In an attempt to fundraise and bring awareness to the history of the area, the Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park Association is launching a new legacy program.
At a Comox council meeting in early September, Audrey Craig and Sue Wood from the association told council the Filberg Heritage Trees Your Legacy Lives Here initiative originated from an ‘adopt a tree’ program from 2017.
With the support of the Town, the association applied for a federal heritage grant to create a heritage walk but was unsuccessful, explained Craig. Instead, they created the tree program.
In 2019, the program was rebranded into the current legacy initiative.
The objectives of the program are to create a significant fundraising opportunity; to provide opportunities for families, local businesses and community supporters to share in the legacy of the park and Filberg family and to reinforce the value of the Filberg Lodge and park as a unique property, added Wood.
The program will see 30 trees within the park offered for sponsorship to begin. They will be offered at five-year terms at $500/term for families and non-profits and $1,000/per term for corporations. The program will include a plaque, a photo with a tree and an invitation to the legacy trees picnic.
Craig said they are aiming to launch the program on Earth Day 2021 (April 22).
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At the Sept. 3 meeting, Comox council adopted a new procedure bylaw which officially changed the name of committee of the whole meetings to strategic planning meetings.
The intent of the change was to help formalize and adopt a strategic plan as well as provide a vehicle for council to bring new ideas forward. The new strategic planning meetings will be the main vehicle for council to review and suggest changes that will then be adopted at regular council meetings or forwarded to budget for discussion.
At the Sept. 9 meeting, council reviewed the strategic plan which covers a number of different priorities, including projects such as creating a new website for the Town, Marina Park enhancement and parking improvements and a heritage registry report.
The 2020 strategic plan will be forwarded to the next regular meeting of council – set for Sept. 16 – for adoption.
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