As part of Doppler’s ongoing coverage of the upcoming municipal elections we reached out to all of the candidates running for election in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes.
Today we look at the candidates for Oakley Ward in Bracebridge. Two candidates have come forward and one will be elected.
We posed the following three questions to each of the candidates:
1. Can you tell us about yourself and why you’ve decided to run for office?
2. What are the biggest challenges in our municipality, and what do you envision as the best way(s) to address them?
3. What do you cherish most about this community?
All candidates were given the same amount of time and the same word count for answers. Answers over the word count have been shortened by Doppler.
The municipal election takes place on October 24, 2022. You can find more information on voter eligibility, how to vote and candidate information here.
Barb McMurray – No response
Serge Valcourt
1. My name is Serge Valcourt, and I would like to represent you at the Bracebridge Council table representing Oakley. I believe that to be an effective councillor you must first remember that the voters are the ones who put you there. If you send me to the council table, it will be you the voter who will be giving me the directions for the path forward that you have in mind for Bracebridge and the Ward of Oakley. I feel that too many times the people we elect forget this and then they proceed to only lead and dismiss the ideas of the voters or sit back and simply nod agreement to avoid stepping on big toes. I grew up in Kapuskasing where I was very involved in Lacrosse as a player, referee, and coach. This is where I also learned to love the outdoors while hiking, hunting, and fishing. I moved to North Bay for college and then went to work as an apprentice mechanic. I worked in various positions as a licensed technician in automotive and truck coach earning my interprovincial license. I spent almost 29 years with the provincial government as a vehicle inspector, facility auditor/highway carrier safety inspector & investigator/officer as well as an analyst for Commercial vehicle operator registrations. I was awarded the POESM (Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal) from then Governor General Michaëlle Jean. I was also involved as a volunteer Deputy Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources for 21 years!
2. I believe the biggest challenges are to get the voters to get out and vote. More and more elections are being decided by less people voting! We need to engage voters get them to take interest to come out and vote to come out and have them use the voice they have to tell the elected representatives what it is they need what it is they want what direction they want the local government to take, to hold the representatives to their word. After all is said, my parents told me many times that to vote is a right that was fought for and that if you give up that vote by not exercising it you must then give up the right to complain or judge. I am convinced that voter apathy must be turned around to ensure the best ideas can be developed and promoted in order to make positive changes. If you send me to the council table with your vote, my pledge to you is that I will listen to you and be YOUR VOICE at Bracebridge Council and the Ward of Oakley.
3. I cherish the clean air, the closeness to nature, the ability to go out and hunt or fish (or both). You can take a walk in the woods see all the different trees in all available colours. I love that you can feel safe with a very low crime rate. You are within 2 hours of the big city but far enough away to not be tied up in two hours of traffic, every day to get home from work. I like that most drivers know how to drive in a traffic circle, most who don’t are from “out of town” and we get them through without resorting to using a horn! I like to be able to go down to the arena and watch hockey or lacrosse go to a park watch a ball game or socker as well as a football game. I like to be able to get in a boat, get on an ATV/UTV as well as on a snowmobile within minutes of thinking about it! I also like to be able to stop and talk to just about anyone about just about anything. I love seeing the various service clubs out and about giving back to the communities and making a big difference in the lives of all the residents. I guess when I really think about it, I cherish all that is Bracebridge.
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