Greetings to all my constituents! My office is here to help you! Let me begin by saying I was extremely saddened and shocked to hear about the untimely death of Al Sacuta, Rocky View Councilor division 8. Al was a tireless advocate for Rocky View residents, and will be missed by all who knew him. Please join me in sending our condolences to his family and friends.
On August 18 I had the pleasure of meeting Timothy Marino, a grade 11 student at Springbank Community High School, who was chosen to among many applicants to participate in the prestigious Heritage Youth Research Summer summer program at the University of Calgary Foothills Campus. HYRS pairs exceptional students with world class medical researchers. They get to help develop cutting edge therapies and equipment and I dare say the researchers benefit from their enthusiasm and fresh perspective. It was a privilege to see these young people inspired by their peers and mentors to work on projects that may one day impact diagnosis and recovery.
On Friday August 21, the City of Chestermere welcomed the leader of the official Wildrose Opposition Brian Jean. It was a cold, very wet, and blustery day, but the leader was met with warm handshakes and friendly conversation about flood mitigation and other civic issues with Patricia Matthews, Mayor of Alberta’s newest City, deputy Mayor Chris Steeves, councilor Gail Smith, and CAO Randy Patrick. The winter like weather was not able to dampen the spirits of our touring leader and after addressing the media, Brian Jean was off to Langdon to visit with Division 4 Councilor Rolly Ashdown, Bev LaPeare, school board trustee, and community leaders that had taken time out of their busy schedules to come and meet him. He toured flood affected areas and spoke to the group about his vision for our province, the economy and job security. Brian Jean is touring every riding in the province, listening to Albertans.
I hope to see everyone out at the 102nd Annual Calgary Highland Games at the Springbank Park For All Seasons on September 5. Grab your kilt and come on out, all you Scots or “Scots for a day”! I will also be at the fall fairs on the following weekend on September 12th in Springbank (8-10am) and in Chestermere (12-5).
With the addition of 8 new portables at the East Lake School in Chestermere (thanks Nina!) we may see some temporary relief from the gross overcrowding. We need an education policy in this province driven by what’s best for the students, not the political interests of the government. So far I’m not overly optimistic.
With the announcement of yet another non-Albertan parachuted into a lucrative senior position with the provincial government the ideologically driven politicization of our civil service continues. The government has announced a new $600/day/person climate change panel (nice work if you can get it) along with an online “survey” which seems designed to get the answers they want, not answers that benefit the Alberta economy. If the government imposes “cap and trade” we will see more jobs and money leaving Alberta. Hobbled by its fixation on advancing the interests of its federal counterparts, our current government seems to forget who it is supposed to be representing: Albertans. The Wildrose is an Alberta party. While proud Canadians we will continue to fight for the Alberta economy and Albertans’ jobs. That’s OUR agenda.
Please shop locally for back to school supplies. Local business is the backbone of our community.
