Kootenay Lake Forest District.
:
Woodlot Licence
W1461
Description            Crown Land
General Location    East side of Arrow Mountain

Licensees: Jeremy Davis, Paule Falardeau and Carol and Ralph Moore

Private Lands   Davis/Falardeau PropertyOkell Road
       Moore PropertyBeam Road

If approved by the Ministry of Forests and Range District Manager, this plan may apply for a term of 10 years from the date of approval.
The woodlot licence plan is available for public review and comment from February 12, 2009  to March 15, 2009 at 3008 Beam Rd, Creston, BC, by appointment, by calling Ralph Moore at 250 428-7479.  An electronic copy of the plan can be received by emailing dlenglish@hughes.net.  Any written comments on the plans should be mailed to Denise English, RPF, 2476 Golden Donald Upper Rd, Golden, BC, V0A 1H1 or emailed to dlenglish@hughes.net, subject Woodlot W1461.

Please phone 250 428-7479 to make an appointment to view the plan or call Denise at 250 344-2698 to discuss the plan by phone.

Maps to follow....

One of the goals of the ERICKSON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION has been to gather together the history of Erickson.

Some people have begun this task.  One person suggested that an outline be drawn up as a model to assist in providing information.

The following is a history outline that could be used to help us in this task:

•Your family name
•When did your family move to Erickson?
•From where did they come?
•How many people came?
•What property did they purchase and what was the size of the property?  
•Who was the previous owner?  Do you know the price that was paid for the land?
•Were there existing buildings; a house etc.?
•What kind of work did the family do?  Did someone come because of employment?
•Who were your neighbours?
•Did your family have children of school age?  Where did they go to school?  Do you           know the names of the teachers? 
•Additional information that tells what was happening during the time your family was          here.
•How many of the family are still in the valley? 
•Where have other members of the family gone?

We would appreciate any stories or pictures that you might wish to share.  You may submit your   “pieces of Erickson history”

by mail to ECA Historian, Sharon Brennan
Box 9, Erickson, BC V0B 1K0

Or by email to Elaine Keeling at:  keeme@shaw.ca

Thank You