My vision for our community

This is my community. I have lived here for 17 years and I feel very strongly about where we are going in the coming years and I want to be a part of that journey.

I see Westbank as a vibrant community where people want to spend their time and their money. We have a beautiful area that we can all be proud of and I want to make sure that we continue to show the world that we are the place to be.

I believe that in order to do that, we have to be in control of our growth, sensitive to the needs of the people and willing to be accountable to those that have placed their trust in their elected officials. Willing to listen to the voice of the people and value their concerns.

I see the Westside as its own distinct region; not just that place across the lake from Kelowna. I want all of us to be able to say that we are from Westbank and people will know where that is.

Let me share some of what I see as focal points for our government;

Completion of the sewer project. I understand some funds have been secured but far less than what was asked for which has resulted in a potential price tag of $13,000.00 per household. I will explore every avenue possible to try and drive that number down.

24 hour emergency health care facility. I would lobby to see that a suitable plot of land is secured; One that has future growth potential. At the rate at which our community is growing, I can't see the sense in merely centralizing our existing health care services as has been proposed. i.e the creation of a facility that would essentially house our current walk in medical services, x-ray and lab facilities, pharmacy etc. I don't see this as a long term solution and I certainly don't see how this is an improvement. I believe the time is now to start construction on a full service health care facility on the westside.

Development of youth oriented facility(s); The youth in our community have been overlooked in the interest of development. Activities such as the bowling alley, Old McDonalds farm and the water slides have all been sacrificed. I would like to see council pursue the development of venues designed to engage our young and show them that their interests are important and that they matter. If given the option of doing something fun and getting together with their friends in a safe environment versus doing nothing and having no where to go, I think that we might all be surprised at how many kids would be in favour of having a place to go.

A fiscally responsible government; Like us, the government needs to operate profitably, and responsibly. Any and all efforts have to be made in the interest of keeping taxes in check. It is imperative that they operate within their means.

Creation of a vibrant lake front; Lets face it, tourists come here come for the lake and the wine. We already have some of the most beautiful and world renowned wineries right here in our backyard in Mission Hill and Quails Gate to name but two. We then need to turn our attention to the development of a destination lake front that will keep them coming back. Peachland and Penticton both are to be commended for their vision regarding their piece of beautiful Lake Okanagan and we need to do the same. The lake is arguably our most valuable asset and we need to leverage it to its fullest potential.

Development Controls; I think most of us would agree that development is not only inevitable but necessary. But that doesn't mean that it can continue in the seemingly out of control, out of balance way that it has over the past few years. Our landscape is changing, and not necessarily for the better. Lake views are becoming obstructed and natural habitats and eco systems are being disrupted. We have to ensure that the interests of all parties, animal, vegetable or mineral, are taken into account before development proposals are approved. The balance between man and nature has always been tenuous and we have to be keenly aware that our actions today can and will have long term consequences if we do not proceed cautiously. I for one do not want to have to show my grand kids what the lake "used" to look like.

There are many more equally important issues at hand and I would like to share with you all of them but I think that I have provided you with a snap shot of myself and what matters to me. I hope that we share some of these concerns and I hope to be granted the chance to see at least some of them through to completion.

Thank you for reading this