Month: May 2016

Are You Prepared For An 8.0 Earthquake?

~ Avry Janes ~ Leave a comment

Shake ZoneResidents and business owners of the Comox Valley and Powell River are invited to participate in the Shake Zone earthquake simulator and emergency preparedness fair to experience what an 8.0 magnitude earthquake feels like and shake up their personal preparedness planning.

The portable simulator will be set up in Simms Millennium Park on Friday, June 3, 2016 from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m in the Comox Valley and in Crossroads Village Parking Lot on Monday, June 6, 2016 from 1:30 to 7:00 p.m in Powell River.

In addition to the earthquake simulator, emergency responders as well as emergency preparedness and insurance displays will be onsite to help educate on best practices to be prepared and lower your risk.

The Comox Valley and Powell River  Emergency Program has partnered with Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), First Insurance, Westview Agencies and other emergency programs across Vancouver Island to bring the Shake Zone to various stops on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. The event is free to attend and up to three people at a time will be able to take part in the simulator. Elected officials and school groups will take part between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m in the Comox Valley and at 1:30 p.m in Powell River.

Children must be a minimum of eight years old to participate and children eight to 10 years old must participate with a legal guardian. To view highlights from the 2015 tour, click here. For more information about the Shake Zone, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/quake or http://www.powellriverrd.bc.ca/community-services-2/emergency-preparedness/

5 Reasons to Bike to Work

~ Rachael Barton-Bridges ~ Leave a comment

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With Bike to Work Week quickly approaching, here are some motivators to get you out of your vehicle and onto your bicycle! There are so many benefits to biking to work, but here are five main reasons how biking to work will improve your overall well-being.

  1. Your health

It’s not news that staying physically fit is essential for a healthy lifestyle. What better way to do this than by biking to work? It is not just your physical health that is improved by exercise, either. Exercising has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and to improve overall mental health.

  1. Save money

Not only are you saving money by not paying for an exercise class, but also you are cutting your costs of gas. With the cost of fuel perpetually rising, biking to work is clearly an economical choice.

  1. Cut down on greenhouse gases

Using less gas isn’t just beneficial for you in a financial sense—you’re doing the planet a favour. Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by not driving your vehicle to work brings us one step closing to inhibiting the development of climate change.

  1. Enjoy the fresh air

Let the planet do you a favour, too, by getting outside and taking advantage of the fresh air. If you’re headed to the office to spend all day indoors, what better way to start and end your day than an outdoor bike ride?

  1. Boost productivity

A breath of fresh air, along with exercise, first thing in the morning has been shown to increase productivity throughout the day. Get your endorphins flowing and get to work—hop on your bicycle!

Save the planet, save your health, save money… Really, there’s not much to lose! Join us in participating in Bike to Work Week this week. Look out for the Celebration Station in the parking lot of our Powell River (Joyce Avenue) Branch, offering free coffee and bike checks every morning of the week, and come enjoy free pancakes on Friday morning at the Joyce Branch from 7:30-8:45am! Check out our Facebook event for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1216678151706425/