Cindy Solda
Background
Written by the editors · verified public factsI was first elected to Port Alberni City Council in a November 2001 by-election and was re-elected through five consecutive elections. After a four-year absence, I returned to Council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. I have served more than 20 years as an elected local government official. During my years in public office, I have had the opportunity to represent Port Alberni at the local, regional and provincial levels. I have served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), Vice-Chair of the Regional Hospital District, First Vice-President and Interim Chair of the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC), and a member of the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Board. In December 2011, I was appointed by UBCM to a three-year term on the Provincial RCMP Contract Management Committee. I have served on numerous boards and committees involving policing , fire department and protective services, 911 Board, health capital planning, economic development, reconciliation, homelessness, the Vancouver Island Film Commission, Island Coastal Economic Trust, the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, Continuing Care Socieities, Port Alberni Hostel, Emergency Planning, Transportation Committee, Chair of the Accessibility Committee, Rainbow Gardens and many other community and regional services. I also represent Port Alberni on the Municipal Finance Authority of BC. I was honoured to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of my community leadership and service. I have also been recognized by UBCM for more than 20 years of service in elected local government. Other community recognition has included the Port Alberni Women’s Resource Centre Woman of Distinction Award and a Lifetime Award from Portal Players Dramatic Society.
Candidate statement
Supplied by the candidate · not verifiedPort Alberni is moving forward; you only have to look around our community to see it. Over the past four years we have seen tremendous change, new development and investment in our community. Not everyone will agree with every decision that has been made. We haven’t gotten everything right, and yes, we have made mistakes. What matters is that we acknowledge them, learn from them and keep moving forward.
Forestry and industry helped build this community and remain an important part of who we are. As those industries change, we need to honour our history, support the jobs and businesses we have today, while continuing to create new opportunities for the future.
We also have very real challenges including affordability, housing, homelessness and addiction, public safety, access to health care and aging infrastructure. These issues need to be acknowledged and addressed, but they are not unique to Port Alberni. Communities across BC and Canada are struggling with the same challenges. Port Alberni should not be defined by them.
We also need balance in how we build our community. We must maintain and replace aging infrastructure while continuing to invest in new infrastructure including pathways, transportation improvements, recreation and other projects that make our community safer, more accessible and a better place to live. It isn’t one or the other. We must do both.
I was first elected to Port Alberni City Council in a by-election in 2001 and have had the privilege of serving our community for more than 20 years. Port Alberni is my home. I raised my family here, worked in family businesses here and have spent many years volunteering in our community. That experience has taught me to listen, ask questions and never forget that decisions we make at City Hall affect the people who live here.
Most importantly, please get out and vote. You may vote for one Mayor and up to six Council candidates, but you do not have to choose six. If there are only one, two or three candidates you want to support, that is your choice. Vote for the people you believe will best represent you. Your vote is your voice.
If you would like to sit down for a coffee and talk about our community, I would be more than happy to meet with you. Please feel free to call (250 731-6715) or text or email me. I am always willing to listen.