This week, Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor has faced heavy criticism after an affordable housing project for veterans, seniors and healthcare workers did not get approved by council.
Specifically, on Monday, October 28th, council voted down the motion to send the project to a public hearing, saying it was a complex matter.
Since the motion was voted down, many people have been turning to social media to express negative opinions of Mayor Windsor, who defended the council voting down the public hearing.
After a week of reading these comments, Windsor turned to social media himself in an attempt to shift the rhetoric to something more civil and productive.
“I would like to address a concerning matter that has been on my mind lately,” Windsor wrote on his Facebook page.
“In recent weeks, I have noticed an increasing number of people expressing their opinions about me. While I acknowledge that this is part of the role, I find it unfortunate that many individuals are resorting to vitriolic and uninformed comments.”
He says he welcomes feedback and criticism of the decisions he makes at council, as long as it is civil. Windsor says he believes this type of discussion is essential for growth and improvement.
However, the Central Saanich mayor says he would like to see an end to hurtful words pointed at him.
“I admit I am rapidly losing interest in being called things like ‘spineless’ which I found in a post on Reddit. Yes I watch all social media, within reason,” wrote Windsor.
“If you want to share constructive feedback I am always open to receiving that, whether it’s in opposition to or in support of decisions I’ve been a part of.”
Mayor Windsor added that one specific Facebook group had been calling him out falsely.
He says that the assertion was made that he did not reply to an email claimed to have been sent. However, Windsor says he never received the email in question.
“Dare I say that it’s hard to respond to emails that were never actually sent to me,” wrote Mayor Windsor.
“I do my best to reply to emails, but must acknowledge that sometimes there is simply no reply that can be given to an email or other message.”
He concluded this post by inviting those who have something to say to or about him to email him.
Windsor has been the mayor of Central Saanich since 2014 and on the Central Saanich council since 2013.
