A toilet-paper ribbon was cut and TofinoB次元官网网址檚 Poet Laureate regaled an enthusiastic crowd with her freshly penned B次元官网网址楾he Flush of our SuccessB次元官网网址� before accompanying a choir for a song that included the words: B次元官网网址淎t last we wonB次元官网网址檛 be surfing, surfing in our pooB次元官网网址� parodying The Beach Boys.

Tofino has officially stopped pumping raw wastewater into the ocean.

Community members, politicians and stakeholders gathered to celebrate the townB次元官网网址檚 long-awaited wastewater treatment facility on Aug. 22.

The roughly one-hour celebration MCB次元官网网址檇 by the districtB次元官网网址檚 director of infrastructure and public works Aaron Rodgers wiped away years of missed deadlines, underestimated budget costs and criticism over discharging raw sewage into the ocean.

Back in 2015, the federal government imposed a deadline of 2020 for the town to treat its sewage. That deadline whizzed past and the in 2020 as contractors bid closer to $84 million to build the project.

The district had initially received $40 million from the provincial and federal governments to build what it thought would be a $54 million project with $14 million coming by way of local taxpayers, but the $84 million figure flushed that idea.

The district took several kicks at the can for more funding from their provincial and federal colleagues and managed to secure enough from

That $77.5 budget held true and the district was finally able to celebrate.

B次元官网网址淭hanks for being here on this auspicious occasion to celebrate the opening of TofinoB次元官网网址檚 wastewater treatment plant,B次元官网网址� Rodgers said to loud applause, cheers and whistles. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the districtB次元官网网址檚 pleasure to present a project that is on budget and ahead of schedule.B次元官网网址�

Mid Island - Pacific Rim MLA and TofinoB次元官网网址檚 former mayor Josie Osborne spoke at the event and joked about the formalities of the celebration.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen somebody wearing a tie outside of a wastewater treatment plant,B次元官网网址� she laughed, referencing RodgersB次元官网网址� suit. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e known Aaron for years and the tie does not come out often, so that just shows the dignity and honour of this occasion.B次元官网网址�

Osborne spoke to the beauty of TofinoB次元官网网址檚 natural surroundings and the importance of solid stewardship within the Tla-o-qui-aht First NationB次元官网网址檚 traditional territories.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 our privilege to live in this place and anyone whoB次元官网网址檚 lived in Tofino for even a minute knows just how important it is to take care of this place and that we have a real responsibility to live up to the stewardship that the HaB次元官网网址檞iih of the Nation have led in this place for millenia,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭he wastewater treatment plant is an absolute cornerstone of that commitment.B次元官网网址�

Osborne was the townB次元官网网址檚 mayor from 2013B次元官网网址�2020 and suggested B次元官网网址渢here are so many storiesB次元官网网址� she could tell about the journey leading up to the now fully-functioning facility.

B次元官网网址淚 almost canB次元官网网址檛 believe that this day has arrived. We used to talk about this so much, what it would be like the day that we could proudly announce to the world that we are no longer putting raw wastewater into the beautiful waters of Clayoquot Sound,B次元官网网址� she said as loud applause interrupted her. B次元官网网址淵es. Hooray, hooray, hooray. How many years has it been?...ItB次元官网网址檚 a dream of this community and itB次元官网网址檚 an incredible amount of hard work that it takes to get to a day like today.B次元官网网址�

She expressed gratitude for the many people involved with putting the project together, including local taxpayers.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e all part of this and of course part of it too is money. WeB次元官网网址檝e had some difficult conversations as a community about what the cost would be and how that would impact our water and wastewater utility bills and how much debt we were willing to take on as a community to make sure that we were doing the right thing,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think we made really good decisions and we had amazing support from both the provincial and federal governmentB次元官网网址�This is a real victory and a real accomplishment for this community.B次元官网网址�

She recalled that when she moved to Tofino 26 years ago, there was a shellfish closure near the townB次元官网网址檚 sewage outfall and that closure area grew rapidly through the years.

B次元官网网址淚 am so looking forward to the next few years to see that shellfish closure area grow smaller and smaller and smaller because we know that finally weB次元官网网址檙e doing the right thing. WeB次元官网网址檙e taking care of this breadbasket Clayoquot Sound that sustains us all and IB次元官网网址檓 just so proud of everything that weB次元官网网址檝e managed to do with this project,B次元官网网址� she said.

TofinoB次元官网网址檚 current mayor Dan Law thanked a longlist of contributors to the projectB次元官网网址檚 completion and spoke to the Nuu chah nulth principle that B次元官网网址榓ll things are one.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 so thankful that the Tla-o-qui-aht are willing to share some of their wisdom that they have learned from stewarding these lands for time immemorial,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen we care for the environment, we care for each other and we care for generations that will come long after we are gone. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a wonderful thing to share.B次元官网网址�

He acknowledged that the construction of the new facility had brought burdens to residents and businesses.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been really disruptive. ThereB次元官网网址檚 been businesses that have had giant holes and construction equipment outside their business for a long time and it seems like thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot that we all could complain about, and yet, honestly, IB次元官网网址檝e heard so little complaining,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 part of my job that people complain to me, so feel free, but the complaining that I do hear is always couched with a final clause, B次元官网网址榃ell, it will be over and we know that itB次元官网网址檚 for a good thing.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He added that the new facilityB次元官网网址檚 construction is a B次元官网网址渇antasticB次元官网网址� triumph for the community, though the success will likely be forgotten as new issues arise.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard to explain how fantastic it is because we know that in a year everybodyB次元官网网址檚 going to forget about it. The sewage is going to go out mysteriously as it always has. But, we know that what we are doing is amazing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t just goes to show to me what a resilient and visionary community that we have. That when we share a goal and we tackle even a most difficult challenge, we do it togetherB次元官网网址�YouB次元官网网址檝e shown an amazing amount of support and patience.B次元官网网址�

He added that along with federal and provincial funding, the project was also buoyed by funds from the townB次元官网网址檚 tourism sector and fixed roof accommodation providers.

B次元官网网址�(They) have, through the (Municipal Regional District Tax) program, been contributing significant amounts, $400,000 a year, towards this capital project,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just one example of how our tourism sector and larger fixed roof accommodation providers are supporting our community and our environment.B次元官网网址�

He pointed to Courtenay-Alberni MP and former Tofino municipal councillor Gord Johns in the audience and touted his efforts to get federal dollars into the project.

B次元官网网址淎t a crucial time in this project where there was a potential that it would miss windows and have a really difficult time getting forward, Gord Johns stepped up,B次元官网网址� Law said. B次元官网网址淏ecause of GordB次元官网网址檚 hard work, determination and his advocacy for this community and this project, it was able to get done in an essential window of time.B次元官网网址�

He noted Osborne also stepped up at a crucial time to find provincial funding.

B次元官网网址淛osie took this on personally, she worked behind the scenes incredibly hard,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 am honoured to say that we are so very well represented in Ottawa and Victoria. Without them, this project would have been much, much, much more difficult to get forward.B次元官网网址�

He expressed gratitude to the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation for their support and advocacy.

B次元官网网址淚 look forward to working with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation more on major projects. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a joy,B次元官网网址� he said.

Johns spoke next and excitedly proclaimed it was B次元官网网址渁 great day.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t is so great to be home in Tofino, Tla-o-qui-aht territory, with a big celebration today,B次元官网网址� he said.

Johns recalled being on the townB次元官网网址檚 municipal council in 2008 and talking about the project back then as he pointed to members of district staff who have been working on it since then as well as others who have contributed, including members of the Wastewater Management Committee.

B次元官网网址淵our passion to make sure that weB次元官网网址檙e doing whatB次元官网网址檚 right and our duty to protect the environment, to live up to the teachings and the values of Tla-o-qui-aht and their ancestors and the important role that we play,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭his is just an incredible achievementB次元官网网址�This is the largest investment, not just in the history of Tofino, but all of the history in Tofino put together from the federal government and itB次元官网网址檚 long overdue. We had decades where we couldnB次元官网网址檛 get money, we were just too far from Ottawa where they didnB次元官网网址檛 care and we put a lot of money in the coffers and the banks in Ottawa to help communities across this country have success, so itB次元官网网址檚 our turn on this project so that we can do the responsible thing.B次元官网网址�

He added protecting the oceans and ecosystem is a key priority of the West Coast and its residents and touted LawB次元官网网址檚 efforts in securing funding from higher levels of government.

B次元官网网址淒an, I canB次元官网网址檛 say enough. There was a lot of silence at the end of a couple of those calls when you were calling me for the size of the money that you were asking for. You came to Ottawa, you pushed hard. You were relentless,B次元官网网址� Johns said. B次元官网网址淵ou got this across the finish line. Without your push and determination, it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have happened.B次元官网网址�

Rodgers then introduced his boss and district CAO Nyla Attiana who heralded her staffB次元官网网址檚 efforts in getting the project completed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult to get emotional about wastewater, but I might because IB次元官网网址檓 going to be talking about my staff,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 extremely proud to be standing here today to celebrate this momentous occasion for our region; one that weB次元官网网址檝e been looking forward to for a very long time. This is an important day for many of my staff who have worked diligently and tirelessly on this project.B次元官网网址�

She added the new facility was B次元官网网址渄ecades in the makingB次元官网网址� and many people were integral to its fruition, giving a particular shoutout to North American Construction.

B次元官网网址淣AC, you have been a part of our community, not just working in our community throughout the duration of this project. You have gone above and beyond during emergencies resulting from extreme storms to help us address critical infrastructure challenges to restore services to our community. Those are times that we will forever be grateful for and have become meaningful memories of the project,B次元官网网址� she said.

She reiterated that her staff were exemplary throughout the process.

B次元官网网址淚 have the honour of leading a team of employees that I would describe as hardworking problem solvers, innovators and individuals of extremely high integrity,B次元官网网址� she said, thanking her predecessor, former CAO Bob MacPherson, as well as the townB次元官网网址檚 council for providing the resources necessary for an effective team to grow.

B次元官网网址淥ur success as a local government translates into success for our community. Today is about celebrating this success together,B次元官网网址� she said.

Attiana said the project felt B次元官网网址滲次元官网网址榠nsurmountableB次元官网网址� when it began, but was led through rough waters by project manager Simon Kirkland.

B次元官网网址淪imon has the ability to put a comprehensible box around a very complex project. This is an invaluable skill in a project manager,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪imon, youB次元官网网址檝e been an exemplary leader on this project. Thank you for looking out for the districtB次元官网网址檚 interests, for the patience in bringing us all along and for your consistent communication throughout the project. You made it look effortless, but I know you will be needing a vacation very, very soon.B次元官网网址�

Kirkland was the eventB次元官网网址檚 final speaker and thanked his project team and the audience for arriving to celebrate the success.

B次元官网网址淎s this plant becomes operational, it officially ends the decades long practice of discharging untreated raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚n doing so, as all the other speakers have said, weB次元官网网址檙e taking a massive, critical step forward in protecting the unique ecosystems that surround us, helping to set an example and show other communities that are in the same boat here in Canada that it is possible.B次元官网网址�