The Friends of Parksville Community Centre (PCC) recently asked city council to reconsider its decision to close the centre as a rental facility.
David Todtman and Valerie Dare presented, via Zoom, comments from anonymous residents who signed an online petition in support of keeping the PCC open.
“With COVID protocols, we had to proceed with virtual actions and the petition was the best way to gather the concerns of the community,” said Dare.
The comments were summed up into three themes: the importance of the PCC to residents, community pride and ownership of the PCC and council’s decision to repurpose the centre and hand over operations without public consultation, according to Todtman.
“Their statements deliver a clear message asking that you honour the commitment that council made to support the Parksville Community Centre and our local community volunteer board,” he said.
The city’s administrative officer, Keeva Kehler, said staff had not received the petition. There were 2,579 signatures on the Change.org petition as of April 23. Mayor Ed Mayne thanked the two for their presentation, but council did not discuss any changes to the PCC.
