Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade Bulletin ~ Nov 25

This is the second of Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade Bulletins that will be frequently provided to the community to answer some of the many questions, concerns, and comments that came from, and following, the meeting of November 16.

You are welcome to send a brief question for future response. 

Q:        I don’t feel I have had enough information about the project. Why hasn’t there been more news about the construction, and more opportunities to ask questions regarding the progress of the project?

A:         TICA is working on a communications plan to keep you better informed. To start, frequent bulletins will be added to the other ways that are used to inform the community.  If this is an area in which you have relevant skills and experience, and you are willing to work on the plan, please contact dickie.ann@gmail.com. There will also be answers provided to many of your questions on the forbeshall.ca website. 

            The first information and discussion session was held in October of 2017, when the community was asked for ideas as to what the new hall should provide. Further discussion and information sharing meetings were held in November 2017, January 2018, November 2018 and June 2019. Two ‘On the Court’ sessions were held in July 2019 and two more in August 2019 with tours of the building offered to those attendees who requested them.     Most recently more than 80 community members attended the November 16^th information session. 

            In all, 10 community information sessions were held between October 2017 and November 2019.

There were also several information days at Soup’s On, and an Information & Merchandise Booth every Saturday at the Summer Market providing the opportunity for community members, as well as interested visitors, to ask questions about the progress of the building and view photos of the construction.

The committee also produced four newsletters, published articles in the Quarterly, and provided updates and photos through e-spokes, thetisposts.ca, and Thetis Island Community Posts FB Page.

Q.        I don’t know how the project is being funded. How much money did we raise, and where did it come from?

A:         In total, TICA raised $1,353,534 through fundraising and grants.

SOURCES OF FUNDING

$12,000          Soup’s On                               

8,000              Library Bequest                    

100,000          BC Ferries                  

25,000            TICF                            

10,000            Rural Dividend Grant                   

250,000          Capital Gaming Grant                            

5,000              CVRD Grant In Aid                                         

25,129            Interest (projected to Dec. 31/19)

32,080            TICA Fundraisers (includes merchandise sales) 

869,625         Thetis Islanders’ Donations (from 145 individuals or families)

16,700            2020 Pledges                                 

$1,353,534   Total of Funds Raised or Contributed.

Reviewing these funding numbers, it is clear, once again, that this project has had astounding support.  It is heartening to see that donations by fellow Islanders, and the gift of time by volunteers, are the main drivers of the project. 

Q.        Am I paying for Forbes Hall through my property taxes?

A:         No, Forbes Hall is completely paid for by membership fees, donations, fundraising, and grants.  Thetis Island’s community centre is the only one in the Gulf Islands that operates this way.

TOUR THE SITE

A walk-through tour will be provided this Friday, November 29^th at Noon, sharp.  

By reservation only: to participate please contact Ann @ dickie.ann@gmail.com by Thursday, November 28^th at 9PM.  We will meet in the Tennis Court.  If there are too many people for one tour, we will split the group into two tours, Noon and 12:30PM, participants will be notified of any changes.  Please wear sturdy footwear.

NO ADMITTANCE, means No ADMITTANCE

Please note: there have been members of the public walking in to the worksite to see what is happening with construction on the project.  The worksite is inadmissible to the public.  Viewing can only take place from the schoolyard side of the fencing, or from the tennis court.  Please respect the posted signs.

Sincerely,

Ann Dickie

Co-Chair FH EX COMM

Forbeshall.ca Bulletin Cache

Gallery of Photos Photos of the Build, including Drone Photos 

Illegal Dumping!!!

Here's what I know about you; you like eggnog out of season, you don't recycle your batteries, you eat frozen cherries from superstore, you eat at McDonald's and put vinegar on your fries, you shop at the 49th before you come over to Thetis and you have absolutely no respect for other people's property or you wouldn't have thrown your garbage into the woods at the corner of Clam bay Rd.

Here's something that you don't know; the trail cam across the road caught you doing this so we know who you are! 

This is not the first instance of garbage and/or empty liquor bottles being dumped here.

Sjoerd

How is Your Driveway?

Need some gravel or junk removal?

Contrary to rumours, I have not retired, and I am getting lonely.  

Give me a call

Dave O'Hara

250-533-9072

The Superior Propane Debacle of Mary Forbes

An article will be in the forth-coming Quarterly fully describing Mary's Dreadful Superior Adventure. As a result, she has contacted Columbia Fuels. They said they had just purchased a propane truck, so if we had twenty interested customers, they could service Thetis Island. Mary is exploring this.  If you are interested, please let her know.  

Mary Forbes

maryforbes@telus.net

Note to Vendors Who will be at the Christmas Bazaar

We will be setting up on Friday November 29th from 1-5pm.

If you have a table(s) please bring it along. We are setting up at "The Portal" 254 North Cove Road.

Let us know if you can't make it and we will make other arrangements for you.

Gloria and Helen

Please Note: Capernwray Students’ Departure for Christmas Break

They will be leaving Thursday, December 12, 2019

We have 76 students in total.  The majority will be departing on the 6:15am ferry and the rest will go on the 8:05am ferry.

Thank you.

Reminder: Dickens Christmas Bazaar

Christmas Bazaar on November 30th from 10-2. 

Soup du Jour is from 11:30 to 1:30 or until we run out of soup.

Any questions you can contact Helen 250-246-2469 or Gloria 250-246-3091

Forbes Hall Expansion & Upgrade Bulletin - Nov 20

Thank you to all the TICA members, and other community members, who were willing and able to attend the Forbes Hall Expansion Public Meeting on Saturday, November 16th. 

It was great to meet with so many of you, and to hear your comments, thank-you’s, concerns, and questions. After our five information meetings in the summer with varying degrees of participation, we were pleasantly surprised to have over eighty people in the room.  Many of you came prepared with notes, and some of you filled out the post-it notes provided.  Several have sent very thoughtful e-mails, while others have directly called.  There is now a volume of information and questions for the Committee to work through, to determine the key questions, and core concerns. 

We will work over the next couple of weeks to answer your questions as best we can, and provide context to our answers.  We will not attempt to contact everyone who has communicated with us, but will instead send out bulletins regularly with information & answers included.  We are aware of the concerns addressed by the membership on Saturday and are working on solutions where we can.

One of the key things we as a group left with last Saturday was that everyone was respectful of other members of the audience and Committee & Board members.  There are many differing opinions about the hall and its rebuild.  We hope that by working together as we move through the project, that we will continue to build community. 

What a wonderful thing, to be able to live, work, & play in a community of people who may not agree on all things, but do join in to be the glue that holds us together.

Many thanks, again,

Ann Dickie

Co-Chair FH EX COMM

Bird Lovers

Hey bird lovers,

We have budgies that need rehoming. They are used to being in a large flock, so I will not give away any single budgies, unless you were to have budgies yourself. 

They are all beautiful singers and make the cutest quiet sounds at dusk.

Here is a list

2 white fathers

4 Green with yellow (3 are related, one is a mother)

2 solid Yellow

2 Yellow with green

1 Blue  

Here is my email rpsylvester22@gmail.com

Ryan Sylvester

P.s. they are very untamed as they are in a semi-naturalized flock-bonded mentality. They will not land on you on purpose.

Leaf Clean Up

Hello neighbours, 

If you would like assistance with any leaf cleanup on your properties, we would be happy to come and quickly clean them up for you. 

We can take away the piles of you would like for no extra charge :-) 

Please feel free to call or text 12508826410

Or email rpsylvester22@gmail.com

Emily and Ryan :-)

Free Cash Register

We have a cash register that works. 

If interested text 905 599 7320

Gil

Christmas Bazaar

The Christmas Bazaar is fast approaching so make sure you have November 30th written down on your calendar.

We will be serving lunch so drop by for "Soup du jour" and all the goodies that go with it. From 11:30 to 1:30.

Soup on the menu will be: Beef Barley and Carrot-Ginger (vegetarian). Only $5.00.

Helen and I hope to have Soup du Jour once a month at The Portal until into spring. Anyone else that would like to host Soup du Jour can contact us about signing up for other available days.

Helen 250-246-2469 or Gloria 250-246-3091.

Thank you everyone!