Nurse and community advocate vying to be next Nanaimo Mayor

“I’ve found over the years that there are a number of barriers that are put up by our municipality that prevent people who are trying to help the crisis from actually doing the work and keeping people alive. I’ve heard time and time again that leadership needs a change in order to have forward movement in this realm, and that comes from both culture and tone of leadership to actual policy and decision-making.”

Originally from Ontario, Lovegrove moved to Nanaimo in 2017, initially working at Cowichan District Hospital before transferring to NRGH.

Her shift into advocacy came in late 2018 after what she described as “some severe burnout and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder,” with her energy redirected into working with local nonprofits battling the effects of the toxic drug crisis.

Lovegrove said her, and several community groups supporting her Mayoral campaign, don’t “trust that advocacy is happening at the appropriate level coming from the Mayor’s office.”

“As a seasoned advocate, I know the passion and energy that it takes to actually make change happen within those realms, and I’m prepared to do that in the role as Mayor. I see a lot of possibility for policy change and opportunities within the community and the scope of the municipal government to make meaningful change within the issues of the toxic drug crisis and the housing crisis.”

Lovegrove has a Masters in Women’s Studies, and has previously worked with women who were trafficked or in the sex trade.

She added more directly tackling healthcare-related crises in Nanaimo would have ripple effects with many other challenges, including social disorder and crime rates.

Already in the community and on the campaign trail, Lovegrove said she’s found connections between the toxic drug and housing crises and other issues, such as community safety, economic development, and business growth.

“All of that comes through a means of actually supporting the people who are most impacted. When we put people in houses, we have fewer people on the street. When we create shelters and spaces, day spaces for people to go, we actually have less opportunity for people to be on the street and in their neighbourhoods, creating this social disorder, engaging in crime.”

Stating proudly she is not a politician and never aimed for political office, Lovegrove said she’s used to working in high-pressure environments where “not everyone gets along.”

“I am coming into this with the focused goal of wanting to create positive change within our community and to make people healthier, keep people alive, support families and professionals in developing a long sustainable life here in our community that we can continue to grow and evolve and be happy human beings here.”

Lovegrove is running against Brunie Brunie, Anne Marie Dryden and incumbent Leonard Krog.

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by Alex Rawnsley

Nurse and community advocate vying to be next Nanaimo Mayor

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