What are your priorities for improving social or community services?
Infrastructure for community and social services needs to keep up with growth. Cochrane Cares project assessed the needs of Cochrane this year. The people tell us we need public transit! This has been expressed for years by youth, seniors, those with health issues and others.
Twenty four-hour urgent care is high on the list of what residents need. I will make sure that we are advocating to Alberta Health to increase the hours. I did community advocacy with the group that brought urgent care here.
Space for programs is an issue for many groups. We need a community hub where partnerships and sharing of space is designed. Youth, seniors and community groups would share meeting space, washrooms, and an auditorium that could hold many of our culture events.
Our town, like others is facing a rise in issues: domestic violence, drug use and mental health problems. We must support the people who are making a difference by advocating for services, assisting where possible in expanding programs and continuing grant funding through Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) and partnerships such as United Way.
