From Todd Litman’s “Comment: A welcoming manifesto for inclusiveness” in today’s Times Colonist, referencing my speech to the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association:

At that meeting, I was pleasantly surprised that about half the speakers supported the project in order to increase affordable-housing supply. The youngest speaker made the best argument. Andrew, a 23-year-old resident, pointed out that it is people who make a village, not buildings; accommodating more diverse residents creates a more vibrant village.

It’s time to recalibrate our thinking. The good people of Victoria can create more inclusive communities by changing our attitude about the types of housing we allow in our neighbourhoods. It’s time to say: “Yes in our backyard! We want diversity. We welcome new neighbours.”