An election will be held in Oxbow on Dec. 14 to elect a new councillor for the Town of Oxbow. The advance poll will be held Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town Office. This is a one-year term.
Running for the position are Mark Barnes and Dale Ching.
The two candidates were asked to tell voters a bit about themselves, why they decided to run in the by-election, and mention any issues they’d like to see addressed during their term, or goal or projects they think the town should work toward. Following are their responses.
Mark Barnes
I have lived in Oxbow for just over two years and I work as a realtor for RE/MAX Blue Chip Realty. For ten years previous to that I was a Mental Health Social Worker.
I moved here with my wife Caroline in 2009 from Terrace British Columbia. Wow, talk about a change, going from living in the mountains to living on flat land. Sure is nice though to be able to get some sunshine, sunrises and sunsets, dry weather and light fluffy snow.
As I believe in Gandhi’s saying “Be the change you want to see in the world”, and that ‘a town is what you make it’ I have always gotten involved in community activities where ever I have lived.
I won’t go into full detail but I’ll let you know that my days of community involvement started as a young’en.
I participated in sports since I was old enough to lace on skates. As a student I was asked to work as a peer counsellor in a teen drop-in program. During high school I was also a newspaper correspondent for the Sault Star, writing 3-4 stories a week. Once graduated I participated in a youth program called Katimavik, performing volunteer work in communities across Canada for nine months.
During my university and college days I participated in student government (serving as VP, and President), student associations of political parties, fundraising, and many other activities that were happening on campus.
In the communities in which I have lived I have served on service clubs (Lions, Kiwanis, etc.), sat on various boards (Child development, Aquatic centre, Social planning, Brain Injury), developed needed services (Terrace & North Bay brain injury support groups), and coached minor sports (hockey & softball).
Since arriving in Oxbow I have also become involved in various activities including curling, the curling board, the arena board, United Church council, Lions, the Hall committee, the hospital auxiliary, the Oxbow Business Association, and last but certainly not least Oxbow Biggest Loser competition.
Over the years I have also spent time in University and college pursuing various degrees and diplomas. I have a B.A. in Sociology, a Bachelor of Social Work, and diploma in Recreation Leadership, and am almost finished my Masters in Leadership (that pesky thesis).
Yeah, I know, these are just pieces of paper but they have given me an opportunity to see things from various perspectives and taught me also to take in information from various points and to mould it into something that is effective for most, and that is what I hope to be able to do for the people of Oxbow, listen to people’s ideas and perspectives and to help move the town forward and ‘Progress with Pride’.
When I first arrived in town I noticed the amazing amount of traffic that passed through town each day yet on the other hand I also noticed that not much was stopping. Since then a few businesses have closed down and others are for sale. I’m not exactly sure why that is but when I saw the position come available I felt that it was time for me to become involved at the council level to see if I can assist in addressing this and other issues.
I also feel that for a town to progress it must entice people to move here, improve their quality of life while they are here, and give them a reason to stay.
This does not just mean a job. Things like the types of businesses available to shop in, the availability of trades people, affordable housing, efficient land use, are important to people moving into a town.
It is great that the town has many activities happening throughout the year, however, a few that have come to mind that might be of interest are a farmer’s market, a winter carnival, and just building on the existing town pride. Obviously I can not do this all by myself, however, hopefully I may be a cog in the wheel that helps move us along.
I am a hard worker, dedicated to whatever issue I take on, a good listener, open to ideas, and humourous,(oh yeah I forgot the good looking part, too) all attributes that I feel will serve me well when acting on behalf of the people of this community.
This is a great town that I am proud to call home and I’m hoping that you allow me to be “a FRESH voice on YOUR council”.
Dale Ching
Besides having a lot of leadership experience on committees as a teacher, I was on the Oxbow town council from 1991 until the last council election.
I also served on Carnduff Town Council for one term. For several years I was a member of the Southeast Regional College Board and I was a part of the Centre of the Arts Board for one term.
During my teaching career I started at Out of Sight School, then went to Wheatland School, and finally spent the rest of my teaching career in Carnduff where I eventually became the High School Principal. I am presently retired.
I have had a lot of experience in establishing plans and policies for the betterment of the groups that I have worked with and in putting those plans into effect. My experience as a councillor in Oxbow has given me a wide knowledge of the problems facing our town and since this is but a one-year term, I won’t need a number of months to “get up to speed” and be able to be a useful member of council.
I enjoy being a part of the council’s discussions and decision making. The greatest problems facing our town are a dwindling business section and the growing cost of maintaining our infrastructure.
These are huge problems – much bigger than our shortage of housing. I would like to be a part of a council, and will work hard to keep our town viable.
