Acclaimed Area G Director Natalya Melnychuk
By Barbra Fairclough
Natalya Melnychuk was elected by acclamation as the Columbia Shuswap Regional District Director for Area G – Sorrento / Blind Bay / Notch Hill / Carlin. The Scoop asked her to introduce herself to the community by responding to five questions. She will also be holding two meet and greet meetings in October.
Why did you decide to run for Director of Area G?
Natalya has a powerful sense of place and commitment to serve the South Shuswap. She grew up in Sorrento and after several years living in other parts of Canada, moved back to Blind Bay. “I chose to run at this time as the formation of the new area G provides us with an opportunity to reflect and regroup to identify what services and infrastructure the community wants. I am excited to help shape the vibrancy of the area by representing the community at the CSRD.”
What is your background and how does it relate to the role and responsibilities of an Area G Director?
Since moving back to the Shuswap in 2017 Natalya has had positions in community service with the Shuswap Watershed Council, as well as being a member of the Area C Advisory Planning Commission. Natalya was also the event manager of a Salute to the Sockeye. “These roles have helped ground me in the community and allowed me to better understand some of the important ways the CSRD functions in our community.”
“I have a background in public affairs and administration and have been trained to recognize that taking on a local government role is an act of public service.”
What unique strengths and assets distinguish you from other candidates?
Having experienced life in the Shuswap before leaving and then eventually returning, Natalya has an understanding of the evolution of the community. “I believe this will help me connect with people who don’t want to see the community change and lose its roots: however, I am relatively young and believe I can connect with the many young families that have moved to the area to help work on issues and needs facing this sector as well.”
Natalya and Corryn Grayston, acclaimed School District 83 North South Shuswap trustee, will be holding two joint meet-and-greet town halls on October 16, 2022: Sorrento Memorial Hall – 2:00 to 4:00 pm and October 19, 2022: Cedar Heights Community Hall 7:00 -9:00 pm. Come and get know your new representatives and share your ideas for the community and schools.
“I have a PHD conducting research on how to support and develop collaborative watershed governance in BC. Collaboration is essential to enable solutions to complex community issues. I also have the energy driven by the desire to contribute to community, this will help me serve for the next four years.”
What community issues would be your top priorities?
“To best serve the community, I need to hear from the community to identify top priorities. The fact that we did not incorporate, points to the need to re-evaluate the interests of the broader Sorrento, Blind Bay, Notch Hill, Carlin communities.”
Natalya also sees joining already ongoing conversations as a broader priority. In particular, the need to address liquid waste management to find permanent solutions that will support multiple other topics such as additional commercial space, affordable housing and sustainable upgrades to some of our community infrastructure. “I am also a passionate advocate for clarity and improved communications on the CSRD’s development and building permitting processes.”
How do you promote working together on issues that can raise diverse and conflicting points of view?
“Communication and collaboration are key ingredients to working on controversial community issues. To best understand conflicting points of view, it is necessary to hear from different interest groups and where appropriate, bring them together to identify common values and opportunities for problem solving. I plan to take a multi-pronged approach to deal with community issues which will start by connecting with community members in multiple ways. Examples may include town halls, mail campaigns, establishing a community advisory committee, or social media.
“I intend to identify the most effective ways to reach community members and then use those venues to listen to concerns. I also plan to encourage working together and connecting different parties to identity partnership opportunities where appropriate.”
Electoral Area G (in green) CSRD map
