Angela Hanes says she knows what it takes to be the next council member for the Town of View Royal.
The View Royal resident of 10 years has been involved within the community ever since she moved.
“I’ve been on a sub committee for the entire time I’ve lived in View Royal,” Hanes said. “There was development happening in my neighbourhood and there was misunderstandings as far as the purpose of this. I’ve been the conduit of my neighbourhood for a long time and not necessarily influencing what people think but they aren’t getting accurate information.”
She said being a part of the sub committee enabled her to understand why decisions, whether right or wrong, were made and then being able to bring that information back to the community.
“Seeing the mechanics of it. Being on the sub committee and being a volunteer for 10 years, I am able to present my opinions on things, I’m able to bring the opinions from my neighbours to meetings and I’ll be able to speak to my community and talk about what is happening in our area and I’ll be able to bring information back.”
Hanes said one of the biggest problems that is plaguing View Royal is traffic and congestion.
“Transit of all things is a huge concern here,” she said. “The density is only getting crazier out here. We need better representation for the region with transit. I’m not sure how that is going to work but we do need to get out of cars, we do need better bus systems, we need rail. We need alternatives and we need to talk about it instead of saying it is ‘too expensive,’ it’s only going to get more expensive.”
The candidate hopeful said she wants to see events and spaces where the Town of View Royal and residents can meet to form a better sense of community.
“I meet people from different patches and they are lovely but we don’t have a center,” she said. “There is no event that brings us together. There is nothing we can do that brings us together and I think that would be a great thing to engage with the community about.”
Hanes also has a lengthy resume in multiple industries, something she said would benefit her.
“The one thing that is always the same, is I connect with people,” she said. “I talk with people and I listen. I genuinely enjoy people so it’s a matter of finding that common ground. I find I do it with ease, and I like it.”
View Royal’s byelection is scheduled for Nov. 18. Find the candidates and more information online at goldstreamgazette.com.