Carolyn Hawton
The upcoming by-election on March 16, 2024, provides a very exciting opportunity to be elected to the Town Council. The timing in my personal life is right to make the commitment to give back to my community by becoming a member of Council. When I began talking with family and friends about seeking election to the Council, what really motivated me to be a candidate was the opportunity to be involved in decision making at the community level with a focus on ensuring decisions are made that are best for each person in Creston.
Over the course of my career as a registered nurse, two things that were critical to my ongoing success were an interest in learning new things and the importance of making the patient the focus to ensure that I always did what was best for them. Throughout my career I learned something new every single day and I was always open to the learning opportunities that came my way. As a member of the Town Council, I know that I will need to learn many new things. I am committed to learning all that I need to be an effective councilor. The people of Creston are diverse, and they deserve to have a councilor that appreciates their different priorities, and I will use my voice to advocate for the good for the most.
When my husband and I moved our young family to Creston, we hoped that this community would be the place we lived in for a very long time. It has been amazing to be part of this great community and we love the life that we have here. Becoming a member of council will allow me to participate at the local government level to support this town to continue to be an amazing place to live. A community that is easy for others to also choose to make their home. A community where it is easy to explore business opportunities. A community where everyone can afford a comfortable home to live in. A community where coming together as a community is easy to do in vibrant community spaces. A community where many opportunities are available.
Our current Mayor and Council are a hard-working group of individuals focused on the best for the residents of Creston. I am excited about the opportunity to be part of this council. I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with the other council members, the Town of Creston staff and various stakeholders to ensure effective partnerships exist as the work of the Council continues to move forward.
I’d like to ask you to please consider me for one of the two vacant councilor positions and vote for me on March 16, 2024. I promise to work hard and do my very best for all the residents of Creston.
Megan Holland
When the chance came to run in the by-election, I instantly felt that this was the perfect time for me to step into the ring, as there are a lot of wonderful projects on the go that I support and would be proud to be a part of. I absolutely love this community, and I’ve always wanted to be a part of our local governance.
My goals are to increase small business longevity and prosperity by supporting a dynamic downtown core revitalization through the Cook Street Bypass, with a focus on local artists and school projects to draw tourism. Having a downtown area that slows and entices those traveling through will really help our local merchants. I’ve been to many places around the world that have amazing artwork that creates a sense of energy and pride, transforming old, cold cement walls into vibrant displays of the soul of those communities.
I want to encourage residential units to be built above or below commercial properties to increase the coveted livable space that requires little commuting, and support the inclusion of micro-business and shared office space rentals for startups and small-scale operations. We are in desperate need to connect our neighborhoods through safe, well-lit and truly accessible sidewalks and paths, including bike lanes and more dog friendly areas.
Northwest Boulevard has long since been an afterthought to Creston, but by connecting it with Canyon Street through landscaping and sidewalks, we could increase commercial interest (which can help share the burden of property taxes), and give our residents a safe way to access the many businesses that are located there. If you are using a wheelchair or pushing a stroller you should be able to travel from your home to downtown Creston safely and with ease.
Creating green spaces where we can, and focusing on Xeriscape and water-conscious plants when possible will offer shade for those on foot, and help clean the air from fossil fuel transportation. Many of the parks we already have can also be updated with activities like Disc Golf and Tennis Courts, that are an affordable way for all of the public to enjoy our beautiful area.
I have long since felt that we need to work more closely with our yaqan nukiy neighbors, and I strive to seek their consultation whenever possible. This is a chance for our people to join together through cultural collaboration, along with a safe pathway between our communities along Highway 21, and if connected to a riverside park, this could also alleviate the parking issues during the summer.
I really feel that I can offer counsel rooted in loyalty to this community, but also with a clear external view that comes from experiencing the world beyond our valley. This is a wonderful chance to be a part of the team directing the growth of the hometown I’ve always loved, and it would be a true honor to serve the people of this Valley as their representative in caring for this wonderful place.
Scott Irwin
My name is Scott Irwin, I have lived here for a while now and I don’t think there’s anywhere else in the world I would rather be living.
I was drawn here by the amazing scenery, welcoming people and easygoing weather (compared to northern Alberta) — these are what make Creston a great place to be.
I am running for councilor because I offer a perspective and set of values that I believe will be beneficial to Creston town council. I am very forward thinking, open minded, and ambitious.
I spent time as live in manager of the Uptowner Hotel in Creston, which gave me experience in business management — enough that I started my own property servicing business which has supported me for the last year. These experiences have shown me the importance of working hard, being honest, and when money is concerned, being prudent, and the importance of making informed financial decisions that will benefit the future, both in a monetary sense and a quality of life sense.
Besides running my business, I like to spend my time either with friends and family, playing guitar, or trail running Arrow Mountain or Mt. Thompson as I prepare for my second 100-mile ultramarathon this summer.
I am a very strong proponent of making small changes in a positive direction everyday and I believe the more diversity in council the better for Creston, the better each demographic is represented, the better we are able to reason what the most positive direction for us to go in is.
Our local businesses are the lifeblood of our community, as a business person I understand how the rising costs of just about everything are affecting the bottom line, and how it makes financial prudence for all of us that much more important.
As a young renter, I feel the affordable housing crisis, and as a business person I see a supply and demand issue in Creston, I think we need better incentives for high density housing development so we can increase our supply and drive prices down.
I think and make decisions objectively based on the information I have, with my eyes on sustainable development, support for local businesses, infrastructure maintenance and reliability, and exciting our next generation.
64% of voters did not vote in the last election, so please take time out of your day on Saturday to get out and vote for the councilor you want to represent you and the betterment of your community in your town council.
Rick Klimek
There is a big difference between needs and wants, and my goal as a town councillor would be to concentrate on Creston’s needs.
I want to bring my share of common sense to the table, where I could help make a difference.
Keeping taxes low — or at least in check — is one of my main goals. Also to improve the Town’s efficiency in all its operations.
I want to see a fire break built on Goat Mountain, on the existing bypass right-of way.
I want to see more focus on infrastructure. For example, there needs to be a sidewalk on the north end of Northwest Boulevard. And better wheelchair access and accessibility all over town.
Creston has a high population of seniors and retirees. As a senior myself, I want to serve as a voice for them. More affordable housing for seniors is at the top of the list.
I’m a proud veteran of the Canadian Forces. As a veteran, I want to be a voice for veterans and veterans’ rights, and to support the Royal Canadian Legion and the good work they do in this community.
Homelessness in Creston is on the rise. I want to help find a solution to this, not just put a bandaid on it.
I pride myself very much on being a gentleman with old school values, where a handshake and a man’s word means something. Through my business and equipment experience, I can bring something to the table from that direction.
I was born in Creston in 1956. My family lived near Erickson, until we moved up to Prince George in 1966.
After my honourable discharge from the Forces, I worked in the oilsands, before returning to B.C. to buy a logging truck and operate my own business. I sold my company in 1998, and returned to Creston in 2000.
I know this community well. I worked as a care aide for Interior Health until 2006, at Swan Valley Lodge, Pioneer Lodge and the Creston Hospital. During that same time I was a volunteer with Creston Fire and Rescue.
I’ve travelled all over the world, including the USSR and Eastern Europe. I really appreciate the quality of life, the standard of living, and the rights and freedoms we enjoy here in Creston, and I want to help protect and improve these.
On March 16, vote for Rick Klimek.
Micah Wassink
As Candidates running in this by-election we are asked “What is the most important issue facing the Town Council?” I can only respond that it’s too hard to narrow it down to just one. There are so many important and amazing things happening in town right now. I believe that a councilor shouldn’t be solely focused on just one matter, and be able to juggle many things at once. This is something that I know how to do well, being a business owner and operator, a mother and wife, a home owner and a community member.
Town’s issues must be faced with a focus on collaboration. This means fostering respectful working relationships with the other elected officials, staff, with the Yakan Nukiy community and Creston’s residents. Together we build a community that everyone can be proud to call home.
At Pridham Studio, I collaborate often with community groups and schools, like Homelinks, Yaqan Nukiy School, Kokanee Ford, School District 8 and Rotary to name a few, developing special designs with them for their pottery projects or classes. In producing the popular Downtown Walking Tour Brochure, I bring the business community and the public sector together. I am always able to collaborate with individuals or groups to serve them well, and know I can take this skill to the council table.
I see economic development, the viability of present businesses, and revitalization as cogs of the same wheel. In fact, the word revitalization is mis-leading—Vitalization is more to the point. Vitalization is an ongoing process, and Creston benefits from many projects that have gone from vision to reality in the past years. In 2024, Vitalization means discussing new affordable housing, infrastructure and daycare, incentives to attract doctors, vets and teachers, Environmental Stewardship, Public Art, Downtown beautification, making the town more accessible, and the importance of parks and recreation. Vitalization creates Community Pride.
Vitalization is happening with the development of Market Park and the highway realignment. When our Cook Street upgrade is finished it will be an amazing time to add a piece of dynamic Public Art.
I want a sculpture that you want to take a photo with. Something that showcases Creston. Be it large letters that spell out Creston, or something iconic to our area, located in the Visitors Centre parking lot by the intersection so you can also have the elevators in the picture. How great would that be? Have you seen the ram horns they have put up in Radium? They are spectacular, and make you want to stop to check them out, or even make you want to visit their town to see them. That’s the power of Public Art!
Keeping residential taxes in check is a vital part of the council’s job. Not many people like to see taxes rising, but we also don’t want to see our services suffer. I will work hard to keep tax increases as low as possible.
This summer we will celebrate Creston’s Centennial. What an opportunity this is to honour our past and think about our future. My family has lived here for 100 years, making this milestone especially dear to me. If elected as a Town Councilor, I will be excited to help plan the celebration.
I am respected in the community as someone who works hard and gets the job done on time, and am able to listen to multiple sides, weigh the material, and be an effective and responsible decision maker. A town councilor’s role is to be involved in frequent and diverse meetings, and I will show up at the table organized, prepared and enthusiastic.