Long-time Barrhead area resident and business person Mark Vriend is taking his second attempt at the mayor’s chair.
In his first mayoral run, four years ago, Vriend lost to Gerry St. Pierre, who has announced he will not be seeking re-election as mayor, but is considering a run as councillor.
In retrospect, Vriend said it might not have been the best time for him to enter municipal politics.
At the time the then 47-year-old was still recovering from his successful treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which included a bone-marrow transplant.
“While I was able and willing to do the job, it might not have been the right time for myself or my family,” he said, adding the additional four years have allowed him to prepare for the position, both in terms of health and added experience.
Although battling cancer was perhaps the most difficult thing he has faced in his life, if he hadn’t gone through it he wouldn’t be running for mayor.
“I’m not sure how else to explain it. I knew God had saved me for a reason and a lot of the things I have been doing since then, I feel that I am being called upon to do,” he said.
As for the skill set Vriend will bring to the mayor’s office, he said he is a good communicator who has the ability to work with a wide variety of people. Something he said he has demonstrated through his various business ventures such as Trak Construction, and Eric’s Gym, as well as his current position at Northplex. If elected, Vriend will scale back his commitment to Northplex.
He also believes his business background will be an asset.
“As a person who has been in business, especially in construction, I have experience dealing with large projects that have large budgets,” he said.
Vriend added it is through his business contacts, that he and his family have been able to help other small businesses get off the ground, whether by providing financial assistance or more often mentorship.
However, Vriend believes his strongest attribute that he would bring as mayor is the connections he has made through his lifetime in the community.
Although born in Hamilton, Ontario, Vriend was raised in Neerlandia, where his father, Neil, served as a minister of the Reformed Christian Church for more than 20 years. Later, he ministered at the Reformed Christian Church in Barrhead.
After graduating from Lorne Jenken High School in 1983, Vriend attended Lakeland College, taking a wide variety of courses to find out where his interests were, before deciding on a path of carpentry and business.
It is through these connections Vriend hopes to help improve what at times has been a tumultuous relationship between the town and County of Barrhead, at least in terms of providing recreation services.
The current town council’s position is that they believe that the two municipalities should equally share operation costs of its major recreation facilities, such as the aquatics centre and ice rink. The county on the other hand, while willing to contribute, is guided by the philosophy that they don’t contribute towards recreation operations. As a result, the town is responsible for the lion’s share of the operation costs of the area’s recreation facilities.
In order to find a way around this impasse, Alberta’s Municipal Affairs minister Shaye Anderson, has ordered the municipalities into binding arbitration. The process is expected to take place before the municipal election.
“As mayor, one of my main priorities would be to find common ground. We are all waiting for a decision from the province on the issues in regards to recreation, but we have to realize as a community that we have to continue to work with the county on many things and a good working relationship is required for our community to be successful long term,” he said.
On the subject of amalgamation, Vriend has not made up his mind, saying more information is required.
“I would like to know what the implications are. Without a clear perspective on how all the money, grants, etcetera work, I would say I’m for it, but that could change with more information,” he said.
Another priority of Vriend’s is economic development. He believes the municipality needs to create an environment where people want to move to Barrhead and open businesses. One of the ways he would do this is by bolstering the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC). During Vriend’s four years as a member at large on the MPC he has seen multiple meetings cancelled because they haven’t had a quorum.
“When people come in with a development proposal it is very discouraging when the meeting is cancelled, often multiple times. It sends a negative message,” he said.
“I would like to see more of an urgency and dedication to a timely hearing. More members would be great; in my experience this is a very important piece in the development puzzle.”
Vriend concluded by saying he realizes there will be people who believe his lack of experience in municipal politics to be a detriment.
“I’m not sure of what I would be able to contribute as a councillor. We already have a good group of councillors with a wide variety of experience, but I feel my nature, experience and strengths could be a benefit as mayor.”
