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Commen-Terry: Glacier View Lodge suddenly a secret society?

What’s going on at Glacier View Lodge, and why does the Glacier View Lodge Society not want the public to know about it?
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What’s going on at Glacier View Lodge, and why does the Glacier View Lodge Society not want the public to know about it?

The second half of that question is the most disturbing, considering the not-for-profit society has been built from the pocketbooks of our community.

Ever since the announcement of plans for a “partnership” between Glacier View Lodge, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Vancouver-based Providence Health Care, those at Glacier View Lodge Society have been conspicuously quiet.

It’s raised more than just a few eyebrows in the community, and now, at what might be the most important time in the history of the society, it has gone from transparent to a “total blackout.”

Speculation is that a deal is imminent between the society, St. Joseph’s and Providence. But to call that deal a partnership, which is what the trio did in its only public announcement (Hospital, Glacier View announce plans of partnership with Vancouver’s faith-based Providence Health Care, Thursday, Feb. 9 Record) is a stretch. A partnership does not generally include the dissolution of one group, which is apparently what is in store for the Glacier View Lodge Society.

According to minutes of a June 23 Society Members’ Engagement Meeting obtained by The Record, a Powerpoint presentation provided by board members stated,

“In November 2017, the plan will be for GVL to dissolve and Providence will take over liability and assets of GVL, which includes the land.”

The upcoming annual general meeting for the Glacier View Lodge Society is Sept. 21.

Interested in attending? Too bad. If you are not a “member in good standing,” you are not invited.

That’s right: a not-for-profit association is holding a closed door AGM.

We understand that in order to vote on any issues, you must be a member in good standing. That goes without saying. But to close the doors to the public? While technically, this is not illegal, it seems unethical, when it comes to transparency of charities.

And when asked for an explanation, GVL executive director Michael Aikins dodged the question.

“In my five years with Glacier View Lodge, we have never had a request from a non-society member to attend one of our AGMs.”

Being invited to a function, and asking for an invitation to a function, are two very different things.

Checking with other local charities, this certainly bucks a trend. You Are Not Alone invites the public to all its annual general meetings. Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society? Come one, come all. The LUSH Valley AGM is Monday, Oct. 16. I just received my invitation. Nope, not a member.

But GVLS? Different matter.

Former board member Carter Power says this is a first - that GVL AGMs have always been open to the public before this year.

I know what you’re thinking. Why not buy a membership to the Glacier View Lodge Society prior to the AGM? Interested? Too bad! Like a crew of little boys in a treehouse club, there’s a “no more members” policy in place. In fact, according to the minutes of the aforementioned June 23 meeting, there was a cutoff date of July 20 for new society members. (Aikins also denied that.) That certainly doesn’t sound like the action of a society that plans on existing in the future.

(Incidentally, I was turned down when I requested membership Sept. 5.)

I try to support as many local charities as I can, as does my wife.

Never before have I felt the need to pay closer attention to the raffle tickets I buy at a mall, or the cash donations made at kiosks during community events.

I can assure you, those days are gone. I’d much rather donate my money to YANA, or MARS, or other local non-profits that tend to be more transparent with their dealings. I’m not saying I attend all local AGMs; I don’t. But it’s nice to know the option is there, so that, if I so choose, I can hear about where my donation money has been spent, or what the future plans are for my charitable donation.

What happened to the “vibrant community interactions” GVL boasts about in its mission statement on its website?

Don’t misinterpret this as me being against the proposed “partnership.” It could well be the best option for our aging community. But I do find it suspicious that the entire process has been hidden from the general public.

Aikins claims due diligence will be followed, “… engaging those who would be most affected – our residents, families, staff – as well as our volunteers, board and society members.”

What about any future residents? Apparently we don’t count.

Something stinks here… and it’s too early in the spawning season to blame that fishy smell on dead salmon.

Terry Farrell is the editor of the Comox Valley Record.



Terry Farrell

About the Author: Terry Farrell

Terry returned to Black Press in 2014, after seven years at a daily publication in Alberta. He brings 14 years of editorial experience to Comox Valley Record...
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