Dear editor,
The municipal election is coming up in my hometown of Fort Frances, and there are two very distinct visions for the town on the ballot: On the one hand, there’s Ken Perry. I remember when I presented to Council about my petition to rename Colonization Road – I felt like he had his mind made up before I even started speaking. Perry and three other councillors voted to keep this shameful legacy alive a few years longer.
On the other hand, is Andrew Hallikas, a former teacher, union organizer, and progressive who has been constantly advocating for improved services in our community. Hallikas played an important role in getting Colonization Road renamed to Agamiing Drive and Reconciliation is an important part of his platform. He stands for inclusivity and social progress in a town where all too often marginalized groups feel othered and move away. In all my discussions with Andrew, I’ve never felt patronized or like he didn’t care about what I had to say – in fact, he went out of his way to ask me about what issues are important for youth, and took my suggestions and incorporated them into his platform (as I’m sure he has done many times based on many discussions with many different people and groups).
Like many young people, I’ve moved to Thunder Bay for job opportunities, but if I did live in Fort Frances, Andrew Hallikas would have my vote for Mayor.
Dawson Mihichuk
Thunder Bay
