My years on Council have shown me that the same community can look very different depending on who is experiencing it.
In 2022, I brought forward a motion for Central Saanich to seek grant funding to develop an Age-Friendly Community Plan. Council supported it, we received the grant, and I later had the privilege of chairing the committee.
At our first meeting, one of the questions I was asking was, who isn't yet in the room? I wanted the Central Saanich Senior Citizens' Association represented, but I also wanted a youth voice included.
That matters. If we're trying to understand how people experience their community, we need to hear from people with different experiences.
Can an older person safely cross the street? Can someone using a wheelchair or walker get where they need to go? Is there somewhere to sit and rest? Can everyone actually use our parks and public spaces?
Accessibility shouldn't be something we think about after we've made a decision or built something.
We still have barriers to remove. This week, think of one place in Central Saanich that is difficult or unsafe for you or someone you care about. Send me a message with the location and what you think would make it better. I want to hear from you.