Page 23 - FDI Alliance International Magazine Summer 2020 Digital Interactive Issue

such as project approvals, were done. The construction industry was We have phased in the opening of our parks and recreation facilities
deemed an essential service in BC, and our team helped ensure to ensure that citizens can live healthy lifestyles while remaining
that Council was able to make decisions and approvals to keep physically distant from other family groupings.
this industry going.
» Briefly outline some of the boldest decisions you
Broadly, we have adopted the tone of BC’s Public health Officer,
have made to shape the future of Maple Ridge that
Dr. Bonnie Henry, and we have opted for an ‘education’ versus
create jobs and build opportunity for families.
‘enforcement’ approach for the public and business community.
This is a stressful time, and we have found that when people have At the beginning of the year the new rapid bus service launched to
the facts and information, they are doing the right things. connect our community with the broader regional transit system. As
the pandemic hit, we were strong advocates that this service not be
We redeployed parks & recreation staff from closed facilities to create cancelled, and were supported by our neighbouring communities
‘Park Ambassadors’ in our beautiful local parks and open spaces in the region. Fast efficient transit is essential as our community
to help people understand the importance of physical distancing. grows, and we have invested in the creation of a new parking lot
Internally, we ensured that our staff were safe by supporting remote adjacent to the transit hub in our downtown to support the growth
working and deploying virtual meeting tools to make sure that we of this service.
did not lose momentum on Council's Strategic Priorities.
We won an award for the Home based Business Bylaw program
We enacted virtual building inspections, rolled out online building that we implemented in 2019. We don’t see home based business
permit application tools, implemented new protocols for client as a competitor to ‘brick and mortar’ offices. Quite the opposite,
meetings and did what needed to be done to keep supporting our home based businesses are and incubator for the future of our
citizens and businesses.
community. We have numerous examples where a business started
Our parks staff delivered ‘virtual’ exercise classes and community in the dining room of a citizen's home is now leasing space in our
celebrations such as Canada Day, and have organized and delivered industrial park or downtown. As the economy adapts to the realities
concerts and a ‘drive in theatre’ following all the public health of the pandemic and the shifts in the retail world, we have recognized
guidelines. Outdoor recreation programs for youth have been that a strong business community includes the people working from
modified and delivered safely. their home or as mobile businesses.

23. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL