Messages from Mayor Staples

2025 – MARCH

The past few months have been undeniably tough. The rising cost of living coupled with incidents of violence, discrimination, and petty theft filling our social media feeds has weighed heavily on our collective spirit. Adding to this strain is the uncertainty fueled by threats from our neighbours to the south, testing our sense of security. It’s easy to let anger take over, to lash out with blame and divisiveness, and it will take courage, strength, and resilience to work toward the deep changes needed to address the inequities and injustices faced by those who have fallen through the cracks of our system.

Community safety remains a top priority as we continue to navigate these ongoing challenges. The safety of our streets impacts the well-being of every person in our city, and we are committed to collaborating with all levels of government, the RCMP, and our community partners to support and build sustainable solutions. I understand that when we don’t see immediate change in our neighbourhoods, when we witness the suffering of others and feel like nothing is being done, it can be easy to lose hope. But the truth is, in our region—just as in many places across Canada—there are dedicated individuals working tirelessly every single day to ease the impact of homelessness, mental health issues, addiction, and systemic challenges. Your neighbours,  friends, and  community members are advocating for solutions, and pushing for the emergency responses we need as we work toward the long-term infrastructure that will make a real difference. Imagine what it would look like if we tried to tackle this crisis alone at the local government level without the support of provincial or federal partners. The financial strain would be insurmountable. However, as a province, and as a nation, if we decided to come together and take real action, this crisis could be addressed. We must act, for the sake of everyone’s health, well-being, and dignity.

While we continue to address these urgent needs, we are also facing a heavy financial burden. A significant portion of our tax increase this year, 11% of the 11.3% increase, is directly tied to increased policing costs as our city has grown past 5,000 residents and assumed additional responsibilities that were previously covered by the province. Only 0.3% of this increase goes toward other essential city services. Without the careful planning of our dedicated city staff and previous councils, we could have been looking at a tax increase of up to 30%.

As we approach a federal election, we are at a pivotal moment in history. Canadians are reflecting on our values and deciding what kind of country we are and what we want to become; focusing on what unites us rather than what divides us. Do we want to be a country that turns away from the suffering of others, pointing fingers, and placing blame? Or do we want to be a nation that looks out for one another, ensuring no one is left behind to suffer? Taking care of one of us means taking care of all of us.

I didn’t want to write to you about this again as there are so many other things to share and discuss. We are so much more than the national struggles that have reached our region and small city. We reflect the heart and soul of each individual here: the small business owners and employees, the innovators, and the creators who bring life to our streets and neighbourhoods; the city workers, who ensure we have clean water, safe roads, and beautiful parks; the  bylaw and RCMP officers who patrol our streets; the artists who fill our spaces with beauty; the musicians who bring us together; and the volunteers who give countless hours to make our community stronger. These are the faces of our city, the people who make this place truly special. We have always found strength in unity. Yes, we face challenges, but we are a community of people who rise to meet them, who find ways to support each other, to build solutions that bring hope and healing.

Let’s continue that work together, with the same compassion and commitment that makes this small city the place we love and call home.

 

2024 – DECEMBER

The close of 2024 marks the halfway point in this Council term. I am proud of the work we have achieved so far to enhance life in our City for everyone. This work has and will continue to build our community in ways that are so essential to our collective and individual well-being.

Importantly, we have extended the Temporary Use Permit for the Village on Trunk Road so that it can continue to offer shelter and wrap-around services for 34 individuals experiencing homelessness, offering home, healing, and opportunity for some of our region’s most vulnerable citizens. With this we will continue to lead advocacy to the Province of BC and Federal government to secure ongoing, sustainable funding for a province-wide expansion of the Village model to address the ongoing homelessness crisis and growing impacts of the lack of affordable and supportive housing affecting our community, province, and country. 

Five years ago, business owners, residents, youth, Council, and staff worked through the revitalization and redesign of Station Street Common. In addition to this there was a public process to name the park in both English and Hul’q’umi’num’ which will be announced in the new year. Construction currently underway will realize the beautiful new design featuring additional seating, and new accessible public washrooms built in behind the park will fill an identified gap in service for residents and visitors alike. While this is all coming to life, the totems in the park are undergoing restoration and a new mural on the washroom building will beautify the area even more.

Kids will be as excited as we are for the opening of a new playground at McAdam Park by the end of this year with small and large play areas and accessible rubber surfacing. This will be an incredible community gathering space for playing and visiting with family and friends. 

I am grateful to continue this work with the incredible people on staff and Council as we make our way into the second half of this term. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with you so that together we can further our efforts to build a welcoming, beautiful, safe, and sustainable community for everyone. I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

 

2024 – SEPTEMBER

As we bid farewell to summer to welcome cozy sweaters and the beauty of fall leaves, September offers a fresh start—a time to recharge and look ahead. This renewal inspires us to advance with exciting projects and tackle those that test our values.

We’re excited to announce several initiatives aimed at creating vibrant, welcoming spaces. At McAdam Park, we’re installing a new playground accessible to all ages and abilities. Additionally, we’ll soon be asking you to vote on the final name choices for the park at the corner of Station and Craig Streets, which is nearing its community-designed makeover. While over on Marchmont, we will be making crucial upgrades to improve pedestrian safety and enhance the road surface and utilities.

Beyond infrastructure, we’re eliminating barriers to develop diverse, affordable, and supportive  housing options through our partnership with the Government of Canada, which will help us develop 313 new housing units over the next three years through CMHC’s Housing Accelerator Fund. The City is also fulfilling one of its strategic objectives to update the zoning bylaw to align with the community’s new Official Community Plan.  The zoning bylaw update will include a review of the City’s parking requirements for new developments and the possibility of incorporating inclusionary zoning.

And sadly, we all struggle with needing to remove five beloved and needed trees from City Square, a decision we certainly don’t take lightly. The trees have become unsafe, with falling branches creating a hazard for people and vehicles. We all love these trees and together, we will select replacement trees through an online engagement process. From there we will prioritize the largest ones we can plant as replacements. Additionally, we’re encouraging installing rooftop gardens and tree coverage in new developments, and we’re planting new trees in public areas in anticipation of our future tree canopy target action plan. As we navigate new construction and government policy changes, our goal is to balance growth while ensuring a thriving canopy is developed for future generations.

As we  journey through the highs and lows of changes in our community, it is together that we are building a brighter, more connected Duncan today and for the future.

 

2024 – FEBRUARY

After years of public engagement, we are excited to see the adoption of a new Official Community Plan (OCP) on the horizon. The OCP is a guiding vision for our community that safeguards the things we cherish most: our green spaces, cultural heritage, relationships, and the environment that makes the smallest city in Canada shine. It ensures that progress doesn’t come at the cost of our identity but enhances it.

As a living document, the OCP can be modified to change and grow as we do, and will always be informed not just by city officials and planners, but everyone who lives and works here. Our OCP engagement process invited each of us to share our thoughts, concerns, and dreams, making this a true community effort. On behalf of Council, I thank everyone who participated in this process, especially former Committee Chair Bob Brooke and all our OCP Committee members past and present who represent an incredible group of people who love where they live, give back to their community, and are dedicated to making the future of our small part of the world a little brighter. Together, we’re shaping the next chapter of our city’s story.

I am always ready to carry on the conversation. If you would like to connect with me directly, please leave me your name, contact information, and topic at mayor@duncan.ca or text me at 250-466-9412.

 

2023 – DECEMBER

As 2023 ends, I hold both hope and uncertainty about what the next year will bring.

Looking back on some highlights, we’ve had a number of new businesses join our community and new murals brighten our downtown core, sharing stories of truth, resilience, and beauty. We’ve also been able to share in the success of The Village on Trunk Road, with its collaborative peer driven model that creates safe accommodation for some of the most vulnerable in our community, as this model has begun to be replicated across BC.

Despite  these and other successes, moving into 2024 there remain concerns and challenges for us to meet. Among them are the increasingly severe impacts of seasonal drought, continued rising cost of living, growing housing challenges, and the tragic impacts of the opioid crisis. While many of these issues are outside the jurisdiction and control of local government, they directly impact our daily lives and come up in many forms for discussion at our Council table and we continue to be advocates of long-term solutions for our community.

And at the same time, there are exciting milestones ahead, including consideration of our new Official Community Plan, which has undergone extensive public consultation and received valuable direction from our OCP Advisory Committee. With this in place, the City will work from an updated plan that reflects our community’s vision and guides decision on things like housing affordability, development, supports for businesses, and climate change.

While we know there are clearly uncertainties ahead, there will also be countless opportunities. Working together is how we will meet whatever comes our way in 2024, and we will do so with the commitment, optimism, and courage required. I hope this holiday season brings with it peace to each of your homes and all of our hearts.   

 

2023 – SEPTEMBER

The past couple of months have taken me to a number of places, from small towns to large cities. In every one of them, I witnessed stark reminders of the homelessness and opioid crises. I also walked through beautiful parks, appreciated vibrant murals, independent storefronts, and restaurants filled with people. 

As I write this, I am settled at one of my favourite coffee shops in Vancouver reviewing the 2023 Duncan Citizen Satisfaction Survey results. Like every place I have been to throughout Vancouver Island and other parts of Canada, people in Duncan are feeling the impacts of homelessness and opioid abuse.

We continue to work tirelessly with neighbouring municipalities and nations to encourage and support the Province of BC in addressing these crises. In fact, at various times I have tried to calculate the number of hours that we, City Council and staff, have spent on this work, but it has become so deeply embedded in almost every conversation we have that there is no way to come to an accurate number.

We have found incredible success in Cowichan with the Village on Trunk Road.  We have evidence that it works; now we need to build on this success by getting Provincial support for this model and expanding rehabilitation and mental health support programs. The longer we have to wait, the more we will watch people we love suffer, the more funerals we will attend, and the more all of us will continue to be deeply impacted by the fallout of these crises.

We all deserve a home, a safe community, and adequate support to address our health and wellbeing. And while we continue to invest our time and resources into the above, we will also keep planting flowers, painting murals, walking in parks, gathering together for coffee and food, supporting local businesses, and caring for each other.

 

2023 – MARCH

It has been a while since my last update, with summer, fall, an election, and Christmas all passing us by since then. These times have been full of memorable moments, it has been amazing seeing people in person and I have been enjoying time reconnecting with friends, family, and the community. I am honoured to serve our community as Mayor and I am committee to working together once again!

One of our top priorities for this term is the development of a new Official Community Plan (OCP). This plan will provide a roadmap for the future growth and development of our City, ensuring that we are able to meet the needs of our residents both now and into the future. Council believes that community input is crucial to getting this plan right and, working with the OCP Advisory Committee, is excited to come together, share ideas, and build relationships that will help us move forward.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge former council member, Bob Brooke, who served his role with integrity, dedication, courage, and passion. We know Bob will stay involved in other ways and will continue to share his wisdom in the community and we wish him all the best. At the same time, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new councillor, Mike McKinlay, former City of Duncan Fire Chief and also Public Works Foreman. His skills and expertise are a valuable asset to our community and a welcome addition to the Council table.

With the return of in-person events, our parks, streets, and businesses are once again filled with people coming out to play, dance, cheer, and to support our local businesses. After postponing events for two years, I am excited to once again watch people exchanging their vows, walking across the stage at graduation, and celebrating together. I am also heartened to be able to grieve in person for people who brought so much to our communities and were taken too soon. It is our coming together and the relationships we build that form strength in the foundation required for our future.

Once again, I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to serve as your Mayor. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or ideas that you would like to share with me, please do not hesitate to reach out.    

 

2022 – MARCH

With the days becoming a little longer, another winter is ending. The arrival of spring is coupled with the lifting of many pandemic restrictions, and we too are slowly making our way out of our homes, going back into offices, reconnecting with people, and attending events. For many, the pandemic has been a grueling two years that has tested us as individuals, communities, and nations. The world we are re-entering is forever changed and we must go forward.

Adding to this is the reality that we have seen close to 9,000 people move to the Cowichan Valley in the past ten years.  This population increase, combined renovictions, an overheated real estate market, limited availability of rental housing, and the inability of construction to keep pace, means we are experiencing a housing shortage. Our Council continues to support the development of all types of housing. We have over 115 market housing units currently under construction in the City.

When we look outside of our windows, we can often see others struggling who are unsheltered and unsupported who are feeling disconnection and hopeless. Some are caught in the cycle of addiction, others are dealing with mental health issues, and others are simply unable to find suitable housing. This homelessness crisis is also resulting in daily negative impacts on residents and businesses. 

So, what can we do? The City has been proud to work with other local governments and organizations, with funding from the province, to stabilize and support 71 people during the pandemic by providing them shelter, warmth, food, and hope. While these are temporary measures, we will soon have 51 units of permanent supportive housing in North Cowichan, and a further 48 in Duncan by the end of the year.  Unfortunately, these initiatives are not enough to meet the growing need for all types of housing, which means there will still be people who will remain unhoused. 

These issues are not unique to the City or the region; these go far beyond our borders. The opioid epidemic, housing shortages, and homelessness crises do not belong to me, nor do they exist because of me, City Council, or any of our neighbouring jurisdictions. We stand in a long line of communities facing the same challenges across BC and Canada. It will take investment, policy change, and political will at all levels of government to see a real change in our community. The City will continue to do what we can to manage the situation and work with other local governments to advocate for both immediate and long-term action.

For now, we all do our best to navigate these issues and, accepting this, each of us has a choice to make.  We can choose to make this situation better for everyone by connecting and coming together or we can create division and mistrust. I will always choose coming together and I will work with people who choose to do the same.  There are so many of you out there daily, making a difference by cleaning up where you can, supporting your neighbours, or volunteering to serve your community.  Your efforts make me proud of our City and the people who live and work here.

We are getting through a global pandemic but, despite this and all of the other challenges, when I walk through the City, I see a growing and vibrant downtown with many businesses beginning to bounce back, families laughing, and parks and trails filled with dog walkers and people of all ages. Like every other City in BC, we are dealing with multiple crises, but not one of them gets to define who we are; only we get to do that, so let’s build together. 

As always, feel free to contact me.    

 

2021 – DECEMBER

Over the  past decade our community has been rapidly changing from a small town, where we knew everyone’s business, good and bad, to not recognizing the faces that live next door, greet us in stores, or pass us on the streets. 

Long-time business owners are retiring and new faces with new business fronts are filling their spaces. The Tulip Deli and Martin’s Men’s Wear are just a couple that have decided the time has come and we thank them and many others for all of the years. You have helped define our community, fed us, clothed us, and become part of our stories. I can only imagine all of the books that Martin’s alone could write about our community throughout the years as they have been an integral part of helping us celebrate the love honoured at weddings and the milestones of graduations. Who will carry those stories and hold those memories for us now? 

At the City, our long term and much beloved Fire Chief Mike McKinlay recently retired taking with him 18 years of emergency responses.  Mike was front and centre to the most challenging and heartbreaking times faced by people at accident scenes, fires, floods, and storms. He has been a constant calm and familiar face we all know, recognized, and are grateful for him being at the scenes of some of our most devastating moments.

Our museum recently lost one of our communities treasured gems with Kathryn Gagnon leaving and taking with her years of the incredible relationships she has formed, the strong bridges she has built through her work with Cowichan Tribes, and the historical stories and knowledge she holds in her memory.

This past year has been filled with historical moments; climate crisis, global pandemic, opioid crisis, housing and housing affordability crisis, and mental health crisis.  This is a past we must be willing to look at, face, and reconcile.  Though everything has changed, nothing has; neighbours continue to fight over fence lines and others continue to share what they have.

This holiday season I invite everyone to take the time to reflect on the historic events of this past year, how they have impacted us, individually and collectively.  How they have changed the world and the landscapes around us and, how they will help us shape the future we want our children to reflect on when they are adults looking back.

Take care everyone, yourselves and each other.

 

2021 – SEPTEMBER

Thank you, each one of you for the incredible support you continue to show each other. Whether it’s shopping local, helping to keep neighbourhoods and parks clean and safe, checking in on your neighbour or simply saying hello to people you pass in the park while walking your dog, every act of consideration, respect, and kindness we have to offer each other, makes us better, stronger, and more connected.

Since the last newsletter, we lost a member of our community who not only founded and served on the boards of some of the strongest community organizations we have in our region, he also served as President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, was on the Board of Trustees of the Municipal Finance Authority, was the longest serving Mayor in Duncan, operated a legal practice, and had a family, Mayor Mike Coleman, or as many of us knew him over the years, ‘Mayor Mike’.

I knew Mike more through family and community connections rather than in his role as Mayor, so I decided to spend some time in the archives to learn more about what was going on then, how he served as Mayor, and what he was passionate about. I found some interesting, albeit unusual, news clippings, such as learning why the City had a bylaw about prohibiting greased pig contests within the City or a no swearing bylaw. What really struck me however was that the top five references to challenges of his time are the same top five of this time: Homelessness, Affordable Housing, Parking, Crime, and Cutting Down Trees.

As I read on, I learned not only what he did, but about his passion for youth voices, how he started a Duncan Youth Ambassador program and Duncan Youth Council providing youth opportunities to participate in decision making. During his time, there were funds available from the Federal Government to encourage sister cities and learning exchanges between nations. Meru, Kenya is one of those cities and the work he did helped establish much needed equipment for staff in Meru to make their jobs safer and more effective.

He worked locally with Cowichan Tribes through the significant changes to the City boundaries when the Federal Government returned land to Cowichan Tribes in the areas we know as the mound and the Duncan Mall. He developed lifelong friendships with the Chiefs he worked with, and honoured Cowichan culture and tradition.

Reflecting as I read over reams of notes, it is clear that the decisions made by Mayor Coleman and his many councils over the years live amongst all of us. Not just as archives but as the very ground we walk on, the trees that give us shade, the organizations that provide us service, the relationships we cherish, City Hall, and the clocktower itself. He lived his life as described by a Kiswahili word shared by the former Mayor of Meru, to describe the relationship between our two cities, ’harambee’ (pronounced harr-umm-bay) meaning the “Spirit of sharing and giving” and locally, as shared by Cowichan Elder Tousilum at Mike’s memorial, “Mike lived, Na’tsa’ maht Shqwaluwun, meaning “One Heart, One Mind”. Thank you, Mayor Mike, for your service and for the love you gave and left for all of us.

Take care of each other, reach out, and as always, I am available by phone 250-466-9412, or email mayor@duncan.ca.  I can also be reached on Facebook or Instagram: @MayorMichelleStaples

 

2021 – MARCH

It is so hard to believe it has almost been a year since this pandemic began. We have all been tested in ways we could not have imagined; our lives have been forever changed. While we are all in this together, we are all also experiencing the effects of the pandemic very differently. 

These past few months brought a second wave at a great cost to our community. In January, when Cowichan Tribes began to share their COVID data with the community, we saw an ugly side of our region try to take hold of the conversation with unacceptable racist comments and behaviours towards the people whose territory we all call home. Others responded using their voices to stand up, speak out, educate, and find ways to offer support. Cowichan Tribes demonstrated leadership responding in a way that all levels of government should look to emulate. They put people first, took care of the elders in the community and worked to keep everyone safe. We are so sorry for the lives that have been lost in just eight weeks; we will continue to walk beside you and stand with you.

To everyone in our City and region who has had COVID, who have lost loved ones, we offer our condolences. 

As we move into the Spring, the City is beginning a year-long process of updating our Official Community Plan (OCP).  It is time for all of us to reflect on the past year, and ask what do we value? Where do we struggle? Let us begin to reimagine the world we want to create as we move forward. What do we want to see more of in our neighbourhoods, in our business communities, in our relationships with our neighbors and in our City? What do we want the City to look like as we move into the future and how do we get there?  

As we go through this process of planning for our future, there are many factors we consider in the OCP planning processes; economy, environment, safety, housing, growth, cultural and transportation needs to name a few. While these categories still apply, after this past year, the understanding, and the value they represent to us has changed. Things like what it means to “support a local or circular economy” for instance, have taken on a deeper meaning as people have witnessed the difference their spending habits have to the success of a local economy.  We have begun to re-establish how important small and medium sized businesses are to a thriving community. The Station Street Commons downtown last summer and people having picnics in City parks created a sense of community and vibrancy even in a time of separation. How do we build on this for the future? 

Our relationships to our outdoor spaces are more connected now than ever; whether it is access to parks, walking and biking trails, healthy eco-systems, water, outdoor gathering spaces, community gardens, or sidewalks, and we recognize their importance and value within our City. How do we add to and improve what we have? 

These are just a couple of examples that Council and staff are excited to begin and consult with each one of you on.  The number one thing we have all learned through the past year is that whatever we do, the outcome is always better when we work together and take care of each other. 

If you have questions or comments, please ask me anything by email, phone, or text.                               

 

2020 – DECEMBER

I am writing this from one of my COVID-19 office spaces, the corner of my kitchen table, on the day after the newest Provincial Health Orders were put in place by Dr. Bonnie Henry. 

I’ve taken some time to reflect on the past few months, since mid-March when this pandemic began. I remember the hundreds of updates, emails, emergency meetings, and briefings as the impacts of the pandemic began to filter in. These impacts have been unique to each of us, yet in some ways shared in the sense that we are all affected; all our lives changed and the future for all of us is uncertain. Dr. Bonnie Henry became a household name and, “Be kind, be calm, be safe”, became a reminder as we moved through fear and uncertainty.

I remember how everyone rallied together to ensure people were fed, how we sheltered those we could, and reached out to others who were isolated or vulnerable to make sure they had access to the supplies and connections they needed. 

Businesses and services had to develop and adapt, reinventing themselves in many ways as days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. People lined up on the streets and in the doorways each night at 7:00 p.m. to cheer for essential workers who were put on high alert for what was to come. Here on the Island, as the initial response began to subside, we put away our pots and pans, took a breath, went outside, and made the best of an Island summer. 

After five months, kids returned to schools, leaves began to fall, the rain came, and we moved back indoors as the second wave rolled in. And then Friday, November 20th, a new announcement arrived, bringing with it another surge of uncertainty, concerns, fears, and frustrations. “Be kind, be calm, be safe” can feel hard to hold onto, making it even more important to do so. I keep reflecting on the words of a recent State of the Island Economic Forum keynote speaker, Kate O’Neill, who was one of the first 100 employees at Netflix and is a recognized leader in her field of business innovation and guiding business leaders. Her words have been rolling through my mind, words I believe are worth coming back to as we move through this winter:

“While there is loss, there are and will be, new opportunities and how we should solve human problems at scale, and how important it is to localize. That we just have to look around our own communities for examples of how some businesses and people are thriving and working together in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few months ago.

We all have to continue to find creative ways to ensure we have connection and that it doesn’t help to speak to everything in shades of either dystopia (a community or society that is undesirable or frightening) or utopia (an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect).

We need to think of the future as uncertain and recognize that every day we are each making the choices that are creating the future of how we will live, and of the world our children will inherit so, we must choose wisely.”

I know these next months will not be easy. After living and working in this community for over 28 years, I have also come to know, despite what social media might try to make us believe, we are a community who shows up for each other, time and time again, who demonstrates  generosity, and who chooses kindness.  We have thousands of stories to prove this and, together, we can create thousands more.  Take care of everyone.

 

2020 – SEPTEMBER

Welcome to 2020, a year none of us could have imagined and where we all try to navigate our way through. We sent out a Special Edition May Newsletter to inform citizens on the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during Phase 1. This included the addition of extra overnight security shifts from April-June, that were cost shared with the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area (DDBIA), and the Municipality of North Cowichan. These extra shifts were in addition to the  regular 3 night shifts a week that the City previously had in place, and continues to provide.

City Public Works crews continued to work, and completed the Duncan Street revitalization and watermain replacement project. As well, the pedestrian crossing over the train tracks near Charles Hoey Park was upgraded so that citizens can safely cross over them. This upgrade was possible in partnership with the Federal Government through the Federal Gas Tax Fund.

The City led the formation of what has grown to be a regional food security task force to ensure all citizens have access to food, and that the organizations providing services are connected and able to support each other. The Cowichan Green Community is facilitating the task force and is still meeting weekly (on Zoom).  In June, 8,265 meals, 4,700 hampers, 15,000lbs of recovered and redistributed food, and $17,000 grocery and food coupons were handed out within the Cowichan Valley. When I am able to join them on their meetings my heart is filled, as I listen to the banter among them as they share their struggles, triumphs, plans for the future and support for each other through the uncertainties ahead. This was possible because of partnerships with many community groups throughout the region and require no financial contributions from the City.

The City worked on a COVID-19 Neighbourhood Watch program when we learned that Block Watch was not able to operate because of restrictions from Ottawa. This was possible with partnerships with community groups and the RCMP.

In Phase 2 the City developed a City COVID-19 Grant program. One of the applications was from the DDBIA for the creation of Station Street Commons, helping businesses downtown by providing additional outdoor eating space for people; which ended up creating an even more vibrant and inviting downtown core. In addition, we were able to assist businesses throughout Duncan and the region by contributing to the Buy Local Cowichan Campaign, the Economic Development’s COVID-19 response. These were all possible because of the partnerships with local non-profits who represent local business.

These are just a few of the responses so far that the City has managed to put in place to support the community through this pandemic. Partnerships come in many forms, some are short lived, some fall apart, others are long and weather the storms. Whatever form they take, we know that we could not have done any of this on our own, nor should we. It has, and will continue to take all of us working together to find solutions, even when it is hard, especially when it is hard because no government, business, organization, family, or person, should be expected to face the challenges these times are bringing us, alone. We all want a healthy, safe, and prosperous community; and on that we seem to agree so let us continue to do the work that will get us there. Small City, BIG Hearts. 

Take care of each other, reach out, and as always, I am available by phone 250-466-9412 or email mayor@duncan.ca.  I can also be reached on Facebook or Instagram: @MayorMichelleStaples

 

2020 – MAY

It was seven weeks ago when COVID-19 began, we were busy working on City budgets, replacing water mains, and improving our neighbourhoods, parks, and streets. We were coming together with businesses, residents, neighbours, and the provincial government to increase the safety and well-being in our community. We were part of island-wide projects focused on building a better future for our economy and climate, meeting with youth to engage them in planning for their future and enriching our present.

Then one morning, we awoke to find our world, our City, and our lives changed forever: streets quiet, playgrounds silent, businesses closed. Our Provincial Health Officer became a household name, health care workers and essential services workers became our superheroes.

The challenges we have experienced during these weeks will continue for some time as we move through this pandemic and the changes it presents. In addition to the challenges, there are stories of how we continue to rise to the occasion, again and again, that will be remembered and retold for generations to come. Like how we reached out to each other through simple gestures: placing hearts in our front windows, cheering nightly at 7:00 p.m., helping neighbours, sewing masks, planting food, and sharing seeds.

At the City we have learned to use “Zoom” for meetings. We continue work to make sure your essential services are delivered: garbage is collected, potholes are filled, and public works projects are completed. We are finding ways to help our residents and business owners where we can by waiving parking fees and penalties on water bills, extending tax penalty dates, and keeping tax increases low.  We heard your safety concerns and added extra nighttime security patrols. We have kept outdoor public spaces in City parks open. We reached out to partner community organizations to establish task forces to make sure everyone has access to food and shelter, and that volunteers are ready and people who are looking for work are matched with employers. We connected with our business community to understand their changing needs and to advocate on their behalf. You have an amazing team working for you; they care about this City and every person in it, just like you do.  I am thankful for each and every one of them for their dedication and for each and every one of you for your dedication.

We will continue to make sure that your needs are being met, to advocate for you, to work together, and to move forward with all of the dreams we had when this started seven weeks ago. We understand there are some things we will have to reimagine and other changes we have yet to discover as we transition from building resilience to the tasks of building recovery. This time is showing us how the character, strength and beauty of our individual and collective actions, our spirits and humanity will get us through this difficult time.  

As always, I am available at 250-466-9412 or email  mayor@duncan.ca, or I can be reached on Facebook or Instagram.

 

2020 – FEBRUARY

When I was a child imagining living in the year 2020, it formed in my mind like the scenes from a science fiction story. I pictured flying cars, teleportation and talking animals.

Time went by at what now feels like warp speed – I grew up, had a child of my own, and eventually became Mayor of this wonderfully small and beautiful city – and suddenly the year 2020 has arrived.  Low and behold, cars still need roads, I have yet to find a machine to “beam me up Scotty” nor do animals speak.

What I could never have imagined as a child was living in the Cowichan Valley, surrounded by rivers, mountains, and trees, rich with culture, centered around recreation, sports and arts, filled with people who love where they live and give generously in so many ways to their community.

I could have not predicted that Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities would be walking with each other, standing together to face and change the outdated roots of racism; a slow and all too painful process for many as we continue to learn from our past on our way to a stronger future.

I could not have guessed the complex big city issues that are facing our small city streets, the decline of salmon in our rivers, the dying cedars in our forests, or the disappearance of snow on our mountains. Not in my lifetime, because as a child I dreamed of building a future filled with flying cars.

In 2020, the City will begin the process of imagining our future creating a new Official Community Plan that will guide us through the next 20 years.  This will be done together, with all of you – our business owners, seniors, families, youth, neighbours, and community organizations – everyone will have a chance to contribute to the vision. So, as an adult contemplating this process of imagining what our city will become, I know that all of us will work to create a future worthy of our children’s imaginations.

As always, I am available at 250-466-9412 or email mayor@duncan.ca.  Thank all of you for continuing to help make this the best little city it can be.

 

2019 – SEPTEMBER

It’s hard to believe summer has passed!  It seems like just a few days ago that the City streets were filled with people watching the parade, and celebrating Downtown Duncan Day.  Music could be heard from the 39 Days of July, calling out to thousands of citizens to make their way downtown to enjoy the many local and guest musicians who shared their talents with us.  

It was a hot and dry summer causing some of the worst droughts that have been seen in decades, which lead to (for the first time in our history) water being pumped over the weir from Lake Cowichan to keep river flows at the bare minimum of 4.5 cubic meters per second.

The City, along with over 400 municipalities in Canada so far, declared a climate emergency. This fall the City will start to look at what opportunities for local action, policy changes, and direction we can produce to help curb the impacts of our changing climate. 

It’s not just climate change that is affecting our community. The City is not alone in struggling to address the growing impacts of the lack of services for people living with addictions and mental health issues. We, like others, need a large scale investment by other levels of government for both short- and long-term treatment facilities and supportive housing. There is just simply nowhere for people to go that provides the services needed for people to begin to stabilize their lives. These are the main issues we are working on every day at the City, along with the priority of addressing what we can do in the meantime to help to reduce the impacts of these issues in the surrounding community.

We hear you—every one of your calls, emails, conversations with us on the street, —and we hear your frustrations and fears.  We are working every day with neighbourhoods, community partners, other local governments and levels of government to find solutions. We need each other more than ever when we are in crisis; we all need to take care of each other.  Remember that everyone is doing the best they can and that kindness goes a long way. If you would like to meet with me or speak to me, please email mayor@duncan.ca

 

2019 – FEBRUARY

On behalf of City Council and the citizens of the City of Duncan, I am excited for this opportunity to say hello from all of us in my first ‘Message from the Mayor’.

I have to admit that it has been a whirlwind since the election at the end of October, with a steep learning curve for all of the new faces on Council this term. We have been busy training, reviewing budgets, and becoming familiar with each other and the variety of committees and appointments we have in our community. We have made a few changes to our Council proceedings and encourage you to come by one of our open Council meetings. We also welcome you to be part of the budgeting process and attend the next budget open house (information on back page).

Your new Council has made communication with all of you a top priority and this newsletter is just one way for us to share what is happening at the City. We will continue to provide this to you quarterly and encourage you to reach out to us. If you would like to receive Council agendas and keep informed of City news online, please sign up through our website (www.duncan.ca). We are working at finding other ways to connect with you so stay tuned for more!

I would like to thank our incredible staff and volunteer fire department for everything they have done to get us through the wind and winter storms, and to all of you, reaching out and helping your neighbours, demonstrating over and over again the strength and pride that makes this city our home. We want you all to know that we notice, we care, and we are here with you for the next four years to continue to grow our city, find solutions to our challenges and work together.