News profile1. What is the biggest challenge(s) facing Redcliff into the next four years, and what is your vision for how the town should approach it?
The biggest challenge will be to create positive growth in the community. We need growth in both residential and business. By encouraging new business to the community and maintaining a lower than average cost of living would over time increase the community population. This in turn would warrant and create the demand for a recreational complex. The growth of the community and construction would create the need for more trades people. I myself have a son 19 years of age who has completed his first year electrical at the Medicine Hat College. Unfortunately he is now like a lot of others and can not find employment in order to get his hours for his trade. By growing and creating the demand this should in turn unlock more opportunity’s for current and future trades workers in the area.
2. What is your vision for economic development in Redcliff, and how would you suggest the town work to achieve that?
We need to make Redcliff a viable place to set up shop and do business. Our location along the Trans Canada, low taxes and utility’s in comparison to the Alberta average makes Redcliff a desirable place to live and work. If marketed correctly this could bring new ventures and markets to the area.
3. What are the top three, in your opinion, infrastructure needs in Redcliff, and how would you approach seeing those to fruition?
1 – We need improved safety for pedestrians. Broadway Ave is probably one of the busiest roads in town. Although we have cross walks marked its sometimes challenging for pedestrians trying to cross. I would like to see improved safety with the installation pedestrian crossing flashing lights at a few corners along Broadway Ave.
2 – Multi use facility like the Big Marble Go Centre. I would like to see if this could be tied in with the new junior high school. I have seen many communities that have this and it is both advantageous for both the school and the community.
3 – Affordable housing. it is essential to attract investment to build rental housing that is affordable to the younger generation starting out as well as those that are looking to down size.
