A toilet-paper ribbon was cut and Tofino含羞草研究社檚 Poet Laureate regaled an enthusiastic crowd with her freshly penned 含羞草研究社楾he Flush of our Success含羞草研究社� before accompanying a choir for a song that included the words: 含羞草研究社淎t last we won含羞草研究社檛 be surfing, surfing in our poo含羞草研究社� parodying The Beach Boys.
Tofino has officially stopped pumping raw wastewater into the ocean.
Community members, politicians and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the town含羞草研究社檚 long-awaited wastewater treatment facility on Aug. 22.
The roughly one-hour celebration MC含羞草研究社檇 by the district含羞草研究社檚 director of infrastructure and public works Aaron Rodgers wiped away years of missed deadlines, underestimated budget costs and criticism over discharging raw sewage into the ocean.
Back in 2015, the federal government imposed a deadline of 2020 for the town to treat its sewage. That deadline whizzed past and the in 2020 as contractors bid closer to $84 million to build the project.
The district had initially received $40 million from the provincial and federal governments to build what it thought would be a $54 million project with $14 million coming by way of local taxpayers, but the $84 million figure flushed that idea.
The district took several kicks at the can for more funding from their provincial and federal colleagues and managed to secure enough from
That $77.5 budget held true and the district was finally able to celebrate.
含羞草研究社淭hanks for being here on this auspicious occasion to celebrate the opening of Tofino含羞草研究社檚 wastewater treatment plant,含羞草研究社� Rodgers said to loud applause, cheers and whistles. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the district含羞草研究社檚 pleasure to present a project that is on budget and ahead of schedule.含羞草研究社�
Mid Island - Pacific Rim MLA and Tofino含羞草研究社檚 former mayor Josie Osborne spoke at the event and joked about the formalities of the celebration.
含羞草研究社淚 don含羞草研究社檛 think I含羞草研究社檝e ever seen somebody wearing a tie outside of a wastewater treatment plant,含羞草研究社� she laughed, referencing Rodgers含羞草研究社� suit. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e known Aaron for years and the tie does not come out often, so that just shows the dignity and honour of this occasion.含羞草研究社�
Osborne spoke to the beauty of Tofino含羞草研究社檚 natural surroundings and the importance of solid stewardship within the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation含羞草研究社檚 traditional territories.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 our privilege to live in this place and anyone who含羞草研究社檚 lived in Tofino for even a minute knows just how important it is to take care of this place and that we have a real responsibility to live up to the stewardship that the Ha含羞草研究社檞iih of the Nation have led in this place for millenia,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淭he wastewater treatment plant is an absolute cornerstone of that commitment.含羞草研究社�
Osborne was the town含羞草研究社檚 mayor from 2013含羞草研究社�2020 and suggested 含羞草研究社渢here are so many stories含羞草研究社� she could tell about the journey leading up to the now fully-functioning facility.
含羞草研究社淚 almost can含羞草研究社檛 believe that this day has arrived. We used to talk about this so much, what it would be like the day that we could proudly announce to the world that we are no longer putting raw wastewater into the beautiful waters of Clayoquot Sound,含羞草研究社� she said as loud applause interrupted her. 含羞草研究社淵es. Hooray, hooray, hooray. How many years has it been?...It含羞草研究社檚 a dream of this community and it含羞草研究社檚 an incredible amount of hard work that it takes to get to a day like today.含羞草研究社�
She expressed gratitude for the many people involved with putting the project together, including local taxpayers.
含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e all part of this and of course part of it too is money. We含羞草研究社檝e had some difficult conversations as a community about what the cost would be and how that would impact our water and wastewater utility bills and how much debt we were willing to take on as a community to make sure that we were doing the right thing,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 think we made really good decisions and we had amazing support from both the provincial and federal government含羞草研究社his is a real victory and a real accomplishment for this community.含羞草研究社�
She recalled that when she moved to Tofino 26 years ago, there was a shellfish closure near the town含羞草研究社檚 sewage outfall and that closure area grew rapidly through the years.
含羞草研究社淚 am so looking forward to the next few years to see that shellfish closure area grow smaller and smaller and smaller because we know that finally we含羞草研究社檙e doing the right thing. We含羞草研究社檙e taking care of this breadbasket Clayoquot Sound that sustains us all and I含羞草研究社檓 just so proud of everything that we含羞草研究社檝e managed to do with this project,含羞草研究社� she said.
Tofino含羞草研究社檚 current mayor Dan Law thanked a longlist of contributors to the project含羞草研究社檚 completion and spoke to the Nuu chah nulth principle that 含羞草研究社榓ll things are one.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 so thankful that the Tla-o-qui-aht are willing to share some of their wisdom that they have learned from stewarding these lands for time immemorial,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲hen we care for the environment, we care for each other and we care for generations that will come long after we are gone. That含羞草研究社檚 a wonderful thing to share.含羞草研究社�
He acknowledged that the construction of the new facility had brought burdens to residents and businesses.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been really disruptive. There含羞草研究社檚 been businesses that have had giant holes and construction equipment outside their business for a long time and it seems like there含羞草研究社檚 a lot that we all could complain about, and yet, honestly, I含羞草研究社檝e heard so little complaining,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 part of my job that people complain to me, so feel free, but the complaining that I do hear is always couched with a final clause, 含羞草研究社榃ell, it will be over and we know that it含羞草研究社檚 for a good thing.含羞草研究社櫤卟菅芯可鐫
He added that the new facility含羞草研究社檚 construction is a 含羞草研究社渇antastic含羞草研究社� triumph for the community, though the success will likely be forgotten as new issues arise.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 hard to explain how fantastic it is because we know that in a year everybody含羞草研究社檚 going to forget about it. The sewage is going to go out mysteriously as it always has. But, we know that what we are doing is amazing,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t just goes to show to me what a resilient and visionary community that we have. That when we share a goal and we tackle even a most difficult challenge, we do it together含羞草研究社ou含羞草研究社檝e shown an amazing amount of support and patience.含羞草研究社�
He added that along with federal and provincial funding, the project was also buoyed by funds from the town含羞草研究社檚 tourism sector and fixed roof accommodation providers.
含羞草研究社�(They) have, through the (Municipal Regional District Tax) program, been contributing significant amounts, $400,000 a year, towards this capital project,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just one example of how our tourism sector and larger fixed roof accommodation providers are supporting our community and our environment.含羞草研究社�
He pointed to Courtenay-Alberni MP and former Tofino municipal councillor Gord Johns in the audience and touted his efforts to get federal dollars into the project.
含羞草研究社淎t a crucial time in this project where there was a potential that it would miss windows and have a really difficult time getting forward, Gord Johns stepped up,含羞草研究社� Law said. 含羞草研究社淏ecause of Gord含羞草研究社檚 hard work, determination and his advocacy for this community and this project, it was able to get done in an essential window of time.含羞草研究社�
He noted Osborne also stepped up at a crucial time to find provincial funding.
含羞草研究社淛osie took this on personally, she worked behind the scenes incredibly hard,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚 am honoured to say that we are so very well represented in Ottawa and Victoria. Without them, this project would have been much, much, much more difficult to get forward.含羞草研究社�
He expressed gratitude to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their support and advocacy.
含羞草研究社淚 look forward to working with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation more on major projects. It含羞草研究社檚 been a joy,含羞草研究社� he said.
Johns spoke next and excitedly proclaimed it was 含羞草研究社渁 great day.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淚t is so great to be home in Tofino, Tla-o-qui-aht territory, with a big celebration today,含羞草研究社� he said.
Johns recalled being on the town含羞草研究社檚 municipal council in 2008 and talking about the project back then as he pointed to members of district staff who have been working on it since then as well as others who have contributed, including members of the Wastewater Management Committee.
含羞草研究社淵our passion to make sure that we含羞草研究社檙e doing what含羞草研究社檚 right and our duty to protect the environment, to live up to the teachings and the values of Tla-o-qui-aht and their ancestors and the important role that we play,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭his is just an incredible achievement含羞草研究社his is the largest investment, not just in the history of Tofino, but all of the history in Tofino put together from the federal government and it含羞草研究社檚 long overdue. We had decades where we couldn含羞草研究社檛 get money, we were just too far from Ottawa where they didn含羞草研究社檛 care and we put a lot of money in the coffers and the banks in Ottawa to help communities across this country have success, so it含羞草研究社檚 our turn on this project so that we can do the responsible thing.含羞草研究社�
He added protecting the oceans and ecosystem is a key priority of the West Coast and its residents and touted Law含羞草研究社檚 efforts in securing funding from higher levels of government.
含羞草研究社淒an, I can含羞草研究社檛 say enough. There was a lot of silence at the end of a couple of those calls when you were calling me for the size of the money that you were asking for. You came to Ottawa, you pushed hard. You were relentless,含羞草研究社� Johns said. 含羞草研究社淵ou got this across the finish line. Without your push and determination, it wouldn含羞草研究社檛 have happened.含羞草研究社�
Rodgers then introduced his boss and district CAO Nyla Attiana who heralded her staff含羞草研究社檚 efforts in getting the project completed.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 difficult to get emotional about wastewater, but I might because I含羞草研究社檓 going to be talking about my staff,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 extremely proud to be standing here today to celebrate this momentous occasion for our region; one that we含羞草研究社檝e been looking forward to for a very long time. This is an important day for many of my staff who have worked diligently and tirelessly on this project.含羞草研究社�
She added the new facility was 含羞草研究社渄ecades in the making含羞草研究社� and many people were integral to its fruition, giving a particular shoutout to North American Construction.
含羞草研究社淣AC, you have been a part of our community, not just working in our community throughout the duration of this project. You have gone above and beyond during emergencies resulting from extreme storms to help us address critical infrastructure challenges to restore services to our community. Those are times that we will forever be grateful for and have become meaningful memories of the project,含羞草研究社� she said.
She reiterated that her staff were exemplary throughout the process.
含羞草研究社淚 have the honour of leading a team of employees that I would describe as hardworking problem solvers, innovators and individuals of extremely high integrity,含羞草研究社� she said, thanking her predecessor, former CAO Bob MacPherson, as well as the town含羞草研究社檚 council for providing the resources necessary for an effective team to grow.
含羞草研究社淥ur success as a local government translates into success for our community. Today is about celebrating this success together,含羞草研究社� she said.
Attiana said the project felt 含羞草研究社澓卟菅芯可鐦insurmountable含羞草研究社� when it began, but was led through rough waters by project manager Simon Kirkland.
含羞草研究社淪imon has the ability to put a comprehensible box around a very complex project. This is an invaluable skill in a project manager,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淪imon, you含羞草研究社檝e been an exemplary leader on this project. Thank you for looking out for the district含羞草研究社檚 interests, for the patience in bringing us all along and for your consistent communication throughout the project. You made it look effortless, but I know you will be needing a vacation very, very soon.含羞草研究社�
Kirkland was the event含羞草研究社檚 final speaker and thanked his project team and the audience for arriving to celebrate the success.
含羞草研究社淎s this plant becomes operational, it officially ends the decades long practice of discharging untreated raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淚n doing so, as all the other speakers have said, we含羞草研究社檙e taking a massive, critical step forward in protecting the unique ecosystems that surround us, helping to set an example and show other communities that are in the same boat here in Canada that it is possible.含羞草研究社�
