THUNDER BAY – Kristen Oliver says the call for change around the city council table is loud enough to convince her to make her first foray into municipal politics.
Oliver, executive director of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, on Friday filed the necessary paperwork and will take a shot at the Westfort ward, a seat held by Joe Virdiramo since 2003.
“I want to make sure we have change that is knowledgeable, has experience and that can drive a lot of what needs to happen in this community to make us successful,” Oliver said.
Thunder Bay needs to be a much more welcoming community, she added.
“While that is a simple statement, what it means is that I want opportunities for our people to have economic development. I want to see developers finding Thunder Bay a place to build and a place to grow,” Oliver said.
“I want to see people choosing Thunder Bay as a place to live. We have a demographic that’s aging. We know that. We know we have to find people to move into our community to sustain what we currently have – and for our growing economy. The mining sector is really starting to take off.”
A lifelong resident of Westfort who continues to reside there with her husband and two young children, Oliver said she wants to see the ward continue on an upward spiral.
“I love the community. I feel like you’re part of the fabric there. It’s a real neighbourhood … I really like the nature we provide in that area. We have great stores and great restaurants. It’s a real nice community and I really want to see it flourish. I don’t want to see empty stores,” she said. ‘
“I want to see some growth and potential in the ward as well.”
As of Friday, Oliver’s only competition in Westfort is Frank Scarcello, who finished runner-up to Virdiramo, falling 45 votes short of top spot. Virdiramo has yet to publicly declare his intentions for 2018, though he is expected to run in some capacity.
