Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Good morning, Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac city morning show. I am your host Lea Pierre, and, uh, like every show we're going to start this off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you're spending with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:20 Oh, she caught me loves or listen to the next city morning show.
Speaker 0 00:00:28 All right. And we're back. Okay. Today's going to be a good episode. We have a long time resident of Fort McMurray today. Uh, so I know he's got lot to talk about. Some of it's topical, some of it's historical. It's going to be a good episode. Um, as you guys know, I don't introduce my guests because they can do a better job at that than myself. So on that note, sir, can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 3 00:00:47 Uh, good morning. Thank you very much for having me, James Allen grandson, as you said, a long-term resident, I moved to Fort McMurray in the early eighties. Very begrudgingly too. I might add one of the many people that came to town with a, with a short contract. Um, I arrived here with a six month contract, did a really good job. And they said we really liked what you did. So we've decided to make it Northern manager, by the way, we relocated the head office to Fort McMurray. And so I arrived. Um, at first I had a lot of difficulty with the community. Um, mostly because I kept believing and a friend of mine said, you're not going to fall in love with Fort McMurray unless you stay here. So I made a commitment to not leave for a year. And in that year, I fell in love with the place I got into everything that this region had to offer.
Speaker 3 00:01:42 Dean fishing, sports, et cetera, fell in love with the community I've been here ever since. Um, so when I arrived, I was working in childcare and back in the early eighties, the young offenders act came in and they took over my program and I became a jailer. And that wasn't of interest to me. I was in the field to help people not to be a jailer. So I left the field and I went to work for Ford MCI, first nations as the band manager. And I worked there for a couple of years as the band manager, I actually brought in the water and sewer and built that as the project manager for the first nations. Okay. Um, there was a change in governance there and I went back into childcare again, and I took over St. Aden's house society at that point in time. Okay.
Speaker 3 00:02:30 So I developed the first Northern, uh, treatment foster care program and supported an independent living program and ran the group home for 15 years. At which point I left and actually went and worked for the municipality and I was hired on as the rural supervisor. So I worked as the rural supervisor, an Aboriginal liaison for all of the rural communities within this region. Uh, during my tenure there, I was acting manager of community development for a couple of years, loved my time with the municipality. Um, after 10 years we parted ways and I went into real estate, right. Um, my wife and I are part owners of a convenience store gas bar in Fort chip with, uh, Archie Walkman, who was the chief of mixed degree, first nations. So we have a business there in addition to, uh, my real estate business here in Fort McMurray.
Speaker 3 00:03:24 I'm also a Dawn's first aid instructor. So always kind of keep my hands in a lot of things. I like to stay busy. I like to keep my mind fresh in terms of volunteer work. I mean, right from day one in this community, I got involved with the community. I was on the executive of the adult slow pitch league for 23 years. Uh, I was the umpire in chief and I taught both baseball and softball, um, umpires and supervise them for many, many years. Most recently I spent four years on the RSE board. Um, I was on a number of provincial boards, the Alberta association of services for children and families. And I've had a number of other volunteer. I do a lot of volunteer work with seniors in our community as well as, so that's kind of me in a background I'm married. My wife's name is Sandy. Um, we have two children. Uh, they're both here working in the community. My one son is at, uh, at Syncrude. Yeah. I was about to say Suncor cause they're kind of connected now, but he's working at Syncrude as a heavy duty mechanic. And my son works for Stony belly contracting at the moment, saving money to go back to school again. So that's me.
Speaker 0 00:04:37 There you go. And Tanner, kick me up with the camera for a second. There's something else that you do in the next that you do. And right now, everybody at home can see what I'm holding up. You're running for council. I am all right.
Speaker 3 00:04:47 And my decision, you know, it's interesting my decision to run for council. I'm sure you, and some of the audience know I did run for mayor four years ago. Um, I believe that that time, that that was an appropriate decision. Um, I was not successful. And part of the feedback I got was a lot of people, regardless of my experience, having presented to council in, at provincial levels, um, that they want to see a mirror with experience and, uh, fair enough. I accepted that. And this term, I came back and ran for council. I, I still think I have a lot to contribute, uh, sitting around the horn. I, I think every voice matters in representing the public. So I've elected to go with council at this time.
Speaker 0 00:05:31 Oh. So how have you found the, uh, election so far or the campaigning? I should say
Speaker 3 00:05:36 Interesting with so many candidates running there's 24 of you. There's 24 people running in ward one and some days it's really difficult to get a feel for the pulse. I think I'm doing well, certainly the reception I've had and the feedback I've had indicate that, that people like what I have to say. Um, I see myself kind of a down to earth communicator. I like to talk about real things, real issues. Um, I talked about even four years ago, celebrating who we are in this region and where we are. Yeah. I found it very frustrating to have so many outside consultants come in and try and guide a regional council in a direction that's not necessarily reflective of the demographics in this community. And I think to be a fair representative, we have to recognize who lives here. Why do we live here? Why do we have to celebrate about where we are? And that's kind of the approach I've taken. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:06:36 Nice. So from your last run for mayor to council, what do you think has changed in the community in regards to politics?
Speaker 3 00:06:45 Well, I think the fact that 24 people are running, it's somewhat reflective of some dissatisfaction with, uh, and again, that's not meant to point fingers or to do anything like that, but I think the community is speaking loudly and Sam, we want to change. We're not really happy. I really love that. I'm sure you've heard the expression. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. I really believe that's true sometimes. And I certainly think it's true in politics. Um, if what we're doing, isn't working, maybe it's time we take a step back reexamined what it is we're trying to accomplish and maybe start thinking out of the box, how can we do it differently? Um, because what we're doing is not really working well, so how can we do it differently? And I'd like to bring that kind of approach to council. I'm really a big believer in brainstorming in sitting down and saying, this isn't working. What's another way we can tweak this. What's, you know, we do community consultation and we get a very, very low turnout. Right. So does that maybe mean we should come to you? Should we be going to all of these big community groups and having conversations with them instead of trying to draw them to us, maybe we'll get a more receptive response to the questions that we have to.
Speaker 0 00:08:01 Yeah, yeah. Now I've asked this, I think to every person running, may it be from the people who run for mayor or council in this day and age. And like, I know somebody's got to do it. I can't understand why anybody would do this in regards to run just the scrutiny that you're under, how social media, um, people gravitate to, like you, you can hear what people feel about you good and or bad. Um, obviously because of like economic downturn pandemic, so on and so forth, it's a tough gig. It's a tough gig. So, um, what is it about it that attracts you to want to do this?
Speaker 3 00:08:37 So why on earth would I step into that pool? Um, for a couple of reasons, one, I think I've got pretty tough skin. I've worked in fields. Um, when you work in the rural communities, for example, there are many dynamics. Um, you have to have a tough skin and you have to be able to kind of go with the flow and go where things are. So I think I have that aspect. Um, I think I'm a good communicator. And I think a lot of times I, I try and look at the picture a little different than other people do. I kind of take a step back and say, if we do this, where's that going to go? What kind of consequences might've carved positive and negative. Right. I think I'm smart enough to ask some of the right questions and that may sound arrogant and it's not meant to, but I really analyze what we're doing.
Speaker 3 00:09:22 And I want to ask a question, you know, why, what, what could be the possible outcomes if we do this right at what might the effect be? Um, my, my wife certainly asked me this question all the time. Oh my God, why are you doing this? I would run the other way. I'm okay with being in front. And I'm okay with asking the hard questions, making the hard decisions. Um, I think we, as a community, have to evolve with who we are. We have to stop trying to compare ourselves to Toronto or Vancouver, Colona or Palm Springs. We are in the middle of the Borealis for us. We are a community, uh, isolated. That's very unique and we have to start letting the world know why we exist and what the value is in this community. People keep talking about how do we bring people here?
Speaker 3 00:10:12 Well, people come here for work or education for loved ones. Those are the reasons people come here, right. Then why did they stay? I came here for work. And yet I've stayed for over three decades. I've stayed because I found the value in who we are as a community. I love the camaraderie of the sports. I love the compassion of the people that live here. I love the work ethic. It's a hardworking town and we have to start catering to the people who live here more so than just that we'll attract people by, by celebrating who we are and demonstrating what they can, how many people have started their careers. I'm going to be a teacher. I'm going to go move to Fort McMurray and get five years experience. And then I can go anywhere. Many people come here for reasons like that. Our job is to try and help them stay, to see the value of why they're, that's why I'm doing this.
Speaker 3 00:11:05 I, my children live here and I'm assuming at least one of my children is going to make a career working at, in the oil sands. I would like him to have a good life and his family when he eventually has one, that's why I'm doing this. I also really appreciate the dynamics of our region. We have all these first nations communities around us. We have so much to offer in this community and they're not separate from us. They're just different conflict is different than enzyme, which is different than Fort chip or Ford macaque. And we have to start recognizing and celebrating each of those communities as unique within a whole region. I think I bring some of that to the table as well. There you go. I don't know whether I answered your question. Hey, listen. That's
Speaker 0 00:11:51 Just conversation. So he answers, you always answer my question now with the history of work that you, uh, stated at the beginning, you've had a tremendously different career in regards to the different, uh, industries that you've worked in and where you started, what attracted you to real estate?
Speaker 3 00:12:07 Um, my wife and I, um, have always been investors in real estate within the community. Um, we've been very fortunate to, uh, purchase properties in the past. Uh, when the market was very different than from Murray before it went really crazy. And we had a lot of success. So I've always had for about 25 years. I I've had an interest in real estate and, uh, was personal friends with Lance and Lance had encouraged me to step into the real estate market many years ago. And when I made the decision to do that, it was a very hot market, very different market than the one we have now. Um, and it just, it made sense. It allowed me to meet people, uh, allowed me to do something I was passionate about, which is put people into their homes and help people start their families and so on and so forth. And it just made a lot of sense. It made good economic sense for me at the time to real estate was a really good business to be in, and it was an interest. So that's what drew me into it.
Speaker 0 00:13:12 All right. My man, we're at the part of the show called the Mac city minute. This is where Tanner's going to ask you some questions. I don't know what he's going to ask you, so I wish you nothing, but the best luck Tanner hit him with the Mac city minute.
Speaker 4 00:13:21 Alrighty, question number one. What is one thing you've learned from your last run for council that you used for this run?
Speaker 3 00:13:29 I think, um, to hear what I think, I always listen to people, but I think I even listened more. I, I, we're here to represent the people and, you know, I had, somebody asked me actually, another candidate asked me what are the issues? And my response to that candidate was I can tell you that you have to get that information from the people that you need to represent. So you need to go out and find out what the issues are. So I've made a point, for example, of going to businesses, we keep hearing about helping small businesses and stuff. So I went to business owners and I said, what are your challenges? What are the things that you're having difficult with? So I think I've learned to listen better. And I've learned, ask questions a little differently.
Speaker 4 00:14:17 Question number two. What is your favorite moment from your time as a baseball dad,
Speaker 3 00:14:24 Watching a team come together? You know, one of the things I believe that is really underrated when it comes to sports, and I've said this to my kids many times and the kids that I've coached, we're not always going to like the people that we work with as we get older. Part of working on a team is learning how to work with people, even people you may not like or agree with. How do you still accomplish a task and work together? That's my favorite
Speaker 4 00:14:50 Question three. What has been the biggest change you've seen in Fort McMurray? And
Speaker 3 00:14:55 How do you feel like you could impact that change on council? The biggest change I've seen councils that work together and I've seen council that don't work together. Um, I think we've seen a history of both. And I really think that one of the skills that I bring is bringing people together and looking at things differently, realizing we're not always going to believe the same things or even agree on a topic or a decision, but we're all there for the same reason to represent the citizens of this region. So I think working collaboratively has to be one of the key priorities. If we're going to accomplish anything,
Speaker 4 00:15:41 Question number four, what is something you think you could help improve on in the community if elected
Speaker 3 00:15:49 Communication? I don't think that the, uh, the municipality has opened all of the opportunities to communicate with the citizens. I'm, I'm often asking people if they're aware of this or that as, or how decisions are made or why decisions are made. Um, I th certainly revert back to what you said about the criticism, particularly with social media. One of the reasons that happens is because people don't know the methodology or the reasons, you know, we have a social procurement, for example. Um, I'm not sure that everybody understands that within that social procurement, we still have to follow the rules of the MGA set out by the province, and we're not allowed to work outside of those boundaries, for example. Right? So I think finding a way or a better way, or we're enhancing a way of ensuring that our citizens know what we're doing and why we're doing it is something that I, I think I can bring to the table.
Speaker 4 00:16:46 And your final question. What is one thing you think Fort McMurray does better than any other community?
Speaker 3 00:16:53 Well sense. That's an easy answer. Um, not only was I, I think we, we have a sense of comradery in this community. I, I, as I said, I've been involved with ball for most of my adult life. After the fire, watch the ball community rally around people who lost their homes. I watched this community come together after a disaster, a flood last year, the fire, a number of years ago, we come together like no other community. We support each other. We advocate for each other and we help each other out when times are tough.
Speaker 4 00:17:29 And those have been your five questions. Thank you.
Speaker 0 00:17:32 Oh, good questions, Tanner. Always killing it, son. Thank you. So throughout this experience of running for council, what has been one of the things that you've enjoyed most throughout the process?
Speaker 3 00:17:44 I enjoyed the most. Um, it's always fun to get positive feedback. Uh, and I, and I think that's one of the things that I've enjoyed the most when I actually hit the core. Right. And people tell me that I've hit the court. Um, that's, that's one of the things I enjoy the most. I think there's common themes that happen in elections. And I think that a lot of times candidates have what I call a generic language. Right. And they have to, because we want to tell the citizens that we want to be strategic and manage their money and everything. But we all, we all say that. Um, so I like to dig a little deeper with people. And when I hear their reactions, when I, when I can demonstrate that I have some comprehensive knowledge of how we may accomplish those tasks and look at their reactions, that's really enjoyable.
Speaker 0 00:18:38 Awesome. That's awesome. How in this climate, how long have you been getting out and talking to people
Speaker 3 00:18:44 I've been door knocking, going to events? Um, anywhere there's people, you know, last weekend was Thanksgiving. And obviously my wife wanted me to go see my mother-in-law and go to the farm. I chose to stay. One of the things I did was go to the golf tournament that was going on and, uh, Matt people there and just had conversations with people. Sometimes it's a lot nicer to just one-on-one have a conversation. You get a lot more information. And when it's done in a strategic or a formatted, uh, environment, very true. Um, so a lot of times I, I like to just talk to the person on the street. My kids always say, how do you talk to somebody in the lineup at Safeway? And I go, you just say, hi, just say hi, and just start talking. And people will, will react with
Speaker 0 00:19:33 That's very true. Cool. Well, my man, that's the end of the show, 20 minutes flies. But before you leave, everybody gets a shameless shout out or plug. So, uh, the camera's on you, the Mike's on you let's hear your shameless shout out or play.
Speaker 3 00:19:45 I don't know if it's shameless. Look, I, I think everything that you've heard me say is who I am. It's anybody who knows me, knows that I've been doing who I am for many, many years. I think I can be a good voice. I think I can listen well and represent your interests. So on October 18th, I would hope, and I look forward to your support.
Speaker 0 00:20:06 There we go. Awesome. Well, thanks for coming on the show and like, please feel free to come back again and again and again. All right. Sweet. All right. Well Fort McMurray, wood, Buffalo, and rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you so much for tuning in. I truly do appreciate it. I hope you're having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
