Ladysmith’s acting mayor says in her opinion, an increasing lack of civility online is the community’s greatest challenge.

Voters in Ladysmith are getting set to elect a new mayor in a by-election March 1. There are currently five candidates in the race to replace Aaron Stone, who stepped down last year to take a role as CEO of the South Island Prosperity Partnership, an economic development alliance serving the greater Victoria region.

Tricia McKay has been serving as acting Mayor in the interim, Midcoast Morning spoke with her about the political context in the community ahead of the by-election

In addition to issues with how she feels online discourse has evolved in the last number of years, McKay also cited challenges getting new commercial space, housing, and healthcare in Ladysmith.