Susan Simmons
Website: susansimmonsforcouncil.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/susan.simmons.775823
Twitter: twitter.com/MS_athlete
Instagram: instagram.com/ms__athlete
Are you associated with or running as part of a slate? If so, which one?
No. I am completely independent and have also opted to have no funders.
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 live in Victoria across from Beacon Hill Park. I have lived here for close to 15 years.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I am a public servant working in strategic planning and portfolio management in the technology sector. I have worked for the Province for close to 15 years.
Tell us about your previous elected and/or community experience.
I am a long-time community advocate in Victoria. I served on the board of directors for Victoria Masters Swim Club, Masters Swim British Columbia and Masters’ Swim Canada over ten years in a variety of roles. I helped found and am currently the president of the Multiple Sclerosis Wellness Centre for Vancouver Island, a registered charity. I volunteer as head coach to Victoria’s Special Olympic Swim Club (over 10 years) and am on the board of directors for our local chapter. I started and continue to coach the Spirit Orcas, a group of athletes with intellectual disabilities, as a volunteer.
Why are you running? What’s your motivation?
I am a person living with a disability. I want to provide a voice to people with disabilities and seniors. I feel we have been not been heard.
I am a renter. I am concerned about the lack of rental units available and the current costs of rentals. I am worried about the impact this has on those who work in the service industry in Victoria and their employers.
I have seen the increasing division in our city. It makes it difficult for us to more forward. I want to bring people together to improve where we all live.
What are your top three issues?
1. Governance. When done well people have an opportunity to speak and to be heard. My goals with Victoria’s governance are to give people a true voice and keep the city in its lane.
2. Accessible Parks & Recreation. Using a simple test over 60% of our parks and beaches are not accessible to those with limited mobility. This is simply wrong.
3. Housing. My main focus with housing is rentals. We need more and they need to cost less. I hope to work with all levels of government and the development community to change this.
