Joan Flaspohler - Williams Lake City Council

03/25/2026

As I continually state I really don’t want to spend much time on social media, there are moments where I feel I need to weigh in. Last night I had prepared to speak at the meeting. That isn’t how the meeting went but I feel I need to share what my words were going to be. So it is a bit of a read and if you’re interested here you go……..
Oh and by the way, I know fire risk when I see it, 20 plus years serving this community in that field has taught me when we should be concerned as a community or not. Just saying.
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I don’t support any aspects of these motions.

It is important though that we talk about what is actually going on here….

1) we have societal issues that is affecting our community, the same as multiple others across the globe. The housing and drug crisis is easy to see everywhere. Crime is also becoming more apparent as we see individuals struggle with these crises. Crime is not as hidden as it once was. None of us like to see it or feel it!

2) we are upset citizens who want things to be the way they once were. Myself included, but we all know there are no easy answers and there’s definitely no quick fixes, especially at a municipal government level.

3) we have, though, in society right now, politicians at all levels of government, who love, rage bait, and who love to present false hope, and unachievable answers so to try and fool constituents into voting for them during the next election. They always present answers that can’t be delivered easily or realistically, and like to point their fingers instead, just to lure people into thinking they can fix everything. That is my personal opinion.

4) with these motions being discussed this evening, we are, as a council, creating negative attention and unwarranted media observation that is HARMING our city, scaring our residents, and preventing investment along with reducing the chance to entice professionals to move here, you want healthcare providers & new economic growth? Then stop this negative narrative! IT DOESN’T disappear, people who search up this community to see if they want to come here, are always going to see this negative media! It now exists on the Web, please stop adding to it! For the health of this community, please stop!

******I have to say to all the other communities watching this debate. The reality is, our community is not in far worse shape than any of yours, the difference is, you are all, just smart enough to not advertise your similar issues on any level of media! I personally, really really wish people would stop embellishing their stories and the situation‘s to try and make their cases more believable because in my personal opinion, that is what’s happening here. Maybe also, if you were going to state “millions and millions of dollars are lost due to fire“, and you are going to accuse someone for it, you better get your facts right. Was the Office of the Fire Commissioner contacted? Did the investigations prove who did it? I doubt it. Undetermined, if that is the results of the investigation, doesn’t mean you get to place whomever you want as the accused. So let’s stick to the facts people. Especially if you’re going to start accusing, and you are in a key community role.

So, let’s be real…….. A council can’t tell individuals to wear a GPS, a council can’t place people in jail, a council can’t force people into services, & a council cannot send people on a one-way bus ticket to other communities. We don’t want that done to us, so tell me why it is right to do it to other communities! Pretty hypocritical, in my opinion!

These are not answers that a council can deliver, these are false promises! Changes for these issues truly come from higher levels of government. And I am sure they will be better researched, and professionally developed, more than these motions that are being thrown on this table! Oh, and I bet they will also abide by the law!

Let me add this piece of information in regards to GPS monitoring. This council as well as the previous council has been constantly receiving responses to requests of gps monitoring. When I read all the letters that have been sent in response to the City, I feel communication to this community may have not been occurring as it could, probably because it counters the ‘big answer’ that some people keep saying gps monitoring is, and like a broken record, the request keeps happening over and over for something that is already happening! Let me read some pieces from the letters received by the City, that were on public agendas from the past…….

-from the Ministry of Public Safety January 22, 2020
‘ Thank you for your letter of December 4, 2019, in which you expressed concern that electronic monitoring is being under utilized in your community.
I appreciate your frustration and desire to enhance safety in your community. As previously communicated to the City of Williams Lake Council, BC corrections has continuously operated the electronic monitoring program since 1992. Since that time this program now referred to as electronic supervision, has remained an optional condition that only the judiciary may impose on an individual.’

-from Ministry of Attorney General, April 2, 2020
‘ I am writing in response to your letter, dated February 7, 2020 regarding the use of electronic supervision in your community. As you are no doubt aware, only a judge may order electronic supervision as a condition of an accused persons release or an offender sentence. In appropriate cases, Crown Council may apply for an order, directing BC community corrections to prepare a technical suitability report to determine whether an individual is a suitable candidate for its electronic supervision program. Crown council makes decisions about whether to apply for such a report, and whether to support or oppose electronic supervision as a term of release on a case by case basis, guided by relevant law, and the particular circumstances before the court. Crown counsel considering electronic supervision are aware of the limitation of the program currently available in BC it can only be used to monitor specific types of conditions, such as curfews and area restrictions, requires stable housing that meets technical criteria, depends on access to an operational cellular network for real time monitoring, and does not on its own prevent criminal behaviour to protect victims.’

*****So is GPS monitoring the answer it is touted to be? I don’t believe so. The current system that IS IN PLACE, has limitations, it is why everyone doesn’t have a gps monitoring program placed upon them.
I just want this broken record to stop!😐

So to summarize, I will not be supporting these unachievable, harmful motions, I will, though focus on supporting proactive community initiatives, I will pressure higher levels of government to make changes to the things they have control of that can make our community better & safer in a professional way, and I will not pretend that I have all the answers so you are fooled into electing me again! That doesn’t align with my moral compass, and I care about the members of this community too much.

Thanks for reading all my opinion’s & positions on these challenges we are facing as a community. I truly want what is best for us all, as I know you do too.

Joan

11/28/2025

I feel it is very important for me to make a statement and post because of recent events. Number one, in my opinion the duty of an elected official is to care for their community, to be willing to speak strongly for the health of their community, and to accomplish that by conducting themselves in a professional manner.

This is critical so to gain respect, positive results, and to maintain the health of your municipality.

I want to publicly state I am very concerned with the comments of one of my fellow colleagues on social media towards a business in this town and towards that businesses’ employee, along with the way they delivered that perspective. Comments like these do not fall within the realm of good conduct of an elected official, in my opinion. I want people to know I will speak strongly against it when an opportunity comes up for me to do so within the proper environment and process.

Many individuals in this community, never take the necessary time to watch what transpires within the multiple meetings that are had by our Council. Media has the task to do that and media has the ability to transcript through their articles what they observe. They do this, with the upmost intention of proper journalism practice in mind. I encourage individuals to become more involved in watching what is transpiring within these meetings so they truly know what is happening and to be respectful towards the journalist that are trying to transfer the information to the community. If it wasn’t for the media, many would not know accurately what is happening. This is the truth.

Respect, good conduct, and professionalism should be the number one goal for everyone!

I wanted to pass on a thank you to the Williams Lake Tribune for the work they do! And thank you to the citizens of Williams Lake that care for one another and our City!

09/10/2025

Hello everyone!
Please fill out the second survey for our new Official Community Plan creation. Open house also on September 11th. See you there🙂
Come pop bye and have your say!

City of Williams Lake is inviting feedback on their Draft Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw!

You can read the draft at the link here: https://www.williamslake.ca/310/Official-Community-Plan-2025-2050

Feedback is welcome at their open meeting on Thursday, September 11 from 3pm - 7pm at Williams Lake City Hall 📍450 Mart St.

Additionally, feedback can be submitted through the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/WLOCPFall2025

05/01/2025

Hello everyone! Please, please, please have your say for the future of Williams Lake! The launch has already happened, but the SURVEY is still up and running. JOIN IN for your future!💕💕🙌🙌

The City of Williams Lake is officially launching the 2025-2050 Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw Update - and you're invited to help guide how our community will grow over the next 25 years.

Happening tonight (Thursday, April 24) from 4-7 pm at City Hall, drop in to meet City staff, Mayor and Council, and learn about the project and share your ideas!

This is your chance to speak up on what matters most: housing, transportation, parks, environmental protection, economic development and land use planning, and will ensure our city reflects the values, needs and vision of residents.

Can't make the launch event? Take the survey (open now through May 23) at:
https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/WLOCP

Paper copies of the survey are available at:
- City Hall
- Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex
- Williams Lake Seniors Activity Centre

Learn more and sign up for updates:
https://www.williamslake.ca/310/Official-Community-Plan-2025-2050

Or read the City's news release on the OCP project launch at:
https://www.williamslake.ca/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=881

12/07/2024

Hello Williams Lake,

As much as I try and stay away from getting involved in the conversations that transpire within Facebook, I felt it was necessary on this most recent community topic of ‘warming centre’ to comment.

By observing some community feedback, it is obvious most individuals have not watched the council meeting. So I will explain my vote.

When an agenda item gets submitted to all of us as a late item, we are not aware it is coming, we have no background information to support our voting decisions, and ultimately we are caught off guard on making a decision. This process is allowed, but in my opinion, is not the best governing option. There are individuals that like to use it quite a bit, and for someone like me, that likes background information & research, it places my governing choices at bay. The recommendation that was submitted, had approximately 5 items placed in one. That makes for a tough vote. You may like one, but not the other for instance. During the meeting, I indicated, I could note support the recommendation because of this and I would rather have a staff report before I decide on a resolution that involved making a statement of eliminating a warming area for the community. I wanted to know the requirements first, and what we already had & the hours they operate. We did not have any of this information to reflect upon!

The Complex is a public building. If the recommendation was solely to increase security, I would have 100% supported that. But to add in a statement to remove the complex in being an area that someone can enter to stay warm in extreme cold, is in my opinion, unsupportive to a community, and also could place the City into a unfortunate situation if someone was to freeze outside near the building. I could not vote in support of that. The stories presented that evening, did not, in my opinion, sound like warming centre issues. Someone licking the tiles by the hot tub? That does not sound like something from a designated warming area, that sounds like a security, drug crisis issue to me. I would have so appreciated MORE information! I will not be rash in my decisions.

Making the facility safe for the public and families should ABSOLUTELY be happening, I know of other public buildings in our City that are already dealing with similar situations, and they never stated they are a warming centre….. but it is still happening.

So let’s just think right now with this in mind….. hypothetically, it is -35 outside, our vehicles don’t want to start, it’s cold, (we’ve all experienced this), you see someone outside that doesn’t have a home, doesn’t have a vehicle, do YOU still feel comfortable, as an individual, to be standing at the complex building saying to that individual if they want to enter, “Sure you can come in to use the bathroom, but this is not a place you can warm up, you need to go to another building, oh wait, it’s past 4pm, you have to go to the emergency shelter, because the warming centres are all closed now, but oh wait, I hear that all the male designated spots are full already at the shelter…..sorry. Oh yah, by the way, happy holidays!🎄” 🤷‍♀️

I’m a realist, and my emergency services background has shown me how real it can be. I guarantee I have seen more fatalities, and brutally real situations than most of the individuals making negative comments on FB have or ever will.

One other thing, in the last few days in Williams Lake, we have had rain, it has been hovering around zero degrees….. how did these impacts of drug use in the complex, that require increasing security, turn into a declaration of not helping people in the extreme cold? Two different topics in my opinion, and they should not have been placed into one. I can’t vote on that and I stated that on Tuesday if anyone has the interest in researching before they comment on FB. Please, please, watch a meeting if you are concerned or are wondering.

The fact I wanted more information behind this vote is NOT me saying that I don’t care about the families and users of this building! I care about EVERYONE in this community, and I would be hopeful, so does everyone else. I will always do my best in making sound, considerate, open minded decisions. AND I absolutely will not be forced into making rash and uninformed ones!

Tough decisions everyone, especially when you are trying to do your best to respect and represent all!

Thank you for hearing me out, and if anyone wants to connect with me, please email me at my City email. I will almost always, not watch the FB posts and comments. I have learned, it can disrupt clear decision making, pressure people, and discourage positive perspectives and development. I will not be involved in that.

Happy holidays everyone, it is the time of year to truly be trying to support the people around you! That is my honest intent, and I hope you understand better why I voted the way I did.🙂

Please share this if you understand where I’m coming from!🎄🙂☃️

Joan

10/26/2024

Well said Jazmyn.👍

04/05/2024

I had to share this……I found it very interesting, especially as I try so hard to be a good elected official and conduct myself in a professional way.
It is from the training we received at the beginning of our term as new councillors.

This is in James Ridges book ‘Welcome to the Hall’.

Interesting things to think about and obviously a political game play that happens across the country for this author to add it into his book from his experiences working for multiple years in local government.🤔

I personally want to work so hard for positive developments for this community, I care about the community. I never want to be this person…

12/03/2023

Good morning Williams Lake,

I want to provide my perspective and position on a bunch of social media occurrences as of late within our community.

First, I want all of you to know, all my decisions are based on my intent to do well for the community, today and tomorrow. I will always use the information provided to me, to make these decisions. If I could, I would love to give all the taxpayers dollars to all the AMAZING groups in the community, but that is not fiscally responsible to you.

In 2023, this City gave $488,000 (your tax dollars), to nonprofits through the Grant in Aid and Fee-For-Service functions. Almost a HALF OF $1 MILLION on an annual basis! For your information, a onepercent tax increase equates to approximately $70,000. This fact, is something I can say ‘Wow’ too!

As we sat down last Tuesday, we were asked by community groups to add another $107,157 to that, ($35,000 normally budgeted for Grant in Aid). I cannot say yes to all requests, in my opinion, too much of that has been done in the past, and it is why we have such a large amount already of your money (which is direly needed for critical infrastructure), being distributed this way. I wish I knew this better as I walked in the door a year ago and threw into budget preceding.

On Tuesday we had a budget presentation before these community requests and we were shown we have substantial costs needed today and needed tomorrow to keep the city running. That is, number one, what your tax dollars are supposed to be for! I absolutely do not want to see you all hit with a HUGE UNAVOIDABLE TAX INCREASE in the future because not enough of your dollars have been directed to the ‘pipes in the ground’, year after year by continuously deferring projects, but instead awarding to community groups to secure future votes.

Second I will never make decisions to receive public appeal for the next election! That is not the kind of elected official I choose to be. I will make tough decisions after I look at reports and our professional staff make recommendations because they have reviewed all the applications’ information plus the policy guidelines. I will respect that information and use it to guide my decisions. This is what I did Tuesday. I will always look at the big picture.

Third, I will always try my hardest to be professional, keep a positive perspective, deliver accurate information along with respecting all discussion pieces within the council meetings. When I see inaccurate information being delivered to a community, causing unrest, negativity, and disruption, I am so disappointed. Especially if, in my opinion, it is done for political posturing, instead of benefitting the community as a whole. The community cannot grow in a healthy way with this type of politicking!

PLEASE, see through this, watch meetings, look at all the information delivered to us to make decisions. It is all attached to our agendas and public information. And please consider being in the seat of an elected official if you feel strongly on something. Once in it, you will see how hard decisions are.

If you understand the importance of what I am saying, PLEASE SHARE THIS!!

It is so much more important for the community to understand instead of social media posts, that only tell a selected amount of all the information and also flat out incorrect information. I wish we as a community could just rely on the Media and City’s information for development, but that isn’t what is occurring.

Stay safe, stay positive, and please have a wonderful festive season.🙂🎄☃️

I will keep trying my hardest and I will not be bullied by political games to stop!👍

11/10/2023

Hello Williams Lake! Here’s another quarter report from me if you want to tune in!
Take care everyone, let’s keep positive and keep striving for a healthy, thriving City! 😊 Thank you all for the amazing support!

11/06/2023

I filled out the survey for City of Williams Lake Fireworks Show! Guess what, my PERSONAL vote was to have the fireworks!! Because that is how I truly feel. Please let the city know your position!

Please tell me why an individual on social media is saying I want the fireworks taken away from this community?? I never voted for that once in the council chamber.

As an elected official, I want the community to be listened to as a whole, and the community to partake in some of the decisions that are done for this city! That was the position I took on the topic and voted for.

That’s my whole truth and honesty!

People, twisted truths and political games I find very disturbing at times.😐

08/18/2023

Video two🙂