05/09/2026
Hi Everyone!
Well it's almost show-time! The election will be completed on Monday, May 11th. The last election saw only approximately 30% of eligible voters at the polls. Let your voice be heard. Have a say in who represents you and your family for the next four years!
It is a very exciting time for some of us who are trying to step into the council as new members and for those who are presently sitting on council, trying to get re-elected.
I started this journey last year when I decided to step up and be a voice for a group which had somehow lost its own. In that time, I was drawn to the idea that it was time for me to offer myself to stand for the values I feel are important to my family and friends, and most people in the Five Rivers area
Many of you have taken advantage of the opportunity to observe, listen and watch how present council and new candidates conduct themselves in a public forum. You saw how candidates answered questions, performed under stressful situations, and you most certainly formed an opinion as to which candidates best match your own values and the direction you want Five Rivers to pursue.
I believe that everyone who listened to the council and new candidates, formed opinions that will help them make an informed choice on Monday.
I want to review my present focus as to how I see Five Rivers in the present and where I would like it to progress as a region in the near and distant future.
There are several issues I feel are pressing and require immediate attention. As I stated at the Bass River meeting, up to 90% of all programs, initiatives, repairs and acquisitions are funded through our tax base. This is a very heavy burden to expect Seniors on a fixed income, single parent families, nuclear or elementary families as we traditionally understand them, and single adults to carry.
It is my goal to aggressively attract small business, entrepreneurs, and even larger companies to our industrial park or to settle in vacant lots to start businesses.
Further to that, I want to support existing businesses in our area to ensure they get the necessary exposure and support to sustain their goals and objectives and to grow if that is their desire. Council has an important role to play in their support and networking with similar sized business to help sustain what we presently have in the area.
I want to engage our farmers in conversation to better understand their needs and offer what we as council can to support them. Family farming has always contributed to residents of the Five Rivers area and we want to continue that long into our future.
I feel that it is imperative to develop an Emergency Measures Operational Plan for the base area. We are connected to the regional coordinator, but I feel that it is a must to have a working, living document which changes according to the needs of the area. We need a committee who plans for us and liaisons with the coordinators. We need to have a seamless connection with all stake holders to ensure the safety of all residents with a working plan in order, as soon as possible. Climate change does not wait for us to plan.
I feel it is also the responsibility of the mayor and council through an established committee, to attract tourists to our incredibly scenic area. If there are sustainable attractions, for instance, the Bonar Law farm fully functioning, with expansions and new initiatives, tourists will come.
And a section close to my heart after working in the recreation and physical education realm for all of my life; Leisure and organized activities for children, adults and Seniors. We have not even skimmed all of the possibilities for activity in our area. We have incredible water access to some of the most beautiful water imaginable. There are recreational water craft opportunities, self propelled water activity possibilities such as canoeing and kayaking, tubing and so on...We have ball fields and outdoor rinks that could be promoted and scheduled for new activities. I know we are now experiencing a resurgence of softball tournaments and perhaps we will again have and support new leagues.
At the Bass River Meeting, there was great concern from parents who may have more than one child wanting to participate in sport, yet with the cost of living, are not able to enroll their children into programs. As a Phys Ed teacher/principal for many years and being involved with many different sport organizations, I have discovered several programs who support children initiatives financially. KidSport NB, Playsafe NB, Canadian Tire Jumpstart and Community Sport programs to mention a few. I have also been very successful in looking to Go NB grants and obtaining large sums of money over the years to lessen the impact of costs to parents. In these grants, the coach or organization (recreation councils) apply for grants to fund programs. They is grant writing support available.
It is my vision to expand our volunteer base throughout Five Rivers. Our Seniors and Children require help to feel included and seen. Our population of Seniors is growing from year to year and recreational activities are important to sustain their physical and mental health.
I have been proactive in meeting with several Stake holders and will share my recent activity.
I was invited to meet with the committee representing Seniors and Affordable Housing for people of Five Rivers. I have strong views on supporting their initiatives and if elected, I have committed to appointing a council member to be on their committee, so council will not only be informed of the path forward to building more housing, but will be part of the process towards Senior's support.
I have also attended the Bass River Farmer's Market AGM and met with its members. I learned a great deal about this valuable commodity, its needs, their projected path, the number of new youth and young adult positions available, and what is needed from council to support their worthy endeavors.
I was also invited to meet with the President of the Rexton Recreation Center/Curling facility. He has initiatives I feel that council will be able to support, and we exchanged ideas for several new possibilities to invite different entities to use this under-utilized facility.
I have met with and discussed ideas and possible needs of several local businesses, to enquire what council can possibly do for them to continue to operate in our region or grow their businesses.
I have spoken with the president of the Harcourt Legion to offer my support, if people choose me to be their representative. I have spoken to Natalie Fillmore of the Clairville Recreation Council and will set up a formal meeting with the whole council should I get elected. I have yet to speak with the Targetville reps, or the Greenwood Lodge group, and several other important iconic points of reference for Five Rivers.
I have reached out to Kevin Rice of the Transaqua group and will meet with him next week to discuss their plans for the next little while and how they will implement the new Anerobic treatment to the waste they are presently responsible for treating. I have a list of questions for him and will strongly suggest that a council member be included on their planning committee to get first hand information, not after-the-fact bits and pieces once they have already completed yet another phase of their business.
There have been people in the area who are of the mindset that being born in the area is not enough to be a certified leader. There are others who believe that because one is not born in the area, there is no value to their ability to set roots here and bring new ideas with them. In life there are as many opinions as there are people. No one idea is absolute.
I am of the mindset that anyone with the right attitude and who is willing to listen and learn, who doesn't believe their opinion is absolute over others, and who has a strong sense of integrity is worthy to be a candidate. I believe that people who are fair-minded and who believe in working as a team for common good are worthy candidates to once again unite the people of Five Rivers.
Good Luck to all candidates!
I encourage everyone to get out and vote!
