In Maple Bay, we were given five questions to prepare for, but we could only speak to the one chosen at random. I thought you might like to hear how I would have answered the others as well!  Keep in mind while reading through the five answers I had intended to be speaking them.  If you would like to know more you can contact me.  (contact button on last page of website)

1. If you received a one million dollar grant to use for the municipality any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

If I were given a $1 million grant to use for North Cowichan, my first thought is how to maximize its impact within our $75 million municipal budget. While $1 million may seem small in comparison, it could still make a meaningful difference

Ultimately, the best approach would be to consult with the community and municipal staff to determine where the need is greatest. My commitment as a council member would be to ensure that any investment—whether in tax relief, infrastructure, housing, or youth services—delivers the maximum benefit for North Cowichan residents.

Saying that, if I get to choose I think the greatest impact for our million dollars would be a Youth Foundry.

A Youth Foundry is a one-stop, integrated health and wellness center for young people aged 12 to 24. It brings together multiple services under one roof, making it easier for youth to get the support they need without navigating complex systems.  The complexity of finding help stops many youth from reaching out.

At a Foundry, youth can access:

• Mental health support (counseling, therapy, peer support)
• Substance use services
• Primary healthcare (doctors, nurses, sexual health support)
• Social services (housing, employment, life skills)
• Youth and family peer support

The goal is to provide low-barrier, walk-in support in a safe, welcoming space where youth feel comfortable asking for help. It’s a proactive approach to youth wellness, ensuring young people get support before challenges escalate into crises.

Our youth are our greatest resource—they are the future leaders, workers, and decision-makers of our municipality. Investing in their well-being today means building a stronger, more resilient community. If we have the opportunity to support them in becoming healthy, capable, and empowered individuals, we should absolutely take it. 

 

2. How do you feel about changes to the existing and approved OCP?

I support the Official Community Plan (OCP) as a vital framework for North Cowichan’s future. A strong OCP provides a clear vision for sustainable growth, housing, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. However, I also believe that an OCP must be a living document—one that can adapt to unforeseen challenges and evolving community needs.

As our municipality faces critical issues like housing shortages, infrastructure demands, and climate change, it’s important that any proposed changes to the OCP align with our long-term goals while considering new realities. I support thoughtful, evidence-based adjustments when necessary, but I also believe in respecting the extensive community input that shaped the original plan. Transparency and community input are critical to maintaining trust and ensuring that any changes serve the best interests of North Cowichan.

If I’m elected, I will tackle each decision head-on. My strength lies in giving every challenge my full attention, conducting thorough research, and making informed, balanced decisions. North Cowichan deserves leadership that listens, learns, and takes action—and that is the commitment I bring to this role.

 

 3. What do you consider to be the top three (3) critical issues facing MNC, and what would you like to see elected officials do to address each one?

North Cowichan is a beautiful and growing community, but with that growth comes serious challenges that we must address with strong, informed leadership.

The first major challenge we face is infrastructure capacity. Right now, we have more than 10,000 proposed housing units, yet our water and sewer systems can only support about 4,200. That means we need smart, strategic investment in our infrastructure—expanding services responsibly, securing funding from provincial and federal governments, and ensuring that development doesn’t outpace our ability to provide essential services. We cannot afford to fall behind.

The second issue—one that is affecting communities across the province—is homelessness and the opioid crisis. In 2023, the Cowichan Valley's Point-in-Time count identified 223 individuals experiencing homelessness (those of us supporting the count believe this is low), a 58% increase from the 129 individuals counted in 2020.   In Island Health in 2024, 450 people died of toxic drug deaths. The unhoused and drug issues in North Cowichan are complex social issues.  If there were easy fixes this wouldn't be an issue today. 

Members of The Cowichan Coalition to address Homelessness presented a plan to Council  called The Way Out -  a Vision for Wellness, a 3 Phase comprehensive plan that Requires the collaboration of North Cowichan, Duncan, Quw’utsun Nation, and the Provincial and Federal Governments.  This 10 year plan provides an outline that if implemented would take care of the housing crises for all at risk folk  

Check it out https://www.cowichanhousing.com/coalitionresources

When Covid struck the Provincial Government provided Covid funding for shelters and housing for all  who needed it.  It worked.  We housed everyone in the Valley that wanted to be housed.  Unfortunately when Covid ended so did the financing from the Government, we don’t have the resources to house everyone now the funding is gone.   This shows with collaboration it can be done.  “The Village”  at 610 Trunk Road is a “pod housing” supported housing site  that was able to be built and implemented quickly  after the other funding ended.   This type of housing is quick and relatively inexpensive to create and support and more “villages” would make a large difference.

The third challenge is rising taxes. The cost of maintaining services is rising, and a large tax increase has been proposed just to keep up. We have aging infrastructure,  and a backlog of critical projects that need funding. We must be smart with our budgeting—prioritizing essential services, finding efficiencies, and exploring new revenue sources so that the burden doesn’t fall entirely on taxpayers.

4.  What do you think is the best way to manage growth in our municipality?

Growth alone isn’t the goal—what we need is intentional, well-planned growth that keeps our community strong, livable, and sustainable.

We have a choice: do we let growth overwhelm our infrastructure and services, or do we plan strategically to strengthen our quality of life?

To manage growth in North Cowichan, we need smart planning, sustainable development, and strong community involvement.

• Follow the Official Community Plan (OCP): This is our roadmap for responsible development.
• Invest in infrastructure: Our roads, water, sewer, and public services must grow with the community.
• Support a diverse economy: A healthy economy supports a healthy community. Let's foster local businesses, attract sustainable industries, and promote tourism and innovation.
• Ensure affordable housing: Housing must be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford high prices. We need to partner with developers to build affordable and supportive housing, encourage co-op models, and offer rental incentives.
• Expand sustainable transportation: More transit options, safer bike lanes, and walkable communities will help everyone get around easily without relying solely on cars.
• Practice financial responsibility: We’ll manage our resources wisely to ensure we maintain services without overburdening taxpayers.
• Strengthen social services and public safety: By working together across all levels of government, we can advocate for funding to provide the necessary support for our community. 

 

5. What are the biggest fiscal challenges in our municipality, and what do you envision to be the best way (s) to address them?

Right now, I believe our biggest challenge is infrastructure. Growth is happening, and we need to make sure we keep up without placing an unfair burden on taxpayers.

Here’s how we can tackle it:

• Securing provincial and federal grants for major projects, so we're not relying solely on local tax revenue.
• Exploring public-private partnerships, where developers and businesses help share the costs of new developments, ensuring taxpayers aren’t left with the whole financial load.
• Implementing a phased expansion plan that aligns with realistic growth projections—building responsibly and not overextending ourselves.

We can’t rely on tax increases alone. We need to diversify our revenue sources and grow our local economy:

• Supporting local businesses, promoting tourism, and attracting sustainable industries that offer good jobs and a strong tax base.
•  Ensuring responsible development that contributes to the economy while making sure our infrastructure and services can keep up.

A strong financial future requires trust and collaboration:

• Transparency on financial decisions through regular public consultations and open budget discussions.
• Collaboration with regional partners and community organizations to maximize funding opportunities and share resources.
• A clear, long-term financial strategy that balances tax fairness with service improvements for everyone in our community.