Tracey MacKinnon- At Large Candidate
1. Businesses are
frequently the targets of crime and on the front line dealing with societal
problems in the area; what steps do you think should be taken to ensure
businesses are protected and our community is safer to explore, shop, work and
play in.
Honestly, I think if
community members had the necessary supports they required, this would lead to
less crime in the area. Whether it be a hand up out of poverty, living above
the poverty line rather than below it with OW/ODSP community members, injured
workers or those on small pensions, and the working poor. As a poverty advocate
myself, also someone living on ODSP & paying fair market rent, FW is the
only area I found which had accessibility I needed having moved from PA as I
couldn’t afford to live in that area as a single person. With the 5% increase
to ODSP end of September 2022, this will help a little, though NOT nearly
enough for those surviving in poverty. I didn’t say living in poverty as it’s
not living it’s surviving.
Those surviving in poverty
are the most vulnerable in society, as they are targeted by those coming from
out of town with bad intentions via home takeovers, needing somewhere to sell
their products out of.
As a former front line
support worker at our local downtown FW homeless shelter, where I was once a
resident for 3 months myself, years ago. Having been kicked out as my time was
up, with no place to go, with the wait list for housing years long as a single
person with no kids. I know the struggles. I have seen them first hand.
Years ago I looked into
reopening Norma Jeans Restaurant on May St across from the Shelter House. It’s
those small businesses which need investment. I needed to write a business plan
which I had no idea how to do. I believe FW needs investment from the city to
be competitive with downtown PA.
We can’t be afraid to reach
out and give someone a hand up. To ask what they need. One thing is clear when
walking the downtown core, we need more options, choices for those ready to
make a change in their lives, whether it be to get off the street, into detox,
treatment or mental health supports, counselling or other forms of treatment.
Years ago, Ron Chocomolin ran
for Mayor, he was advocating for a Treatment Centre, This is what is needed to
help those suffering from Indian Residential School & survivors and their
children. Land based therapy, back to grassroots, back to nature where pre
contact with crown agents this was their way of life. All that was taken
without consent, and they were required to assimilate to the white man ways.
This is not their way of life, this is not how they would have been raised if
their relatives had not of been forced to attend Indian Residential Schools.
This is Colonization. If the Shoe was on the other foot, wouldn’t we reach out
to help others reach their full potential rather than passing judgement & a
blind eye to the poverty in our neighborhoods?
2. What is your
impression of the Fort William Business community? What is one thing that is done
well and what is one thing that needs to improve?
I have always had good
impression & interactions with the local FW Business community as a
resident & community member over the past 10 years.
One thing I find that has
been done well, is the welcoming feel I get when I walk into a business for the
first or 21st time.
One thing that needs to
improve? We need more local investment in local business in the area.
3. With the
revitalization of downtown Fort William project underway there is no planned community
center for the area after the project is completed. Victoriaville provided an important
and safe gathering place. What vision do you have to recreate a
similar environment for community connectivity?
With the reopening of TBPL it
is also a gathering place, where community members can access a variety of
services on site.
With the colder weather just
upon us, today being the first day of fall, officially, the weather is starting
to get colder during the day, not to mention the evenings. Now with the SOS van
not receiving funding from TBDSSAB to continue its work and Elevate NWO filing
in the gaps, funding for these programs, seems to be a challenge every year.
I’m not sure why funding isn’t secured for longer, however, as a NWO
community/city with a population of 110,000 people. We need something downtown
FW. We need investments in our area to replace the lack of community supports
in this area. We lost Dease Pool even with many Rally’s, protests, marches. We
need investments not less. How can FW be a thriving community without the
proper investments? How can the community much less the children who live here,
thrive & grow without the proper investments which are affordable to one
and all, not some?
I would like to see something
build at or around the Inter city area, versus Chapples Park area. We need
central location, accessible via transit, car, bike or foot. We need more green
spaces, not less. More safe places for families to explore, like walking paths,
parks and playgrounds much like the new accessible playground at Boulevard Lake
& Centennial Park locations. Those are investments in the local children in
PA. What about the local children in FW & WF areas? Don’t they matter
too?
Chi Miigwetch, Tracey
MacKinnon – At Large Candidate