Nessa Cymbalisty

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Section 1   (Motive, personal interests and potential conflicts of interest.)

Please tell us why you are running? What community clubs or organizations do you belong to/ or support? How have you been involved in the community? Do you think any of these could put you in a conflict of interest position and how will you handle it? 

 

Response:

I am running for mayor of Qualicum Beach because I believe that this is the moment when our greatest potential is realized.

With great privilege, comes great responsibilty. We can leave a legacy for ourselves, our families, our community, and for all current and future generations by being the example for the world to follow. We have an opportunity to protect everything that has made Qualicum Beach a paradise, while using our tremendous advantages to serve others. I believe that we can create a community where the vulnerable have a voice and every individual is recognized for their infinite worth.

 

I belong to the Legion Branch 076 Qualicum Beach (memberships are free in 2026, in honour of all legion's 100th anniversary). I consider the Christian Fellowship Centre (CFC) to be my home church, but I also frequent the Seventh Day Adventist church (Parksville), First Oceanside Apostolic Church (QB), as well as Hamilton Christian Fellowship and Haven Church Toronto. I am the owner of the Free Advice Club in Nanaimo and I have a passion for social and community development. Additionally, I support many organizations involved with justice, law, and safety. I am also a huge fan of Parenting Support Services Society of BC (PSS) : www.parentsupportbc.ca

 

My first back-to-work employment, after the birth of my youngest daughter, was at Ocean Crest Motel. Then, I was a server at Gary's Bistro. I have also worked at Courtyard Coffee, and as a cashier at our cherished Qualicum Foods! Most recently, I have had the pleasure of working at the Silverwood Gift Shop. Plus, I occasionally volunteer with the Qualicum Beach Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, as often as I am able to, and with the upcoming ALPHA sessions at CFC on Thursdays at 6:30pm, starting September 24th! (free dinner & discussions on the meaning of life - office@cfcchurch.com )

 

I believe that I genuinely support all businesses and community members. Let me serve you as your mayor, so that we will all benefit, and increase in our flourishing!

 

Section 2 (Skill set and preparedness)

What specific experience/skills do you bring to the role? How have you prepared yourself for the role so that you can be effective from day one?

How much time do you expect to devote to the role? If you are juggling family or job commitments how will you manage those obligations?

 

Response:

Over the past 20 years I have served on three unique councils, in the volunteer positions of: 1st year representative, secretary, and communications coordinator.

I have a varied acumen from my post secondary studies ranging from fashion design, to science (biology, chemistry & physics) and sociology, as well as business, law, administration, human resources, history, psychology, equity & diversity studies, community development, and life coaching.

I would say that my educational pursuits show that I have a real desire for knowledge, and for understanding.

I have experience from councils, courtrooms, classrooms, theatres, and in coordinating many types of events, such as: doctors, nurses, chiropractors, & pharmacist exams, as well as city night markets, live music concerts, and creative arts festivals.

Healthy, productive communication and planning, as well as serving vulnerable groups, plus solving immediate and generational concerns are all of my specialities.

 

I am familiar with the town by laws, and the many concerns of the community. I already have plans to implement strategies straight from the start.

I chose mayor because I recognize that more work needs to be done to provide information, support, and opportunities to residents. As mayor, I can and will call special meetings for council to proceed effectively and effeciently on resolving issuses. Additionally, I will harness this wonderful age of technology to bring access to residents and accountability to council. I intend to provide constant interaction between residents and myself. We can use online portals to allow for at least weekly opinion polls, and I will be available every day to people who want to connect with me!

Being mayor will be my sole career commitment for the entirety of my term. 

My family commitments are not the usual... My co-parent delights in being the one to bring our daughters to and from school, and all of their activities. So I am uniquely free from many typical parenting obligations. I am the morning duty parent for breakfast, getting ready, and preparing lunches. This means that I basically have my days free to serve in our community, and hopefully the world, as the good news spreads about the successes we will be having here in Qualicum Beach!

 

There is only one other priority that is near and dear to me which is ending human trafficking and the exploitation of children, women, families, and seniors.

 

Section 3   (Financial acumen )

Do you feel you currently have sufficient financial understanding to provide meaningful input and assessment in the town's approximate $40 million dollar annual budget? If elected, what steps would you take to put the town in a firmer financial footing? What specific municipal spending areas would you reduce, maintain or increase? If the town received a $1 million dollar grant (without matching funds required) to use in any way you wanted, what would you do with it and why?

 

Response:

Yes, my recent education, and my life long experiences in business have prepared me to meaningfully tackle the town's budget, and to make appropriate changes to reduce spending as well as reallocating funds to improve our day-to-day lives. Plus, to have positive impacts for generations of our community (& the world).

I would reduce spending on project awards by making the bids for jobs publically available, with opinion polls by residents.

I would increase spending for social, educational, health, and whole wellness programs/initiatives. It is a viable option to create a satelite medical school in coordination with UBC.

With a satelite medical school, and similar initiatives, we can have home grown professionals and service providers for our present needs, and our future aspirations!

I would maintain employment, wages (not withstanding required increases), and taxes, unless necessary to increase for real indentifiable and evidence based value purposes.

 

If I had a million dollars (for the town) ... I would first hire Adam Walker, as an executive consultant for the town. {If you do not vote for me, please vote for Adam Walker. And, if neither Adam, nor I win, then I would like to create a new federal political party with Adam, let's call it the Free Advice Party? Yes, this can be considered a formal offer.}

I would also set up a charity in the town and council's names, and hire both a health social worker and a civil lawyer. All of the above would be funded for my full four year term.

The charity would also involve a centre and a home for vulnerable groups, as mentioned above as my only other priority.

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Section 4 ( Transparency)

In the past term we have seen many significant initiatives that were never on the town's 5 year strategic plan, all proceeding to fruition behind closed door meetings. Examples include the introduction of a tree protection bylaw, the renewal of the skateboard park, the commons proposal, the acquisition strategy of Eaglecrest, and donation to the hospital foundation. All significant events/expenses that came out of the blue and did not receive an opportunity for the public to hear council openly debate in public the costs, or where the project should be placed in terms of the town's priorities. What is your opinion and what would you change with respect to the process of new projects proceeding in closed meetings without debate in public view? When do you think the town should report to the public on decisions made in closed meetings?

 

Response:

As mentioned above, I believe in constant: availability, public reporting and interaction, as well as public opinion opportunities.

Immediate reporting and review!

Additionally, I would like to make the individual votes of each council member available right away to the public in all circumstances.

 

Section 5 ( Firesmart)

In your opinion, is the town providing sufficient resource allocation and direction with respect to firesmart activities on municipally owned land?

 

Response:

This is a very important issue. What I have reseached is new satelite technology to detect fires, please see the YouTube video attached here:

https://youtu.be/I1nB2ulsncQ?si=LQFA_lBMKnUwaj4N

I believe that we are truly on the edge of an age, when we can and will use the technology that is already at hand to dramatically benefit our society.

We should be seriously investing in fire prevention, because as has been said: a pinch of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Absolutely, we must protect our precious and beautiful land, and invest in simple and obvious solutions, as well as complex and creative ones.

 

 

Section 6 (Public consultation and open dialogue with the public)

Would you be supportive of returning the availability of public feedback during council meetings, prior to decisions being made for items on council agendas? What are your thoughts on how letters to council from the public are currently handled and would you support posting letters received on the town's website?

 

Response:

Yes! Emphatically. Considering, knowing, and implementing as many of the perspectives of residents, is the main point of the town council. Certainly if the letter writer wanted their views to be known to the community, and it is appropriate as well as safe to do so, then I would support posting letters online.

Safety first, always.

I like to ask, to help in circumstances, "Have any zero risk options been considered yet?"

 

Section 7 (Discretionary community funding)

The town currently provides support by way of operating cash, fee for service agreements,below market rents, property tax exemptions and other incentives to the nonprofit sector. These include arts and culture,sports related, economic, tourism and environmentally focused groups. Do you think the current level of support is fairly distributed? Is it sufficient? Is it transparent? How do you see the town arriving at a predetermined quantifiable overall amount and achieving greater fairness in the distribution of the discretionary support funded by taxpayers?

 

Response:

As mentioned above, I have a genuine interest in non-profits flourishing. The plan is always to make it so that situations can be self-sustaining, and running on their own, without unnecessary oversight. This has to be addressed by assessment of the present circumstances, in the context of not just sustainability, but with the goal of regenerative outcomes!

By these statements, I mean to say that in my work as mayor I will be invested and involved personally with creating the changes that are needed, and not in messing with everything that is already working well. I will not fix, what is not broken.

 

 

Section 8 (Development)

What are your views on the need for development within Qualicum Beach over the next 10 years? How can the town balance the need for growth with the desire to protect the community character? What type of development do you believe the community most needs now and why?

 

Response:

I would address the issues mentioned in previous questions regarding development with a safety first and regenerative outlook.

When I first had the opportunity to see what Qualicum Beach has to offer, I thought, this place exists in real life? We need to live here, now!

I would protect every bit of charm this paradise has to offer as if my life depended on it.

We can still grow too, but only in all the ways that keep our homes at the heart of the matter.

As also mentioned in my answer above, I believe that a satelite medical school and similar projects, as well as a support centre with legal, social, and health professionals is the type of development our community needs.

Did you know that how well a society treats women is the defining factor in how peaceful it is?

And, that the healthy development and emotional attachment of our children, is the answer to a better future for all...

We know based on data that is presently available what decisions to make!

I will be using the evidence that is already available and the information as it becomes available to make all my decisions for the best development of our community.

 

Section 9 (Eaglecrest development going forward)

If the revenue from the planned sale of Eaglecrest lands does not meet the  current budget expectations of $21,199,800, What would your plan B look like? What options would you request staff to explore such as using long term debt, or upzoning further other Eaglecrest lands?  Before executing a long term lease at the  Eaglecrest Golf Course, would you pursue an analysis of the expected financial impact the now revamped Eaglecrest Golf Course  will have on the cash flow of the existing town owned Memorial Golf Course and its ability to repay its current loans to the town? 

 

Response:

I have discussed some options in my above answers, and yes, assessments are essential tools in decision making, especially in critical long term decisions with large scale consequences.

 

Section 10  ( Governance) 

The town currently has 8 committees, commissions and boards set up to advise council.These committees not only use council time and staff resources, but presumably reflect councils priorities. If elected  would you continue with these same entities or are there other more critical issues that you would encourage council to pursue via new committees? 

 

Response:

I would have to assess the committees, commissions, and boards comprehensively which I would do immediately in my job as mayor, at no additional cost.

Again, as mentioned above, I would like to hire Adam Walker as an executive consultant! Adam knows so much he might just do the work of much of the other options, and be more cost effective as a salary position.

 

Section 11 ( Specific to Mayoral candidates only)

Historically the role of Mayor includes acting as a director in the RDN. What specific actions will you undertake to ensure Qualicum Beach residents are made aware of the RDN issues that affect them? How will you engage with Qualicum Beach residents to ensure your vote is in line with their preferences? RDN taxation will soon exceed the municipal portion of our overall property taxes. What RDN services and costs should be reviewed on a  value for money basis, as it applies to Qualicum Beach residents?

 

Response:

Finally, I have noted a lot of this above in my answers about posting right away online and using technology, as well as using community outreach and being readily available myself every day. Assessment for regenerative outcomes and safety will be my guidelines. I will always be addressing our community's immediate needs, and our generational legacies.

I love reaching out and coordinating with other organizations, and I will be doing so every day, with the priorities and interests of QB as my paramount focus!

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