HAROLD HUNTLEY

A four-year commitment is not something I find daunting. I have served four-year terms on the separate school board (three of them) R.T.O. the Retired Teachers of Ontario, one of them, Northern Lights Credit Union (three, three-year terms) and Columbus Place for seniors (director for over 20 years)
I was a school principal for 13 years. I have management skills and the ability to work with people–staff and parents. Preparing budgets is an integral part of town council activity. I served on the credit union committee that set and monitored a $160 million budget. Bear in mind that credit unions are non-profit with the interests of its stakeholders paramount–very similar to a town council.
I am experienced with working within government ministry guidelines, be they Ministry of Education, Housing and Social Services. I don’t think municipal affairs regulations will be a problem for me. I have a lot of experience in the area of policy creation and procedure reviews. That’s what town councillors do.
Most importantly, I have Fort Frances’s best interests first and foremost. I have lived here over 60 years and I hope I have 30 or more years to celebrate all that our community has to offer.
We residents of Fort Frances have a lot to be thankful for and proud of in our community. We are charitable, inclusive and welcoming but we’re not perfect. We are starting to short-change our seniors, especially as related to housing.
Two of our seniors apartments–Columbus Place and Flinders Place–have 30 and 40 apartments respectively. They are full, and the waiting list to get in is over 100 applicants long. We need more dedicated senior housing. We need assisted living. My mother is 91 and living on her own—a broken hip, a minor stroke … then what? We need an in-between place where seniors can still have some independence with a safety net.
The Rainycrest issue needs to be resolved. It’s a regional disgrace and everyone from Queen’s Park to Rainy River knows how necessary it is to fix it.
Many of us have been referred to specialist clinics in Thunder Bay or Winnipeg. Some of us still drive or have family members who can transport us, but many of us don’t. Seniors on a fixed income are trapped in town either not obtaining life-saving treatment or forced to beg friends or strangers for help. Not acceptable!
New Gold has given us a new temporary lease on life. We have become viable again but we need a back-up plan.
We need to take advantage of our natural treasures. We need to make visitors to our area feel welcome and comfortable. We need parking! Most visitors who pass through town are pulling a boat or trailer. Where do they park? At Walmart or International Falls. We must remedy this failing for the sake of our downtown businesses.
I’m not egotistical. I understand that I may not be your first or second choice for councillor. I’d be happy being your fifth or sixth choice and I promise to work for you, not myself.