FVC Perspectives: A pessimistic new year

As the new year settles in, many FVC readers say they are feeling worse off financially and more concerned about global politics than they were a year ago.

We recently asked readers whether they felt better off at the start of 2025 than they did a year ago, and to reflect on their last year. And readers were less than rosy, with many hoping the next 12 months goes better than the last spin around the sun.

Roughly 40% of people said they felt worse off than they were a year ago, with 27% feeling better than in 2024 and a third feeling about the same.

The reasons were varied, but many readers wrote about financial challenges, with their dollars not stretching as far as they once did. Others said they were concerned about global economics and politics, especially with the trend towards political extremism.

Here’s what our readers had to say about their feelings around the start to 2025.

George F. Evens: Better | “2024 was a year full of ongoing and/or new problems to solve which we mostly did, so, yes 2025 can't be anything than better than 2024 worries and problems solved and behind us.”

Nancy Croteau: About the same | “I'm better off in every other way (besides financially) due to rising costs of living and high taxes. Abbotsford home taxes are disproportionate to peoples actual take home earnings. Seeing other people in my community suffer because of over inflated housing prices breaks my heart.

“I moved back to Abbotsford in 2018 after living in Vancouver for close to 20 years. I am seeing the same housing and social issues that I saw 20 to 25 years ago in Vancouver, have made their way to a city that was once affordable and safe to live in.”

Patricia Kaartinen: Worse | “I retired at the end of 2023, and now my only income is OAS & CPP, as I will not qualify for any extra programs until I will be able to file my taxes for 2023. So this year has been very difficult.”

Nancy W.: Better | “Focusing on becoming healthier and looking after me. (Started in November)”

Margaret Lucas: Worse | “My brother in-law died just before Christmas and my brother was just admitted to full time care for his dementia. Bad time for our family.”

Greg: Better | “My kids are doing better.”

Joanna Martin: Worse | “Financial concerns.”

Sean: Worse | “There is a disturbing trend to extremes in politics which I feel will eroded societal integrity and negatively emphasize differences.”

Paula: Worse | “Global economics and politics are worrisome.”

We also asked readers what they thought their municipalities should take on as a New Years’ Resolution, as a way to improve their communities. Unfortunately, we neglected to ask readers to identify which community they were from, although most of the responses seem to be focused on Abbotsford or Mission.

Here’s what our readers had to say. (We weren’t able to use every response we received, but we appreciate them all. As noted in the form, we prioritize responses that come with a name.)

Patricia Kaartinen: “Improving working relationships by trying to find solutions with the homeless population. Trying to find suitable housing situations for them. It is widely known that Abbotsford has an extremely bad reputation on how they treat this very vulnerable peoples!”

Sharon Syrette: “Mission STILL needs a tree-preservation by-law!!! Supposedly have been working on it for a decade!! In the meantime, Council seems to approve every development permit; no one knows how much green space has been lost since this mayor & council were elected! Or what the current 'vacancy' rate is, especially for below-market-value housing.”

Joanna Martin: “More arenas- doesn’t have to be elaborate. Homeless tents along highway- so messy- city should make province clean them up”

Nancy Croteau: “Less taxes for senior homeowners and more affordable housing options and strategies to deal with the unhoused population.”

George F. Evens: “Mayor and some Councillors need to start listening to Citizens' and responding to meet their needs instead of 'pretending to be interested and doing nothing constructive', such as too large tax increase which should not be over 2.0%, cut waste and refrain from nonsensical approvals going forward. Get new funding for major Hospital reno's, accelerate downtown and waterfront reno, simply 'get off treadmill thinking and decisions'.”

Margaret Lucas: “More housing for seniors.”

Nancy W.: “Stop studying everything and get things done!! (Abbotsford)”

Greg: “Taking climate change seriously by making a concerted effort to shift to active transportation. And by incentivizing the shift to clean electric heat pumps while discouraging the use of gas heating for water and space to reduce local air pollution.”

Brenda: “Improve community safety.”

Paula: “Lower speed limit to 30km/h in neighbourhoods.”

Sean: “Put into action plans to address a growing communities need for improved number and quality of recreational fields and facilities.”