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I know that I have already provided a brief response to the question of homelessness in an earlier post, but recently I received another question regarding my opinions on homelessness and of the location of the Mustard Seed. This was also a question that was not asked at the forum for my particular group at the Electoral Forum last Wednesday night. For those of you who have had the opportunity to discuss this topic in person with me have heard, and as my response to a concerned resident of Medicine Hat, here is my response:

"Thank you for your question and as a business owner downtown and someone who lives downtown, I recognize the concerns created from our "homeless" population. Coming from Red Deer as well, I saw its downtown become empty and void of business due to the fear and concerns of the homeless population, to the point where the homeless population "took over" the downtown and made it their own. The city, in a way, let the downtown become a place that actually was scary to go to.

The concern of "homelessness" is multifaceted, but when I get asked this question, what most people are talking about is the "undesirable behaviour" or criminal behaviour often associated with the homeless population. So, to clarify, there are issues within homelessness that need addressing from a compassionate perspective, such as affordable or assisted housing, mental health supports, drug and addiction support and so on. Unfortunately, the agencies in the city work very hard but can only do so much. As well, these services are only for the homeless population that are ready and wanting to take advantage of them. These agencies are also restricted and limited by provincial and federal policy and decision (ex. Cutting of funding and support, and laws and bylaws that make things more challenging for our judicial system).

So I come back to "what solutions can we find to help alleviate and minimize the social disorder and undesirable (usually criminal) behaviour."

As a business owner downtown, and the lead/chair of the Downtown Voice, one of our priorities is to make our area active, busy and thriving. For example, when it is very busy downtown, although the homeless population is still present, we do not see or experience the criminal or undesirable behaviour. However, when we start talking fear "don't come downtown because of the homeless, and it's scary", and we give into that fear, we create a situation like Red Deer, where the general community stops coming downtown, the homeless population starts to see it as their place and feel comfortable being disorderly. We create a space for them to live in their misery, and this isn't good for them either.

So the solution I have proposed to our downtown businesses and to the city is to not give into fear, create a vibrant and active area (the downtown in this case) that makes it difficult for our homeless population to feel comfortable being disorderly. Again, take any busy day downtown and you do not see disorderly behaviour. When the streets are empty, all of that disorder starts to come out.

This not only helps our community but it helps the homeless community as well, as they have the opportunity to be part of what a healthy society looks like. Often they can start to learn how to more appropriately find their place, as many times, these people are lacking connection and a positive model to fit into. It also creates a greater opportunity for those homeless, to access the services and help that they may be ready to access. The criminals on the other hand, no longer see it as a place to openly do criminal behaviour, or the homeless that act out of frustration, feel less comfortable acting out.

With that being said, how do we address the issue of a Mustard Seed, Food bank or other service that brings the homeless population to a neighborhood. Living just above the old Food Bank, and beside St. Barnabas church (who provides meals for the homeless every Saturday), I experience the concerns. I experience first hand that once the church members have left and the crowds of homeless are still present, and the streets and parkade are quiet of any other activity, we as residents are left in the midst of the undesirable behaviours, yelling, fighting, graffiti, destruction of property, vandalism, open drug use and so on.

Therefore, in choosing sites for places like the Mustard Seed, we need to be very careful and thoughtful of where to locate them. We need to address issues like, what locations will best serve the homeless and allow the Mustard Seed (and places like it) to be most effective, but also find strategies to put in place to minimize the negative, undesirable effects that often come with the homeless population. For example, living where I do, I appreciate it when the police are able to take the time to patrol and even park in our area before and after the meal being served on Saturday's. When they aren't there, as they often have other places to be, it can get quite disorderly. Also, to look at locations where there will be the least impact on the neighboring community. And again, I say the "least impact", as I recognize that no matter what area of the city these services are placed, there will be an impact: Whether that be residential or business. Therefore, whatever area has to take on that challenge, it is important to support them. For example, if a service such as the Mustard Seed was to be close to the downtown, it is important that the people of the city help the downtown stay vibrant, active and thriving (like I mentioned above), to help in a positive way, to help maintain a healthy downtown, knowing that, with their involvement, just by shopping and dining and being present, helps not only the downtown businesses but helps reduce the undesirable behaviour we are concerned about. It would be important to have greater police presence, like our downtown police unit, if for at the very least to help everyone feel more safe, and as a visible reminder to those who engage in criminal behaviour.

I'm only using the downtown as an example, as this is where I live and work, but wherever these services and agencies are finally located, we need to find strategies to help support those neighborhoods. I think for those areas of the community that do not have to take on that responsibility, it should be a big incentive for them to say "thank you for taking that on, and we will support you however best we can".

Sorry for the very long response, and I hope I have answered your question. I do not have all of the answers or solutions, but I am very passionate about finding positive solutions that address as many if not all of the concerns in the best possible way.

I am open to hearing further suggestions, or if you have concerns that I have not addressed in my response. I would love to hear them.

Thank you again for reaching out, and if I am voted in I will continue to listen to the concerns of the community and work hard at finding solutions that best serve our city."

This is a question I would need you to clarify specifically what specific issues of "unhoused" are you asking about. I'm asking this, as I often get asked about "homelessness" but that can represent a number of different groups of people. There are different communities of "unhoused" that all have different needs and wants. I live and work downtown for example, and have spoken to people who are not ready for support, including housing, that they prefer where they are (often because of substance addictions), while others share their stories of being down and out because of hard economic times and they just don't know how to get out of it.

I also recognize, as a business owner downtown for example, that the question is really sometimes "What are you going to do about the "unhoused" because they are affecting business: "people are scared, as they do criminal behaviour (openly do drugs, vandalize, threaten, steal etc.)". I have a different answer to that question which involves making the downtown more vibrant and active. But this is a different question than the one of how do we assist the "unhoused", which I think is what you are asking.

There is no "one solution fits all". There needs to be an approach where each of these issues are addressed separately and I think we need to start acknowledging them separately instead of clumping them all together. I feel that the city needs to continue to work closely with the agencies and organizations that are experts in these fields to help provide solutions that are within the means of the city and will be best suited for those issues. Meaning, there is a limitation at what the city can do at a municipal level, other than to work closely with provincial or federal level government. As well, understand that we will continue to see these problems rise, as they are reflection of the current socio economic times we are seeing globally.

That's a challenging question, because at the end of the day, if I'm elected, I'll need to be able to work with whoever else is chosen by the voters. I can say, that although I haven't met every candidate yet, of the ones I have met, I've been able to have great conversations with each of them.

What I would recommend to anyone is to look for candidates who have strong communication and interpersonal skills, especially listening. The ones who take the time to truly hear and understand another person's perspective. They won't try to talk over others, but instead show openness to working together toward solutions.

A strong candidate may hold firm to their own views, but they should also be willing to acknowledge and even adapt to other perspectives if a better option presents itself. They should take responsibility when mistakes happen, clarify their intent if they've been misunderstood, and always avoid abusive, belittling, or overpowering language.

Ultimately, each councilor brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table, but the key is remembering that we're there to collaborate, to find solutions together, and to make decisions that represent the best interest of as much of the community as possible.

**Same question, but for mayor?**

My answer is essentially the same, but I think these qualities are even more important for the mayor. The mayor should be the glue, someone who can guide and lead while bringing out the best in council, and just as importantly, be open to council bringing out the best in them.

We can't predict the exact mix of people who will be elected, but we can recognize the qualities and skills that matter most: strong communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration. Without those skills, all the experience in the world won't mean much, because without them, it's very difficult to accomplish anything meaningful.

I know that these communication and leadership skills are my strengths, and I will not only use them myself, but also help others develop them if they are not as experienced.

Back in the spring of 2025, I was invited to contribute to the Southeast Chamber of Commerce's revision of their Municipal Policy. As a new business owner, I had first-hand experience with the challenges of opening a business, navigating red tape, unclear communication, and inefficient city processes that nearly prevented me from opening my doors.

The Chamber identified these same issues, describing many city processes and regulations as "burdensome, costly, and time-consuming," with opportunities to improve efficiency and support growth.

From these conversations, the Chamber has now updated its Municipal Policy to better address these barriers. I'm proud to have played a role in this important work, and this is just one example of my commitment to finding practical solutions that reduce inefficiencies and maximize prosperity for our entire community.

If you would like to learn more, see the full report from the SE Chamber of Commerce here: https://chamber.southeastalbertachamber.ca/active-policies/Details/creating-a-business-friendly-regulatory-environment-129455

This is not the first person to ask me about qualifications, from a resume perspective. When I first started seeing questions like this I thought "Well, it is true, that this is much like applying for a job, just not in a traditional sense". However, a resume is only a snapshot of what an applicant can show to a potential employer, to catch the employer's attention. Personally, I do much better in an interview and so the importance of the resume was to always get that interview. The reality is though, and particularly in the case of voting someone into a position like city council, it is not what I can say about myself but more about what other's say about me that is a true indicator of my character and the quality of skills I possess.

With that being said, I am relatively new to Medicine Hat, but within the 2 years I have been here, I have had to opportunity to show my skills, personality and value to the Medicine Hat Community. Based on feedback from those I work with and have interacted with, from me speaking out at the Leadership Breakfast last fall, to my work and contributions with the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Voice, and my time operating <a href="https://www.yogarevolution.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">YogaRevolution</a>, I feel confident in my abilities to work effectively on City Council; but don't take my word for it, talk to those who do know me, or let me know if you want to sit down and chat (I love meeting new people and am always up for a good conversation).

So, although this might be a bit redundant, but because I am fairly new to the city, I have updated my "resume" to reflect my "application" so to speak for city council. I hope this gives you a little bit more insight into my background and experience. I am relatively new to Medicine Hat, so I am not as well known as some of the other candidates. I do hope, however, that people see that I truly am passionate about this city, and that I am willing and wanting to utilize my skills and experience to help make a difference. I have acquired and developed many transferable skills and gained a variety of experiences throughout my teaching career that are applicable to the role of city councillor. My recent endeavors, switching from the teaching profession to becoming an entrepreneur, has given me the opportunity to engage more deeply with the business community (particularly through the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce), which has sparked my ever growing interest and desire to grow and learn how I can be a positive contributor to this city.

Please let me know if you have any further questions or if you would like to discuss anything in person (email is a valuable tool and so are resumes, but my in person interactions is what I enjoy the most).

My decision to run for council has been an evolving process. When my spouse and I first decided to make a significant change in our lives by leaving our teaching jobs of 20 years in Red Deer to open our own business, an infrared heated yoga studio, we had looked at many places we could possibly move to. After weighing the pros and cons of each place, Medicine Hat came out on the top of our list. One of our most significant reasons included that we could be closer to family, as Vanessa was born and raised here, and it is where the majority of her family lives. We also considered moving closer to my adult children, but they are located in 4 different cities throughout the province of B.C. which was not realistic for us.

Furthermore, family wasn't the only reason for us to pack up everything, quit our jobs and sell our house to start up somewhere new (we had many places on our short list). In the end, we felt that Medicine Hat is a beautiful city, full of potential for growth, it is a great place to live, invest in our dreams & goals of owning and operating a self-made business. Of course, we also receive the benefits of living close to family.

I have an attitude of wanting to dive in completely, as part of this new stage in our lives. I don't like doing things with mediocrity. I (we) have started by establishing our business in the beautiful Downtown and I am very fortunate to be in one of Downtown's historic buildings, full of character and charm.

Along the way, I have learned of some of the struggles that go along with starting up a small business in Medicine Hat, and experiencing some of the struggles the Downtown area faces. Instead of just complaining, blaming, or accepting, I wanted to learn more and see if I can use my skills and passion to be part of a solution. I joined the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce to involve myself, not just to learn about how I can be more involved in my downtown community but also the city as a whole.

This journey has taken me even further by being involved on some of the committees through the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, which includes the Health and Wellness Committee and what was formerly the Downtown Collective. Through my work and collaboration with other like-minded business owners of the downtown, I have helped re-organize the Downtown Collective to form the Downtown Voice. It has been on these committees that I have learned a great deal of the history of this city; particularly, from a business perspective. By engaging with residents and business owners that have a longer history than myself, my passion for this community has expanded. I am appreciative of the opportunity to work and collaborate with these individuals, who have allowed me to share my perspectives and experiences from living in Red Deer, and other places.

Together, this platform has allowed us to be a driving force in making positive change to our Downtown through unity and vibrancy. My work with the Health and Wellness committee has provided me the opportunity to connect with people and business owners beyond Downtown and throughout the entire city. Being invited to and sitting in on special meetings where I have been able to share my experiences and challenges of being a small business owner (especially starting up), has also given me the opportunity to see how many of my struggles are shared alike with other business owners and developers.

I feel that running for city council is the next step for me to continue this journey to see Medicine Hat thrive and prosper. Although my experience so far has mostly come from being a Downtown business owner, I fully believe that the city as a whole is made up of smaller parts. When those smaller parts thrive and work together, the city as a whole benefits. So my vision, although Downtown is important to me, includes the entire city; the needs of each area, growth, security and sustainability. I am fully invested in this city and would like the opportunity to bring my leadership skills, my passion, drive and well-rounded perspectives to support the citizens of this hidden-gem.

This is a question I have been frequently asked. So much so, as instead of just responding individually, I will post my latest response here:

This seems to be important to some residents and especially in our times of political dis-ease but I feel provincial and federal political affiliation has no place in municipal governance. Outside of advocating for the city in issues that are affected by current provincial and federal governments, it should be limited to just that. As a councillor it is their job to be unbiased, speaking on behalf of all members of the community. I understand that councillors are people too, and that the ongoings of provincial and federal government affect all people and municipalities, but part of the job as council is to put our personal bias aside, represent all people and work for what is best for the city as a whole as we are not there to push a political agenda of any party. This includes staying focused on what are the responsibilities of municipal government, the priorities of the city (which are the voices of people regardless of their political affiliations). I encourage people to not look at labels of Conservative, Liberal or NDP, but look at what those candidates are prioritizing and in how they plan to handle the challenges of being on council. In most cases, those characteristics that align with ones' personal preference of political affiliation will resonate more than with others. Let our actions, priorities and character be what guides you in your decision. Therefore, when looking at me (or any candidate) for city council, without using a label, make a decision whether you feel that my priorities, methods and views align with what you want to see in council.