Val van den Broek is seeking a seat on 91原创 City council.
"After eight years as the 91原创 RCMP Community Police Office co-ordinator, I decided that my efforts to help improve the quality of life in the City, for its citizens and businesses, would be better suited as a Councillor.
"As I couldn't be a City employee and run for office at the same time, I had to resign from my position at the 91原创 City Community Police Office. I believe that by being on council, I can make the positive changes that I've been hearing from the public need to happen. Everyone wants to feel safe in their own community and with various partnerships, the community working together, we can achieve that."
Van den Broek says that, because she has worked for the City, she knows the staff members, the departments, the needs of the committees and how the City functions.
The organizations she has worked and/or volunteered with include: the Downtown 91原创 Business Association, 91原创 Lodge, 91原创 Seniors Centre, New Directions, Cruise In, Tri-it Triathlon, Community Days, Christmas Parade, Local Government Days, Speedwatch, Douglas Park Elementary, Remembrance Day Ceremony, Terry Fox Run, Stepping Stones, Lawn Bowling Club, SPCA, RCMP Veterans Association, Public Safety Advisory, Parks and Environment Advisory Committee and co-ordinator of 91原创 Community Response Network.
"91原创 City is a vibrant community with so many diverse residents and businesses that it really is the place to be. Working downtown for the past eight years, I've seen a lot of changes. Some are good, and some bad. I've been told numerous times "I don't feel safe walking through Douglas Park during the day" or "this place is the new Whalley."
"It hurts me to hear these things because I love where I live and hoped others felt the same way. I believe that we need to start taking back our community and make it safe for an elderly person to walk to the store and buy groceries. We need to continue revitalizing the downtown core to look attractive so that families will want to come here to raise their children, and businesses will fight for the empty building spaces. Community events, creating green and social spaces, dog parks and community gardens are solutions," she says.
Van den Broek says mental health, homelessness, and drug addiction issues need to be addressed by working with neighbouring communities and all levels of government, instead of pushing problems from one area to another. Communicating and working with bordering bylaw teams is another option.
She also wants to plan for increasing occurrences of elder abuse, housing shortages and hoarding, with 91原创 City having a high number of seniors living in the City.
She studied for a business diploma at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in 91原创. She volunteers as a 91原创 RCMP auxiliary constable and her husband Rob plays in two Dixie jazz bands. They live in the Blacklock area of the City.
For more information on her and her campaign, visit her website at www.valforcitycouncil.com, or contact her via email at valaria@telus.net.
