Carberry By Election

RAY JOHNSON

Community and service in the community has been a big part of Ray’s entire life even to now.

During his youth and into adulthood while living in Winnipeg Ray was actively involved with YMCA and sports, coaching varieties of sports and camp counsellor and appointed as Assistant Camp Director at Camp Manitou with YMCA.

Ray moved to Carberry the first time a year before he married Leslie (Downey). Ray and Leslie have 2 adult children and 4 granddaughters. Jason and family live in Winnipeg and Kelly and her family live in Drayton Valley, Alberta.

During their years in Carberry, Brandon, and area they were members of the Kinsmen/KInettes as well as a member of Kiwanis of Brandon.

Ray coached the young players as well as played for the Plainsmen hockey team in Carberry making an impact in the lives of the players and in the community at that time.

He has carried a creative passion to be a catalyst for change in every community he has lived over the years whether in business or community organizations or in faith-based organizations.

During his years living in Abbotsford, B.C. he was a very active member of the Kiwanis for over 25 years. He served in each of the offices, was actively involved with Kiwanis Kids Club in the schools in Abbotsford and was awarded the highest award for service by Kiwanis International.

He was a founding member and catalyst for the churches in Abbotsford to establish the program ‘Out of the Cold” which provided shelter and food for the homeless on the streets during severe weather and temperatures in the winter months. He started his financial business career while living in Carberry as well. Now as a long-term financial planner, estate planner for more than 45 years he carries a wealth of balanced wisdom in many areas which will be an asset to this community, Carberry a City of Destiny!

Ray and Leslie moved back to Carberry a second time (or as Leslie likes to say, we are recycled back) to Carberry in the spring of 2013.

During the years out of province Ray’s business and company, known as The Rite Team Ltd has been well established.

Additionally, during those years Ray and Leslie founded and are executive directors for Resurrection Life Ministries Canada and International. Having several ministry arms in third world countries where communities there are supported by donations for food, orphanages, schools, churches, discipleship training and prisons as well as clinics.

RLM also has branches of ministry and outreach in B.C as well as now in Carberry and area. The predominant arm here is Holy Spirit Sands, a Christian faith-based community gathering centre as well as a discipling and training component as part of the centre.

This is a place to meet, build relationships and connections for the strengthening of those living in this community of Carberry where we now call home for nearly eleven years.

GOAL: To build strong relationships, strong families for a strong and healthy community.

For Carberry to prosper and grow economically, socially and spiritually.

To be a strong voice as a man of integrity, a creative thinker and one with strong belief systems in place to grow this stronger community, Carberry a City of Destiny

Groups such as Youth for Christ, and Athletes in Action for example would complement and provide event opportunities that are faith based and are uplifting as well hope filled events to help youth make positive and wise decisions for life rather than death.

Reduced speed sign to 80 km from Greg Road to turn off to Carberry on the east and from the railroad tracks on the west side to turn off into Carberry. A large, flashing sign with.” HIGH COLLISION INTERSECTION BEWARE. SLOW TO 80 KM/HR.” The same signage, distance, and lights from both the north and south sides of the intersection on No. 5 highway to be established as well.

Debbie Rea

Hello. My name is Debbie Rea. I have let my name stand for the open position of Councillor for the Town of Carberry. I have been a member of the Carberry community for most of my life. I have gone to school, married and raised my three children in this town. My career in nursing has included direct nursing on the ward at the Carberry Hospital and PCH and now I am a Nurse/ Manager. This position also encompassed the Carberry site for a number of years. Today I am still working in Healthcare as it is my passion. Other interests are my grandchildren and their activities, reading, gardening and golfing. My family and I enjoy our camping opportunities when able.

Politics has always intrigued me. If elected into this position I would like to ask opinions of our tax payers as to the tax base and what you would like your dollars put toward. The present Mayor and Council are doing a great job at changes to enhancing and promoting activities and businesses in our town. I would like to be a part of this change for growth and prosperity. Being accountable and transparent is so important. Listening to our population though, brings forth many ideas and suggestions to build on. Access to local Healthcare is a priority. We are lucky to have the services we have today, but we need to have an open 24/7 Emergency Room with a full staff in all departments. Following up on Provincial initiatives and promises is important along with information received, to be shared with our general population. I would like to know what our young people and our elderly in town would like to see to enhance their days and to address any concerns. I have questions about childcare necessity, public transportation, access to services and green space initiatives.

I am a good listener, I am not afraid to voice the opinions of people I represent. I do understand investigations into concerns and requests need up to date and appropriate information to be sought. Confidential information will be kept confidential. I have had past experiences being part of the Beautiful Plains School Division for a number of years. A active participant with the Provincial Manitoba Nurses Union as well as President of our Regional and Local Nurses. I have had opportunities to work with our local businesses in town in committees and for fundraising. I feel I would be a good representative for our town. I am asking for your support to represent you at our Council table for the Town of Carberry. Thanking all in advance.

Samantha VanDamme

Hi, I’m Samantha VanDamme and I’m running for the open position on town council. I’ve grown up in Carberry and lived here most of my life, I moved to Brandon for a few years and quickly realized I would rather live in a small town. I hope to eventually have a family in this small town that I’ve always called home.

I’m running for council because I’d like to be a part of keeping Carberry a “small town” even as it grows. The feeling of everyone knowing everyone and people helping each other out is really important to our community. With that it’s also important that our little town keeps growing to make it easier for everyone to get what they need without having to leave town. I’d like to help work with the other council members to retain and grow more resources for the people in our community.

I hope many people come out on election day to voice their opinions and vote for whoever they’d like to be appointed to council.

Micheal Hamilton

My name is Micheal Hamilton. I am a proud father of two and my wife and I have been married 21 years in November. To say that marriage and raising children is a hard thing may be true, but having that special person beside you, the one who knows everything about you and still stays at your side is something I have been blessed with. My wife and I are a team and support each other wholeheartedly.

We decided to move our family to Carberry about 15 years ago from Brandon to give our children a better environment. Better for their education, better for their social well being, better for their safety, and let me tell you, I feel we succeeded in that endeavor.

Carberry has been a place where you can walk down the street with your head up instead of down for fear of offending someone by making eye contact. It's a place where you can wave at complete strangers and they reciprocate instead of flipping you off. It's a place where your neighbor cares what happens to you and yours and hopes the best for you. Carberry has been welcoming and accommodating to my family throughout the years and I believe it's my turn to help keep it that way.

I have worked at Gabler Welding for the last eight years, providing our community with the highest level of service and getting to know a great amount of people along the way. To say that I get along well with others, so I have been told, would be an understatement. Working with all kinds of personalities can be challenging but I'm up to the task.

If elected, my main goals for Carberry would be to have a fiscally prudent, fair to all council that listens to the citizenry.

After talking with many of the business owners in town I feel that fostering a good working relationship with existing businesses will not only help them flourish but will also encourage new business to come to our town. After all, we will not be able to attract more people to come live here if we can not support them.

I constantly hear from citizens that they feel that their opinions are not heard. Not to say that council ignores the people in any way, they definitely have the peoples best interest at heart, I hope that I can bring a sense of being heard to those I talk to in an official capacity.

All that being said, I have been a part of many committees in my journey through life. I am the Health and Safety Rep. at Gablers, have been on several health and safety committees in past employment, work well with all personality types, have the proven ability to navigate difficult and complex situations, have extensive experience supervising people and can listen to others and take their advice.I also volunteer as a member of Exit Stage Left, a wonderful theater group located here in Carberry where i work on sound and lights, as well as set construction. I have worked on multiple projects here in town including the fabrication of the flag poles on fourth ave at the memorial and have helped plan out many more. I take a rational, common-sense approach to anything I do and serving you on the town council would be no different.

Thank you all for your time and consideration and remember to get out and VOTE!!!

Jolene Balciunas, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Neepawa Banner & Press