Mike Bell has successfully raised the profile of the threatened Courtenary River Estuary, leading the community against the development of this environmentally significant landscape.
Mike is a hometown hero for his extensive work with the Sierra Club, Courtenay River Estuary and Coal Watch, acting as a positive example for the citizens of Comox Valley.
His most notable accomplishment was leading the community against the development of a gas service station on Comox Road, which links the communities of Comox and Courtenay. The proposed gas station was slated to be developed within an internationally recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) and in very close proximity to the K’omoks First Nation, which is also recognized for cultural and anthropological significance.
Mike realized tremendous success in raising the profile of the threatened Courtenay River Estuary through
- Creating a technical advisory committee to provide input on future developments
- Influencing the regional district to freeze further industrial development on Comox Road
- Convincing the Sierra Club to sue the CVRD and the owner of the gas station in B.C. Supreme Court.
These accomplishments can be attributed to Mike’s efforts of involving the community. More than 50 letters and papers on the issue were published by local media, he delivered public presentations to the regional district, and he secured 1 300 signatures as part of a petition to oppose the development.
