Klippers Tickets to See the Hounds of Notre Dame

Do you want to see the Klippers take on the Hounds of Notre Dame tonight? The Klippers record this year is a significant improvement over last year. Even though they lost last night the Klippers are in first in their division and 3rd overall in the league.

I am unable to attend and if you would like my tickets please email me.

Railway Accountability: Follow Up

The following announcement from FCM regards the Protective Direction regarding rail safety: specifically dangerous goods transported on trains. This is an important first step because railways, have we have seen in Calgary, Quebec, and in other ways, do not communicate very well with municipalities.

In response to questions emerging from the November 20 announcement of new measures to improve rail safety, I am pleased to provide some more information.

Our first responders need a variety of information to do their jobs effectively and safely. With regard to information on the transport of dangerous goods, municipalities and first responders have two areas of needs.

First, they need enough information for planning purposes such as having the right tools available and being adequately prepared to deal with an emergency. Second, they need immediate access to information for response in the event of an emergency.

The directive announced Wednesday was a critical first step intended to address serious information gaps related to the first category, emergency planning. The directive was developed in consultation with our first responders and meets their planning needs.

We recognize that both planning and response are critically important. Accessing information for emergency response is an important but separate issue. We continue to work with the government on the issues related to response.

Wednesday's announcement represents significant progress. In fact, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, one of the stakeholder groups working to strengthen rail safety, has also endorsed the new measures.

We asked for swift and concrete action and the government has started to deliver. The work is not finished and FCM will continue working with the government to meet the emergency response needs of local first responders.

 Sincerely,

Brock Carlton
Chief Executive Officer

COPPs & RCMP Xmas Banquet

The first Xmas Banquet of the year was excellent this evening! Way back in September the crew at COPPs invited my family and I to their Xmas Banquet with the RCMP. Some of the things I learned this evening:

• One of the constables is being transferred to a post almost an hour south of Swift Current.
• The constable in question will always have a soft spot for Kindersley. Why do you ask?
• He is marrying a local girl, Laura.
• Congratulations Sean and Laura!
• Another constable moved from Campbell River to here and loves the prairie sky.

On a different note COPPs shared this information:

• they drive around all night looking for trouble and claim they stay our of trouble
• they have been mooned
• they like locking doors that have been left unlocked or open
• they once came across a group of teenagers at Wal Mart trying to steal a bunch of shopping carts
• my question: what were they going to do with the shopping carts?
• is there a black market for shopping carts?
• they have given some revellers rides home in bad weather
• the case in question is the revellers were walking home in Hawaiian shirts and shorts in -30 weather
• these guys are not helping Darwin
• they have helped spot stolen cars
• 90% of the time is boredom hanging with the guys
• 5% is exciting
• 5% is thrilling

Does this sound like a good time to you? If it does, then why don't you volunteer?. All you have to do is go the RCMP barracks and complete an application form.

The Official Community Plan Draft: Transportation and Infrastructure

Integrated Decision Making

3.4.1.1 To integrate planning, finance and engineering to effectively manage existing and new infrastructure in a sustainable, innovative and cost effective manner.

Transportation Objectives and Policies

3.4.2.1 To provide a safe, efficient, cost effective and convenient transportation network for all users.

3.4.2.2 To promote land use and development patterns that encourage walking and cycling while ensuring pedestrian and traffic safety.

3.4.2.3 To ensure that Highways 7 and 21 continue to function in a safe and efficient manner for the residents of Kindersley and the travelling public.

3.4.2.4 To ensure that the railway continues to provide vital services to the community while mitigating any negative impacts resulting from ongoing railway operations.

Infrastructure Objectives and Policies

3.4.3.1 To ensure that future development contributes to the cost of infrastructure services in a manner which does not create a burden for existing residents and which does not impede long term growth.

The series will finish December 4th with the posting of Implementation. If you have any questions please email me.

Xmas Angels

Xmas Angel by Cindy at SarCan, November 21. 2013

SarCan has a Christmas contest amongst its outlets across the province. The stores are using recycled materials to create and build Christmas decorations. Cindy, at our outlet, has already created an angel, pictured below, and is working on other decorations including a snowman made of Coca-Cola bottles. There will be a display of decorations once enough are made. Good luck Cindy and our Kindersley outlet!

Human Resource Capital: Social Capital

I have spoken of human resource capital within the context of economic development and infrastructure investment in the past. Here are a couple of ideas regarding 'social capital:'

• bonding social capital is that benefit we receive from belonging to a group of like minded people. An example is our circle of friends, support groups, and a faith group.
• the benefits include: solidarity, trust and loyalty, and emotional and material support.
• bridging social capital is that benefit we receive from being in a relationship with a diverse group of people. This includes neighbourhoods and gathering centres such as the pool, rink, etc.
• the benefits include: new information and 'assets' leading to economic opportunities, and increased openness and tolerance.

Finally, when a community has healthy social capital then we can expect greater trust, lower crime, economic growth and greater emotional and physical well-being.

The Official Community Plan Draft: Industrial

3.3.1.1 To ensure that sufficient land is designated for within the Town to accommodate Industrial development opportunities.

3.3.1.2 To minimize the potential for land use conflicts between Industrial development and other uses.

The series will finish December 4th with the posting of Implementation. If you have any questions please email me.

Railway Accountability: Protective Direction

The Town of Kindersley is a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, an organization that lobbies on behalf of municipalities. The FCM have successfully the federal government to have the railway companies more accountable to municipalities through the Protective Direction. This is the first step towards holding railways more accountable within municipal lands. The details of the Protective Direction follow.

This morning FCM First Vice-President Brad Woodside and FCM Board Member Jacques Demers joined Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt on Parliament Hill to announce a new measure requiring railways to share dangerous goods information with municipal first responders and emergency planners. FCM issued a statement from FCM President Claude Dauphin following the announcement.

The Protective Direction announced today introduces the following requirements, which respond directly to FCM’s call for action on rail safety:

• All Canadian railway operators will be required to provide municipal emergency planners and first responders with annual information on the nature and volume of dangerous goods being transported through their communities.
• Large Canadian railway companies, such as Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific (CP), will be required to include in their annual reports a quarterly breakdown of the nature and volume of dangerous goods shipped through Canadian communities.
• Smaller railways will be required to notify municipalities of any significant changes to the information provided in their annual reporting.
• Municipalities wishing to receive this information will need to inform Transport Canada and assign a designate to receive the information. It will be possible for municipalities to designate to regional emergency management officials if appropriate.

In addition to today’s announcement, the federal government committed in last month’s Speech From the Throne to increase the insurance requirements for Canadian railways and shippers. These announcements represent important steps forward to improve rail safety in our cities and communities. They also demonstrate how governments can and should work together in partnership to respond to emerging challenges, improve public services and save taxpayer dollars.

In terms of next steps, FCM will be providing further guidance concerning the implementation of the Protective Direction, including the timing of the first annual report to municipalities.

Brock Carlton
Chief Executive Officer

National Child Day

Today I was at the Kinder Kollege celebrating National Child Day. The children were playing on a bouncy thing, running around, throwing balls and of course screaming. The thrust of National Child Day is raise awareness of children's rights and responsibilities.


Kinder Kollege Child Day, Nov 2013

Children have the right to be taken seriously and the responsibility to listen to others.

Children have the right to good health care and the responsibility to take good care of themselves.

Children have the right to a good education and the responsibility to study and to respect their teachers.

Children have the right to be loved and protected from harm and the responsibility to love and care for others.

Children have the right to be included whatever their abilities and the responsibility to respect others for their differences.

Children have the right to be proud of their heritage and beliefs and the responsibility to respect the culture and beliefs of others.

Children have the right to a safe and comfortable home and the responsibility to keep it clean.

Children have the right to make mistakes and the responsibility to learn from their mistakes.

Children have the right to be well fed and the responsibility not to waste food.

Children have the right to a clean environment and the responsibility not to pollute it.

Kinder Kollege still has room for children 2.5 - 4 years old. They still have a significant waiting list for 6 month babies. Lilliana is pressing the province for more spaces to address her long waiting list.

The Earth Moved! And is Moving!

Brookhollow Estates started earth moving last Friday. The heavy equipment is at work preparing the land for residential development. This stage of construction is expected to last until December 15th. If the winter isn't too harsh, then work will continue on the water and sanitation lines so housing construction can begin in the spring. Hopefully there will be new homes occupied late summer or thereabouts.

The middle part of the work site, November 20, 2013

The north part of the work site, November 20, 2013

This is the south part of the work site not far from Motherwell.

 

This is the soil storage area. The site was selected because it is the future site of a small commercial area which is expected to be developed towards the end of the project.

 

I don't have information for you regarding buying lots and hiring contractors. Marathon Equities, also known as Marathon Properties, is the developer. The Town Office has been responding to numerous calls from prospective builders and buyers and they have been referred to Marathon.

 

There will be a sod turning ceremony after the Grey Cup Game; the date is to be determined. Wouldn't that be a good party? New neighbours and development on the one hand and a 'Green' Grey Cup!

 

Have a good week and yes, finally, houses are coming.

 

I apologize about the smaller pictures but recently I have been having formatting problems with the blog.