Nelson’s mayor is going to keep the momentum rolling in 2016

Mayor Deb Kozak is proud of her community and appreciates the opportunity to lead Nelson forward

Deb Kozak is mayor of Nelson, B.C. — Photo courtesy Deb Kozak

Deb Kozak was elected as the first female mayor of Nelson just over one year ago and she’s been busy making Nelson a better place to live ever since. Truthfully, Kozak has always been working towards a better Nelson since moving to the city over 30 years ago. On top of her role as mayor, Kozak is the president of the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments, chairs the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee and Nelson Police Board, and is the regional director on the Regional District of Central Kootenay.

Somehow Kozak was able to find time for us to ask her questions about her first year as mayor.

If all conditions were favourable right now, what’s the first thing you’d like to focus on for the community? In other words, what are you excited to get on with?

If all the things were a go, I would like to finish the second stage of Hall Street and launch into the development of Railtown. We’ve hired some consultants for Railtown and we’re going to be entering into the community planning process early in the new year. That’s going to be exciting—I think that area of the city has a lot of potential and has needed some attention for some time now.

What do you see as your council’s two main strengths?

Diversity and focus.

What’s the best piece of advice you were ever given, and who gave it to you?

The former mayor of Castlegar, Audrey Moore, told me to enjoy every minute of being the mayor. “There’s going to be hard work, but don’t forget to enjoy every minute of it,” she said.

What’s something you’ve learned in the past year about your community?

I learned there are many people from different sectors of the community willing to step in and solve issues. What I’m thinking of in particular is the Street Culture Collaborative, which came together to address the specific issues around mental health in the community, and there are people from all sectors of the community that are a part of that group. There are people from the business community, social sector, health sector and policing. It’s been an amazing experience to watch that unfold and to be part of it.

What’s something you’ve learned in the past year about yourself?

I have the ability to bridge with many different groups of people. I have knowledge about the community and am able to move in a quicker way when I need to connect different groups of people because of my position as mayor. It’s a very powerful thing to pull together different energy and community to make things happen.

What five words, for you, convey the elements of a successful character?

Authenticity, courage, humour, intelligence and compassion.

What’s the most meaningful compliment you’ve ever received?

Just the other day I received an unexpected compliment. I was walking out of a store and a woman stopped me and she said, “You’re our mayor and I just want to thank you for the work that you and council are doing. We really appreciate your transparency, your honesty and your responsiveness, so thank you.” That’s one of the most recent compliments and it touched my heart because it affirmed that we are on the right track, so I really appreciated hearing that from her.

What’s been a stretch or challenge for you in the past year?

Wearing two caps at the same time, being the chair of the police board and the mayor of the city. That’s been challenging, but rewarding. I have to ensure that whatever cap I’m wearing is firmly on my head when I’m with the police board and moving in the other direction working with council. That comes back to my ability to bridge between the two groups.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?

For a physical risk, I would say canoeing rapids. There’s all kinds of risk, but I’ll go with that one.

What’s your favourite quote?

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" —Mary Oliver

What would you like to talk about?

All I’d like to say is that I’m amazed at the resiliency and energy in our community and I appreciate the people who live, work and play here who make our community what it is. I am always amazed at the intelligence and energy that emanates from Nelson. Whenever I travel, people know who we are even though we are quite a small city in the mountains. People have heard of Nelson and they’ve heard about who we are, what we believe in and how beautiful it is. I’m really proud of that . . . I’m proud of our community.