Someone who led the push for better hospital facilities in Nanaimo for years wants to continue that work, as well as take on all the other leadership duties that go along with being a city councillor.
Janice Perrino is one of 29 candidates running for Nanaimo city council.
Perrino was CEO of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation for six years before retiring earlier this summer. She has a more than a decade of experience in municipal politics, as she was part of District of Summerland council for four terms, including two terms as mayor.
“I understand everything that happens at the civic level, from city staff to utilities, from development to city culture,” she said. “I know what you can’t do as a councillor, but more important, I know what you can do as a councillor and I think our city council can be doing more.”
Perrino held a campaign launch event Monday, Sept. 12, at the Nanaimo Golf Club, and many of her remarks pertained to health-care services. Her work with the hospital foundation helped make Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s new intensive care unit a reality, but there is much more that’s needed, she said, including a cancer clinic, a cardiac cath lab and a patient tower, not to mention other health-care gaps in the city including a shortage of walk-in clinics, access to family doctors and long-term care beds.
“We have to have councillors at the council table to advocate for the major improvements, because if we don’t, it’s not going to happen,” she said.
On the homelessness file, she said there’s more that can be done working with B.C. Housing and other partners on subsidized housing, and she’s interested in the city’s work on drug addiction issues, which she said are “the most complicated” challenges of these times. She would also be interested in working with city council toward transportation improvements and quicker building permitting.
Perrino said she’s pushy and at this stage of her life, she’s not afraid and wants to fight for what she believes in.
“I know we can push. I know it. But you need to have people at the table who are pushing,” she said. “Whatever the situation is, you need to have real strength to get it done and because of my background, I know I can do it.”
For more information, visit http://janiceperrino.com.
Anyone running for mayor or councillor in the City of Nanaimo or the District of Lantzville, regional director in the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Area A, B, C or E, or school trustee in School District 68 is asked to contact the Nanaimo News Bulletin to set up an interview or invite us to a campaign launch event. Phone Greg Sakaki at 250-734-4621 or e-mail editor@nanaimobulletin.com.
ELECTION 2022: Candidates in Nanaimo, Lantzville, RDN and SD68
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter