Plans by the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary for a crosswalk in the community to be painted in acknowledgement of the organization’s 125th anniversary last year have been scuttled due to the high cost.
In February, Susan Beaubier, coordinator of the auxiliary’s 125 anniversary celebrations, wrote a letter to the Municipality of North Cowichan council asking that, as part of the anniversary celebrations, the auxiliary would like to have the crosswalk by its thrift shop at the corner of Oak and Maple streets in Chemainus painted to acknowledge its many years serving the community.
“We realize that this requires approval by the municipality and will require a number of steps to achieve completion,” Beaubier said in the letter.
“This letter is to request the opening of discussions with a representative of the municipality to explore options that would achieve approval by council and see the successful completion of this project by May 1.”
However, this discussions revealed that the cost of the crosswalk would be between $14,000 and $15,000, and the auxiliary decided to withdraw its request.
In a follow up letter to North Cowichan after the discussions, which was on the agenda at the municipality’s council meeting on March 19, Beaubier thanked North Cowichan for considering the auxiliary’s request and the research carried out by the municipality’s staff regarding the logistics and estimated cost for this project.
“Based on the cost estimate, the auxiliary executive does not believe this is a prudent use of $14,000 to $15,000, be it tax payers’ or the auxiliary’s monies,” she said. “Consequently, we wish to withdraw our initial request for the crosswalk.”
North Cowichan Coun. Tek Manhas thanked the auxiliary at the council meeting on March 19 for withdrawing its request for the crosswalk after being told what its cost would be.
"After finding out what our budget constraints are this year, I commend the auxiliary for pulling back on that," he said.
Through fundraising efforts, the auxiliary, which began in 1899, provides financial donations to health-care facilities and organizations in the community in order to support the ongoing comfort and care of citizens.
The auxiliary is made up of members who donate their time to the operation of the thrift shop, as well as to other initiatives such as Meals on Wheels, Tea Service and Candy Stripers at the Chemainus Health Care Centre.
