It's a necessary stop for those travelling in RVs, but for a recent reopening of a popular sani dump site, those who use the facility can give back to the community while cleaning out.
Thanks to Christopher Smith, president of Enecon Alberta, the popular site is now open again at the Courtenay Canadian Tire on the Old Island Highway.
"The idea was born when I questioned the GM of Canadian Tire on the permanent closure of … the sani dump site," he explained. "I completely agreed with the reasoning and went home."
Keith Pistell, store manager of Canadian Tire said the site, which was near the loading docks, was closed around six months ago due to mess and unsanitary conditions.
"The sani site was by far the most convenient and easy to get to in town," he added.
"But over the year, we were faced with a number of issues. It was a free service and most RVers are really good with using the site properly, but there were a few who weren't using it properly, and it just wasn't worth the time and effort when it wasn't a revenue-generator."
Smith noted he thought about the impact the site had on the community, the frustrations the store experienced and the corrective actions it would take to make the site usable again.
He approached the store with his ideas on containing odours and health hazards, and with the help of volunteers, the site is now open, and those who use it are asked to make a donation which will go to Comox Valley charities, including YANA (You Are Not Alone).
"We are delighted (Chris) has chosen for the donations to be made to YANA It's a great idea and we are delighted," noted YANA director Hugh MacKinnon.
"A group of like-minded campers are volunteering to look after it, and they will open it, monitor it and close it," added Pistell. "It's a win-win for RVers, the store and the community."
Smith said a cleaned and protective polymer low-maintenance coating has been applied to the dump station by community donors, along with signage and repairs and fabrications.
"We need a plumbing facility to educate us on pipe maintenance to keep it running in the right direction," he added. "Let's dump it on charity and raise some continued support for our community."
He is encouraging those looking to volunteer or to find out when the facility is open, visit www.dumpforyana.com.
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