The Village of Cumberland held its regular bi-weekly council meeting on June 11. Here are a few meeting highlights.
Council approves names for Alleyway Sign Project
The committee undertaking the Alleyway Sign Project presented an update to council through a written correspondence. The group unveiled nine of Cumberland’s pioneers they’d like to recognize by creating signs in their name and erecting them in various alleyways throughout Cumberland.
The Alleyway Sign Project was conceived last year as a way to revitalize Cumberland’s alleyways while recognizing the historical impact of some of the village’s former residents. The committee behind the initiative is made up of seven Cumberlanders, including Mayor Leslie Baird.
The project’s first group of names includes Dzunuk’wa, Gang Yick Yee Leung, Dan Bannerman, Carolina Tobacco, the Williamson family, John Henry Brown, the Campbell brothers, Senjiro Hayashi, and Sam Miller.
In a letter to council, the committee included justifications for all nine selections.
Council approved the names and the font that will be used on the signs. The project currently has funding to install the first three signs (Dzunuk’wa, Leung, and Bannerman).
According to Baird, the Dzunuk’wa sign will be placed off of Sutton Road, the Leung sign will be in the alley between Dunsmuir Avenue and Penrith Avenue, and the Bannerman sign will be located between Derwent Road and Allen Avenue.
“We tried to get alleys near where the families lived,” said Baird.
RCMP presents annual crime statistics
Staff Sgt. Eric Rochette from the Comox Valley RCMP presented the village’s annual crime statistics from April 1, 2017 through March 30, 2018.
According to the report, there were 787 calls for service to the RCMP in Cumberland last year — a nine per cent decrease from the year before, which saw 867 calls in the same time span.
The report also outlined the number of service calls in Cumberland related to 13 crime categories. The figures showed 146 calls related to violent or property crimes made to the RCMP in Cumberland last year, compared to 154 the year prior.
Heritage Alteration Permit approved for First Credit Union
On the recommendation of the Village’s heritage commission, council approved a heritage alteration permit (HAP) to the First Credit Union on Dunsmuir Avenue. The credit union plans to renovate the facade of its building and include new siding, windows, and a new entry canopy.
The credit union’s need for the HAP is because it is located on Dunsmuir Ave. — a designated “heritage conservation area.” All businesses on Dunsmuir looking to alter their exterior properties must first apply for an HAP before doing so.
