Joint News Release - The Alberni Valley & Bamfield Thanks Residents For Staying Close to Home Over May Long Weekend

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 at 12 noon

JOINT NEWS RELEASE
THE ALBERNI VALLEY & BAMFIELD THANKS RESIDENTS
FOR STAYING CLOSE TO HOME OVER MAY LONG WEEKEND

As the Province of BC continues to restrict non-essential travel, we want to thank Alberni Valley and Bamfield residents for staying close to home during the upcoming May long weekend. It is taking an immense collective effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and we recognize the tremendous sacrifice, patience and understanding that residents are undertaking to ensure the health and safety of our entire region.

We acknowledge that May long weekend is typically a time for gathering, recreating, and enjoying leisure activities and we understand that residents often look forward to travelling to other communities during this holiday weekend. But these are not typical times and as we readjust to our “new normal” we would like to remind you to enjoy the splendor of your own beautiful community and explore your own backyard.

Residents of the Alberni Valley and Bamfield are blessed with incredible surroundings that allow us to enjoy nearby lakes, outdoor recreation, green spaces, and hikes on local trails. We ask you to stay within your own area and to take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures near to you.

COVID-19 continues to pose a risk to small and rural communities, and while the Bamfield and Anacla communities and that of the Alberni Valley are not ready to welcome visitors, we are preparing for the time when we can safely do so.

A time will come when all communities will eagerly open their arms to welcome visitors but that time is not now. We look forward to the day when we can travel between communities safely and with ease. This day will come and we thank you for your patience.

Quotes:
“Huu-ay-aht has made the health of our citizens our priority and must protect the vulnerable population in Pachena Bay, so our treaty lands and private lands will remain closed to the public,” Chief Councillor Robert J. Dennis Sr. explained, adding this includes monitoring areas like Pachena Bay Campground, Sarita Lake Camp area, Blenheim Main, Sugsaw Main, and more on May long weekend. “We look forward to welcoming people back to our hahuułi when it is safe.”

“Tseshaht are a resilient people and have done a great job practicing social distancing. During this May long weekend we encourage visitors to not visit Tseshaht hahuułi including the City of Port Alberni and the Broken Group Islands and remain in their own communities for the health and safety of all. We are all in this together.” – Tseshaht Chief Councillor, Cynthia Dick

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District
Emergency Operations Centre
250-724-1356 / eocoperations@acrd.bc.ca

www.letsconnectpa.ca/covid-19
www.acrd.bc.ca
www.portalberni.ca