The Pender Harbour and Area Residents Association (PHARA) has held many successful town hall meetings over the past decade, providing a valuable forum for community engagement and information sharing. These events, typically held in spring and fall at the local Community Hall, have consistently drawn large crowds, filling the venue to capacity.
• Approximately 150 community members attended on October 22
• Key topics discussed:
– Dock Management Plan updates
– Section 7 agreement between local Indigenous nation and provincial government
– Community garden maintenance
– Community wellness project
– Paq Creek restoration project
– Potential incorporation of the area
– Ocean cleanup initiatives
• Reached maximum capacity of 100 participants
• Topics covered:
– COVID-19 community response and resources
– Emergency preparedness planning
– Proposed name change for local area (community opposition noted)
– Land use planning process
– Derelict boat removal efforts
– Beach access and signage improvements
– Trail development and maintenance
• Regular town halls were held from 2014 to 2018 under our former organizational name, the Pender Harbour Advisory Committee
• 2019-2022: Meetings held virtually due to pandemic restrictions
These town halls serve multiple important functions:
We remain committed to hosting these valuable events and adapting their format as needed to best serve our community’s needs.