About 150 people filled the community centre hall Wednesday evening to hear council candidates talk about what they would offer Blind River if elected. The two-hour meeting was hosted by the Blind River Chamber of Commerce and dealt with a variety of issues around seniors, youth, spending of tax dollars, tourism and future development.
Seven candidates are seeking to win seats on the six-member council. Incumbents Steve Wells, Jim Dunbar, HP Roy, Clifford Spratt and Paula Summers will go off against new candidates Robert Ambeault and Betty Ann Dunbar.
Marty Mitchell was the master of ceremonies during the forum. The candidates were given five minutes to speak with voters.
Robert Ambeault thanked those attending the meeting to get election information and view the candidates who will be on the ballots.
Ambeault moved to Blind River in 1978 and raised a family. He said when he first moved to the community, he felt it was “a little destitute,” but has seen it grow.
“It’s amazing what people can do and this being a community of people… ever since I moved here everything has improved,” he said, referring to a new hospital, golf course, OPP station, firehall, the town’s main employer Cameco coming to the community along with many other new businesses. “People invest in their community.”
Ambeault said one of the issues facing council is attracting new businesses and jobs to grow the community and stop people from moving away, particularly young people.
“It takes a lot of work to find a way to get investment to our community through all levels of government… the private sector,” he said of job and business growth that makes a “community healthy.”
He also noted the aging population that is looking for safe communities that offer a wide range of services and recreation, something Blind River can offer.
“Every couple of years there’s new opportunities here,” he said.
Betty Ann Dunbar is also a long-time resident and has raised a family in the community. She said that having recently retired, she can devote time to council work.
As a former employee with the Blind River Development Corporation, she has worked as a project manager having managed over $3 million in projects “on time and within budget.”
She has worked in tourism and been a member on a number of tourism boards. She has been a director of the library board and president of the Chamber of Commerce.
If elected to council, Dunbar said she would work with surrounding communities on regional projects to benefit the town and area economically.
She said current work on a strategic plan for Blind River will help move the community forward. The plan has seen input from residents about their vision for Blind River’s future through a public meeting and survey.
“It will tell us where we need to be,” she said, referring to guidelines expected when the strategic plan is unveiled to the public. “I will make it my mission to follow the guidelines of the strategic plan.”
Jim Dunbar is another life-long resident of Blind River where he worked as a telecommunications technician before retiring. He is married and has raised a family in the community.
Dunbar said, as a councillor for the outgoing term he has attended all council meetings and sat on a number of council committees. He said during the term, he has supported work on infrastructure projects and improvements to the town’s sewage treatment plant.
He also supports a “strong partnership” on a regional level. As a council member, he has seen an infrastructure reserve fund established to finance future work.
“Spend wisely when we have to spend,” he said of his goal if re-elected.
HP Roy was also born and raised in Blind River.
He said his council experience has shown that members work for the community in their capacity as a councillor or member of a committee.
“I think things through and always make my choices carefully,” he said.
Roy told a story where he was once asked by a visiting friend who had moved from Blind River to Ottawa why he hadn’t moved away to become “somebody.”
“Here I am somebody… everyone here is somebody,” he explained.
Clifford Spratt told the audience that this election with five incumbents seeking re-election and two new candidates seems to recognize, by the electorate, that the current council has been working well.
In the last four years, Spratt said, council has spent nearly $40 million on budgets. The $12 million being spent in this year’s budget won’t be visible because much of the work is on maintenance of services under the streets. He also noted that council has received a $1 million quote to repair the sewage treatment plant roof.
He sits on the town’s finance committee.
“We must draw down our debt and live within our means,” he said.
According to Spratt, council has managed to stay within budget over the past four years.
Spratt was instrumental in having council agree to keep the town office closed for one hour each morning to allow staff to conduct town business without interruption.
Paula Summers is seeking re-election for a second term and is a life-long resident of the community with a family and grandchildren.
“I always believed you have to be involved to see how things are run,” she said of her decision to seek another term.
She said her first term has taught her that a council has to work together with the information they get on a given issue before making a final decision. Summers said it is important for council to be “transparent” with residents about issues that come up.
“We need to make sure that you are aware of what is going on so you can have input into a decision that is made,” she said.
Summers said if re-elected, she will work to see the upcoming strategic plan work. The same applies to the asset management plan.
Steve Wells is a retired school teacher who moved to Blind River 25 years ago.
“I feel you’ve elected me to work on your behalf,” he said, referring to his work ethic as a councillor.
Wells said he would like to see improved communication between council and residents, and suggested the sound system in the council chamber needs to be improved and council meetings streamed.
He also talked briefly about the expansion of the town’s landfill site and said he also supports the upcoming strategic plan.
“I believe as a community, we must all work together,” he added. “Together we can build a better community.”