Chilliwack-Kent MLA Laurie Throness greeted his constituents at the grand opening of his new office location in Agassiz on Saturday. The opening had a patriotic feel, landing on Canada Day 150, as guests enjoyed a bit of cake with the MLA and his constituency assistant’s Sheila Denis and Dagmar Lucak.
“I don’t think there has ever been an MLA office in Agassiz before, so I thought if I can serve my people better by establishing one out here, I’m going to do so,” Throness told The Observer of the move.
The MLA kept an office in Hope before his riding changed and he brought most of the Hope office furniture with him. The location has a six month lease, so hopefully business will be booming at the new office location at Unit B- 7092 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz, which is open Thursday and Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“There’s more foot traffic here in Agassiz, there’s lots more people that may not be able to travel into Chilliwack, and I’m looking forward to meeting a lot of people here in Agassiz and helping them with their provincial problems,” said Dagmar Lucak, constituency assistant to Throness.
Earlier in the week the Throness made a statement in Victoria.
Laurie Throness
June 29, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I always want to offer the best possible service to my constituents. When I was first elected in 2013, my riding of Chilliwack-Hope was a very large riding, with limited transit options between the District of Hope and Chilliwack.
Some of my more needy constituents in the community of Hope and its surrounding area found it difficult to visit my main office, so I decided to open a part time satellite office in Hope. After four years of operation I can say that the experiment turned out to be very helpful to hundreds of people.
In this election my riding boundaries changed. Hope is no longer part of my responsibility, and the people I newly serve in Chilliwack live in an area very near to my constituency office.
However, the growing communities in the north of my riding in Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Harrison Mills, which together have the same population as Hope, must drive up to forty minutes to visit my main office. Some of them are needy, too. Therefore, I have decided to open a new satellite office in Agassiz.
Beginning next week, my office will be open every Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ready to help constituents with their needs. Just as they did in Hope, my staff will work hard to advocate to the government on their behalf.
And what better day could there be than Canada Day to open a new constituency office? I’m inviting the community to add the grand opening of my new constituency office to their Canada Day celebrations this Saturday.
I hope that people north of the River will spread the word that we are open for business in a location that’s most convenient for them, as we continue to offer the best service we can.
To schedule an appointment with the MLA or to meet with one of his staff feel free to visit the location during their regular office hours, Unit B- 7092 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz, which is open Thursday and Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., or book an appointment to meet with Laurie at 604-858-5299, lauriethroness.ca.