Cooper says the association is committed to doing public engagement this year to see what residents of Parksville want to see downtown. Photo: Parksville Downtown

Parksville city council has approved an advance of levy funding to the Parksville Downtown Business Association.

The association’s executive director, Teresa Cooper, and treasurer Michelle Jones highlighted the growth the association has seen and its plans for the future at Monday’s council meeting.

There are currently 257 businesses in downtown Parksville and approximately 1,500 people work there.

The association asked council for an advance amount of $50,000 from the levy funding so they can start working on projects for 2024.

The remainder of the levy funds would be paid by the first of August.

Parksville Mayor, Doug O’Brien said the work the association did last year was exciting and jam packed.

“That's what you've done, you provided a great value to us,” O’Brien said. “Thank you for your professionalism of what you've done. You've got a good vibe going on right now and I appreciate that.”

Councillor Amit Gaur asked what the association’s upcoming plans look like.

Cooper said the association is committed to doing public engagement this year to see what residents of Parksville want to see downtown.

“I know there's been a lot of talk about tourism and its impact on Parksville,” Cooper said. “But I think we're missing something if we don't reach out to our neighbours and say, come on down and have a look.”

She said they have applied for a $100,000 grant from the province of BC to do a full community engagement on rural economic diversity and infrastructure programs.

“We've got our fingers crossed for that, and that would be like an 18-month project with a lot of public input to whatever it is,” Cooper said. “What I hope it turns out to be is a real clear picture of the character of Parksville downtown and what we want to promote.”

If the grant does not work out, Cooper said they will do a smaller version to hear from the community.

The community engagement will inform a five-year strategic plan for the downtown.

Councillor Sylvia Martin, shared a story of meeting a new resident who was excited to see all that downtown Parksville has to offer.

“The way in here today, I met a fellow who was picking up his two children from the daycare. So right away, I'm asking ‘where are you from?’, and all this, and he's only been here, a year and a half, his father has been here for seven years,” Martin said. “They came from the mainland. He said ‘I don't know why we didn't come sooner’. He said the downtown has everything for the children, all that we're doing here, including the proximity of the convenience of everything. Just way over the top.”

In 2023, the association hosted 34 events, many in Memorial Plaza. This year, the association is anticipating holding 40 events downtown.

Councillor Joel Grenz asked Cooper what partners in the community the association is collaborating with.

Cooper said the association does have some events planned with partners but does not say who yet as they want to make a joint announcement about the events. Cooper said the association works very closely with stakeholders across the Oceanside area.

We meet as an organization with Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism, the two Chambers [of Commerce], the two [Chief Administrative Officers] and talk about plans for Oceanside. And we especially work really closely with PQBTA which is the tourism association,” Cooper said. “They're launching a five-year plan. And we're trying to weave ourselves in with that plan. So we're not in conflict on anything but moving forward together.”

The motion to advance the funding passed unanimously.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.