On March 28th, the TICA membership voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a Sole Source for General Contractor. Prior to the vote TICA had informed the membership that, should the motion be approved, a contract would be negotiated with Poirier Custom Homes as General Contractor. TICA looks forward to working with Michel Poirier and his team as they work on this important community project. A reset button has been pushed!
Following the vote, work re-started on site.
Early April started with Volunteer Sven Aaberg & his excavator working on the very necessary trenching to allow for the final positioning of the perimeter drains. A huge thank you to Sven, for stepping forward, and helping to make this all happen so promptly!
The next week saw the perimeter drains corrected, finalized, and approved by CVRD Building Inspector Norm Knodel, and Rocky Point Engineering.
The trenching was done from the Electrical Shed to the Hall, with a spur to the Pavilion. Conduits were laid for electrical and communications, as were water lines, connecting the Hall, Electrical Shed, and Pavilion. The water lines provide for future water access at the out-building points.
This week, all the backfilling will be completed readying the site for further concrete pours. The driveway asphalt has been expertly cut to allow for the entry stairs, and access ramp & area to be constructed.
Electrical Panels have been installed inside the Hall, including construction lighting and outlets.
The FraserWood Timber arrived Wednesday, April 15th, which is a milestone to those closely involved with the project.
Also during this time, some organizational changes have been made.
The Forbes Hall Expansion Committee was disbanded, and although this group has created a well-envisioned project, and some have navigated the project through some very rough waters, it is felt that smaller committees will be able to focus on aspects of the project going forward. We want to thank all of the Forbes Hall Expansion Committee members for their tireless efforts over the past 3+ years in working for the betterment of the Thetis Island Community: Charlotte Aaberg, Carolyn Askew, Ron Bannister, Shirley Burr, Ann Dickie, Greg Gall, Art Hunter, Heather Hunter, Tricia Hunter, Anne-Marie Koeppen, Tatiana Nemchin, Ellen Rush, and Don Sinclair. Your contributions have been significant and are appreciated.
TICA has formally created a Project Management Team "PMT" with Ron Bannister, Ann Dickie, Carolyn Askew, and new to the Project, Doug Darling. We are looking forward to having Doug’s participation, and have his expertise in assisting both the PMT and Poirier Custom Homes "PCH" in the ongoing planning and scheduling for the Project.
As well, TICA has engaged Peter de Hoog as Project Facilitator, to assist as we move forward in this new relationship with PCH and the expansion of Forbes Hall. Peter will be liaising with Angela Quek (Architect), and all the consulting engineers. We thank him for stepping into this role and look forward to his creativity and vision in the development of the Project.
Greg Gall has accepted the role of Volunteer Co-ordinator for the Project. We will be meeting with both Greg and Michel this week to look at how the Project can benefit from community volunteering, and how the co-ordination of this assistance can be managed. Thank you, Greg, for accepting this role!
During these unprecedented times, all COVID-19 protocols, as required by WorkSafe BC, are being observed and provided. The Project will continue to move forward as long as it is deemed safe to do so.
Site meetings are held observing physical distancing, as best as possible. There have been four on-site meetings over the past two weeks, prioritizing construction as it moves forward. It is key at this point to get all of the concrete, and the area immediately adjacent to the hall, completed, both for practicality’s sake, and worker safety.
Coming up:
For the West Patio and Entrance Patio, the decision has been made to go with suspended slabs versus slab-on-grade. Going with suspended slabs will create both cost-savings and time-savings. Instead of compacting the fill, in 6” layers, the whole of the area is filled and levelled. Then it effectively becomes the form for the suspended slab, which has embedded beams within it. As the fill settles naturally, it moves away from the suspended slab, which is structurally supported with the beams.
Following the completion of Phase 1, which includes all the necessary site work to be completed in preparation for starting the timber-work, more information will be shared about the design, schedule & budget as the Project proceeds.
One last note:
Please remember that, unless accompanied or invited by Michel Poirier, or a member of the Project Management Team, no one is allowed on the construction site. This is especially critical during the response to COVID-19.
It is exciting to see the Forbes Hall Expansion Project moving ahead, with such purpose, and very much as a community project.
Thetis Island Community Association
Friday, April 17, 2020 at 9:05AM 
