My watchwords are Liveable, Inclusive, Green!
I want Tofino to be a liveable town for all residents, those with money and those
without.
Liveable means our cost of living must fit with the local economy.
A key element of liveability is housing. Many folks in Tofino (myself included) have seasonal housing issues.
We all know good people who left because of housing difficulties.
This is not merely a low-end or staff housing issue anymore, it affects everyone. Much groundwork on attainable housing has been laid, but it's not a problem that will solve itself. We need a council willing to move - quickly.
Liveability also means expansion of our shoulder and off-season economy, with initiatives like high-speed Internet and higher education.
It means we enjoy an unpolluted environment that we pass on to our children intact.
And it means cultural engagement. People value and remember a town for what they do there, how they feel while being there.
Council has moved forward on many of these initiatives, and I want to add my insight and experience. Infrastructure is a vital component, to be sure, and must be covered But a council focussed on infrastructure alone misses the bigger picture.
As we have seen dramatically in recent years, council sets a tone for civic life in Tofino.
We have an opportunity here to create something remarkable in the coming years.