Who are you and why are you running for council?

As a long-time resident with a deep commitment to our community, I believe my background in public service, organized labour, and community engagement has prepared me to contribute meaningfully to the governance and well-being of our town.
I was born and raised in northern Manitoba, one of ten children in a family involved in the dairy business. My wife Janet and I have been married for 33 years.
I retired in 2015 as a Locomotive Engineer in Jasper. Throughout my railway career, I was deeply involved in union work.
Beyond my professional work, I’ve remained active in local and provincial initiatives. I served as Local Chairman of the Tourism Action Plan Committee and served as President of the Mobile Home Association during a critical period of land negotiations with the federal government. This complex issue required extensive collaboration and negotiation, ultimately helping to shape a successful path toward self-government.

What are your top community priorities that you think Jasper Municipal Council has a role in shaping and why are these issues or themes important to you?

Seniors Housing
I think that our seniors housing situation needs to be addressed in order to meet the long term needs. We now have the potential opportunity to build a facility that could serve as a solution going forward.

Parking
With new structures being built with more accommodations there will be increased densities across all neighbourhoods. There will be a need to have an in-depth discussion regarding parking issues.

Green space enhancement
Due to the high profile of our community, we receive many visitors from around the world. I believe that further enhancements such as green spaces and historical location would benefit from improved street-scaping and signages.

Can you share a decision or experience that shaped your commitment to public service and how it influences your approach today?

My involvement in the negotiations with Parks Canada in the land release process for the trailer court helped shape my understanding of the complexities of municipal governance and Parks Canada. A cohesive relationship with parks Canada and the municipality is fundamental in advancing the future of our community.

If elected, how will you ensure transparency and public engagement in your decision-making process?

I believe that public involvement is fundamental in a any major decision that council is proposing, in order that the views of the community will be heard and acted upon. An example of this was the exercise used by the municipality, to have community members provide their input to determine what the top priorities for our rebuild should be going forward. I believe that this process demonstrated transparency and the collective opinions of our community.

What is one issue you believe isn’t getting enough attention in our community, and how would you address it?

With the loss of both the Anglican and United church properties, there have been discussions regarding the possibility of a joint rebuild that would serve both denominations. This may create adequate land to develop a complex that would address the significant senior housing needs, as well as a place of worship for both denominations. The involvement of town council in this endeavour is fundamental to ensure that a comprehensive plan is developed to the satisfaction for both parties.

Please feel free to include a closing statement or sum up your platform.

The next four years will be challenging for our town counsel, with literally every aspect of our community affected by the wildfires. I believe that our future council must have a cohesive working group that will strive to serve our community, to the best of their abilities.  We need to be open to change and adapt to our new reality along with input from the community.
I’m optimistic about our future and if elected, I’ll endeavour to approach the challenges with understanding and kindness.

The 2025 Municipal Election is Monday, October 20. For information on voting, including advanced polls, see our piece on Voting Tools for Residents