I have submitted my papers to run as a candidate for Council and would be pleased to serve the people of Keremeos.
I moved to Keremeos 19 years ago and enjoy living in this beautiful valley. It was a teaching job that brought me to the Similkameen. I retired from full-time teaching in April 2013, but still remain on the teacher-on-call list. I taught for 35 years; 10 in Chetwynd, seven in Quesnel, and the last 18 years here in Keremeos. It has been a rewarding career, but now that I am retired, I feel that I have more time to give back to the community I live in.
For the past seven years I have sat on the Village of Keremeos Education and Substance Abuse Committee. I served mostly as a liaison between the school and the village. I helped bring Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and ICBC presentations to the school, as well as mail outs to grads regarding safety during their final year in school.
This year I volunteered to coordinate the new Keremeos and area Ambassador Program. We held our pageant last May, corresponding with Keremeos Rodeo Days. We crowned three ambassadors. I have been travelling with the ambassadors since their coronation, representing the Village of Keremeos, at surrounding communities: Princeton, Osoyoos, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Oliver. At each event, the three ambassadors brought greetings from Keremeos. We have volunteered at local events such as: The Penticton Challenge Cawston Bike Station, Pepperfest and Grist Mill Fall Fair. Please look for our table at the Taste of the Valley on Sat., October 18. We also look forward to being involved in the Keremeos Light Up.
There are many issues that I think are important here in our community. I would like to continue to liaise with our schools and provide more opportunities for youth. Recognizing our large senior population, I would like to promote specific services supporting that fact. I am interested in initiating programs that seek to bridge the gap between youth and seniors in the community. This kind of program would encourage more volunteerism with both the young and old.
I believe we need to spend our tax dollars wisely to ensure that Keremeos is an affordable place to live. As a longtime resident, I know how important it is to have a balanced budget, but still provide adequate programs and services to the public.
Preserving our beautiful valley for our enjoyment now and for future generations is very important to me, while allowing for well thought out growth.
In my 35 years as a teacher, I have had many opportunities to work cooperatively. As a councillor, I would look forward to being part of a team.
I feel that I have time and energy to give to the community. I try to learn all the facts before making educated decisions on issues. If elected, I will represent the citizens of the Village of Keremeos fairly and with integrity.