What would be your top priorities if elected?
I’d like to do a couple of things. The first one would be probably to revitalize and reinvigorate our volunteer base and our rec board, because we’ve lost a lot of members as of late and we’re kind of in limbo in a lot of our recreation programs. And I feel we need some new blood and some new ideas and just some new energy directed towards that.
I’d love to work towards developing our secondary industries and business start-ups, both to stimulate and invigorate both our local economy and our local pride.
Crime has become a major concern for many Denare Beach residents. As a councillor, how would you approach this issue?
There would be a couple of ways. The first is to work with the New North board, which I’m part of, and both levels of our government and our local agencies, to put more people both in the job as needed to begin to work with the system and to lobby for those people to be in our area. Nipawin just doesn’t work for us here in the North, where perhaps the problem is even more prevalent.
The second would be to work with our local youth in programs, give them something to do constructively and instill some pride and responsibility.
Peter Ballantyne councillor [Marvin] Morin and I have been working together on the Beaver Lake Heritage Explorer Club. We hope to meet once a month and teach our children about the wonderful heritage we share, our history, and work towards a shift in our current trends.
What skills would you bring to village council?
I believe I have the ability listen and the ability to work well with others, and to identify and solve problems is part of it. And I’ve [met] lots of people working here in the last few years sitting on the council, both on the New North boards and different committees, and I like to work hard to promote and invigorate our northern lands.
