Darrell Belyk has called our city home for 21 years and been a City of Airdrie councillor for seven years. The long-time health and safety professional says he is running again to see the work he has completed on council through to fruition.
Q&A Portion:
- Why are you running for office?
Over the past seven years, council has pulled the trigger on larger projects in the city and I would like to follow them through to completion.
- How will you help to make Airdrie a better place to live, work and play?
I will continue to listen to the business owners, sports user groups and residents and to ask them how they feel about Airdrie and where they would like to see the city go.
- What is the most important issue in this election and how do you plan to address it?
I don’t believe that one issue is more important than the other when it comes to priorities. I believe in the five issues in my plan and they all have equal importance. This plan involves: getting the economy going again, construction of the 40th Ave partial interchange, planning the south recreational facility, downtown revitalization and the multiuse library facility.
- How do you plan to be transparent and accountable to your constituents?
I think as a City councillor, the residents already hold me to a high level or transparency and accountability.
- Why should residents vote for you?
I come from a proud family that has roots in the community. With nearly a decade of municipal government experience, I know what it takes to find solutions, navigate through complicated issues, and get things done.
Your Questions
We asked our readers/followers on social media what they wanted to know from City of Airdrie candidates and came up with three questions.
The answers for each candidate will be listed here and posted to airdrielife‘s social media channels on Sept 22 (question 1), Sept 29 (question 2) and Oct 6 (question 3).
Editor’s Note: The answers below are completely unedited and appear here exactly as they were sent to airdrielife via email.
1. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action published 94 “calls to action” urging all levels of government — federal, provincial, territorial and aboriginal — to work together to change policies and programs in a concerted effort to repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation. Which of the Calls to Action do you believe the City of Airdrie council should focus on?
The Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) provides a path for government, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to create a joint vision of reconciliation. Out of the 94 calls to action, there are 5 that are directed to municipalities. They are numbers 43, 47, 57, 75 and 77. I believe City Council should focus on numbers 43, 57 and in addition number 82.
Number 43 – This call to action is requesting that municipalities fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
Number 57 – This call to action is requesting to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples.
Number 82 – This call to action is requesting a publicly accessible, highly visible, residential schools monument be installed to honor survivors and all the children who were lost to their families and communities. This would be best placed in the Nose Creek Park, in the area around the Korean Totem Poles and the soon to be displaced gift from the Philippino Community – Rizal Monument.
2. How would you work to improve arts and culture infrastructure and opportunities in the city if you were elected?
Arts & Culture enhances the quality of life in communities that embrace them. Although Airdrie has an active Arts & Culture community there are few to step up and involve themselves on boards. This is reflective in the dissolving of Creative Airdrie in May 2019 and the recent dissolving of the Airdrie Film Society.
I would like to see Airdrie be a city where Arts & Culture is integrated in all aspects of our community life and where both individual artists (e.g. performing arts, visual arts and music) and art organizations are valued and supported in their endeavors to create, communicate and contribute.
In order to reach that level of infrastructure we need to have a city-led arts council. I envision the Arts Council as a non-profit, member-driven society and charitable organization that supports and promotes the arts in Airdrie. The Arts Council would work to nurture Arts & Culture activities that reflect Airdrie’ s diversity.
3. What is your vision to help progress Airdrie’s economic growth over the next 10 years?
The Economic Development Department at the City of Airdrie has a 10-years plan already. This plan has 3 objectives which are:
- The Place To Be
- Draw visitors, entrepreneurs and the best talent to Airdrie
- Right For Business
- Retain and grow Airdrie businesses and attract new investment
- A Connected Community
- Capitalize on Airdrie’s location and future technologies
As ambassadors of the city we need to stand behind this 10 year plan and promote the City of Airdrie whenever possible to assist existing businesses to grow, and attract new industries and businesses to come to Airdrie.