Comment from Brian Steven

I do not normally write on blogs. I believe in open communication with all levels of government. I am not a bully and I despise bullying. I am not posting anonymously.

I am frustrated by Council's recent actions and lack of communication / consultation with the community. I have to speak out on this issue. I respect everyone who runs for municipal office, whether they are successfully elected or not. I respect those who get elected and serve their community, whether I voted for them or not. Theirs' is a challenging and time consuming job. The right decisions are not always made. Admitting your mistake and reversing decisions is sometimes just the right thing to do.

I am struggling to understand the recent decision to downgrade Parks and Recreation and fire the Director. Parks and Recreation is the one program within our village that is truly for the citizens of Tofino, helping to make the community a healthy and enjoyable place to live at a time when everything seems to be directed exclusively at tourism. I recall only one member of Council speaking of downgrading or getting rid of Parks and Recreation during the election campaign, with most Councillors and the Mayor speaking of support for Parks and Recreation during the all-candidates meeting. Some of this discussion centered on attracting and maintaining young families in the community.

Now, less than a year into their term, with both the Mayor and the CAO leaving, Council has made this decision (without community input or consultation) that will impact our Parks and Recreation program and every person who lives in this community. You can describe it anyway that you like, but firing Sally Mole after 20 years of service (losing that local knowledge and experience) and moving the program into another department is a degradation of the Parks and Recreation service that will impact the people of Tofino over the coming years long after this Council is gone.

I have read the only item of communication from Council on this issue in the past week, a wordsmithed bureaucratic propaganda "press release". The release only raises more questions. It attempts to portray the changes as merely an organizational change, rather than the service impacts. Buried in here is combining Parks and Recreation with "Resort Services" (which I can only guess is more tourist services). I note that Parks and Recreation is not even mentioned in their "strategic objectives". I have sent an e-mail of my concerns to each member of Council, but so far, have not received even one acknowledgement. "Open and transparent communication with the citizens of Tofino" is included within the strategic objectives, but it is not clear to me when this strategic objective will be put into practice.

This is a fundamental change in the way Tofino will do business and in the services that will be provided under the umbrella of the Parks and Recreation program. Council may think that they have a mandate to downgrade Parks and Recreation, but they do not have a ethical mandate without first going to the citizens of Tofino.