I want to start by thanking Oliver Daily News for the opportunity to communicate with the citizens of Oliver about my candidacy for the upcoming Town Council election. As many of you know, I came second last year in the by-election, and I listened and learned a great deal from you about what you need from your elected representatives.
Between the by-election and now, I’ve undertaken many activities to both improve our town and the skillset I need to effectively represent you.
I heard from many residents that lack of affordable housing is a major concern. I worked with a group of dedicated residents and found the “Oliver and Area Affordable Housing Society”. We are committed to providing housing that is inclusive and accessible to all and hope to break ground on our first project in the first half of 2019.
I am committed to supporting business in Oliver, and to that end I was elected as Vice President of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce in 2018. I’ve attended many meetings, workshops and networking events to meet with local business owners and hear firsthand about their priorities and challenges, and how Town Council can help resolve these. There are great opportunities for Oliver businesses to cross promote and support each other so that we can all thrive.
I continue to support the arts in our community. The arts are what “paint our town”, make us attractive and say “Oliver is open for business”. Our already vibrant arts community gives Oliver a unique charm and helps us to stand out. I also work for the Venables Theatre, which allows me to stay quite immersed in local events. As a lover of the arts I share and encourage those around me to get involved in our dynamic arts community.
It is no secret that we are in the midst of a crime problem in Oliver. It is crucial to get to the root of the problem and protect the residents of Oliver. Many of these crimes are linked to drug use, and I believe that readily available treatment is needed for addictions. As a member of council, I would encourage the lobbying of Provincial and Federal Government for treatment funding. It’s important to note that although our Town’s reputation is important, the safety of our residents must come first. The communication I see online is encouraging and it’s great to see so many neighbours looking out for each other.
I love Oliver and will continue to work tirelessly to help our town to thrive. Through open and frequent communication with fellow Oliver residents, I will make sure you are heard and well-informed.
Please visit facebook.com/aimeeforoliver for more information about my platform. As always, I want to hear from you- call me, email me, or say hi on the street. Let me know what you want for our town.
250-408-4280