A former Pembroke City Council Candidate is voicing her frustration with the recent announcement of Pembroke’s Mayor scrapping a number of their advisory committees. Karen Walsh tells myFM that she was shocked when the Seniors Advisory Committee was let go.
She also tells myFM that doing away with the Seniors Advisory Committee is sending the wrong message to Pembroke’s aging community.
Looking to the future, Walsh mentions that sends the wrong message to new comers.
Mayor Ron Gervais decided the Diversity, Parks and Rec committee would not continue and says the Climate Advisory committee will be re-worked into the Keeping Pembroke Beautiful Committee.
In an open letter to the Mayor, Walsh says “By shutting out the seniors who have been supporting the City for decades is a mistake. Especially since the majority of voters are from the senior demographic and voted this council in. Understanding that Mayor Gervais was uncontested, this should not mean he acts alone without consultation from the councillors and the existing advisory committees. We need to show leadership with Diversity and Climate Action. We are the City known as the HEART of the Ottawa Valley. By excluding these committees’ voices you are revealing that perhaps the City of Pembroke needs a lesson from the Grinch, to help this heart grow!”
(Written by: Kyle Robinson)