Why am I running?

My family emigrated to Canada in 1975 and moved to Red Deer. My father was a local business owner and he served this community for many years. My parents taught us the benefits of hard work and helping out your neighbours. Red Deer has been very good to us and I wish to serve my community as my parents did.

Since I returned  to Red Deer in 1997, after university and my first teaching jobs, I have had opportunities to give back to my community through volunteering and sitting on local committees. I have witnessed many of the changes and difficult challenges that Red Deer has faced while living here. I believe that we are at another crossroads right now - that we sit at the cusp of even greater prosperity but we need to work together to create a stronger community. I have the ability to create closer collaboration between various stakeholder groups within our city as we seek to improve the HEALTH, HOME and ZONE for all our citizens. 

Too many of our neighbours are without HEALTH: no family doctors, waiting in the emergency room at the hospital, or seeking help in outlying communities. We need to redirect 5% of the funds allocated to our hospital project to create an urgent care centre in Red Deer.

We have too many of our neighbours without a HOME: unable to afford a deposit or down payment on a place to call their own. The basic economic unit is a HOME - so a family can get on the property ladder. As a city, we need to ensure that we have more choices in housing available without destroying the neighbourhoods we already have. 

We need to ZONE in: the city needs to focus on and finish the projects that they have started to foster economic growth and development. A ZONE to encourage a Gig Economy and diversify our economy; a ZONE to draw in new companies by highlighting why our city is connected to other major centres; a ZONE to entice new settlement; a ZONE that highlights Red Deer’s unique arts and culture community to encourage tourism.

We are Alberta’s Centre City and I want to be one of the community leaders that will guide Red Deer into its next phase of growth and prosperity for all citizens.