It is my honour and privilege to be your new MLA for Banff-Kananaskis. I’d first like to thank Ms. Miranda Rosin for her four years of service to our riding, and Kyle Jubb and Regan Boychuk for putting their names forward during the election. Choice is the foundation of democracy, and it was great that everyone had so many candidates choose from. As I settle into my new role as your MLA, I look forward to getting to know you and learning how I can best represent your needs in Edmonton.
Over the month of May, my team and I knocked on thousands of doors and spent hundreds of hours on the phones. Hundreds of volunteers contributed to our campaign’s success, and I am tremendously grateful for each of them! Democracy is a grassroots and collaborative effort and every candidate who has ever won an election was backed by a legion of dedicated volunteers who donated their time.
Professionally, I’ve been working as a conservation biologist and landscape planner across this vast riding for over 15 years. While I call Canmore home, I’ve explored much of this riding recreationally, and met with many of key stakeholders over the years. I love how each community across this riding has its own unique character, challenges, and opportunities. This diversity is something to be celebrated.
Regardless of where, people intentionally choose to live in our riding. That intention is often tied to an appreciation of the land. Whether looking at the view with a warm cup of coffee in the morning, or making our living working on it, or hiking and biking through it – this landscape inspires us all and it is our love of the land that ties us to one another.
Together with the Iyarhe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina First Nations we share this magnificent riding. We have much to learn from one another about how to work collaboratively as good stewards. Our conservation of the Eastern Slopes and the headwaters of the Bow, Elbow, Kananaskis, Highwood, Sheep, and Ghost Rivers matters to all of us and to millions of people beyond our riding’s boundaries.
Over the course of my candidacy to serve as your MLA, I heard from many of you that health care, affordability, education, and economic opportunities were top priorities. That makes them my top priorities too.
In thinking about how best to connect with each of you, I wanted to prioritize you and your time. I will have an office in Canmore with regular hours, but I know that offices don’t connect with people, people do. So, I will create a “tour schedule” where I’ll be in different communities each week. You’ll find me at a community hall or a coffee shop in Bragg Creek, Redwood Meadows, Priddis, Millarville, Ghost/Waiparous, Springbank, and Bottrell. That schedule will be shared through these articles and on my social media channels. I will also have video conferencing capabilities in my Canmore office and am happy to set up video meetings. And of course, if you are ever in Canmore, you’re welcome to stop by. More details about my “tour dates” and locations will be coming soon!
This summer, I’m also attending events in every community as often as I can. Please email me about your community events and I’ll do my best to be there.
Email me at Banff.kananaskis@assembly. ab.ca to set up an in person or video meeting, or tell me about yourself, your concerns, and what’s happening in your neck of the woods this summer. I look forward to meeting you!
