Katheran Milne
www.katheran.com

As I intend for Powell River to be my home for the rest of my life, I would like to participate in the process of building our community into a self-reliant, fully sustainable community of the future. I believe that we need to move forward from the status quo and proactively advance in innovative ways. It’s time to try something different and find a fresh new path into what I see as a tumultuous and unpredictable future of global conflict, economies and resource wars. Every journey begins with the first step, and running for Council is my first step, to being actively engaged in taking responsibility for the future of my community.

My positions are: keep ALR land intact, build the library, yes to North Harbour or it will be gone, no extension for waste dumping in our watershed, no to LNG and private hydro production on our rivers and live within our budgets!

John F. Kennedy said: “There are costs and risks to a program of action, but they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” There is no time to spare to stop the selling off and gambling away of our community’s future and resources. As a civilisation, none of us has the luxury of remaining uninvolved, disengaged or self serving. We are all in this together. If I am elected, I promise my best efforts to set a viable, exciting and hopeful course to the future, for our community.

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Debbie Dee deedaydebbie@gmail.com

I have lived in Powell River since 1973. This is the best place on earth to live, raise a family, have a career and retire.

I am committed to the continued positive development of our city. Strong bonds are being built in many areas for the benefit of future generations.

What I have heard most in the community since my decision to participate is that varied groups feel no one is listening. I want to hear your best inclusive solution to the issues you feel most strongly about.

I maintain that seeking the positive in any situation is the best course of action. By raising public awareness of an issue, we increase the input for solution. Then, we formulate input into an inclusive outcome recognising all voices.

Spending is necessary for maintenance. We cannot allow our city to fall into disrepair because we are unable to reach an agreement. All groups must recognize the need to find a compatible solution.

Cooperative effort makes a community strong. Whether we use the bus, the library, recreation facilities, soccer fields or harbours, these amenities make our city a community where we can all enjoy our respective ways of life.

The study and implementation of green issues is now an urgent necessity. Once again, Powell River has an opportunity to be a leader in vision and application for our province. It is our responsibility to come together in open discussion and truly to listen to one another for the benefit of our city.

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Aaron Pinch www.buildingourcommunity.ca

Born in Vancouver, Aaron Pinch moved to Powell River in 1993. Ten years later, he opened Powell River Microsystems on Marine Avenue.

I grew up in Powell River. Like many local youth, I had to leave for post-secondary education. When I decided to return to Powell River in 2003, many people questioned my thinking. My reasons were simple: lifestyle, affordability and opportunity.

Powell River has changed. We can’t rely on the mill to provide primary financial support for our community anymore. While the mill will be an important economic component for some time yet, our time as a mill town is ending.

We must plan and grow our city carefully to ensure taxes are adequate to maintain the many services we love and enjoy, such as our parks-and-recreation complex. Higher taxes should not be an issue year after year for homeowners and business operators. However, without growth, increasing taxes will create a burden with a negative impact on the entire city. Municipal, regional-district and Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First-Nations governments must work together in partnerships to benefit the entire region. Cooperation and partnership are key to the success of the region in the long term. Partnership fosters economic development and growth, providing employment and educational opportunities for the region’s youth, Let’s develop education programs that encourage our youth to stay here and attract more youth to attend our expanding university. While many may be happy with Powell River as a retirement community, only a population of all ages will ensure future prosperity.

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Dale Forsberg www.members.shaw.ca/forsberg.dale (online soon).

I have been nominated for the open council position and have entered alongside five other extraordinary people of our community. The first question that comes up is, “Why are you running for council?” The first response is, “I must be ‘loco.’”

I’ve been a resident of Powell River since 1987 when Susan and I came to the harbour “for one summer” to run a fish-and-chip shop. I was a commercial-diving instructor and the founder of the Canada Sea Life College–a totally afloat sea school designed to convert landsmen to seamen. As an oceanic educator, I am acutely aware of the relationship between the land and the sea. I’ve had the unique opportunity to swim most of the coastline underwater around the Queen Charlotte Islands and from the Alaska border to Victoria.

Here in Powell River, Susan and I built the Lilian Rose, the famous pink houseboat in the Westview Harbour. We resided there 14 years before moving ashore. Now, as a landsman and home owner, I am also engaged in the preservation and sensible operation of this community. I am running for council primarily to encourage the residents and younger generation to take an active interest in the issues of the day. I’ll be a liaison between the city and the voters. As a working person who has seen the insides of more than a thousand homes in this area, I can clearly identify with the problems and address the issues with wisdom and common “sea sense”. I believe I am the best choice for your voice! Vote! Write me at daleforcouncil@gmail.com.

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Patricia Jean Aldworth www.ourpowellriver.com

President, Townsite Ratepayers; Catalyst Stakeholders Committee Juris Doctor, Georgetown Law School; BA, Political Science, UCLA A lawyer and mediator, I have 20 years’ government service as a policy, research and legislative expert in BC, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. Please check my website for details.

I’m running for office because I believe that open, accountable, and transparent government is essential to healthy democracy. Our City needs councillors who take the term ‘fiscal responsibility’ seriously and decide cautiously how to spend taxpayers’ dollars. If elected, I would ceaselessly promote citizens’ rights to participate, and report on our fiscal situation. Rising property taxes, a direct result of the rising City budget, will test how much people can bear, this year and for years to come. The City needs to go back to basics before it faces bankruptcy: safe streets, quality of life, open government. There is no place in this vision for the ‘corporatization’ of government and out-of-control spending. I oppose an application to exclude land from the provincial agricultural reserve. The Powell River area is essentially an island, dependent on food being shipped in. We need agricultural land for farms, to decrease our dependency on imported food.

I oppose Catalyst’s application to expand its landfill, which should be closed permanently as MacMillan-Bloedel planned back in 1994.

I support a new library because it is infrastructure that serves all the people – not just special interests. The issue should be put to voters by referendum as part of the November election ballot.

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Barb Rees www.vote4barb.blogspot.com

I strive to make a difference in the world whether with MS-Carnation campaigns, Toastmasters, Youth Ambassadors, or the Festival of Writers. Strengths I bring to council are leadership, organization, compassion, and a heart invested in Powell River.

My best friend is my husband Dave. We took my book RV Canada on a Dime and a Dream across Canada in 2007 while promoting Powell River everywhere ..as the best place to live! Enhanced literacy programs and a new library would be so beneficial to everyone. Students with strong writing and communication skills become stronger citizens.

I’ll lobby for our young people, the future of Powell River, to be heard in council. We have far-sighted training programs in Brooks, but clubs like YAC and SEA need more credence.

This is no time to drop the North Harbour project into the depths of the ocean. It’s in desperate need of upgrading, not just for boaters but for our coastal community. Contrary to rumour, it will be funded by moorage rates and taxpayers. Let’s get this project done before it’s too late, so tourists see the pride we take in the Pearl on the Sunshine Coast.

At 61, I have first-hand understanding of the effects aging and disabilities have on families. Those dealing with mobility, vision, hearing, mental or dexterity problems need extra support. When you vote for me you can be assured I will make a difference, with a fresh view on Powell River’s challenges. Let me be your eyes and ears. Contact: 604-485-2732, dreambg1@shaw.ca