Shane Quiding moved to Barriere in 2003, just weeks after residents returned home from their McLure fire evacuation.
He ran for council in 2014 but was unsuccessful. This year, he’s decided to give it another try.
Question: What made you want to run for councillor?
A: “The things that have happened in the last four years, I don’t agree with.” Rather than complaining, he said he wants to “step up and be part of the solution.”
Question: What do you believe qualifies you for the position?
A: “Being a member of the community and seeing what’s going on,” he said. Quiding owns and operates Act 1 Services, a local garage and U-Haul dealer.
Question: What are the more important issues in Barriere?
A: “Anybody who’s been here since 2003 knows that our fire protection should be our most important thing.” He said there’s a dead tree still standing on Hall Road that was marked dangerous for two years. According to Quiding, half of the tree fell onto the road this past August.
“This isn’t just any tree this is the tree the kids stand under while waiting for the school bus.”
He said he’s also seen a fire hydrant painted black and taken offline, as well.
“The new things that we get in town are great but if we can’t look after the important things we already had then something’s not right in that council and someone should step up and be able to say something.”
Question: What would you like to change?
A: “I would fix that fire hydrant. The next thing is that tree is coming down. It’s in a school bus stop. The kids wait under it in the snow and in the rain.”
Question: Why should people vote for you?
A: “Because we need people in council that are willing to stand up and not go with the flow, but do things that are actually important for the town. I’ve been in this town quite a while and a lot of people know me and know that I will stand up and fight for what’s right.”
Question: How can people get in touch with you?
A: You may phone Quiding at 250-672-9721 or stop by his shop between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.