In the run up to the 2017 election, we asked our readers and listeners what issues matter most to them. Every day, we ask candidates for their thoughts on healthcare, growth, traffic, city facilities, downtown, and the other issues important to their campaign. Today, Candice Kolson addresses your issues.

Candice Kolson is hopeful that come October 16, she'll earn a second term on City Council and be able to focus on Airdrie as a whole.

Kolson said it's important for anyone holding a council seat to take the community as a whole into regard, and she believes it's important for the City to have well managed leadership that looks to the future of Airdrie and not just current issues.

"We have pressures like policing, fire, recreation, arts and culture, infrastructure, things like traffic. We need to make sure when we're in those positions that we are looking at Airdrie as a whole and that we're not just focused on one single issue."

Even so, Kolson knows there are some significant issues facing Airdrie currently.

On healthcare, Kolson believes it's important for council to work closely and collaboratively with other organizations and levels of governments to meet Airdrie's healthcare needs.

"I think it's important for all levels of government to work collaboratevely together. Airdrie could definitely see some improvement in utilizing our MLA and keeping her up to date."

Kolson also thinks there could be a better relationship between City staff and Alberta Health Services. If re-elected, Kolson hopes to work together to document the needs in Airdrie and communicate those gaps clearly to the Province.

That same mindset would be useful to address Airdrie's traffic needs. Kolson pointed out that two major roads in Airdrie are controlled by the province, and addressing Airdrie's traffic needs will involve close collaboration and clear communication with the Alberta government. Specifically, Kolson said traffic signal timing on some Airdrie roads needs to be examined, so that they are in line with the actual flow of traffic and don't simply look good on paper.

In regards to growth, Kolson said Airdrie has a good planning department, but the City needs to look ahead to make sure infrastructure is in place to accomodate the growth Airdrie is experience. In Kolson's opinion, the rapid rate of growth in Airdrie was unexpected. Now that the City knows how quickly the community is growing, they are in a position to plan for the future better. Kolson said looking ahead could mean making double lane roads into new, large communities from the outset.

When it comes to community facilities, Kolson said it's important for the next Council to take into consideration Airdrie's young demographic.

"Airdrie has a very young demographic. Our children under the age of 14 outnumber our adults in population, so as those children are growing and coming into the systems, whether that be school or rec leagues, sports programs, that kind of thing, we need to make sure that we're ready for that."

Kolson also said she doesn't believe rec centres and cultural hubs are mutually exclusive, and thinks the City can plan for multiple facilities as Airdrie grows. She explained the need for a new library is documented, but that doesn't mean that Airdrie can't also have a new swimming pool as well. It just means multiple projects need to move forward simultaneously, which might require some creative thinking so one project isn't put on hold while another is completed.

As for downtown redevelopment, Kolson believes a thriving downtown is vital for Airdrie. She wants to see a vibrant downtown that attracts people into Airdrie. Kolson said there isn't a lot of opportunity for businesses downtown, and she hopes to find away to incentivize landowners and developers to get back into downtown and start building on empty lots. Having a vibrant downtown would keep people in Airdrie, which would make an impact on the local economy.

 

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