By Carol Gordon

Imagine Invermere sponsored a ‘Meet, Mingle & Inquire with candidates for District of Invermere council and School District Area 3 Trustee,’ Thursday evening, October 11 at Columbia Valley Centre.

This was in preparation for voting this coming week (Oct. 20). On the ballot voters have an opportunity choose between two mayoral candidates and two school trustee candidates and they can vote for up to four candidates from the list of six for council.

Candidates present included: Invermere mayoral candidates: Al Miller and Mark Topliff. Candidates for council: Kayja Becker, Ute Juras, Shawn Risdale, Gerry Taft, Richard Unger, (Greg Anderson, incumbent, was absent) and School Trustee candidates: Denny Neider and Ryan Stimming.

In an audio-quality challenged Columbia Valley Centre, here are brief snippets from conversations with candidates, the formal question and answer segment of the program and the flyers and brochures that some of the candidates provided.

CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL

 

Kayja Becker

Kayja Becker was born and raised in Invermere and attended college in Kelowna to study business and culinary arts. She returned to Invermere in 2014 because she “felt much more at home in a small community where I could really help make an impact” and has been involved in numerous community organizations including Columbia Valley Community Foundation and has served as President of Invermere Campanion Animal Network Society (ICAN). She was named 2018 Volunteer of the Year for RDEK Electoral Area F.

“I find myself being of a different demographic, different age, gender, different ideas that I grew up with, I have a unique perspective of what the future of Invermere may look like. To me environmental issues are top of the list. I have always been aware that we live in a very beautiful, pristine area, growing up on the lake and we need to better manage that.”

“I really want to help grow the people that are underrepresented, who are doing good things in this community. I feel that there are a lot of people in this town that have been keeping themselves so busy in the things that they are so passionate about that they don’t have the time to be the squeaky wheel attending council meetings because they are volunteering and doing other good stuff so I want to make sure we’re keeping a pulse on all of that.”

 

Ute Juras

Ute Juras resided in the Village of Canal Flats for 25 years, served 14 years on both council and RDEK and two terms as Mayor. When asked what she bases her decisions on and if she becomes a member of Invermere council what weight she would place on Invermere’s Official Community Plan and Imagine Invermere – Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, she said “I do put a lot of weight on public opinion and the guiding documents that are in the Municipality, but those aren’t written in stone.” In addition to her additional research,“ I rely on my gut too. If it doesn’t sound right, doesn’t feel right, I’m probably not going to vote for it.”

On her vision for Invermere in 10 years, she said, “I picture a sustainable infrastructure. One of the things I’m passionate about is having clean water to drink. We have to look after the health of our lake so that it will be there for us in the future for us to enjoy. (A sustainable community also has) young families, which sustain our schools, and is affordable for young entrepreneurs to start their careers. I am looking forward to working with the community and council to make this a sustainable community for the future.”

Shawn Risdale

Shawn Risdale moved to Invermere three years ago from Kimberley. He is a commercial transport mechanic who works on semi trucks and trailers, is a business owner and Vice-Chair of Lake Windermere Ambassadors.

“Shortly after moving here I joined the Lake Windermere Ambassadors and being able to see how small increments in the right direction can bring change” inspired him to run for council.

When candidates were given an opportunity to pose a question to another candidate, Risdale said, “I don’t really have a question. I’m not here to challenge anyone. So I’m just going to make a comment. With what I’m learning and with everyone sitting up here, I think you look pretty good. Invermere is in good shape over the next four years no matter who gets in. Thank you everyone for educating yourself on the vote. Best of luck, everyone.”

 

Gerry Taft

Gerry Taft began serving on Invermere council in 2002, when he was 20 years old. He is stepping down after 10 years as Mayor and is seeking a position once again as councillor to “pass on some of my knowledge from the last 16 years” to the new members of council and help them achieve some of their goals.

In response to a question about composting, he replied, “Over the last 10 years I’ve been serving on the RDEK board and one of the functions that RDEK does is solid waste. It’s something I’ve been advocating for quite a while, some kind of regional composting facility.”

Commenting on infrastructure and public spaces, Taft said, “There will always be roads that need to be paved, there will always be pipes that need to be fixed, but if we don’t protect public spaces, we don’t take the opportunity,” the opportunity can be lost.

Richard Unger

 

Richard Unger has been a business owner and manager in the construction industry for more than 28 years. He moved to Invermere in 2004, has served 15 years on the Groundswell board and six years on the board of the Invermere Music Festival.

“I have reaped the benefits of living in a small, friendly and caring community. I want to give back by offering my dedication, skills and experience to the citizens of Invermere for the next town council term.”

“I have always thought that everything we do on this planet should be done sustainably.” Explaining how he would go about doing that as a member of council, “I would examine each issue and say, “what’s the social cost, what’s the economic cost and what is the environmental cost. I have to think of the whole picture, every day when I’m doing my work, otherwise it’s not going to be successful.” He added, “Everything in balance is the right approach.”

CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR

 

Al Miller

Al Miller has been a resident of Invermere for 30 years; a “Home Hardware guy all my life.” He has volunteered and served as President for the Columbia Valley Rockies Hockey Team, Invermere Business Committee (IBC) and Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce and has served two terms a District of Invermere councillor. “I believe that if you’re working and doing business in the valley you really need to give back.”

When asked how he proposes to address the rental housing shortage, Miller responded, “It’s not an easy fix. People who have been in that business for many years are getting out of it. Air B & B has taken over. Less cost and less fuss. We have to work it out but it’s not going to be easy.”

With regards to rezoning for small houses 500-800 square foot, Mr. Miller said, “I certainly believe in looking at rezoning and finding areas where we can put a whole slew of small houses in. Absolutely rezoning would be a top priority.”

 

Mark Topliff

Mark Topliff retired five years ago to Invermere from the Canadian Armed Forces, where he served for 28 years. He is the Bylaw Enforcement Officer for the District of Invermere and volunteers with organizations, including: the Royal Canadian Legion, Windermere Valley Museum and Columbia Valley Rockies.

In addressing the issue of accessibility for the senior population, Topliff said: “Just getting over the parking lot (from Columbia House) is a big deal for them. We have to make a bigger effort to smooth it out. The wheelchairs won’t go over the cracks in the sidewalk. We have to pay more attention to it. Everything is downhill from Columbia House. It has to be looked after.

“To make more rental accommodations in town, I also do building inspections and home inspections here in the valley, I work with town council. All these secondary suites in town, the paperwork behind it is unbelievable. I would like to streamline that. (So that it is spelled out), this is what you have to have, this is what you have to do, you need a firewall, you need these areas done and checked off and stamped by the insurance companies. Then we can fast track you to have your rental suites. We could clean up a lot of areas for single families to live in.”

CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 6 TRUSTEE AREA 3

Denny Neider

Denny Neider has a background in education, which includes teaching at high school, community college and university levels. He is the current School District Trustee for Area 3.

In response to the question, what is the most important issue the school board currently faces, Neider replied, “personally what I see is the most important issue has to do with health. I am not talking just about physical health, but I am talking also mental health, emotional health, social health and psychological health. We see that in our schools today. We see that actually in the general public. There are a lot of stresses (such as the impact of technology). And we’re seeing it emerge among our students. Emotional and mental health I think that is the most important issue emerging now. We have to develop a learning and working environment that is safe, secure, caring and compassionate. To me the most important issue we’re facing is the health of our learners and our workers.”

Ryan Stimming

Ryan Stimming moved to the Columbia Valley 16 years ago and is employed as a manager at Panorama Mountain Resort. With seven family and extended family members attending or employed by the school district, he says, “These seven people have given me an understanding of our respective communities and I would like to contribute to the success of Rocky Mountain School District by representing Invermere” as a school district trustee.

“I think that immediately the most important issue that’s facing our dDistrict and perhaps the whole province is the role of the new curriculum which was unrolled in 2014. It is supposed to be adopted K through Grade 12. This was a different kind of change that teachers and schools faced. They changed all of the subjects in all of the grades and it was an overwhelming change. Historically before that they would change small pieces a little bit at a time and it would be easier.”

He added that the teachers in the schools don’t have the resources necessary to adopt the changes.

General voting for District of Invermere Elections is Saturday, October 20, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Columbia Valley Centre, 646 4 Street, Invemere. Advance voting available Thursday, October 18, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at District of Invermere Office 914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere.

A Special Voting Opportunity also available Tuesday, October 16, 2 to 4 p.m., at Columbia Garden Village 800 – 10th Avenue, Invermere.

See Notice of Election for list of candidates with contact information and voting information.

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