Food Security

While Chilliwack's rich soil makes it prime land for growing food, it's also a place where many families face food insecurity.

I got involved with the Downtown Chilliwack Community Market because everyone should have have the ability to feed their families with dignity. I'm incredibly proud that we've partnered with the BC Association of Farmer's Markets and local organizations to give away more than $100,000 worth of food in the past four years.

​

Recreation

Years ago, when my two red-headed boys were young, there was always a family rate that made it cheaper for a two-parent family to take their kids to the pool. It worked out to full price for a single-parent family. I tried explaining to recreation managers that maybe single-parent families could use a cheaper rate too since they were often disadvantaged by missing out on income and hands-on help. These rec managers never understood that they were effectively penalizing single-parent families for the lesser resources that they were experiencing. Today, expenses and pressures are even tighter for families. Because of this experience, I care deeply about all kids having access to recreational opportunities. Running community recreation like a business disadvantages the community and families who are barely making it and denies kids in those families opportunities that other kids get. It puts kids from lower-income families at risk. 

​

Transportation

We need better ways to get around town, to school, to work, to appointments. City demographics show that, on average, ~90% of us drive everywhere. That's because there are few other options. What happens when you can't drive or choose not to drive? What about children who are too young to drive? We need to build multi-use pathways that allow people using mobility devices, people who can't drive, kids getting to school, to use safe, alternative routes. We need to expand transit so that not everyone has to drive everywhere. 

 

​