Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton was appointed this week to the B.C. Transit board of directors.
Hamilton, along with Kamloops mayor Peter Milobar, are the newest additions to the seven-member board. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Blair Lekstrom made the appointments Tuesday (July 3).
Now with seats on the Capital Regional District transit committee, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission and the new posting, Hamilton said the West Shore is well represented when it comes to transit issues.
“The needs are diverse amongst us all, but we all have the one thing in common: we have people living in our communities that need to get places,” Hamilton said.
With an independent report on the governance of B.C. Transit due to the ministry at the end of August, Hamilton said she’s not sure how that will change her new role, but she said she’s looking forward to working with it in the meantime.
“I think what we need to do is let the review happen and then I’m sure there’s going to be lots on the table to discuss in one capacity or another,” Hamilton said. “Then (we can do what’s) within our scope of what’s happening to make it better, make it greener, make it so there are more options out there.”
The board governs all B.C. Transit affairs. The Transit Act requires four members of the board must be locally elected representatives.
“The appointment of these mayors is an important feature of B.C. Transit’s board because it ensures a voice for local government,” Lekstrom said in a press release.
“Mayors Hamilton and Milobar are making tremendous contributions within their own communities and now they are going to lend their skills and experience to help manage the transit system across British Columbia.”
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com