Three Canal Flats residents will be battling it out for a coveted seat on the village’s five-member council.
Roy Webb, Dean Midyette, and Linda Magee are confirmed as candidates after the village confirmed the nominations on Friday, February 22. The three are vying to fill the seat vacated by former councillor Evence Blanchard, who resigned in December, citing a lack of time for council business.
Of the three, only Roy Webb has previous experience on the village’s council; he filled in for nearly a year in a seat vacated the 2008 through 2011 council.
“I got in so much trouble for not running during the last [general election], so I better try again,” said Webb, who worked at the Tembec (now Canfor) sawmill in Canal Flats for 28 years. Webb was also steward of the Canal Flats water system for 30 years prior to the town’s incorporation. He now works as a long-haul truck driver, though he is currently on leave.
On the issue of the Eagles’ Nest water system, Webb believes the solution lies in new lift stations and a new water tank, rather than a combined water treatment facility for the village and subdivision.
Webb, who is originally from northern Saskatchewan, said he would include a new liner for the sewage treatment ponds and construction of a maintenance shop to house municipal equipment in his list of priorities.
Dean Midyette has lived in Canal Flats for nearly a decade with his wife Lizzie and sons Michael and Christopher, and aims to bring a consensus-building approach to the council.
“There are some major issues Canal Flats is facing,” he said, noting council must find a way to proceed with the Eagles Nest water system to make use of provincial grant money before its deadline has passed. “I’ll make sure I’ve researched it well and that I understand all the issues.”
Unlike the rest of the Columbia Valley, Canal Flats doesn’t have a large second home owner population, which means the village brings in less tax revenue from that source, noted Midyette. To deal with that issue, he said he’d like to build a strategy to bring more businesses to Canal Flats. He’s also interested in ensuring the new Discovery Centre building and arena upgrades are completed on time and on budget.
Dean has 14 years of sales experience, is currently the advertising sales representative for the Columbia Valley Pioneer. He’s also been a salesperson for the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, worked for four years as a high school teacher. As an avid golfer, Dean has been a Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association course pro.
He holds Bachelor of Physical Education and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Calgary, is a former member of the Lethbridge Pronghorns varsity volleyball team, and has organized several high-profile athletic events.
Candidate Linda Magee did not return phone calls prior to The Echo’s deadline.
Any challenges to the submitted nominations were to be filed at the village office by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26. Candidates may also withdraw their nomination prior to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 1.
The election is expected to be held before April; if all but one candidate withdraw their names, the candidate who wins by acclamation would be declared on Monday, March 4.