A longtime advocate for child and family services in the West Shore and the region, NDP MLA hopeful Mitzi Dean decided to add her name to the race in Esquimalt-Metchosin in an attempt to make change happen.
B次元官网网址淚 felt it was a structural issue, a systemic issue that needs to change,B次元官网网址� she told the Gazette. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be able to do something to serve my community and provide more input.B次元官网网址� Having worked or volunteered in community social services and as a social worker for more than 30 years, she wants to draw on those experiences in a bigger way. B次元官网网址淥ver the years IB次元官网网址檝e seen things get harder. People are struggling, even though theyB次元官网网址檙e working really hard,B次元官网网址� said Dean, best known as executive director for Pacific Centre Family Services Association in Colwood. B次元官网网址淲e have 1,600 people using our services every day.B次元官网网址�
While a political newcomer, Dean has become acutely aware of the political process having served on or chaired many advisory committees or boards over the years. As an MLA, she would hope to help address the challenges of affordability in the region. B次元官网网址淲e can make different choices to help people who are working hard,B次元官网网址� she said.
While Dean spends the majority of her working hours in the riding, she also calls Metchosin home. One of the things that attracted her to the area is the availability of public outdoors spaces. B次元官网网址淚 love spending time with my family.B次元官网网址� Whether thatB次元官网网址檚 cycling on the Galloping Goose Trail, spending time at Matheson Lake in Metchosin or exploring one of the regionB次元官网网址檚 numerous beaches, much of that family time is spent with her daughter, who celebrates her seventh birthday soon. B次元官网网址淪he can probably name more of the indigenous species than I can,B次元官网网址� Dean joked. On a more serious note, she added, B次元官网网址淚 really think about her future B次元官网网址� The government makes choices that will influence and that will impact her future and her childrenB次元官网网址檚 futures.B次元官网网址�
That desire to protect the regionB次元官网网址檚 natural beauty may have stemmed from one of her first adventures on the Island. When Dean and her husband first moved to the region, they lived aboard their boat. One winter, the region was hit by a heavy snowfall. Dean remembers cooking in the galley and looking with disbelief at the snow drifts surrounding the boat. B次元官网网址淭here was a duck walking out on the ice,B次元官网网址� she said with a laugh, adding that everyone had told her how mild VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 winters were. B次元官网网址淚t was quite an adventure.B次元官网网址�
And itB次元官网网址檚 one she hopes others will continue to have.
B次元官网网址淥nce youB次元官网网址檝e lived on a boat you see the community a little differently B次元官网网址� you really see the beauty of the coastline,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址� You canB次元官网网址檛 put that coastline at risk.B次元官网网址�
