Nanaimo voters have a chance to meet the candidates running for school trustee and city council at a series of meetings prior to the Nov. 19 election.
The Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce hosts an open school trustee forum Tuesday (Nov. 1) from 7-9 p.m. in the Port of Nanaimo Centre’s Shaw Auditorium.
The school board candidates will be at it again Wednesday (Nov. 2), as the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association and District Parent Advisory Council sponsor a meeting in the John Barsby Secondary School cafeteria from 7-9 p.m.
City council candidates take the stage Thursday (Nov. 3) as the chamber teams up with the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board for a meeting at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre from 6:30-9 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
The Coalition for Democratic Nanaimo is hosting a city council all-candidates meeting Nov. 10 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Beban Park Recreational Centre, but wants candidates and the public to submit issues facing the community to http://democraticnanaimo.blogspot.com before the meeting.
“Our cities and our neighbourhoods are influenced directly by the politicians we place in municipal office – much more than their provincial or federal counterparts,” said Wally Wells, chamber chairman. “It’s our obligation and right to learn about the candidates and vote.”
As well as all-candidates meetings, the chamber is providing additional information on its website from those running for council.
Stemming from the work of the chamber’s Successful Cities committee, key elements that affect Nanaimo were identified, including distinctiveness, entrepreneurial governance, quality of life, quality of education, sustainability and a vibrant economy.
Council candidates were asked to provide written responses to questions based on those elements.
Responses as they come in are posted at www.nanaimochamber.bc.ca. Background information on all the elements is also available on the website.
