The Unseen Scars of a Community Advocate: When Standing Up for What's Right Makes You a Target

It’s a heavy feeling to carry, the sadness that comes from being misunderstood and targeted by the very community you strive to protect. To this day, I find myself the subject of bullying from local community members, a reality that deeply saddens me. I’ve always been someone who will stand up for what is right, who will champion the safety and well-being of our community. Yet, for my efforts, I’m met with a barrage of names: "dictator," "unhinged," "manipulative," "dangerous." Those who truly know me, who have seen my dedication firsthand, know that these labels couldn't be further from the truth.

This isn't just a vague feeling of being disliked; it's a pattern of behaviour that has recently come to a head. Over the last few weeks, residents have approached me through my company, which is dedicated to public protection and community safety. Their concern? The dangerous parking situation around our local school. In response, I did what I believed was right. I wrote a formal email to the school, politely requesting they send a reminder to parents about designated parking areas. I also raised the issue with the community council, highlighting it as a significant public safety concern. I had personally witnessed the daily chaos – buses struggling to navigate the narrow streets, and more alarmingly, a child forced to cross the road blindly because a carelessly parked vehicle had completely blocked their view from the pavement.

As an administrator of a local community group, I felt a responsibility to be transparent. I shared a post simply clarifying that I was liaising with the school and council on behalf of concerned residents. The intention was to inform, to show that action was being taken on a genuine community issue. The reaction, however, was anything but appreciative. Instead of seeing it as a proactive step for our collective safety, some individuals twisted it into a personal, targeted attack against them. The very people I was trying to help felt victimised.

What hurts most is the way some adults, many of whom are much older than me, resort to digging up the past to discredit me. They bring up an action I made as a child, something done as a joke between myself & my friends in a music lesson. Many years ago, when I was just 14, we playfully changed some road names on Google Maps. I never imagined they would be approved, and I have since made numerous attempts to have them corrected. To have this thrown in my face now, to be asked if I "regret" it and if I would "change who I was," is not only irrelevant but also a clear indication of how low some will stoop to degrade someone trying to do something positive. I do not regret being a child, and certainly do not regret exploiting a weakness in Google's own mapping systems.

This escalated when these same individuals began to slander a local business within our community group. As an admin, I have a duty to maintain a safe and respectful environment. The group rules, which everyone agrees to upon joining, are simple and designed to prevent tension and conflict. When a member's slanderous posts violated these rules, I removed them. In retaliation, they had a friend share a post continuing the attack, which resulted in that individual also being banned. Some may call this a "dictatorship," but I see it as necessary peacekeeping. It’s about creating a space where community members can connect without fear of baseless accusations and negativity.

Sadly, their slanderous claims didn't stop there; they spilled across social media. It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially when you consider the history. Many of these individuals who now publicly degrade me are the parents of children who bullied me throughout my school years in this very community. As I’ve said before, very publicly, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

The situation has also exposed a more troubling issue: breaches of confidentiality. Details known only to myself and local officials have somehow made their way to these individuals, a clear sign that our small community is grappling with a breakdown of trust.

It's a stark reminder that while majority of communities in our area are welcoming and supportive, this one is different. But that’s okay. My commitment to doing what is right remains unwavering. While I know that effective communication can be a challenge for me at times, my door is always open. My messages are always on. However, there's a simple principle I live by: if you're going to dish it out, you have to be prepared to receive it in return. You get what you give.

This isn't a plea for pity, but a call for change. Our smaller communities deserve better. They deserve to be places of support, not suspicion; of collaboration, not condemnation. I will continue to stand up for what I believe in, for the safety and betterment of our community, even if it means weathering the storm of those who refuse to see the good in trying. No one will stop me making the change residents wish to see happen & I hope to be here as a potential candidate for Reform when my time comes to shine.