Erin Hemmens
Website: hemmens.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hemmens2018/
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
No
Do you live in the municipality where you are running, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to that community?
I’ve lived in Nanaimo for 11 years.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I’m currently consulting as a Project Manager with the Nanaimo Division of Family Practice. I’ve worked in the community health field for 20 years.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I was elected to Council in 2018. During my term I co-led the City’s Health and Housing Task Force and currently serve as Vice Chair of both the Nanaimo Regional District Hospital and Vancouver Island Regional Library Boards. I’ve worked in community health for nearly 20 years and have led several Nanaimo-based primary care projects. I served the region as a coroner until 2019.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
Put very simply; I’m not done. I’ve spent years listening, learning about the system and understanding (and influencing) the plans. I’m well versed in the challenges we face as well as our opportunities as a city. I have strong relationships with our provincial and federal partners and regularly connect with elected officials from beyond our region to problem-solve the issues that face us all. I’m a hard worker who is realistic, pragmatic and collaborative. Beyond all of this: I believe in Nanaimo. I’m optimistic that we can have the future we want.
What are your top three issues?
Affordable Housing. The City’s Affordable Housing Strategy is meeting its targets but it’s not enough: what particular initiatives or programs can we advance to reach our goals? Equally, what *isn’t in our Strategy that needs to be considered?
Strong neighbourhoods – As we deal with increasing challenges around street disorder, residents need to understand how to organize and stay connected.
Livability – In times of crisis, it’s easy to focus on the negative. Nanaimo has so much to offer and celebrate from our thriving arts community to our world class parks and trails to our unique downtown business community.
What’s your vision for your community in 25 years?
Nanaimo is bustling in its core and quiet on its side streets. It has embraced being seen by the rest of the country as an amazing place to live and invested in public infrastructure that supports a thriving city & economy. Neighbourhoods are strong and knit together; organizations and individuals are all working towards the same goals. People feel safe, connected and cared for.
What’s one “big idea” you have for your community?
There are a number of big ideas out there, none of which are my own. I’m very interested in strategic land acquisition to support affordable housing, property assessed clean energy financing and cooperative, whole-community public investments to name a few.
