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VOTERS GUIDE: What parks, recreational or culture amenity should get more money

Abbotsford mayor and council hopefuls about their parks, rec and culture amenity
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We gave each council and mayoral candidate a questionnaire asking for their opinions and thoughts on a range of questions. We also instituted a strict word limit, with mayoral candidates given more room. Those who went over were told they would be cut off.

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Question What parks, recreation or cultural amenity should receive more city money?

Mayoral candidates

Henry Braun

Our PRC Master Plan and five year financial plan lays out what happens when. If grants become available, items will be moved up.

Trevor Eros

Arts Council

Moe Gill

Park, recreation and cultural amenities are fundamental in bringing our community together. Unfortunately, there is only so much City funds available. It is important that these funds are shared fairly.

Eric Nyvall

Rotary stadium’s 3 supplemental fields should get lights. The quality fields lay largely dormant in the evenings without them.

Gerda Peachey

My Rock and Gem Club was promised a home 10 years ago when the public was asked to approve the grandiose Plan A. Another broken promise.

Nadine Snow

Revenue generated from park and amenity rentals support this. More public awareness of, and ease of access to information about would this, I feel, would be better support at this time… (word limit exceeded)

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Council candidates

Jas Anand

Sports facilities all around town

Bruce Banman

Most of our amenities are aging, so they all need our attention, and prioritized. We need to talk to our Federal government so we receive the same treatment as other regions … (word limit exceeded)

Les Barkman

Delair Park, Little League Park with second Park for Provincial to Canadian Tournaments, and bring a Pacific Coast team similar as Victoria HarbourCats. connect Discovery Trail, put more money in Culture budget.

Sandy Blue

For a city our size Abbotsford has been well-served with Parks & Recreation facilities. We need to focus on building Arts, Culture & Heritage assets including a Black box Theatre

Kelly Chahal

Need for more youth and senior related recreational and cultural resources, as indicated in our plans which we unanimously adopted. Now we need to see them implemented.

Vince Dimanno

We have major shortages in sports fields and swimming pools. Instead of millions on all-weather turf that kids must pay to use, we need volume to serve the growing population.

Brenda Falk

Sports and Culture are incredibly important to youth and adults alike . Needs identified in the masterplans will determine how we develop our amenities. Funding opportunities will determine how.

Aird Flavelle

1. Heritage Abbotsford (Trethewey House) and the Abbotsford Arts Council could do so much more with an extraordinarily small about of additional funding.

2. Parkland acquisitions for OCP’s proposed high-density areas.

Harvey Jongsma

no answer

Dave Loewen

All capital expenditures are already queued within the adopted Master Plans, following significant public input.

Harry Manocha

MRC should get more money because it should be on par with ARC.

Paul Redekopp

Until I look at the books and determine the needs of all amenities I have no answer. However I recognize the need for more sporting amenities and fields.

Josh Reynolds

More investment in staffing for general maintenance and upkeep. City-owned parks, facilities and trails are often dirty, broken, or in disarray. Let’s preserve our investments to ensure their lasting use.

Patricia Ross

Trail development for hiking and mountain biking. It is rapidly growing in popularity (called “the new golf”), is healthy activity and brings infusion of tourism dollars.

Dave Sidhu

Culture. Culture is at the core of a community. Abbotsford’s is a rich and diverse culture, and yet we put very little money towards cultural awareness and preservation.

Ross Siemens

Our Master Plans address this. They were unanimously approved by Council.

Respectful relationships with senior levels of government and the private sector will move projects forward as we grow.

Lawrence Tilley

I am not at yet knowledgeable to be capable of a useful answer.

Dao Tran

Mill lake park