1. What made you decide to run in this election?
I am a firm believer that in a small community especially, if you have the ability to contribute you should. Be that as a volunteer, a positive influence, or in this case as a councilor. I have a unique background and acquired skills, that I feel would benefit the community.
2. What part of your background (experience, education, skills etc.) would make you a good councillor?
I was raised in a household centered around Municipal Government. My father was a small town CAO, and school board CAO most of my young life. We relocated often, and I've seen many times what it takes to attract families, and how difficult it is for those families to integrate into a new small community. I was a young father, and have lived through most of the struggles that any young family encounters. Most of my adult life I have been self employed. I have worked on and planned large projects, interacting with government agencies and corporations, in planning stages, shipping and logistics, and employed at my peak 6 staff in addition to myself. I have also lived from both ends of the financial spectrum, from thriving, to nearly bankrupt and when i was very young homeless. And throughout this I have witnessed first hand the effects mental health can have on our lives, the difficulties in accessing help when needed, and the struggles within a household that it brings,
Since I've moved here I'm volunteered everywhere I have been fit, Hosted classes with the school free of charge, Hosted classes for the literacy society at cost. Joined the Fire Department, and the PAC. I am working to better the community, and I'll continue to no matter how the ballots come in May
3. What is the most important issue facing Tahsis and what would you do to address it?
One doesn't need to look hard to see glaring issues within the village. There is a nearly complete disconnect in communication between the village and the residents. Information is not nearly as forthcoming as it should be, the public is not conducted as it should, and the information that is there is not as easily accessible as it could be. Whether this is due to choices made within the Village staff and counsel, or a product of the past experiences and the response of the residents, is an ongoing public argument. I see it as a combination of both. There is an obvious division here, distrust, hurt, and even hatred, and so much of that could be solved with open communication. We don't need to figure out how to ignore the conflict, we need to find a way to use the conflict to initiate conversations.
To extend that, seclusion and weather bring mental health issues are much more prevalent here and it is a crisis everywhere. We have a lack of support, and a lack of outlets to ensure positive mental health, and without that, it is nearly impossible to have any sense of community, or a feeling of support.
We have a lack of resources we can draw from. We need to harness what we have, encourage business, tourism, and attract families that would like to make this a long term home. Our school, and the longevity of our village depend on it. This means finding new creative ways for businesses to plant roots, with our small population most conventional businesses would struggle. We need businesses with global clientele, that could thrive remotely, creating jobs that don't depend on our neighbors to make ends meet. This means looking to the future. Commercial rental properties, making shipping much more accessible, and as the community grows finding ways to better establish access to food and supplies. As property values rise, the attractiveness of our community and its low cost living is lost in the added expenditure of basic needs, a day trip to get groceries and the related fuel cost begins to negate the savings on property.
Everything I've mentioned takes time and patience though. Its taken many years to get here, it won't be fixed overnight.
4. Any other thoughts you'd like to say.
I hope that everyone who truly cares takes the time and puts in an honest effort to meet the candidates, learn what they truly feel, and make an informed vote. No matter the outcome kof the election, this village, and our future depends on a community coming together.
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