Thursday 6 October 2022

Statement by council candidate Samuel Adams

1.       


1.Why are you running for council?

          I first travelled to Tahsis many years ago, seeking out remote parts of the island. As I traveled, every place I stopped had the peaceful beauty of a Bob Ross painting. When I arrived and saw the inlet, I realized my cellphone did not work at all. As I continued around the corner, I noticed a young family out in the estuary digging for clams; at least that’s what I figured they had been doing. The next thing I noticed were children riding freely down the road on their bikes and wild deer scurrying into the bush as they went by. The entire area was rich in First Nations history and culture. All of these things were appealing to me, and I’m sure many others have thought that of Tahsis as well.

A couple of years later I took a job at the John Hart Dam upgrade project in Campbell River. During my years at the project, I made the decision to travel back down that long winding road full of potholes to Tahsis. This time, I saw the all of the same things I loved about Tahsis except there was something else, something new…potential! Potential for art, potential for adventure, potential for tourism, and most importantly, potential to stay! Since then, I have made Tahsis my forever home. I have met many great people and made many new friends. So to keep my answer short, I am running for Council because I want to contribute to this beautiful community that we all share in a positive way.

 

2.       2. What in your background prepares you for being on Council?

This type of question has always been difficult for me to answer. I’ve never been fond of carrying on about myself, so I will tell you about my grandmother, and I’ll try to keep it short. She was the matriarch of the family and one of my biggest role models.  She was heavily involved in the community and local politics. She was a founder of many things in my hometown like the Multicultural Center and Heritage Council; just to name a few. My Aunts then followed in her footsteps, and I did my best to follow their lead. I was always looking for an opportunity to volunteer in the events that they were involved in.  Things like the Dragon Boat Festival, Art in the Park, numerous parades, and other local events became a regular part of my life. As I continued, I eventually became the Director of the juried art competition, which led to becoming chair of the Rose Festival in the Niagara region.

My Grandmother, being heavily involved in the women’s labor movement, also influenced my decision in becoming a union steward as part of my career. Advocating for and representing my fellow workers on various job sites while organizing and raising money for worker’s interests has always been very important to me. I am not afraid to speak my mind and fight for what I believe in. My involvement with these many diverse organizations has taught me how to listen and be able to debate respectfully using empathy, understanding, and knowledge without compromising my position or values on the issue at hand.

I come from a very diverse, multicultural area in Ontario. Growing up, I was very close with many people from all races, religions, and socio-economic statuses. This taught me how to view the world through variety different perspectives, and to truly appreciate the incredible diversity of our beautiful country and the people who live in it.

Finally, I would just like to add, as a local entrepreneur and business owner, I also advocate for fair tax assessment.

 

3.       3.What is one thing council can do to improve Tahsis the most?

Although I am aware that there are many responsibilities that Council has, I believe that some areas of focus that would make a great difference toward the improvement in Tahsis are:

-Continuing with the rebranding of the village as a tourist destination by bringing our valued residents and business owners together to create a community that is not only beautiful, but also welcoming and attractive to tourists, new residents, and investors alike.

and

      - Carrying on with cleaning up and beautifying the village in order to facilitate the rebranding.

 

I appreciate the opportunity to share a little bit about myself and my hopes for Tahsis. If elected, I pledge to represent your interests in an open, honest, and fair manner. I am not associated with any “team”; therefore I am willing and able to work impartially with any elected members of council and staff for the betterment of Tahsis. I am excitedly looking forward toward a Tahsis that we can all be proud to call home. I hope you will vote for me on October 5th and 15th. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via Facebook Messenger (Samuel Adams); or by email sam.j.r.adams@gmail.com

 

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sam


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