Dear Editor. As Municipalities enter the last year of current Council governing, soul-searching and thought must form part of future deliberations on who should lead our Communities. Change is the “buzz word’ to most. Creating change but equally managing changes in the best interests of all Citizens.
Change is drastically needed in the Fraser Valley. New leaders, with broader visions, innovative ideas and absolutely crucial empathy & compassion. The key is deciding who is capable, who deserves our votes.
Mission has transitioned from a successive group of moribund Councils and now two years into tenure of CRMG, they too are ready to be replaced by a more functional and progressive body.
Some positive steps are reviewing Downtown redevelopment & Waterfront development which ought to be continued as high priority.
Equally, on the human side two crucial initiatives need to be advanced, which have life, health & death implications, notably pertaining to forgotten Seniors’ and unwanted Companion Animals, particularly Cats. Thus, I recommend Council place two financial borrowing items on a November 2014 Election Ballot Referendum,
1. To borrow up to $ 500,000.00 to upgrade existing facility and add a state-of-the-art Cat facility to the Animal Control Shelter and establish an $ 85,000.00 annual administration budget.
2. To borrow up to $6 million to build a 12,000 sq. ft. Seniors’ Activity Centre on District owned land adjacent the Leisure Centre, incorporating some 300-600 sq. ft, single residence along with low-cost and some market value Seniors’ residences
Sadly, these are two of the most overlooked facilities for the most vulnerable in Society, thus deemed viable components of an inclusive Age-Friendly Community successive Councils have neglected. I formed The Council Animal Advocacy (CLAW) during 1995 and The Elder Citizen Action Coalition (ECAC) to advocate respectfully for these two important entities, giving respect and meaning to their lives. People claim to care, but their talk has become cheap. I feel voters of Mission need to display the vision, innovation and compassion, to make true improvement to lives for Seniors’ and Animals a reality, not more idle talk that sounds good. We will need increased Voter turnout and the “political will” to elect a more caring & adept Council.
Yours truly,
George F. Evens