As part of the News Bulletin’s coverage of the city council byelection, we asked all candidates to answer questions about their background, candidacy and priorities. Responses have been edited for grammar, style and clarity.
KELLY WHITESIDE, 22
Occupation/background:
I am a recent VIU grad currently working at VIHA, Lowe’s, and James Street Game Room. I’ve worked in a variety of fields, including retail, hospitality, management, journalism, photography, marketing, publishing and editing, and music.
I’m the founder of the non-profit organization North Island Pride, and have experience on the board of directors for the VIU Students’ Union, CHLY, and the Navigator.
Why are you running for city council?
I love Nanaimo. I see the potential and want to be a key figure in helping achieve that by turning words into actions. I believe having youth on council is important. The decisions made affect our future. I aims to encourage more engagement in politics among youth by making it more accessible to young adults.
What will be your priorities if you are elected and what do you want to accomplish in the 15 months before the 2018 civic election?
My focus is on downtown revitalization, transportation, infrastructure, and good governance. This includes:
Working with RCMP and mental health professionals to develop and implement a mental health strategy to combat homelessness and addiction.
Revisiting bylaws regarding street entertainment and food vendors.
Developing a list of priority intersections to fix and determine a timeline.
Working with the RDN board to push for bus service to more areas, such as College Heights, South Wellington, and Ladysmith; as well as buses that run earlier and later.
Creating a solid plan for the parking issue surrounding the hospital and VIU.
Working with the Island Corridor Foundation and the public to decide the best use of the train tracks.
Increasing accessibility to politics among youth.
Introducing new community clean-up events and incentives.
Taking steps to bring the South Downtown Waterfront Initiative to life.