Brenda Reid
Incumbent Brenda Reid is looking to serve the people of Assiginack as councilor for a fourth term.
Ms. Reid says that with three terms of council, and nine years on the former Manitoulin School Board, she has a clear understanding of the running of a municipality and her presence at the council table is a good thing for the people of Assiginack.
A member of the library board, Ms. Reid said she is “extremely proud” of the new library and is excited to see the library moved to its new location on Arthur Street.
Another project not yet finished is the expansion of the Assiginack landfill footprint. “This one (project) is really near and dear to my heart,” she said, noting how an engineer’s report showed that the landfill was only a few short years from the end of its lifespan, the community’s move to recycling and how the three Rs (reduce, re-use, recycle) were embraced by the municipality. “I am so proud of the community for that.”
“I’m hoping during this term that the footprint will be enlarged so that the landfill remains there for future generations to use.”
Ms. Reid said she was also pleased to see council’s direction to hire an events coordinator come to fruition this year with the addition of this title to municipal staff. She spoke of the many events organized by the events coordinator, Jackie White, and noted the major success of Assiginack’s first Whitetail Deer Show in August. Ms. Reid said she is looking forward to seeing that grow with many more exciting events and activities on tap for the community and she hopes to be a part of this continuing activity.
“I’d like to see us keep on with the roads; (public works) is upgrading them all the time, and also keep upgrading our fairgrounds,” she added. This year, public works built a horse ring at the grounds and Ms. Reid said she would like to see the addition of pens at the grounds to encourage more of a livestock show at the annual fall fair, and encouraging the growth of the fall fair in general.
“We hard topped the tennis courts too and it now looks like there is a tennis club forming,” she added.
And then there is Cardwell Street. “What do you say?” she laughed. “It’s no longer the worst road in Ontario. I was really pleased with the company who did the job.”
If elected, “I’m hoping to take a look at the Manitowaning waterfront,” Ms. Reid said. With a declining boater population, she questioned whether the marina needed as many slips and whether more waterfront space should be made available for the children to use. “I’m hoping that will be our next big project.”
On the topic of the waterfront, Ms. Reid noted the Burns Wharf Theatre building and the renovations needed to get it up to building code. Saving the Burns Wharf Theatre is very important to her, and so is doing so with provincial or federal funding.
While the council and municipality cannot control water rates, as much as they’d like to, she said, it is out of their reach. “Until we can make the government understand that people just can’t afford it, there is nothing we can do.” She said she would like to see the topic of an Island-wide water management company brought forward again.
“I’m willing to listen, willing to go to bat for anyone, get along well with others, am a good problem solver and I love budget time—I’m analytical like that,” she said.
“I’m approachable and I try to be fair with everybody,” Ms. Reid added. “I do a good job of managing the money and I think I do a pretty good job for the taxpayers of Assiginack.”
