Town of Athabasca council and mayoral candidates had their opportunity to voice their thoughts publicly to more than 100 attendees of a forum hosted by the Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce at the Nancy Appleby Theatre last Tuesday night from 7-9 p.m.
They touched on both current issues as well those that have affected the community for years.
For the first hour, all seven councillor candidates answered prescreened questions as each hope they won’t be the one horseshoed out at the six-seat town council table.
The mayoral candidates took the stage for the second half of the evening to lay out their platforms.
The questions were screened from submitted questions from the public and moderated by Athabasca District Chamber of Commerce President Penny Semashkewich.
Issues ranged from municipal transparency and accountability to infrastructure and economic development.
Discussion surrounding the town’s prospective new library led to not only where it should be built but how it should even serve and represent community needs in modern society, as opposed to an academic library with few features.
The location of a new school was also brought into question. While some believed it should be left closer to downtown for the younger generation to be close to and engaged in town culture, others believed it more practical to build it near the Athabasca Regional Multiplex and Athabasca University so that young people have access to the services they need as they develop.
Questions from the floor ranged from what they regarded as top priorities for capital projects, sparking discussion about sewer and water systems and the lifespan of the town’s aging infrastructure.
Amalgamation and dissolution was hotly contested, with strict divides in many councillors views. Some called it a failure when previously studied, while others said it should be reexamined, citing success in other regions.
Municipal and regional collaboration was a common theme and one candidates capitalized on and enforced.
For more coverage of last Tuesday night’s forum, see next week’s (Oct. 15) edition of the Athabasca Advocate.
