Hope Lompe
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder
For the past three years, Vanessa Craig served as the chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and previously for two years as vice chair.
On Thursday, Craig, who also serves as director of Area B, nominated her vice chair, Stuart Mclean, as her successor, which was won unopposed.
The Sounder caught up with Craig at the end of a busy week to chat about her time as a chair, and looking forward to what’s next. This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
Why the decision to step down as chair now?
I’ve been chair, or vice chair, almost the entire time I’ve been elected. I was vice chair to Tyler Brown for two years, and then I’ve been chair for three years.
Stuart McLean has been my vice chair for two years, and it seemed like a good time. Stewart’s been really great to work with and I think he’s going to be an excellent chair.
He was interested in stepping into that role and getting that experience and I felt like I’ve done a lot in my three years so I nominated him to be the chair, and I and I’m happy that he’s in that role.
What is something you’re proud of from the past three years as chair?
I think you can look around the province at local governments, and there’s a lot of local governments that are having problems and we have a big board, we have a diverse board, and we have hard working representatives that are advocating for their areas. But I think we’ve done a good job of maintaining collegiality even through some tough conversations and discussions, and so I’m proud of that. I don’t think you can underestimate how important it is for good governance and for us to work together as a region to maintain that collegiality, and when it breaks down, as you do see elsewhere, it’s really hard to get things done, I’m proud of that.
It was a privilege representing the board and being elected three years in a row was special, and I appreciated it. It’s actually a unique position because the region is so diverse. Being the chair actually gives you a closer inner look at the activities and projects and challenges and all of the different areas.
If you had to narrow down one proudest accomplishment from the last three years, what would it be?
We’ve dealt with some tricky files, but I guess one that we made some good progress in was the Ravensong Aquatic Center. It doesn’t address Area B, but it’s been an issue for the Oceanside area. We struck a special committee, and I chaired it, and we really got through a roadblock so I’m actually really proud. It’s not just me, obviously, all of the directors had to come to the table and be willing to have conversations about what the goals were and how you can get there. But that was a big thing.
None of this is me as chair, this is just things that have happened while I’m chair, I can take some credit because they happened while I was chair, but this recent agreement to purchase Hamilton Marsh, has been an interest of the Regional District for decades. I think it’s quite exciting that we’re at this point now where we have a negotiated agreement. It hasn’t gone through because it’s conditional upon certain things, including external fundraising, but to get to this point is a big milestone.
Is there anything you would have done differently or wanted to have gone differently?
There’s very challenging issues, one of them is affordability and taxes, and taxation and the services that are provided are facing additional scrutiny which is fine, but it’s becoming certainly a more challenging environment, in some ways, to to have those conversations. But it’s on us to be able to provide information about what services are being provided and, and what the value is for those taxes. But, no, I can’t identify anything that I wish I’d done differently or that should have happened differently.
Will stepping down as chair free up extra time that you’ll be dedicating to Area B in the final year of your term?
My priority as the elected representative has always been Area B projects, but yes I’ll have more time not being chair. I’m really interested in making some progress in the Ferry Hill that’s on the work plan for 2026 to have staff time and funding in place to take a look at the Ferry Hill and see what we can develop in terms of plans about creating a safer pathway up that hill. I don’t think we can wait until B.C. Ferries is at the at the stage where they’re able to move forward with that. As we all know it’s very dangerous, even during daylight, as people flood off the ferry and certainly in winter and when it’s dark out, it’s very dangerous.
Are you planning to run again as Area Director when your term is up?
Well, it’s still a year away, but yes I am considering running again. I’m listening to community members about that, and considering what I’d like to still accomplish, which there’s lots in the pipeline to to work on. At this time yes I’m still considering it, I’m leaning towards it, but I haven’t decided for certain.
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