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| Jamie Thomson |
Your rights, my responsibility!
My name is Jamie Thomson and I have been enthusiastically encouraged by my family, friends and numerous fellow members of The Crowsnest Pass to run for Council in this year’s election. Therefore, I have officially announced my candidacy for a seat on our Municipal Council.
I have proudly called The Crowsnest Pass my home for the past 18 years. In that time, I have discovered not a conglomeration of 5 small towns, but rather a united community of people who look out for each other not only in times of need, but on a daily basis. It is this bond that sealed the deal, so to speak, for my decision to run in this election.
My husband Sean and I have raised our 4 children in The Crowsnest Pass and have helped over 60 ‘extra kids’ as we refer to them, when they came to us seeking help at various times with various questions or problems throughout the years; our door remains open to those who need us and it always will.
Because of my experience with, and awareness of, the youth in our community, I have become a chosen advocate, by them and for them as well. I have founded an ‘Anti-Bullying Coalition’ on their behalf; ‘The Crowsnest Pass Speaks Up’. When I started a support group for the victims of bullying and other forms of emotional and physical abuse on FaceBook, within the first week we had over 700 members. Due to my own experiences in life, such as volunteering with Calgary Between Friends and numerous other youth oriented organizations over the years, I believe in speaking up, and standing up, for those who are unable to do so for themselves.
The youth of our community are our future; it is our obligation to ensure The Crowsnest Pass still stands strong for them just as those who were here before us struggled to keep it alive for us. We also need to appreciate and value those who did struggle; it is time for them to rest easy and let us take care of them for a change. The seniors in our community deserve our respect, and quite frankly, a break from all they’ve done for us over the years. It is because of them that we are here after all, is it not?
Aside from managing the most successful single location of Movie Gallery per capita across Canada in a chain of over 2300 stores prior to their closure, I also graduated at the top of my class through an online course in ‘Leading Strategic Innovations Within Organizations’ through Vanderbilt University with a final grade of 96%.
If there is one thing I have learned from being in management, it is that in order for any organization to be successful, every member must work well together as a team. Innovative ideas as well as any concerns or issues must be discussed thoroughly and reasoned rationally before making any final decisions. Our Municipal Council is a team of seven and must work well together with the community in order to successfully maintain and cultivate the organization at hand; The Crowsnest Pass. With the right team in place, our Municipal Council can be a very strong, reliable and productive representation for the electors of our community.
Anyways, with being in the retail industry, I have also had the pleasure of dealing with and getting to know a wide variety of the population. We have a vast wealth of talent and knowledge in our own back yard and are fully capable of avoiding spending extra funds on outside, high priced firms and consultants. Tapping into the resources we already have available to us, we are fully capable of expanding our tax base and stabilizing our community’s financial situation.
We can’t turn back the clock and change what’s already been done, we can only move forward from here. We need to build on what we have with simple ‘common sense’ playing a key role. Which is more important: a new Municipality Brand, or repairing cracking sidewalks and potholes which are becoming hazardous to our population’s well being? Especially when we could have had both if organized properly.
We need a Council in place that is capable of effectively communicating with the members of The Crowsnest Pass. A Council that is not only open, but open minded as well. One that can not only be heard but that can listen. I completely agree with holding quarterly town meetings, but those meetings would be a huge waste of time and effort without effective communication going both ways between Council and the community.
I should make it known that I firmly believe that any elected official has the obligation to not only represent those who elected them to the best of their ability, but to answer to them and be held accountable for all decisions made on their behalf as well.
I also firmly believe that respect and trust are earned. These are not traits that are simply handed to an elected official simply because they received enough check marks on a few ballots that won them a seat on Council. These are traits that must still be earned over time as that individual proves they are capable of effectively using that seat on Council to represent those who elected them.
When I state: “YOUR RIGHTS… MY RESPONSIBILITY!”, I mean just that!
As citizens of The Crowsnest Pass, you have the right to be heard, the right to know where your tax dollars are being spent, the right to have a voice in the decision making process regarding ALL decisions involving your community and you have the right to a Council who is in place to represent YOU!
If elected, it is MY responsibility to see to it that your rights are not only respected with the utmost dignity, but become a reality!
You can contact me at: 403-562-8716 or imhere4you@outlook.com and I welcome any questions, comments, concerns or ideas you may have... or just to make a coffee date and discuss things in person.
Sincerely yours,
Jamie Thomson
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