| |
Q4: Safe And Caring Communities |
|
| |
If you are elected to City Council:
- What measures will you take to increase child and youth safety and active participation in our community?
- What steps will you take to make Terrace a welcoming and inclusive community for all?
- How will you ensure that the build environment is child-friendly?
|
|
| |
Lorrie Gowen: |
|
| |
I think the first step is that we need to have a conversation with children and youth. Ask them what they see as the problems; what do they want to see in terms of facilities and activities. We would never consider an plan involving adults without consulting adults…so it only makes sense to talk to our user group.
In response to (b) we have to be a part of a community social planning process; what have other communities done, what does the data show; how does it translate to our community, what are the steps to getting there.
And finally for question (c), it comes back to the very first question, is not so much HOW will you, but WILL you…I think it’s as simple as answering the question, “will this be good for our children.”
top |
|
| |
Carol Leclerc: |
|
| |
a) As a whole, Terrace is generally a safe place for children and youth. One of the areas that the City is lacking and I believe will make efforts to change are bike lanes. I would anticipate as Council goes through a strategic planning session and through the budget process that bike lanes will become a priority, not only for youth but for all. Council funds events like the Aboriginal Days and River Boat Days and events like these are great opportunities for active youth participation. I would expect the next Council ensures that these items are maintained. I also think that a Youth Commission/Task Force or something along those lines would be a good way for youth to become active in our community.
b) I think the Measuring Up Terrace is one of the best ground roots committees that the City has right now. I hope that funding will be found to enable this great committee to continue working to ensure that Terrace is inclusive and accessible for everyone.
c) Build environment – child friendly. I would love to see a better agreement with the City and School Districts that would allow neighbour access to schools after school hours and on weekends. I think the road blocks include overtime for custodians which can be a very expensive item for the City. It is not insurmountable; it just needs the will of all stakeholders involved. I also think there will be opportunities as the OCP is reviewed. The extension of Howe Creek is also another opportunity for families to get out and exercise.
top |
|
| |
Bruce Martindale: |
|
| |
Safe communities are caring communities. So if we all cared for each other more, the safety issue would go away. If only it were that simple . . . but it is.
We need to see our children as developing right through to adulthood. We need to educate, encourage and support our youth, not just those who are successful, but all our youth. And when they fall down, we pick them up and encourage them again.
I am very interested in community based justice that uses education, reparation and forgiveness when dealling with youth or young adults that show remorse or are prepared to deal with their guilt in this manner. We can care about them, rather than throw them away.
I want to see a different role for our police in the community. I have heard from youth that there is too much of a divide between the police personel and the community as a whole. I would encourage the RCMP to recognise this and to find a way to become more involved, not as an institution, but as individuals. We need to see our police as neighbours who care about our welfare, not as security personnel. That being said, we still need strong security, I will always support effective policing.
We need city planning that can enhance safety concerns. We also must live in our downtown, encourage recreation in the heart of the city, not just a skate park, but whole streets that encourage constructive recreation.
And of course, we also need good social support systems. When there is a social need we need to be able to move in and provide care without hesitation.
top |
|
| |
Jack Talstra |
|
| |
a) Please refer to sections 1, 2 and 3 above. Again, the City needs to develop a mindset that all of us care.
b) Please refer to 1, 2, and 3 above. Certainly, at the beginning of Council’s next term, we will need to invite yourself and other experts in the field to make sure we have the right game plan to properly move forward.
c) Please refer to 1, 2 and 3 above. Zoning and building codes can be an effective option for a community and Terrace needs to insure all our regulations are in harmony with the overall goals and objectives.
top |
|
| |
James Cordeiro |
|
| |
I believe the idea that if a city is designed to be child safe, friendly and accessible it will be safe, friendly and accessible for everyone. Understand the our city planner David Block is excited about this concept and I will work with him and the administration to make children a priority in the city plans and the designs of developers (both commercial and residential.
top |
|
| |
Marylin Davies |
|
| |
A – I’m sure everyone will remind you we have just restored two more members of the RCMP. This allows for a downtown programme to be put in place fully by next summer. I will continue to push for lighting in the park and back alleys and removal of tree limbs. A good example of light is the significant change in the skate board park now the parking lot lights are in place. There does have to be some responsibility by parents to assure they know where their children are and they are not walking the streets for fun or after a late night shift at work. It takes all of us to make this happen.
B- Continue to support, as I have in the past, the activities of Skeena Diversity, school and friendship centre and church programs.
C- I would support changes in policies that will result in building environment changes to provide a child friendly environment.
top |
|
| |
Dave Pernarowski |
|
| |
Creating family friendly festivals, celebrations, public performances and sports events would be a huge boost to the spirit and optimism of Terrace. We need more of this kind of community activity. The Riverboat Days festival is a good example of how much these events are enjoyed by many. Closing off Lakelse Avenue for a mini street festival through the summer, with bands, children’s activities, food kiosks, rides and games would have a huge impact. It would draw people downtown, promote a sense of community spirit and be something for our youth to look forward to each year.
Your ideas on creating simple structures are excellent and should be incorporated into our downtown plan.
We need to build sidewalks in our community. It is far too dangerous for our children to walk to and from school. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs struggling down the sides of roads that have no sidewalks and are in complete disrepair. This to me is unacceptable. I want to introduce a plan to repair more roads and build sidewalks each year to stop this downward trend of community neglect.
top |
|
| |
Dr. Bruce Bidgood |
|
| |
When I was a Social Planner, I was involved in developing and implementing a “Safe City Campaign” in Wellington, Grey and Bruce counties. These campaigns involved municipal participation in a broad range of areas including: planning, engineering, public works, community policing, taxation, event coordination and support to non-profit organizations.
I suggest that we begin a “Safe City Terrace Campaign” immediately involving the City, Regional municipality, local businesses, chamber of commerce, non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, school board and any other interested parties. While our issues are different from other municipalities (i.e., homelessness, addictions, vandalism) we may be able to take a page out of other city’s books….why reinvent the wheel? It is in everybody’s interest to promote a safe and friendly civic environment in Terrace.
top |
|
| |
Brian Downie |
|
| |
As stated earlier, I strongly support youth friendly facilities and look forward to developing a Community Center concept. In my experience, a project of this magnitude needs intensive community involvement in the design, and in creating a community consensus. Clearly, the cost of a facility that I have in mind would take lengthy funding efforts.
In the meantime, I believe that a short term opportunity exists through multi-use of existing schools, and I would like to see that discussion proceed.
In our downtown, we have created a Downtown vision that has the potential of an exciting new look to Terrace. Local squares, walkways, bicycle friendly lanes, and traffic calming all are anticipated. That plan received great community participation and has been implemented as a Bylaw. Next, we will see infrastructure in developed as quickly as funding can be put in place.
Terrace Beautification has led several park and walkway projects that we all can be proud of. The City has a very close and supportive relationship with the Beautification Society, and we will continue to foster their ideas of beautification projects in Terrace.
top |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Candidate Responses to Q4 |
| Candidates are listed in order in which we received their response. |
|
| Introduction |
• Cities can encourage usage of their public spaces and parks by making them interesting, diverse and welcoming.
• Municipalities can support and promote free, low-cost and family-friendly festivals, celebrations, public performances and sports events.
• Cities can take action to promote neighbourhood safety by opening a community policing centre, adding improved lighting at night or taking traffic calming measures.
• Simple structures such as small walls, fountains, designs in the pavement, or water ways have a positive effect on children’s lives and are relatively easy for cities to work into their design plans.
• Creating more bike routes and including them in new road structures will positively affect recreation, health and community cohesiveness, and increase bicycle safety.
|
| Topics |
- Commitment To Early Child Development
- Support In Transitions From Childhood To Youth And Adulthood
- Increased Economic Equality
- Safe And Caring Communities
Candidate Q&A Home
|
| Candidates |
| Read the complete responses by candidates. Few candidates were not able to respond due to technical difficulties and lack of time. |
| For Mayor of Terrace |
|
| For Terrace City Council |
|
| We truly appreciate that all candidates made the effort to answer our questions. It wasn't an easy task as you can see.
We would like to thank all candidates for answering or attempting to answer.
We look forward to working with you after Nov 15th. |
Email us if you have any questions or comments.
|
| Other Resources |
| The questions have been based on the First Call Municipal Election Kit: www.firstcallbc.org. |
HELP’s EDI: www.earlylearning.ubc.ca
SPARC BC: Municipality Votes!: www.sparc.bc.ca
|
| |
|
