Submitted photo
Coun. Alison Van Dyke is looking to help build off the foundation of work accomplished in her first council term.
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Coun. Alison Van Dyke has announced her intent to run for re-election, feeling that having laid the foundation, she wants to keep building.
Over the past four years, Van Dyke says that she, as a part of council, has been able to deliver on many of the things that she ran on in 2021. She’s proud to have done the groundwork for some important policies that were not present when she became a councillor, but she hopes to be able to continue to expand upon what has been already accomplished.
“There’s quite a few things that I ran on in 2021 that I was able to see through in this term that I’m very proud of,” said Van Dyke. “In particular, the environmental framework was a huge one. Previously, Medicine Hat didn’t really have an in force policy around the environment, so having one is new and exciting.”
Other highlights includes the Community Wellbeing Plan, the expansion of the Fair Entry Program to include public transit and rescinding the downtown skate-boarding ban to better align with other municipalities.
“I’m not trying to take the credit for actually doing all of this work, but they were things that I campaigned on in 2021 that I wanted to see accomplished in the city, and as you can probably tell, the vast majority of them were accomplished during my term. So I’m considering it a great success,” said Van Dyke.
Looking forward, she believes that sometimes there can be an economic focus to the detriment of other areas of the city. She would like to continue working on various initiatives to make Medicine Hat a vibrant, thriving community that is on par with their municipal counterparts.
Van Dyke feels grateful the city has so many additional areas that council is involved in such as the airport, energy generation and distribution and in house economic development, as she feels that having these operations be part of the municipality have allowed her to gain an understanding of the city that’s unique to Medicine Hat.
Equity and fairness continue to be driving factors in decision making for Van Dyke. Her focus, if re-elected, is on voting for solutions that serve the long-term interests of the entire community. She is eager for the opportunity to continue seeking balance in delivering essential services and valued amenities across Medicine Hat.
“Hatters can be assured that I approach this role with care and commitment. Whether engaging with regional partners, other levels of government, or City administration, I always keep the best interests of our community front and center,” said Van Dyke.
She says Medicine Hat is an exceptional city, but is not immune to the pressures impacting communities across our country. Strong themes that continue to be a priority for residents include affordability, community services and safety, and economic growth, which she assured residents are all continued priorities.
In the weeks leading up to the Oct. 20 election, Hatters can expect to see Van Dyke attending meet and greets and talking to as many residents as she can. She delayed her announcement in order to focus on her current term, but she is ready to put on her “campaigning hat.”
“I have a proven track record of thoughtful, informed decision-making and a demonstrated ability to get things done. I’ve seen tremendous success in achieving the goals shared in my 2021 campaign – the groundwork has been laid, and I’m ready to build on that momentum to continue serving the residents of Medicine Hat,” said Van Dyke.
Former Mayor Ted Clugston enters council race
Former Medicine Hat Mayor, Ted Clugston, has put his name into the ring for council.
Clugston served two straight terms as mayor from 2013 to 2021 before coming in second in the 2021 election to mayor Linnsie Clark.
He previously served as an alderman for two terms, starting in 2007.
