The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Denare Beach voters will have a range of choices when they head to the polls to elect a new village council. Nine candidates _ four incumbents and five newcomers _ are vying to fill the six positions up for grabs in the Oct. 24 election. As previously reported, Carl Lentowicz will return as mayor through acclamation. Here is a look at each of the council candidates. * * * Eileen Blake Years back, Eileen Blake served on the Denare Beach LAC (Local Administration Council), the forerunner to the village council. Now the retiree is hoping to return to the decision-making table of the municipality. Asked about her top priority, Blake mentions the need for more policing and street lighting, a new sign to welcome people to the village, and, in time, sidewalks. And Blake says roads in the community require maintenance as the pavement is breaking up. She says her desire to see such changes come to fruition are her reason for running in this election, though she says she knows change does not always come easily. Blake has called Denare Beach home since 1975. Joanne Burkholder Since the time she was an infant, Joanne Burkholder has seen much progress in Denare Beach over the last 45 years. 'I feel it's time for me to give back to the community in which I was raised and I just hope to continue with this development and progression into the future,' says Burkholder, a registered nurse, adding that she also wants to learn more about village bylaws. Asked about a top priority, Burkholder says it's important to seek out additional grants to pay for things like sidewalks and more streetlights, new pavement for Moody Drive and a walking path along the beach. 'I'd also like to make Denare Beach a desirable place for young families to come and to raise children of their own,' she says. Jean Champagne 'I like to be involved at the community level,' says Jean Champagne. A retired officer with the Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization, Champagne has been a full-time Denare Beach resident since May 2011. Champagne says his top priority would be to work with council to bring 'positive results to the community in terms of tourism, natural resources and dealing with' issues like vandalism. Champagne says he wants to make the village 'safer' and, as his grandchildren would say, 'a funner place to to live.' With a degree in community development and emergency management, Champagne believes he has skills and experience that would benefit council. Wanda Ginnell One of four incumbents seeking reelection, Wanda Ginnell enjoys serving on council and hopes to continue. 'I'm just interested in the day-to-day running of the village and trying to keep everybody happy,' Ginnell says when asked why she has again put her name on the ballot. Asked about her top priority, Ginnell says it's time to better enforce village bylaws, specifically those that ensure residents keep up their properties. 'One person, their yard is immaculate, the next one...they don't care what it looks like and, you know, just have some pride is what I'm asking,' Ginnell says. Semi-retired, most recently from her job as a camp cook, Ginnell has lived in Denare Beach for about 30 years. Scott McCullum What's Scott McCullum's reason for tossing his hat into the ring this municipal election? 'I am interested in letting our community move forward and to keep our community vibrant for the young folks,' says McCullum. A liaison officer with Craftmaster Spray Foams, McCullum has lived in Denare Beach all of his life _ 51 years to be exact. McCullum says his top priority if elected would be to maintain a 'strong' Main Beach, upgrading the change and washroom facilities and adding more lifeguards. 'In general we need some more staffing of lifeguards,' McCullum says, adding that 'we're seeing a lot more people come out to our community and we have to provide a safe environment for them.' Davis McKay As a foster parent, Davis McKay has made children a priority, and he says he would do the same thing on village council. 'The kids are really important to me,' says McKay, who has lived in Denare Beach for seven years. 'I really think there needs to be more recreational opportunities for the kids out here.' McKay also mentions the need for community beautification, including fixing the roads, more green space, a neighbourhood watch program and a greater police presence. Asked why he is running, McKay says he enjoys Denare Beach and has always been an active member of his community. Through distance-ed, McKay is presently completing a degree in social work. Anne Schiltroth What would Anne Schiltroth's top priority be if re-elected to the village council on Oct. 24? 'Just to work with the other councillors and hopefully maintain Denare Beach (as) a good place to live,' says Schiltroth, who is hoping to serve a third consecutive term. More specifically, Schiltroth says she would like to see work done to repair the village's streets and, without making any major changes, update the bylaws. Asked about her motivation for running, Schiltroth says she has enjoyed her two terms on council and is again prepared to put in the time necessary for the job. Retired from her career as a clerical worker with the Manitoba government, Schiltroth has lived in Denare Beach since 1976. See 'Thomson...' on pg. 6 Continued from Pg. 3 Karen Thomson Asked why she is running again, incumbent Karen Thomson mentions her desire for 'transparency and fairness in our local government' and 'making sure that our community prospers.' Thomson says Denare Beach is 'a beautiful community and I want to see it continue to be beautiful and I want people to take pride in the community.' In terms of a top priority, Thomson mentions wanting to attract more residents to the village, work with the RCMP to reduce crime, and ensure the infrastructure is properly maintained _ and that includes paving on Moody Drive. An account manager with MTS Allstream, Thomson has lived in Denare Beach for 24 years. Frank Wiegers As he vies for a second straight term, Frank Wiegers knows what his top priority will be if reelected. 'It would be to try and keep the community as a resort community as well as a kind of modern, growing community that's safe for people,' says Wiegers, who praises the work done by the RCMP to address crime in Denare Beach. Wiegers says there is a balance to be struck between allowing recreational freedom in Denare Beach, such as with quads and boats, and ensuring residents are not annoyed. Wiegers says he is running again because he enjoys the work of being a councillor and believes that 'you can have an impact on the community.' A carpenter at Hudbay, Wiegers has lived in Denare Beach for nearly 25 years.
