May 2024 Municipal Update - Victoria-by-the-Sea
In this edition:
1 – From the Mayor’s desk
2 – From the CAO’s desk
3 – From the Victoria Historical Association
4 – From the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation
5 – Discharge Issue at AMAR Seafood
1 – From the Mayor’s desk
Since our last newsletter in February, a lot has happened. First, we welcome Yves Dallaire as our new Chief Administrative Officer who started on April 15th. It took some time to go through the process of hiring our new CAO and I thank fellow council members for all the work they did to assist with the process. Yves has significant experience as a former manager with Quebec City and worked with other smaller municipalities in Quebec as well. He has experience with strategic planning, something I believe will assist our small municipality with our ongoing serious sustainability problem. When picking up your mail or doing business at the Old Schoolhouse, please drop by the municipal office to welcome Yves to Victoria.
I would like to thank Robert Hughes, a former CAO of the City of Stratford, for stepping in as our interim CAO. Robert assisted the Council with the finalization of the annual budget and with the preparation and support during our recent meetings. Robert shared his significant experience as a municipal administrator while he was with us and we look forward to continue working with him as needed as the Council assesses its options for how our Municipal government services are delivered in the future.
With Robert’s assistance, we were able to approve budgets for the Municipality’s operations and the Water and Sewer Corporation’s operations with small surpluses at the April 15th meeting. Belying those numbers is the incorporation our small surpluses from the prior year as a way to balance the budgets. As well, there is no funding in our budgets for scheduled upkeep of our capital assets leaving them to age and wear out much sooner than should be acceptable. The lack of funding available for the assessment and maintenance of our assets as well as reasonable management of our services also means that there are considerable unmanaged risks for the Municipality and the Council. As the Mayor, I am very concerned that our municipality is operating with such limited resources and unable to meet the objectives set out in the Municipal Government Act. Our recent operations for approximately three months without a permanent part-time CAO was another consequence our limited funding. The Council also approved a capital budget. The good news for residents is that we did not increase tax rates or water and sewer rates in completing the budgets as we could not justify any additional spending with the limited resources we have available.
Since our last update, the Council also finalized and approved our new Official Plan and Development By-law and submitted them to the province for approval. Once approved, the Municipality will be using the new documents as guidance with regard to future development practices and approvals. Many thanks to the hard work by Anna Keenan, our former CAO and Chair Eric Gilbert and members of his Planning Committee. It took a great deal of time and effort to finally complete our updated plan and by-law, but in the end, it can be celebrated as many other municipalities have tried and failed to do the same thing.
Along with Deputy Mayor, Jean McCardle and our former CAO, I met with Minister Lantz and Minister Hudson to present some of the Municipality’s challenges for operating as a small municipality and the issues we are facing with coastal erosion. Our presentation was well received and in the case of our meeting with Minister Hudson, he indicated that there is some work underway which would help inform future efforts by the provincial government to assist municipalities like ours to deal with the changing climate and rising waters.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new residents to Victoria. Our municipal government office and our website are great sources for information when getting settled in, so please drop in or take a look when you have time. Members of the municipal council and I are only a phone call away if you have any feedback about the municipality.
With our new CAO on board, I commit to regular communication once again with residents. I welcome feedback from residents by sending me an email at allenfarm17@gmail.com.
2 – From the CAO’s desk
Hello everyone! My name is Yves Dallaire and I am the Chief Administrative Officer for the Rural Municipality of Victoria, just coming on board since April 15.
I first want to thank Mayor Ruben and the Council members for the confidence they expressed in hiring me. I sure hope that I will be up to the task. I also want to thank Anna Keenan, the previous CAO, and Robert Hughes, interim CAO, for their help in getting me ready for this position. They both handled the various projects wonderfully. As for Marsha Empson, the Financial and Administrative Assistant of the Municipality, she is a constant source of support and knowledge about the various files and projects in which we actively participate.
Otherwise, I already met with many people from the community. I must say that everyone was welcoming and I am really looking forward to working with each and everyone of you.
In the meantime, do not hesitate to come and see us at the Municipal Office for any services you may need or just for a chat. You will be very welcomed.
Thank you again for your hospitality and see you soon!
3 – From the Victoria Historical Association
VHA Celebrates the Victoria Kindergarten Era
Did you know that a kindergarten operated at the historic Victoria School for 30 years after it was officially closed by the province in 1973? Maybe you or your children attended? Victoria Historical Association will recognize this valuable contribution to the community with a celebration on Victoria Day, Monday May 20, starting at 11 am. Everyone is welcome, and please spread the word to others who may not receive this newsletter.
Former teachers and kindergarten graduates are invited to share photos, memories and mementos from their kindergarten days. Her Honour Lt Governor Antoinette Perry will address the group and unveil a third panel next to the two erected in 2023 in recognition of the school’s first 100 years. Light refreshments following the activities.
Anyone with photos or mementos to share for the day please contact us by email at vhapei2019@gmail.com or on facebook at Victoria Historical Association.
4 – From the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation
Brenda MacQuarrie Boudreau stands as the esteemed founding chair and driving force behind the Victoria Historical Association. For 14 years she has championed the preservation and interpretation of both the tangible and intangible heritage of Victoria-by-the-Sea.
In 2012 Brenda successfully reintroduced the annual Remembrance Day service to the village, drawing an impressive attendance of over 100 people - surpassing the village population itself. Her work extends to various initiatives, including organizing fundraising events for the Historical Association, and spearheading a campaign to restore the 1895 community piano.
A few years ago she created personalized historical walking tours of Victoria in the persona of her maternal grandmother, “Mrs McNevin, the Storekeeper’s Wife”. Brenda, along with a group of dedicated Historical Association volunteers, has organized annual Heritage Day celebrations, story circles, displays, socials etc.
A permanent 3-phase heritage installation of artifacts, photos, and memorabilia at the historic Victoria School was a project initiated by her to celebrate its history. Brenda’s efforts have all centered aroundfulfilling the mission statement of the Association: “to promote and preserve the history and heritage of Victoria and its people”.
Under her guidance, the Victoria Historical Association has become an integral participant in Victoria Day and Canada Day celebrations, emphasizing the significance of heritage in the community. She has actively worked to identify and protect historic buildings in the village, highlighting those at risk and celebrating residents who contribute to maintain the village unique historic character. For these exemplary contributions, Brenda MacQuarrie Boudreau is being awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation.
5 – Discharge Issue at AMAR Seafood
The Council was advised about a discharge issue at AMAR Seafood Inc. Plant. The discharge indicated a suspended particle test of 65 ppm at the beginning of April. The Council and AMAR immediately collaborated to tackle this issue along with the Environment, Energy and Action Group. A task force was formed and experts from Norway joined the group to correct the problem. A faulty installation was corrected and further tests demonstrated that the discharge was now well under the acceptable level of 25 ppm of suspended particles. AMAR was very transparent in the resolution process and is doing more frequent tests to make sure the environment is secure.
Please note, the next council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 13 @ 6:30pm, 730 Victoria Rd (Old School).
That’s all for this month! See past issues at www.RMVictoria.com/newsletters
Questions? Feedback? Info for a future newsletter? Photos you’re willing to share?
Contact staff at victoriamunicipalitypei@gmail.com
Office hours: Mon-Thurs, 9:30-12 & 1-3:30, except holidays and storm days.
Victoria Historic Schoolhouse, 730 Victoria Road, Victoria, PE, C0A 1J0, Canada