Who are you and why are you running for council?

I am a retired lawyer having lived in Jasper for the past 46 years.  I practiced law here for almost 40 years from 1979 to 2018. I am running for council because I believe that my experience and knowledge will be helpful in the many decisions ahead. I am well known and very active in the community and I will be very approachable to anyone that needs to discuss council business.   

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?

Of particular concern to me is the rapid increase in taxes these past few years and I believe that a review of the municipal finances will be a priority for the next council.  I share the general concern in the community as to the reliability of electric buses at this early stage in their development. Even if grant money is being offered to us, I believe that this issue needs to be studied further before we make any long term decisions.

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

Now that I have been retired a few years, I am ready to get further into public service and to try to help the  community.  I joined Rotary a year ago and also serve as a director on the Boards of the Jasper Municipal Housing Corp. and the Jasper Seniors’ Housing Society.  I  was on the Jasper School Board for 9 years back in the 1980s back when it had some of the functions of the current Council.   One of the lasting accomplishments of that time was the building of the Jasper Aquatic Centre.    

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

An issue that in my opinion is not getting enough attention in Jasper these days is the impending departure of CN from Jasper. I have been told by a Hinton realtor that CN is in the ground on their new yard east of Hinton and that there is little doubt that close to 200 high paying CN jobs are leaving town. Council should take the lead in negotiating with Parks Canada so that some of the workers can continue residing in Jasper despite the “need to reside” requirements.

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

If I am elected to Council, I promise that I will be a strong voice for financial responsibility in Jasper and I will do my best to help Jasper remain the place where we all want to live.

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