1.1 Art at Council

Good evening everyone! I normally have the privilege of speaking about Art at Council, but we are going to change it up a bit for tonight. For the past two years the Port Moody Heritage Society has been working on a book entitled Tracks in Time: Port Moody’s First 100 Years, and it’s finally ready! I’d like to introduce Jim Millar to enlighten us on more of the details.

Jim Millar provide a brief background on the book and introduced Orem Payne who read a passage from the book.

After 40 years on the job, the longest-consecutive-serving sergeant-at-arms of a B.C. legion is ready to retire. When Leo Braniff led his first Remembrance Day parade, there was still a large contingent of Second World War veterans, and a handful of First World War survivors. The veterans from the two wars would gather at the Port Moody legion after the parade to sing the old war songs. "There has been a lot of good memories," Braniff recalled.

For 40 years, Braniff served as the sergeant-at-arms for the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 119. In that time, he's run the annual parade, looked after the colour guard and kept order at legion meetings. Now the 77-year-old veteran is retiring from his duties, passing on the job to another member.

"They asked if I would take it [sergeant-at-arms] over for one year - that was 1972," Braniff said. "I said, 'Sure no problem.' Basically, I've been doing it ever since." It was a position that came naturally to the former New Westminster police officer.

When Braniff took over, the legion's colour party had just three members. As he retires, it now has a full complement of twelve. The colour party basically handles drill movements, flag protocol and flag drills.

"Might as well go out while you're still on top," Braniff said, noting his moves aren't quite what they were in the past. He also leaves behind a march's worth of memories, which included days the job required him to get a little tough. At a gathering of vets on both sides of the border in Texas years back, Braniff was given the nod to run the parade. So when a member said he had for-gotten his black shoes, a direct order came down from the sergeant-at-arms. "If you don't get a pair of black shoes, I'm going to paint your feet black," Braniff joked.

In his four decades, he's also observed the various ebbs and flows of legion life. Braniff noted the resurgence in the interest of veterans and Remembrance Day from the general public. The air force vet believes it started with the D-Day 50th anniversary celebrations, and has continued with a new generation of troops fighting in Afghanistan. "The public's much more aware now than back in the 1970s," he said.

The man taking over the role of sergeant-at-arms for the legion admits he has big shoes to fill. "It's a huge honour - it's also very scary," said

Tom Warwick, who joined the colour party more than 30 years ago.

"It's a way bigger job than it seems." Warwick even tried to convince Braniff to stay on for another 10 years, to no avail. The new sergeant is also in awe of his predecessor's 40 years at the helm, pointing out that no other sergeant-at-arms in B.C. has carried out a stint that long consecutively. "I just hope I can do it as well as Leo," Warwick said.

A big retirement bash for Braniff is also in the works for the new year. Though he won't be running the parades, he won't be straying too far from the legion, adding he intends to stay involved. But Braniff admits it will be a little weird to watch the parade from the sidelines. So, he'll be available to offer advice to Warwick. "I'll be there if he needs me," Braniff said. And judging by the legacy he leaves behind, that help will likely be accepted and appreciated.

Harriette Chang, School Counsellor, and students from Maple Creek Middle School, Panorama Heights Elementary School, Harbour View Elementary School, Scott Creek Middle School, Mountain Meadows Elementary School, Anmore Elementary School, advised that Real Acts of Caring refers to doing something kind and caring for another person and not expecting anything back in return. The delegation shared some of their Real Acts of Caring to help inspire others. They suggested that RAC can be as simple as a smile. They requested that Council to pass a proclamation which recognizes Real Acts of Caring (RAC) week February 10-16, 2013.

The following 2012 Civic Awards were presented:

"City of Port Moody Officers Bylaw, 2013, No. 2951" a bylaw to establish officer positions and assign powers, duties and functions to its officer positions.

Councillor Dilworth left the meeting at 8:51pm

4.5a Proposed Addition to Pool Building for Rocky Point Ice Cream – Issuance of Building Permit for a Structure Bridging a Property Line and Waiving of Associated Development Variance Permit Application Fee

Report: Development Services, Planning Division, dated January 14, 2013  / File: 3090-20-108

Separation was requested.

Councillor Dilworth returned to the meeting at 8:54pm.

The General Manager of Development Services provided a background on the project and the subject lands.

Council noted the following correction to the second sentence under the heading "Background":

"When the committee system was last reviewed some time ago, an amendment to the policy was that committees would meet at a minimum of once a month (not twice a month as printed).

The Mover and Seconder rescinded the motion.

The City Manager, with the support from the General Managers of the City, provided a detailed overview of the Port Moody Team Action Plan unveiled this evening.

Voting against: Councillor Small

Voting against: Councillor Dilworth 

Voting against: Councillors Dilworth and Elliott

AND THAT the Development and Calibration of Water and Sanitary Network Models Project be funded via $43,540 from the Water Capital Reserve and $78,640 from the Sewer & Drainage Capital Reserve.

Councillor Dilworth declared a conflict of interest as she is employed by Pacific Coast Terminals and left the meeting at 10:01pm.

Councillor Dilworth returned to the meeting at 10:05pm

Report: Councillor Rick Glumac dated January 15, 2013  / File: 0230-25

Item dealt with during Item 3.1

THAT the minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of Tuesday, December 11, 2012 be adopted.