Coastal Currents with Aaron Reid

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Michelle Riddle

Michelle is a resilient health practitioner trained in occupational therapy and holistic nutrition.

She is the founder of the Global Alliance for Our Children's Future and a team lead with the Canada Health Alliance.

Michelle stands with the power of the people and is running for council so our voices can be heard.

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Todd Phillips

My name is Todd Phillips. I was born in Powell River in 1965. I have lived here my entire life except for when I have left for post-secondary education. I am currently involved in a stable 23 year common law relationship.

I have spent most of this time working in the logging industry as a faller and first aid attendant. I've owned my own successful small business in the salvage logging industry for 20 years. I've spent 33 years reclaiming 20 acres and restoring the buildings on land in Cranberry. Recently I decided to sell the business and property to downsize and slow things down as I retired from the industry.

I no longer spend the majority of my time in camps and currently work and live in central Westview. I have been involved in local soccer since elementary school, then moving on to Senior Men’s followed by Powell River Villa, topping it all off with games played for Canada’s national para team. I am a member of the local search and rescue. I also volunteer for Special Olympics. I do not sit on the boards of these non-profits and am unpaid for my time.

I am running in this election because I think we need a change in how things have going over the last number of years.  For those that know me I am a worker.  I will do the research and put in the hours to get the right decision. I do not belong to; donate to, or have I ever been a paid employee of a political party. I am not taking campaign donations. I am independent.

Please check out my Policy Platform to view my stance on the city’s major issues.

http://www.votetoddphillips.ca/

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Trina Isakson

Trina Isakson was born and raised in Salmon Arm, and moved to Powell River almost 5 years ago. She has since gotten deeply involved in our community. She’s been a volunteer at different times with the Powell River Garden Club, Texada Island Non Profit Seniors Housing Society, and Knuckleheads Winter Recreation Association, and currently sits on the board of the Powell River Community Foundation. Some listeners may know her as a member of the Community Finance Advisory Committee, or from being a co-facilitator of public engagement with the Possible Name Change process earlier this year. 

 

Her professional work is as a facilitator and researcher with community groups, helping them do strategic planning, implement changes, or work on conflict. She’s worked with organizations such as BC Civil Liberties Association, SFU Library, Powell River and District United Way, and the City of Surrey. Before her work with community organizations, she was a high school math and science teacher.

 

She has an MBA in community economic development from Cape Breton University and a certificate in dialogue and civic engagement from SFU. She spends her free time doing crossword puzzles, working on her house and garden, and walking in the forest.

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Cindy Elliott

Family and community are important to me. I have 5 children ranging from age 11 to 33 and 5 grandchildren. They all live here in the qathet Region. I am very committed to this community now and in the future.

My family, father Jack and siblings, own and operate Jack’s Boat Yard in Lund. I have lived here in this region since 2007 when I moved to live work with and be closer to my family. While working with Jack’s Boat Yard I headed up our waterfront expansion and development project and also was a Lift Operator lifting boats.

 

Prior to that I had a career that included the following jobs:

• Regional Economic Development Officer for the Province of BC in the Northwest area of the province.
• Acting Aboriginal Relations Manager for the BC Ministry of Forests in the Prince Rupert Forest Region
• Treaty Officer, Ministry of Forests, Prince Rupert Region
• EMA-FA for BC Ambulance in Stewart, BC
• Aboriginal Relations Manager for Alberta Environment, Central Region in Red Deer, Alberta
• Financial Manager for my husbands logging businesses 1996 to 2007

 

I have been a City Councillor since November of 2018 and my portfolio includes:

• Arts, Culture & Heritage
• Social Action & Planning, Affordable Housing
• City Liaison to Community Futures Development Corporation
• Western Stillwater & Island Timberlands, Community Advisory Group Liaison Appointee

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Earl Almeida

Earl Almeida is originally from Toronto.

A Western University grad, he has been a BC resident since 2003 and has called Powell River home for 2 years. He and his wife, Charlotte Clemens (Max Cameron class of '98), have been married for 13 years and have 3 young children.

He has a 20 year professional career in sales, leadership and customer service working with small and medium-sized business owners. He currently remotely serves as the treasurer of his Burnaby church and is active with Living Water here in town. 

He is active with the PR Slo-Pitch league, was the 2022 U5 division manager for the PR Minor Baseball Association and is looking forward to getting back into reffing minor hockey games this year.

www.vote4earl.ca

www.fb.com/vote4earl

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Robin Murray

Robin was born in a small town in Saskatchewan and moved to Vancouver to finish high school.  After living in Vancouver, Toronto and a few other places across Canada, Robin moved to Powell River in the late 90's with his sweetie, Karen.

For the past 24 years Robin has worked at a hotel for 2 years in the beginning, Malaspina College for 3 years as Restaurant Manager for the Culinary Arts Program at Brooks High School, he started a restaurant and catering company for a short time and has been an independent contractor as a gardener / landscaper / house painter painter / handyman for going on 18 years.

He has been a Board Member of the Third Crossing Society and also was the Chair of the Film Society in the past.

 

Robin believes in being open and honest and thinks government should be the same.  Being fiscally responsible, maintaining roads and infrastructure, keeping neighbourhoods safe and using common sense to look

after our environment in a sensible way which doesn't cause undue hardship on residents and the City is of upmost importance to him.  He believes in democracy, defending the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the rights of residents to be heard and standing up to discrimination.

He loves Powell River and area and wants to keep the amazing and friendly Powell River a prosperous community for generations to come.

https://www.facebook.com/robinmurray4council

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Luke Holuboch

This episode features Aaron's interview with Luke Holuboch.  Here is the write-up Luke provided:

Born and raised here in Powell River, I am a Cranberry kid at heart.  Growing up on Haslam Street, we spent a lot of time riding bikes around the lake and townsite, swimming in Mowat Bay and riding the backcountry. I have a deep appreciation and honor the forests and waterways that we call Home.
I left Powell River when I was 22, venturing all over B.C. and Alberta for the next 20 years, working as a chef and treeplanter to begin my income earning life! I learned a lot about work ethics and the value of my time.

From there I took a steam fitting apprenticeship with an oil field construction company, where I soon became a construction supervisor building gas plants and pipelines throughout central Alberta and B.C.
This is where I was taught many perspectives on Safety, Environmental Sterwardship, Quality Control, People Management, Communications between several unique parties that need to agree on getting things done, which takes a lot of good listening skills, open mindedness, patience and humility.

My goals as Councillor are to improve communication within government and our community, bridge the gap and try to quell misinformation on all topics.
Increase recycling and reduce single use products and packaging. This is a very large problem with shipping waste in our world and our isolated community.
To work together with my fellow councillors to give our community the best advantage we can to prosper and live abundant environmentally sustainable lives without sole reliance on outside supply chains.

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Glenn Holstine

Show notes as provided by Glenn Holstine:

 

I am running for a 3rd time in 11 years.

2011 I ran for a Council Seat. 

2018 I ran for Mayor. 

My main concern for this City is a new Emergency Services Building that is 26 years overdue. 

The current Firehall was a Temporary Building that was highly recommended for replacement in 1996.

A Seismic event would cause a structure failure which would be catastrophic for our Emergency Services response.

The Ambulance Station is also in a compromised state. 

Waterworks  / City Plumbing is in dire straits.

Basically,  our City requires upgrades that are non negotiable.  They are of an utmost importance and necessity for the basic needs of our community. 

Elder care / Hospice  is needing a very large undertaking of support so that our City is readily prepared for our aging population. 

City name change has to be more debated and compromise on all sides is required for a fair and diplomatic outcome in our democratic process.

I can also be found on LinkedIn as Captain Glenn Holstine.

Season 2: Municipal Election Series: Introduction

Welcome to Season 2 of Coastal Currents with Aaron Reid.

This season covers one-on-one interviews with each of the candidates for City Council and Mayor for the City of Powell River in the 2022 Municipal Election taking place on October 15th 2022. 

All but two of the candidates opted to participate.

This short episode is an introduction to this series and outlines the process for this series.  Great care was taken by me, in this volunteer role, to be fair and equal in the time and questions given to these candidates.  

I truly enjoyed my time with each of these candidates and wish them all the best whether they are elected on October 15th or not.  It takes courage and dedication to put one's name on the ballot.

Season 1: Episode 13: Todd Caldecott

Todd Caldecott is a clinical herbalist and practitioner of Ayurveda, with 25 years of clinical and teaching experience. He has both practiced and taught internationally, bringing students to Nepal to study classical Ayurveda, and in 2014 was the Visiting Mitchell Scholar at Bastyr University.

Todd is a registered professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and the National Ayurvedic Medical Association, and current director of the Dogwood School of Botanical Medicine. He is the author of many articles, research papers, and books including Food As Medicine, Ayurveda in Nepal, and Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life.

Apart from practicing and teaching, Todd has a diverse background in the field of herbal medicine, which includes product development and botanical research in the non-timber forest products industry.

Todd moved to Powell River in 2019, on his little farm in Wildwood, which now serves as the base for his clinical practice, herbal dispensary, and classroom.