My Election Platform
I’ve never really been someone that puts out a definitive platform - simply because there are way too many issues to condense into a 3 or 5 item platform.
However, platforms are definitely important to some in order for them to quickly see what is important to me. So here it goes:
Dear Bev: ;)
Priorities Short Term:
Land Use Bylaw Review - this process has already been initiated by the current council and will commence early in the new year. There are key points for me to discuss that effect our existing neighborhoods and how infill development is done. Size/scale, setbacks, and parking requirements for apartment projects are all on the table.
High Country Drive - a quick decision by council is needed within the first 2 or 3 months after the new council is brought up to speed.
Click here to view my page regarding High Country Drive and a few roads.
Reserve Management - I will bring this to council during the 2026 budget discussions in November.
Click here to view my page regarding a dedicated Recreation Reserve Account.
Pool Expansion - Full project completion scheduled for June 2026
Click here to view my page dedicated to the Pool Expansion project.
Priorities Long Term:
Health Care In High River
There are few ways that Council can directly affect the delivery of health care in High River but the amenities we have in High River are the most important service we have in High River that services us and our surrounding communities. Currently the number one issue is the attraction and retention of our Doctors. The compensation model that the Provincial Government is dismal in order to attract young physicians to open family practices and provide all of our resident’s with a family physician. With the Town of High River now owning Charles Clark Medical Centre outright we are able to provide some incentives for new physicians but the Provincial compensation model is still the issue that we will continue to advocate for change.
Recreation
Obviously with my support for the pool expansion this is an important project to bring across the finish line. We are also finishing up the new outdoor rink at the Town Farm in the SW. Beyond the pool and rink projects, the next steps are to address our baseball league and soccer needs regarding the outdoor fields we have in town. We have made improvements over the past year and Council will need to decide how much capital budget monies they wish to invest to further improve these fields. Disc Golf and the Skate Park are other projects that are in the works to get started.
Advocacy
It is always important for Council to watch what is happening outside of our boundaries. There are always issues that other levels of government are doing that may effect the quality of life we have in High River. Council fought for changes to the Biodigester located in Foothills County, past issues like the Coal Mining fight we have been involved in have had significant success in working along side tens of thousands of other Albertans and there is more work to do yet. I have also been very vocal regarding the Provincial Governments compensation model for our Doctors. Changes have been made that make things better for physicians with large 500+ patient panels, yet the younger doctors that we desperately need, are still not receiving increased compensation to assist in running their practices. As well, I will always stand up for minority groups in our community - Everyone is Welcome in High River - Everyone Belongs In High River.
This Website
I will continue with this website as a means to communicate with High River. Social media has become a difficult place as a method to provide information without everything turning into an absolute firestorm. Facebook also no longer allows you to insert media stories which I used to do often through my interviews with Sun Country radio. With this website, I can get back to the way I enjoy communicating along with easy links to relative information.
Council Strategic Priorities:
Strategic Priorities Chart
To clearly see what council is focused on please continue to check updates to our Strategic Priorities Chart. Every quarterly Council meets with our CAO to review and adjust our Strategic Priorities Chart. There are always the top 5 that we are actively working on along with a list in the “Next Item” column that show up and coming items. The Strategic Priorities Chart keeps council focused and has been extremely successful since it was brought in by our CAO Chris Prosser. All members of council have the opportunity to advocate for what they are hearing from residents and what is important to them.
Again, it is very hard for me to condense things as the environment we work in can change in a split second. None of us know today what tomorrows major issue will be.
