Mayor's Welcome

Mayor Lefebure’s 2011 Inaugural Address

I would like to welcome all of you, family, friends, dignitaries and staff, to this inaugural ceremony and acknowledge that we are meeting in the traditional territory of the Cowichan Tribes.  I take particular pleasure in thanking Pastor Mark Buchanan for his invocation today and his support over many years. I would also like to thank QC Glen Ridgway for his unique swearing–in. We have 3 Freemen present today, Anne Murray, Jim Dias and the afore-mentioned Glen Ridgway and I thank them for attending.

I would like to take a moment to thank George Seymour for his years of service on Council, and on the CVRD Board. George has been a tireless, dedicated, productive, and progressive force in this Municipality for most of the last 2 decades. With no thought of self, no ulterior motive, he has, through sheer hard work, made this community a much better place.  And if you will allow me a personal comment, I stand before you now because of a long conversation I had with George 14 years ago on a freezing cold afternoon in Chemainus, when he hooked me and then netted me in a discussion over the Official Community Plan. George, your community applauds you.

As we mark the inauguration of a new Council, I offer my congratulations to the Fire Chiefs and their Deputy Chiefs who will be sworn in today. You are leaders among the large group of dedicated volunteers that serve this community in our Fire Halls, on municipal committees, in service organizations, and on community associations.  The list is long and without all of you, we would have a community stripped of its heart and soul.

Supporting the work of our volunteers and delivering a wide array of vital community services, North Cowichan is blessed to have, here at the Municipal Hall, in Public Works, at our recreation facilities, at the RCMP and out in the community, a hard-working, highly-skilled staff that is the backbone of this community. Whether it is dealing with flood waters, answering questions at the counter, preparing committee reports, repairing a sewer line or any of a thousand other tasks, they are a crucial part of our daily connection to the community and deserve our support and respect for the manner in which they serve our citizens.

I offer congratulations to our four returning Councillors; Councillors Hartmann, Lines, Koury and Siebring, for stepping forward to serve the community, knowing full well that this is not work for the faint of heart.  Your experience and knowledge will be of great value to our Community.
I am truly delighted to welcome two novice Councillors; Councillors Woike and Marsh. You will bring new energy and vision to a job that demands all of your talents, that engages your heart and your mind in full measure. Trust your common sense, preserve your sense of humour and you will earn the respect of your peers and justify the faith that has been placed in you by the citizens of North Cowichan.

This Council comes together with a strong and diverse set of skills and will quickly find they are needed.

We are, more than ever, facing challenging economic conditions.  At the same time, there are infrastructure needs that must be met. We will have to be creative with our resources and deliberate carefully on our spending.  We must ensure that we are operating on a sound financial basis.

In accordance with the new Official Community Plan,  we will work to build a sustainable community – a place where there are jobs for our workers, where a healthy environment is paramount, where we are committed to help the least fortunate amongst us. 

As we move ahead, we will strive to build trust and understanding with our First Nations neighbours, knowing that we are privileged to share this land with them. We will work on our common interests together for the betterment of the greater community.

We will continue to build bridges with the City of Duncan and our partners at the Regional District as we deal with our mutual concerns – flood control, recreational facilities, affordable housing, clean air and water, and economic development to name but a few. Working together with all of our neighbours, we can accomplish far more than on our own.

With a strong Council and your support, I am looking forward to a very productive 3 years, confident that we can meet and overcome the challenges ahead.

Thank you.  Huy ch q’u.