After nine years as councilor I have decided to throw my hat into the ring of the mayor position. You might ask why I would do so. I have many reasons but first and foremost is my long held passion for Fernie.
I moved here as a child and from the first moment I stepped off the train at the Fernie station and looked around at the magnificent mountains surrounding me it took my breath away and I knew that I was home.
Over five decades and four generations later I still catch my breath as I look at the splendid backdrop of nature that is about us here in the Elk Valley.
Fernie has much to offer those of us who choose to live here. My husband Nick spent 19 years working at the Elko Mill and another 23 at Line Creek Mine. Resource extraction has given us the high quality of life enjoyed by our family of four children, Julie, Pina, Nicky, Peter and later our grandson Brandon.
It is the mining and forestry industries that keep other families appreciating their life here as well although in later years Tourism has been added. I understand how we need to keep stability between resources, nature and tourism so that people can keep jobs, hunt, fish and recreate in our magnificent outdoors.
But we must never lose sight that people are our greatest resource and without a strong population, Fernie could wither. For that reason I believe in community investment and development in order to give it a good economic base and keep it sustainable.
I KNOW that I can provide the leadership required to help Fernie grow, to provide that very important community development needed for growth.
I believe in putting FERNIE FIRST WITH ACTIVISM AND LEADERSHIP
Please read the following to get a glimpse of some of what I have been involved with and accomplished in the past.
This will show in part that I have always put Fernie and its people FIRST with ACTIVISM AND LEADERSHIP.
• Lobbied the provincial government with resident Colleen Ashton for a dialysis unit, I brought constant national and local media attention to those travelling to Alberta or Trail for this lifesaving treatment resulting in a dialysis unit placed at Sparwood Health Centre
• Helped to organize demonstrations in support of health care, specifically keeping the operating room at Elk Valley Hospital, brought local, provincial and national media attention to an event organized by me and Pepper Couelle Sterling that stopped traffic on Highway Three for hours
• Organized a protest with Andrea McKay in support of people being evicted from their apartment homes and brought local and provincial media attention to this issue
• Brought attention to the homeless in Fernie, responsible for securing help for residents in an apartment block when one was behaving in a way that was putting other residents’ health at risk
• Brought constant media attention to the Home Support delivery model in the Elk Valley resulting in a positive change by Interior Health to their scheduling system thereby reducing missed visits
Initiatives
• Initiated a petition of 1200 signatures with Sherry Earl that resulted in stopping the direct hook-up to Fernie’s water source by a water bottling plant (today the City of Fernie has determined that they need a secondary water source in the form of a well, under NAFTA that water bottling plant could have drained Fernie’s source dry without any legal repercussion)
• Initiated a new counter plus another work station for the front City Hall office
• Initiated a Friday opening for Fernie Heritage Library
• Initiated the flower baskets and Christmas decorations for downtown light posts
• Initiated and coordinated the commemorative Fernie stamp and celebration to recognize the 100th anniversary of the 1908 great fire
• Initiated and organized a society to save and rehabilitate the Oil Derrick and the site and is lead person and fundraiser
• A long- time member of the Fernie Miners Walk Society, lead person and main fundraiser
• Initiated the windrow clearing by the City for seniors and people with disabilities
• Was an original founder of Fernie Media Society and initiated a television show on Shaw community Channel Ten also seen on fernietv.com. Has been running for nearly ten years and involved volunteering time, home and refreshments in order to showcase local talent, interests, businesses and accomplishments
• Initiated in council the City sponsored Junior Achievement Award
• Supported strongly formation of the dirt bike jump park
• Has been the constant and active representative to Fernie Family Housing for council working on securing the Tom Uphill Home and turning it into a residence for seniors and those with disabilities
• Was a member of the Fernie Heritage Library board for nine years, then served another six years as the City representative, has organized the annual volunteer dinner for 28 years and contributed table decorations
• Is one of the original members of the Fernie Kid’s Society dedicated to bringing a Boys and Girls club to Fernie and that are now offering subsidies for kids after school care
• A 28 year member of Beta Sigma Phi holding positions of secretary and president
• A 38 year member of the Catholic Women’s League, in the past organized teas and other church events and acting as MC for special events
• Councillor for nine years, serving as an active participant on many committees and boards, notably, Fernie and District Arts, Fernie Heritage Library, Fernie and District Historical Society, Fernie Family Housing, Fernie Gateway Project, Signage Committee, Decorations Committee, Canada Day Committee, Discretionary grants, Liquid Waste Management committee, Pest Management Task Force, George Majic Spiritus Award, Official community Plan Committee, Quality of Life Subcommittee
• Placed a motion to acquire the Hydro building by the City to be used as a museum and info centre, worked with the historical society to make this happen
• Has volunteered time to write biographies and letters for individuals, has constantly volunteered for community events such as coordinating the Festa Italiana in 1998, a year long celebration of events honouring Leonardo da Vinci art and all things Italian in Fernie
• Volunteered annually for the Taste of Fernie, raised money for Griz Most Wanted, was a member of PAC volunteering for school fundraisers, in the class room, organizing grad banquets, and helping with all kids related organizations.
Please call me with questions at 250 423-4009 or email me at mariag@elkvalley.net
Thank you for making time to read this message.
