With the start of April I have assumed the important and yet often forgotten role of deputy mayor.
Analogous to other fill-in roles like “interim coach” and “substitute teacher,” deputy mayor includes all of the responsibilities of the mayor.
Assuming the role for the first time, there is a disquiet about filling the mayor’s shoes – I feel the weight of the duty and the lack of experience leading a municipality.
But experience is gained over time.
This is something I ponder as I write this article.
The experience I am thinking most about is our changing climate. At my day job with the Salmon Arm Folk Music Society, the staff and I are still adjusting from last summer’s devastating fires. Members of our team have family and friends who lost their homes, while others have felt the impact from the reduction in rentals as the recent fire only exasperated an already overheated housing market.
We are still rebuilding both the physical structures and our mental health.
Faced with the presence of a climate crisis, I am deeply concerned I am not personally doing enough to support the changes we have to make to ensure future generations can enjoy the health and prosperity of past generations. Unless we all look at the climate emergency as the unique species-altering event it is, then we can expect more abject suffering along with the increase in wildfires, heat domes, diminishing fresh water supplies, food shortages, etc.
“Locally, I am very proud of the work being done by the Shuswap Food Action Society and project coordinator Melanie Bennett to install the John McLeod Community Garden behind the Salmon Arm and Shuswap Lake Agricultural Association’s office on the corner of 5th Street SW and 5th Avenue SW.
The Shuswap Food Action Society’s efforts, coupled with the City’s motion to request staff to develop a municipal Food and Urban Agricultural Plan, are necessary steps to uncover gaps in the community’s ability to provide adequate levels of quality food during an emergency, towards long-term climate change adaptation and to provide the community more options to access locally produced food.
David Gonella is a councillor with the City of Salmon Arm.
Read more: Salmon Arm council gets ball rolling on food security plan
Read more: Late Salmon Arm farmer to be honoured with community food garden