Introduction: I have been a resident of St. Paul for 15 years. Born in Edmonton, raised in Andrew. In high school I received the N.A. Melnyk Scholarship for diligence in studies, positive role modelling and community involvement. At 17, I was sponsored by the Lions Club to be the first Canadian ambassador to Shimoda City in Japan.
I was an Early Childhood Educator in Edmonton for 17 years. After moving to St. Paul my extensive employment history has provided me with strong community connections.
I have coordinated the Food Bank, Family Wellness, HIV Awareness, Collective Kitchens and Home Visitation Programs with the MNFC and Native Counselling Services. I was also an Addiction Counsellor at Bonnyville Rehab.
I was instrumental in starting the Community Gardens with the U of A Healthy Alberta Communities Project. I presently work for AHS as the Justice Diversion Court Liaison, which involves Mental Health Outreach.
As a volunteer, I have been involved with Children’s camps, prison ministry, school councils, the Safer Task Force and the Indigenous Games. Presently I sit on the Provincial Advisory Council for Mental Health and Addictions and am a proud member of Champions for Change.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
I am running for Council because I care about the people of St. Paul. I have strong leadership skills. I am a team player who is always willing to learn and open to suggestions and ideas. I believe I have knowledge and experience as a woman and a single parent that would bring another dimension to Town Council.
What are you top priorities for the town?
My priorities would certainly be your concerns. However, I would like to see our youth (our future leaders) more engaged, a disaster plan available to all, inclusive partnerships and enhanced ‘Community Spirit’ for all ages and cultures.
Introduction: My husband and I have lived in St. Paul since we were married 33 years ago. Together we have raised our four children. As they were growing up I was involved with their schools and with many of their activities that included hockey, baseball, dance, etc. Raising an active and healthy Family was a priority for me as a mother and remains so as a grandmother. I have worked in various industries in St. Paul and for more than a decade have enjoyed the rewards and the challenges of being a small business owner.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
I decided to run for town council because I have always had a strong community spirit and have been involved with numerous organizations. At the present time I am actively involved with Champions for Change, St. Paul and District Chamber of Commerce and the Graffiti Reduction Committee. If I am elected I promise to give it my all as town councillor and ensure that your issues or concerns are addressed.
What are you top priorities for the town?
One of the issues that will have to be addressed is the shortage of adequate housing. With our population steadily increasing and new businesses coming into town there is more demand for housing. In order to sustain this growth we will have to look at some new housing developments including apartments and condos.
In general I think the town has seen many positive changes in the past few years. In order to focus on the future we must make the best use of our financial resources and review the efficiency of the programs and services that are now being offered and make changes if necessary.
Introduction: Carolyn and I moved into St. Paul in 1980. We have been married for 37 years; we raised two children in the Town of St. Paul.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
I am seeking re-election because I enjoy being on council and serving the people of St. Paul. I have an interest in listening to the citizen of the community and being a voice for them on town council. I would like to see the completion of projects that we have been started. One example would be our Wellness Centre.
What are you top priorities for the town?
My priorities for the next four years would be to work with local builders, to develop all types housing, and rental properties. With no vacancies in our motels we need to continue working in getting more motels, so our sports teams, dance clubs, and other organizations would be able to host tournaments, competitions, and events in our community. I will also work with council in building an industrial area. I feel that it is most important, for town council to maintain and to increase the level of service that is provided for the citizens of St. Paul.
Introduction:
I am the newest councillor on the current St. Paul town council, having been elected to council in January of 2012 in a by-election. I was born and raised in St. Paul and with my wife Lisa we are raising our daughter Shellaine here. I have worked at Zarowny Motors for 23 years as a service advisor and more recently a sales consultant. I also have owned and operated my DJ service company “45 Special” for many years in St. Paul. I have served on many boards and helped raise funds for various groups. Some of the more recent groups include Champions for Change, The Pink Heart Campaign, Silhouette Dance and the St. Paul Gymnastics Club. I am also a retired member of the St. Paul Fire Department.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
The reason I am seeking re-election to council is that that our town has grown and prospered over the last couple of years and I want to continue to see our town open for business while providing a high quality of life for our citizen’s young and old alike.
What are you top priorities for the town?
Some of my top priorities for the town if elected are to work on having more low cost housing in our community. I would also like to attract another hotel or motel to our community to allow us to host more sporting tournaments and other events. I would also like to work on making our community safer.
Introduction:
My name is Don Padlesky with the nickname “Bono” given to me back in my minor hockey days. I have been living and volunteering in St. Paul for over 40 years. I enjoy our town. It is not a perfect town, but it sure is a good town. Over the years I have had the pleasure to volunteer for several organizations. Each organization has made the town a better place and the success of the completed projects was the joy I got in volunteering.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
The late Guy Germain over the previous three elections would approach me to run for town council, my response was when my kids were done school I would run.
So it was three years ago that I ran in my first town council election. I knocked on over 1,000 doors collecting concerns and ideas from the citizens as to what our town needed. It is now three years later and our town staff, council, and you the citizens have completed over 60 per cent of those concerns.
What are you top priorities for the town?
My goals for the next four years if elected are to complete some of those ideas from three years ago. I will be door knocking the north side of town where I was unable to knock on last election because I ran out of time. So far the big items I am hearing from citizens is for a motel, housing, and rental units.
Introduction:
Born and raised in Smoky Lake, I married a local girl, Kelsey Mueller in 2009. I have served as a member of Smoky Lake Town Council for five years before moving to St. Paul to establish roots and start a family close to relatives and friends.
As a member of town council, I was a board member of Community Futures, Evergreen Regional Waste Management Commission and Muni-Corr (the Iron Horse Trail). Gaining a reputation as an effective debater, a thorough investigator of the issues, and a problem solver, I championed the cause of fiscally responsible local government by increasing efficiencies and developing new revenue streams to reduce the dependence on local ratepayers for the town’s revenue.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
I believe that as part of council, we must listen to citizen’s ideas and concerns because it is through the amalgamation of diverse opinions that the best solutions will be created.
The Municipal Government Act stipulates that all municipal budgets are balanced. My experience and passion for municipal finances gives me the ability to review and recommend improved budget efficiencies, and implement cost cutting measures that protect the tax payer.
What are your top priorities for the town?
Insuring jobs for today is important, but planning for tomorrow’s jobs will strengthen and sustain our community into the future. Now is also the time to grow the viability of our other business sectors like farming, manufacturing, and the service industries. Improving and maintaining these areas will mean more jobs and stability over the long run and well into the next generation.
As a new homeowner, I understand the importance of available and affordable housing and knows that local government can affect change. My goal is to work with council to create opportunities for smart housing development that can ease and improve housing issues.
Introduction:
Have resided in St. Paul, since 1995. Spent most of those years working at 1310 CHLW Radio (now The Spur). Since March of 2011 have owned and operated Marlin Travel in St. Paul.
Why have you decided to run for town council?
I would like to thank the town residents for allowing me to be on town council and a part of an exciting time here in St Paul over the last six years. We have seen much growth and we are not done yet.
I think the people who have come to know me, have realized that I have come to love this town and the opportunities in it. There is no doubt St. Paul is the place to be, and I look forward to the next four years and the challenges that will come with it.
What are you top priorities for the town?
We have prepared St. Paul for growth. The east end of town is ready and waiting for developers to step in and continue our economic growth. With that I see us as having also an opportunity for an industrial area to service this sector. I am very thankful for the work that the area contractors have done in cleaning up some older houses to be replaced with new ones and I can see this urban renewal continuing.
Some of the top priorities for me are to see the completion of the St. Paul Wellness Center and to find new and unique ways to enhance the building of single and multi-family dwellings.
St. Paul has also grown in its cultural flavours and I would like to see that develop more in the events we do like our annual Family Day and heritage festivals.
