Lifelong resident Bradie Burns wants to be a voice not only in support of local youth, but also one that encourages young people to become more engaged in the community. "Maybe I'll be the person who makes more people want to run, and in the next election, you'll see more young faces that want to have a say, and care where their community is headed."--SUBMITTED PHOTO
Bradie Burns, 27, wants to be the person he needed as a youth in Redcliff.
Born and raised in Redcliff, Burns has endeavoured to be a mentor to youth in town. Burns worked at the Mustard Seed in Medicine Hat for two years before transferring to Recovery Alberta. For the last four years, he’s been a volunteer basketball coach in Redcliff.
He was recognized for his community service with a Citizen of the Year award from the Redcliff Lion’s Club earlier this year.
His experience has given him a perspective he thinks is underrepresented on town council.
“Seeing some of the obstacles the youth have faced by being a basketball coach, seeing the obstacles that parents also face by trying to have their kids engage in those things – in order to make some of those things that I have a vision of become a reality, I need to have a little bit more influence on the things that are happening in my community,” he said.
He says supporting initiatives like organized sports and drop-in recreational facilities would not only provide support for local youth but offer amenities to the adults in the community.
“It would help build those relationships between youth and adults where they could find positive influences in their lives, instead of what I grew up in, where the influences were found in bars or drinking.”
Burns thinks there could be room to implement some of these proposals within the new school project that’s already underway.
“I think we should revisit the topic and see if there’s a way that we could make that a multi-use facility and have it zoned for that.”
He points to the YMCA in Medicine Hat, which shares a lot with Notre Dame Academy, as an example of the kind of dual-use space he has in mind.
If elected, Burns says he would also want to explore transportation solutions for youth, seniors and other vulnerable populations who have few options for navigating the town or getting to Medicine Hat.
Burns hopes that by representing young people on council, he could encourage them to be more engaged with the municipality.
“I think people should vote for me because it would be a great start for Redcliff to have some young minds in our town who are able to use that energy and take initiative,” he said.
