File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

In The Loop

HUNTER: Neighbourhood associations could have a stronger voice than any committee

Apr 4, 2023 | 9:09 AM

THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION about public involvement in city issues and the ability of the public to have a voice or say in many important issues.

What seems to be missing from some of this discussion is the fact there are several fairly established ways to get involved and to raise issues of community concern.

It’s heartening to see such an interest in getting involved and helping create change. I think it’s a show of our resiliency as a community as we look to restore a sense of normalcy after a tumultuous few years.

Aside from direct volunteer opportunities and the much-maligned council standing committees, there are several ways for people to get involved. One of the most direct ways is through neighbourhood associations.

Kamloops currently has 17 neighbourhood associations across the city. Neighbourhood associations are organizations run by residents, often supported by city staff. Members are your neighbours who also want their neighbourhood to be at its best.

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Recognizing the importance of community safety to all neighbourhoods, the city recently revised the Safe and Secure Kamloops working group to include representation from neighbourhood associations. That means the ideas and concerns from neighbourhoods are heard by other members of this working group, which also includes city staff and representatives from community groups, government agencies, Indigenous organizations, social service providers and business organizations.

If community safety is top of mind, neighbourhood associations and neighbourhoods are also encouraged to restart and organize the Block Watch program, which was paused during the pandemic. This program requires a leader to take up the responsibility to run the program and recruit volunteers, but it is the most direct way to get involved in protecting your property and that of your neighbours.

Another community safety initiative is the Crime Watch program, which is one of several ways to volunteer to support the RCMP in crime prevention programs.

One idea is for all of the neighbourhood associations to come together and host a workshop to learn about how to become involved in community safety initiatives and to discuss other areas of common interest where associations might work together toward a larger goal. I would guess road safety, active transportation, schools and child care are all shared issues which could be advocated for in a unified voice. This would be significantly more impactful than a few people being on a council committee or an engagement group.

Engagement groups are important in providing the opportunity for public involvement and more granular discussion on certain topics which will eventually make their way to council, and neighbourhood associations can amplify these ideas and topics. There’s no limit to membership in these associations as there is with engagement groups and I would suggest no limit to their potential if leveraged properly. Through these associations, every one of our citizens has a voice — and if they use it, they’ll be heard.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.