Category: Civil Society and a Strong Social Fabric
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Housing Supply in Victoria is Tipping in the Wrong Direction, and How Giving Away Council’s Power Can Help
As she sanitized the knob of my office door, one of the City’s newest employees, who keeps our offices COVID clean said to me when we met recently, “Nice to meet you; thanks for building the city for the future.” I was so struck by this because this is exactly what we’ve been doing for…
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Statement on the Targeted Act of Violence Against a Muslim Family in London, Ontario
In support of Victoria’s Muslim Community, today I released the following statement against Islamophobia and hate: In light of the horrific events in London, Ontario – a targeted act of violence against a Muslim family out for a Sunday evening walk – this is a call to all Victorians to stand together with our Muslim…
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Is Victoria A Welcoming City?
The first year anniversary of George Floyd’s death is coming up at the end of this month. His murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked international outrage. It brought the Black Lives Matter movement and the existence of systemic racism – everywhere, not only in policing – squarely into the mainstream as…
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Can-Do Spirit of Victoria, Clover Point Recap, Indoor Sheltering Update Plus How We Spend Money, and A Mother’s Email – Mayor’s Sunday Email – Sunday March 14
Hello Everyone, I wanted to started this email / post with the op-ed I wrote for the Times Colonist on Thursday, which marked one year of the global health pandemic. The crafty headline writers at the paper gave it the title, “Can-do spirit of past year will help position city for the future.” I’m sharing…
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Indoor Sheltering Plan, Clover Point Recap and One Year Into A Pandemic – Mayor’s Sunday Email – March 7 2021
This is a sample of the card that people who are living outside will get when they are offered an indoor 24/7 space as a pathway to permanent housing. Hello Everyone, Thanks for your emails this past week. As always, to ensure a timely response, I’m writing back to all of you at once. If…
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Clover Point, Parks Sheltering and Indoor Sheltering – Mayor’s Sunday Email – February 28 2021
Hello everyone, Thanks for your emails over the past couple of weeks. I really appreciate hearing from all of you and want to ensure you get a timely response, so I’m writing you back all at once. I may not address the details of your email precisely, but I want you to know I’ve read…
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Black History Month: White Privilege and Racism in Victoria
For those looking for an update on Clover Point, I’ll provide that next Sunday after Council has reviewed new options from staff on Thursday. For those looking for an update on indoor sheltering and the March 31st move in goal, I will also update on that when I have additional information to share. Please see…
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Clover Point, “The Majority of People Feel the Same Way As I Do,” and The Creatures We Cherish – Mayor’s Sunday Email – February 14 2021
Hello everyone, Thanks for taking the time to write to me this past week. In order to ensure you all get answers from me in a timely way, I’m writing you all at once. I want you to know that I’ve read each of your 483 emails! They were mostly about Clover Point so I’m…
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52 Days, March 31st Goal, Your concerns, Ideas and Suggestions, and To The People Who Think I am Doing A Terrible Job – Mayor’s Sunday Email – February 7 2021
Hello Everyone, Thanks for taking the time to write to me this week to share your thoughts, questions and concerns with respect to outdoor sheltering in parks and related issues. I’ve read all of your emails and I’m responding to them all together so that you all get an answer in a timely way. Some…
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59 Days, Your Concerns and Suggestions, A National Crisis, Complex Care Housing, Jann Arden’s Advice – Mayor’s Sunday Email – January 31 2021
Hello Everyone, Thanks for taking the time to write to me this past week with your concerns, feedback and suggestions about sheltering in parks, housing, homelessness and related issues. In order to make sure I respond to everyone in a timely way, I’m writing back to you all at once. I’ve been doing this since…