On Nov. 12, over 100 Creston Valley residents attended a public forum for candidates running in the Nov. 19 civic elections. Organized by Tamara Fox, Joanne Ferry and Jesse Willicome (who acted as moderator), the forum was the only opportunity for voters to question the candidates running for town council, mayor and Regional District of Central Kootenay Area B director.
Of Creston’s 13 town council candidates, 10 — Justin Lysohirka, Ingrid Voigt, Malcolm Ferguson, Renee Kyle, Scott Veitch, Wes Graham, Rhonda Barter, Ed Vondracek, Joanna Wilson and Jerry Schmalz — attended, while Tanya Ducharme, Judy Gadicke and Louis Mihaly did not.
Both candidates for mayor, Ron Toyota and Joe Snopek, attended, although Toyota didn’t arrived until the fifth question was read.
Ed McNiven was the sole RDCK candidate at the forum; incumbent John Kettle did not attend.
The candidates fielded both pre-selected questions and impromptu questions from the audience.
How will you help break down the silos that we have developed to try to make this a better community for all of us?
Ron Toyota: This council has worked diligently to build better relations with the Regional District of Central Kootenay directors and the Lower Kootenay Band. “I am very proud that I have worked with two chiefs ... and we are continuing to build a strong relationship. I believe we are doing it. There is much more to do. ... We’re working with school board to create a joint committee.”
Justin Lysohirka: “It’s working with you, the public, and, if need be, go to referendum or public voting or public town hall meetings.”
Ingrid Voigt: “I think if we involve the community in the decision-making process” and have councillors to work on various portfolios “and work together with people of our communities, Creston and surrounding area, I think it would be a start and form of communication.”
Renee Kyle: The community needs to have “communication at all costs. Where barriers have been put up, they need to come down. ... Never in our history have we had so many ways to communicate, and never has communication been so poor. Let’s keep talking.”
Scott Veitch: “The only way you can get many projects done is work with many different people. ... Everybody brings something to the table, and it’s up to you guys to suggest ideas. It’s up to you guys to work with the council, to work with the regional district. It’s up to you guys to volunteer to make the plans work. It ain’t all about council.”
Wes Graham: “We have been working with various sectors to break down silos, as well as beginning to venture down the road with the school district. ... I think it’s a positive step forward that we utilize our facilities and their facilities for the benefit of our citizens.”
Rhonda Barter: “I believe you need to talk to the young people one-on-one. Get in the schools. Get in the college.” She recently spoke to Prince Charles Secondary School principal Sharen Popoff about the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determintion) class. “They’re looking for volunteer hours. ... They will get involved if they feel worthy to have their opinion.”
Ed Vondracek: He volunteers with community policing, restorative justice, Community Pride and the museum. “We have a fun time together. ... It’s the community, not just the town — the whole valley is in that.”
Joanna Wilson: She worked as president of the Creston Community Auditorium Society to obtain the funds to help groups with the Prince Charles Theatre fees, and was pleased to be involved with saving the Creston Education Centre. “That was one of the most wonderful partnerships.”
Joe Snopek: “There seems to be a comment that formerly council did not work with the regional district and council did not work with the natives. I worked with Sophie Pierre, I worked with Chris Luke, I worked with Robert Louie. And Verna Mayers-McKenzie, who is sitting at the back, as a regional director, I worked with Verna for six years, and I thought we worked excellent together.”
Jerry Schmalz: Many of the problems between the school district and the community began when the Nelson and Creston districts were amalgamated in the 1990s. “That still is an issue today. My wife works at Adam Robertson school, and when they need heat, it is controlled from Nelson, if you can imagine. ... We have to break down the barrier there and try to get more participation from everybody.”