APRM

The Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin (APRM) is a ‘grass roots’ organization which had its beginning in the fall of 1991 with five local residents seated around a neighbour’s kitchen table. Like those who had the vision and commitment to work for Metchosin’s incorporation in 1984, the founding members of APRM were not ‘issue driven’ but rather focused on defining the long-term measures required to help residents protect Metchosin’s ambience as a rural community.  Given the strength of regional development pressures however, specific ”issues” soon made themselves known.

 

APRM was formally registered as a non-profit society on 30 June 1993.  Drafting, reviewing, discussing and securing membership approval of the Constitution and Mission Statement (required for registration), took three months.  That effort proved critical.  The constitution and by-laws have helped kept APRM focused on the important objectives and procedures which remain as pertinent today as they were in the early 90s.

 

In the early years APRM hosted regular meetings and guest speakers at the Metchosin Pre-School facility.  Planning meetings were often scheduled at members’ individual residences. Early fundraisers such as community-wide garage sales as well as annual social events supported the Association.  While APRM is non-political, it strongly supports local democracy, and has for many years sponsored all- candidates-meetings for local mayor and council elections.

 

Over time, APRM’s has also been indirectly involved in community events through participation by members in such activities as Metchosin’s OCP Review, Uplands Planning Commission, Metchosin-East Sooke Restructure Committee, the Finance Planning Committee, and the Regional Growth Strategy, to name just a few.

 

At the time of writing (June 2020) APRM is proud to rely on in excess of three hundred members in good standing – all of whom have chosen to live here, know the reasons why, and have repeatedly demonstrated their readiness to support the ongoing preservation of our community in its rural form.