Bryan Raiser Newsletter

You have them. Heck, even I have them. Trigger words. These are words or phrases we have created in our minds that let us quickly categorize and, rightly or wrongly, stereotype things.

Ok, a few weeks ago I sent out an email saying how frustrated I was that I couldn’t publicly talk about some things I wanted to talk about. This puts me into a tough spot because I was elected by many to be a shit disturber. But I was also elected to make this town better so I’ve been working really hard to figure out how to ‘let er rip’ in a productive way. I’m happy to say I’ve been making great strides in that department and those strides will continue. Still though, the most difficult thing about being a councillor is people telling you the following:

Sorry for the lateness of this Newsletter – to those that noticed, it’s been over a month since I’ve said hi in this format.

I assure you the lag is not for lack of interesting things happening. Far from it, there are monumental things afoot everywhere and it surely is exciting times. However, this month I keep trying to write this newsletter and keep having to stop because… well for many reasons.

Hello hello’

So once again I get to give you a bonus while multitasking. By this I mean some of the next bit will also appear in Friday’s Chief as a Council Corner. But you get a sneak peak as well as an extra tidbit at the end (no peaking).

Now, I don’t remember the exact time, but sometime this year I discovered I have spidy-sense. Not that I can see the future or shoot web from my wrists (no matter how hard I try), rather it’s just the feeling I get when I’m really excited about something big.

Correction

This is a very quick one.

I just sent you an email saying that the budget chat is this Wednesday 6–8 at Howe Sound Secondary. I was wrong (bows head and shuffles feet in embarrassment). It’s still this Wednesday 6-8 but the location is in fact the Seniors Center behind Shoppers downtown.

As well - if you can’t (or don’t want to) come out to discuss budget items you can do it from the comfort of your own home online as well. The link to the survey is at the bottom of this email.

First I’d like to welcome back the thousands of Sqamolians who went to Mexico or Hawaii to avoid the circus. You missed a hell of a party and we’re glad you’re back.

Personally I had an amazing experience that I will never forget for as long as I live. Were there better ways to spend those billions of tax dollars? Of course there were. But once the bid was announced it consumed our community and it is now gone. Sure the Paralympics are coming and as much as I’m excited to see these people perform, the show is simply not as big.

Hmmm, what to talk about… Sure there are a staggering amount of things going on in our community but those are going to have to take a back-seat to a little event headed our way. Yes the Olympics are practically here and every day it becomes more and more clear just how insane it’s going to be.

With little detailed information available I have no expectations but there are a few goals I have in mind.

Hello!

Heavens knows you have a lot to do these next few days so I’ll keep this short.

To you and yours I wish you a most fantastic end to 2009 and have a brilliant 2010.
Here’s hoping you find some time over the next few days to indulge some pleasures.

All the best eh’
Bryan Raiser

So they say the learning curve of a councillor is steep and the first year is the steepest. I can assure you ‘they’ are absolutely right. It’s almost been a year and while I’m definitely getting more comfortable I’m also still learning new things all the time.

So last month I mentioned the UBCM conference where BC municipalities lobby the provincial government and meet other Mayors and Councillors from around the province. It was quite good. The minister meetings were… varied. It must be intense to be a Provincial minister sitting in a room for three days while different communities bombard you every 15 minutes (seriously, that’s how long you have). Personally I found some to be a complete waste of time but others were better with meaningful dialogue and contacts being established. What will come of them is a story yet to be seen.