Moosomin byelection this Wednesday
October 2, 2018, 9:21 am
Kevin Weedmark
A byelection is being held this Wednesday in Moosomin to fill a position on Moosomin town council The two candidates are Greg Nosterud, owner of Lee’s Carpet Warehouse, and Amy Johnson, who runs the store at Moosomin Regional Park.
Voters can cast their ballots between 9 am and 8 pm Wednesday at the Conexus MCC Centre at Bradley Park.
Other members of town council are Mayor Larry Tomlinson and Councillors Chris Davidson, Murray Gray, Garry Towler, Ron Fisk, and Jason Miller.
Following are interviews with both candidates:
Greg Nosterud
How long have you lived in Moosomin?
I was born in Oxbow, but my Dad decided to settle down in Moosomin when I was five. I went to school here, then left for awhile to learn my trade in Calgary, then came back and here I am.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I was born and raised in Moosomin, I’m passionate about my town, I’m a business owner, I’m involved in a lot of community organizations, probably more than I should, but again that shows my passion. I’m a very hard worker, I work toward goals and I try to attain them, but I think I’m able to change course. I’m always interested in a lively debate, because that’s how you learn.
I love my home, I love my town. I love Moosomin. I thought very hard about entering this race.
What clubs, organizations, and boards have you been involved with?
The first organization I joined was the fire department. I’m a member of the fire department, I’ve been a member coming up 35 years.
I’ve been involved in the Kinsmen Club, all the way up to the President.
I was involved and still am involved with the Mooseberry Acting Group.
More recently I have become interested in and passionate about the history of Moosomin, so I belong to different historic groups, primarily the Society for the Preservation of the Moosomin Armoury, the McNaughton Building Restoration Committee, and I’m also president of the Pipestone Archeological Group.
There are other groups—I support the Moosomin Golf Club and different groups.
What made you decide to run for town council?
I made a bid for town council back 15 or 20 years ago, and at the time there were a lot of things that concerned me—mostly the streets. It bothered me to see newly paved streets getting dug up for repairs. I wanted to know why that was happening. I see the same thing happening now and I would like to look into it and find out more about the infrastructure and our streets and why we have these problems, and to put in my two cents in that regard.
Moosomin is moving in a very positive direction and I think I can be of value in moving the town forward. I’m very forward thinking and I would like to see Moosomin develop more of a plan so when people ask about the direction we’re going, they can get a good answer.
What do you think are the biggest issues facing the town of Moosomin right now?
I think we’re heading into a period of growth. I think the challenge will be where and how we expand, the businesses that should be attracted to Moosomin. I would like to see council be involved in attracting these businesses. I know council is working very hard at that right now, but I would like to be involved in that too, I think that’s important.
And I would like Moosomin to be a welcoming town to people coming in. It seems that we are doing a pretty good job on that front, but I think we can work harder.
Is there anything specific you would like to accomplish in the two years of your term until the next municipal election?
I would like to see some improvements to infrastructure and to how our town looks to people coming in. Do we look accepting and welcoming? Do we look like we’re a forward looking town?
We know we have people coming to invest in our town and I would like to see us keep our curb appeal looking tip-top. I see the town is working in that direction, but it doesn’t hurt to try even harder.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
If I’m elected, I want people to know that I’m approachable and I can go to bat for individuals. I want to be that person. I want to make sure that when people go to the town they get the answers they are looking for. I think that’s important.
I also think Moosomin has incredible tourist potential. We have a great story here. That’s where I really want to focus. People tend to forget what’s right underneath their feet. If I do win I would like to bring that to the fore.
I wish my opponent good luck in the election.
Amy Johnson
How long have you lived in Moosomin?
We moved here in March, 2016, so two years—three years in March. My husband had a job at the potash mine in Sussex, New Brunswick, and that shut down, so the Rocanville mine offered positions to the guys there and we made the decision to pick up everything and move out here.
I like Moosomin. I wasn’t sure at first, but I like the smaller town feel. It kind of reminds me of our old town.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m 31, a mom of three, born and raised in Sussex, New Brunswick, I’ve been married to my husband Jeff for 15 years come October 1. We were young when we had our first child—I was 16, he was 18. Now we have a 15 year old, an 11 year old and an 18 month old.
I ran the Lake Store this summer. I worked at the Lake Store last year, and at the end of the year Wayne asked if it would be something I was interested in doing, and Jeff and I talked about it, and we decided it would be something we’d like to try. We both like to cook. We both have our own ideas on things, and how to make things better. So we decided we would do it, and it was an experience. It was pretty good.
What clubs, organizations or boards have you been involved with?
The year before we moved here, in New Brunswick, I was part of the Home and School Association in our town. That was fun, I got to help organize events and stuff like that. I got to deal with a lot of people and help with fundraisers. I haven’t had a lot of chance for things like that because I always had a little kid at home.
What made you decide to run for town council?
I saw that there was a vacant spot on council. I’ve never done anything like that. I thought about it and decided I would try this and see what happens.
I have lots of ideas. Moosomin is a great town, but I feel it needs a bit more of a newcomer perspective. It needs to grow a little bit. Not crazy, we don’t want a big city, but it’s good to have a different outlook on things, and I think I have that.
What do you think are some of the main issues facing Moosomin right now?
For me, as a young mom, having a young family, I know there is not a whole lot here for our children. I have a 15-year-old son, and you have your pool in the summertime and you have your theatre in the wintertime, which is okay, but we need more.
I come from a town, Sussex, which is not a big town, but every year for Canada Day it had a big event.
I know we have the fireworks here, which is awesome, but Canada Day in Sussex was always fun. You had all these activities for kids. I’m a kid person. I want to have more things for them and have them involved. The more they’re involved the less trouble they will cause—not that all the kids around here are bad, but if there are things for them to do, then that’s better.
Moosomin is missing something and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
What would be your top priorities if you are elected to council?
I would like to see more options. I love to be here and I love this town, and I like the small shops and everything, but there needs to be something that draws people here, more than the fireworks. That super draws people here, I know for a fact, but something needs to constantly draw people here—all the time, not just two days a year. That would be my goal, to find something that draws people.
Is there anything specific you would like to accomplish in the two years of your term until the next municipal election?
I don’t have any great expectations. I’m open to almost everything. I know that things don’t happen overnight. It probably takes more than two years for a lot of things.
My expectation is to get people more open to new ideas and let the town grow to its potential, because it can go places.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I’m a new person in town, I have new ideas.
