Since first being elected, almost 7 years ago, I have spent the weekends in the spring and summer months visiting residents door to door, so that I could hear directly about the issues and concerns that are important to you all. While outreach through social media is important, and it is something I work hard at every day to ensure residents and business owners are kept informed and given a means by which they can stay engaged – it doesn’t replace the feedback you get from an in person meeting. Going door to door, reaching out to individual residents in an informal setting is in my opinion the best way to stay informed about the issues that matter to our community.
Unfortunately, this spring and summer, just like last year, it wasn’t possible. Until very recently, we were still in the midst of the pandemic restrictions which prevented me from continuing with this tradition. While we have reached vaccination targets of over 75% fully vaccinated in York Region, and are now in Step 3 of the province’s reopening and are able to meet more regularly outdoors, we are also in the midst of a Federal Election! Candidates will be hard at work knocking on your doors – in a safe, physically distanced manner of course. So, rather than potentially causing confusion by door knocking myself as well, I will connect directly another way.
Beginning last April, I arranged ‘virtual coffees’ each weekend to listen, learn and answer questions from residents. In addition, now that some pandemic restrictions have been lifted, I am adding in-person meetings. Instead of coming to your door, we can meet for a coffee at my office, our one of our local businesses or even the farmers market.
If you are interested in joining me, please send a message to tmrakas@aurora.ca – Sessions will be booked on a first come, first serve basis. Let me know if you would prefer in person or virtual coffee.
If you have a particular topic of interest, let me know and, if practical, I will group people with similar interests together. #GettingThingsDone #StayInformed #GetEngaged
