I believe Chilliwack can grow, change and improve without losing sight of the people, places and systems that make our city work. These are the issues I would bring with me to City Hall, and the principles I would use when making decisions about the future of our city.
A decision can look simple on paper and feel very different in real life. Through community work, I have seen how transportation, public spaces, services and cost can change whether something actually works for someone.
At City Hall, I would look at how decisions connect. Growth affects roads. Roads affect access. Development affects infrastructure. Infrastructure affects budgets. The choices we make today can shape what is possible years from now.
Growth should come with planning. Investment should come with accountability. Development should come with the infrastructure it requires. Public input should come before important decisions. And today's choices should be made with tomorrow in mind.
These are the issues I would pay closest attention to at City Hall, and the principles I would bring to the decisions in front of Council.
I know that good decisions start with listening. I want to hear from residents, businesses, community groups and City staff before deciding how a problem should be addressed.
Chilliwack is changing, and I believe growth can bring real opportunity. The question is how we plan it so new neighbourhoods work well today and continue to work years from now.
People need homes, and Chilliwack will continue to grow. I believe we should welcome the opportunities that come with growth while being thoughtful about where and how our city develops.
I do not want to decide what every neighbourhood should look like from the beginning. I want to listen to the people affected, understand the proposal in front of Council and consider the wider picture before making a decision.
Build complete neighbourhoods, not just buildings.
Growth affects more than the number of homes being built. It can change traffic, transportation, parks, public spaces, utilities, services and the character of surrounding neighbourhoods.
Zoning and land-use decisions can shape a neighbourhood for decades. That is why I want to understand not only whether a proposal works on its own, but how it fits into the community around it and what it may require later.
I also want to think beyond today's circumstances. Changing demographics, environmental pressures, emergency preparedness and future infrastructure needs should all be part of the conversation.
Growth is going to happen. How we manage it is a choice.
Transportation should be part of growth planning from the beginning, so people can connect to the places they need to go as our city changes.
One way of getting around Chilliwack does not work for everyone. Many residents rely on vehicles, while others use transit, walk, bike, carpool or depend on someone else to get where they need to go.
I want to listen to the people who use our transportation systems every day and understand where connections, safety or access are falling short.
Plan how people move at the same time we plan where people live.
Transportation is not just about moving vehicles. It is about whether people can safely and reasonably reach work, school, appointments, parks, businesses, recreation and services.
Different residents have different transportation needs. I do not want to assume there is one answer that works for everyone.
I want to understand where the problems actually are, listen to the people experiencing them and consider practical solutions alongside future growth.
Chilliwack needs infrastructure that can support the city we have now while preparing for the city we are becoming.
Roads, water and sewer systems, drainage, parks, public buildings and other infrastructure all require planning and investment.
I want residents to understand the commitments behind major investments, including what something will cost to build, operate, maintain and eventually replace.
Plan for growth. Maintain what we have. Invest where it matters.
A project does not stop costing money when construction is finished. Public infrastructure also has ongoing operating, maintenance, repair and replacement costs.
Those costs matter to taxpayers and should be part of the conversation from the beginning. I want Council to understand the long-term commitment behind the decisions it makes.
Responsible spending does not mean never investing. It means understanding what we are committing to, what other priorities may compete for the same resources and what funding options are available.
Before making a decision, I want to understand both the immediate cost and the future responsibility that comes with it.
Livability is about whether people can safely access, use and participate in the community around them, not simply how a neighbourhood looks on paper.
Through community work, I see how differently people can experience the same city. Youth, families and seniors can have very different needs depending on where they live, how they get around and what support they can access.
I want residents to have a real opportunity to be heard, especially people who may not normally attend Council meetings or take part in formal public processes.
Community input should happen before the decision, not after it.
A city should feel like somewhere people belong, not simply somewhere they live.
My community work has shown me how differently people can experience the same city. A young person, a parent, a senior or someone with accessibility challenges may all experience the same public space differently.
I also believe community organizations can offer valuable insight because they are often already working directly with residents and seeing where gaps exist.
Listening does not mean agreeing with every request. It means making sure people have a meaningful chance to be heard, understanding different perspectives and explaining how that information was considered.
A strong local economy needs room for businesses to start, grow, hire and serve the communities around them.
Small businesses are part of the character and economy of Chilliwack. They create jobs, provide services and become part of the places where people spend their everyday lives.
As a small-business owner, I understand that navigating municipal processes can be very different for a small operation than for a large one. I want to listen to businesses about what is actually getting in their way before deciding what needs to change.
Economic development should create opportunity without leaving the community behind.
Small businesses are part of the everyday life of a city. They provide jobs, services and places for people to connect.
I do not think Council should assume it already knows what businesses need. Listening to local operators can reveal practical barriers that may not be obvious from inside City Hall.
Economic development also needs to be considered alongside housing, transportation, infrastructure and the overall cost of living.
I want Chilliwack to be a place where people can build something of their own while making sure growth continues to serve the people who already call this community home.
I think it's important to be honest about what a
City Councillor can and cannot control.
Municipal government has a real role in shaping
Chilliwack, but it isn't responsible for everything
that happens here.
Council decisions can shape land use, zoning, development applications, neighbourhood planning and the infrastructure needed to support growth.
Council makes decisions about municipal spending, property taxation, infrastructure investment, maintenance and long-term financial priorities.
Municipal decisions affect local roads, transportation planning, parks, public spaces, recreation facilities and other city services.
Schools, hospitals, criminal law, provincial highways and many other areas fall under different governments or public agencies.
These are the questions I would want to keep asking when Council is faced with a decision, especially when good priorities compete with one another.
I want to understand who a decision helps, who it affects and whether we are hearing from the people most connected to it.
I want to understand what one decision could lead to beyond its immediate result, including impacts on infrastructure, transportation, neighbourhoods and services.
I want to understand the full cost, including what something will require to operate and maintain over time, and what other priorities may have to compete for the same resources.
I want to think beyond today's circumstances and consider the Chilliwack we're creating for the future.