There will be no by-election to fill the seat of a politician who quit her position on Port Alice council to pursue “better opportunities” elsewhere for herself and her children.
In a four-sentence resignation letter, Dawn Martynyk quit her job as one of four Port Alice councillors, effective Aug. 27.
“We’re moving for more opportunities for our children,” she told the Gazette.
“I’m near the end of my term and school starts in five weeks and thought if we’re going to do it, the time to do it is now because my oldest daughter is going into middle school and it will be good for her to go to a school where there are other new students as well.”
“Overall, it going to be better for all of us as hard as it is to leave the community,” she said, speaking for her husband and three children.
Martynyk said the decision to move from her Port Alice home of the last four years was a tough one, but in the end her family believes it’s the right one.
“I’m really sad to go —I fought hard for our community,” she said.
“It’s very difficult for me to leave because I’m not only leaving council, but I’m leaving my job (at Neucel), I was a member of the Lion’s Club for years and also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.”
Martynyk said she’s had a great time in the seaside town, but she believes her family will find better opportunities in their new Campbell River home.
“ I’m leaving a lot of great experiences behind, however we feel it’s time to do it for our children,” she said.
“Unfortunately the town is not growing when it comes to children.”
Mayor Gail Neely said she wishes the Martynyks well, but believes Port Alice offers tremendous chances for children.
“I personally feel there are a lot of opportunities for kids here,” she said.
“It is a small school, but they get very personalized attention and we have excellent teachers.”
Martynyk said she will most likely pursue a different career while in Campbell River.
“I have my first year nursing, which I got in Manitoba, and it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for many years,” she said.