Port McNeill councillor Derek Koel was thinking outside the box when he came up with an innovative way to help promote the townB次元官网网址檚 active transportation plan.

Koel used the popular app Tik Tok to make a rap video and then shared it on his social media pages, generating hundreds of hits so far.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been posting Tik Tok videos since covid started in March,B次元官网网址� he said when asked to comment on the video. B次元官网网址淚 love it, IB次元官网网址檝e been doing two or three videos a day and I really love the platform, it was also a really good way to connect with my daughter, sheB次元官网网址檚 into it, and now IB次元官网网址檝e got more subscribers than her,B次元官网网址� he laughed.

Active transportation is a personal matter for Koel, who said heB次元官网网址檚 always been a bicycle commuter. B次元官网网址淎ctive transportation is basically anything but carsB次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 not just bike paths, itB次元官网网址檚 about creating non-vehicle paths and connections in a community to encourage people that they donB次元官网网址檛 have to always drive.B次元官网网址�

When he noticed a grant for active transportation planning come up, he brought it forward to his council and they were all on board to apply.

After being approved for the funds, the Town of Port McNeill received $25,000 for planning, and they matched it with $25,000 from the townB次元官网网址檚 general revenue fund.

B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檝e done as a small town is invest quite a bit in this plan, but what is going to come out of it is about a half dozen or so shovel ready projects,B次元官网网址� Koel noted, adding that they are now going to have B次元官网网址渆ngineer drawings, weB次元官网网址檙e going to have estimates, and this will all come together before our official community plan is finished, meaning weB次元官网网址檒l be ready for the next round of grant funding after that. Step one to getting these grants is to have a plan in place.B次元官网网址�

One project Koel hopes to see happen from all of this is to continue the townB次元官网网址檚 rotary trail all the way into the downtown area by Shoprite Marine.

As for whether Koel will continue using social media to promote town business, he said that he will continue pushing B次元官网网址渇or all of us to really double down on social mediaB次元官网网址� If it brings more attention to the town and itB次元官网网址檚 fun and it gets people interested, itB次元官网网址檚 worth it.B次元官网网址�

Nov. 30 is the deadline for residents to give their input on the active transportation plan map, and Koel confirmed there will be more opportunities in the future for residents to comment on the plans.

Check out KoelB次元官网网址檚 Tik Tok account and the interactive map