By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
An Oliver town councillor admits she has some big shoes to fill as new president of the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA).
Aimee Grice says she hopes to be an effective advocate for the Town of Oliver as well as the entire SILGA region which consists of 37 municipalities and regional districts.
The association’s primary role is to represent and educate municipal leaders and advocate for the region.
“I have a passion for policy and SILGA gives me an additional platform to advance policies to UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities).”
Grice takes over the president’s position at the next UBCM convention in 2023.
She pointed out the benefit to Oliver is to have a seat at the table.
“I am able to bring our own key issues forward to larger advocacy groups and in turn to the provincial government.”
Grice said the beauty of municipal government organizations such as SILGA is there is no party line to tow – the direction comes straight from the residents, member municipalities and regional districts.
“An additional benefit is that I’m in tune to what is happening in our neighbouring communities and can learn from their successes and challenges.”
Grice said her key issue is always the social well-being of the community, advocating for residents’ health and welfare.
“More and more of these responsibilities have been downloaded to municipalities, so I look at this as an opportunity to better care for our communities.”
Grice said emergency management was a key concern at the last SILGA convention and will continue to be.
“Many of our neighbouring communities were left scrambling and holding the bag while waiting for provincial and federal support during the recent fires and floods.”
The president pointed to more than 25 resolutions that were passed at the last convention, “so we need to ensure that we keep the pressure on the provincial government to take action.”
Grice said she is a team player and doesn’t intend to “take the ball and run away with it.”
She expressed her excitement to be at the helm of an executive of “many bright minds.”
