Terry stated her priorities to Mike @ CHMA FM at this link "On Demand" with: CHMA 106.9 FM
So far no return call yet from candidate for Mayor of Tantramar Terry Jones to confirm her position on the priorities she has set for the region if she is elected as Mayor of Tantramar.
Will keep you posted.
Terry Jones is running against Debbie Wiggins-Colwell, current Deputy Mayor of Tantramar [and former Mayor of Dorchester] as well as a previous candidate for Mayor of Sackville [she lost in 2012 to Bob Berry], Sabine Dietz. Dietz was also the 2018 campaign manager for Megan Mitton Green MLA for Tantramar.
CHMA News, Radiometres Local News Project, Community Radio Fund of Canada
James MacDonald is one of eight candidates running for council in Ward 3 for Tantramar in the upcoming municipal election. | Photo: Clinton Davis / CHMA News
CHMA is continuing its series of short candidate interviews ahead of Tantramar’s municipal election on May 11.
This time, Clinton Davis sat down with James MacDonald, one of eight candidates running for one of four Ward 3 council seats. MacDonald spoke about his roots in the community, why he decided to run, and what he would want to focus on if elected.
Listen to the interview below.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Sure. So my name is James McDonald and I grew up in Tantramar. Specifically in Rockport.
I was born and raised there. I left for a few years just out of high school when I got married and moved back in 2010. And I’ve been here ever since. I am currently one of the vice presidents of the Sackville Rod and Gun Club here in town. It’s a super large outdoor group here. And I currently drive truck during the week.
And I spend a lot of time in the community and like to follow the municipality and its happenings.
Why are you running in the municipal election this year?
Sure. So I got really involved in following the municipality and the things that are going on locally just after the amalgamation.
I guess once Sackville and Dorchester and all the other wards and areas became one, it became important to me to follow that and I want my kids to want to stay here. I have two teenagers now, and I just noticed that over those years, there seems to be a lot of questions that should be asked during the council meetings, like when they’re passing bylaws or making changes.
You ask municipality kind of like real world questions I call them. So I’ve just been following that a lot and a few people have encouraged me to run for council and so I decided to put myself out there and do lots of learning, lots of things. And I just felt that it was important to be able to make my place here and make a mark and an impact on the municipality at this time of my life to hopefully develop something that my kids enjoy as well, and encourage them to stay here as they get older.
If elected on May 11th, what is it you hope to accomplish?
Well, I think it’s important that we find a balance.
There’s a lot of things going on in the municipality. Big things are taxes. It seems that, as time goes on, everything in our lives is getting more and more costly and our taxes keep going up every year. And I just think it’s important that we find different revenue streams within the municipality to help balance that out for residents.
So perhaps, you know, we already have economic incentives in town for new developments, perhaps we need to have some things in place for existing, so to refurbish perhaps the lower side of Bridge Street, all of the old buildings that are there. We have some great features that aren’t being used, such as the old theater on top of the Vogue block. The bowling alley is not being used and different things like that. So perhaps we can come up with some incentives within the town to encourage existing buildings to be refurbished to maintain that historic site as well.
I also think that it’s important when we’re reviewing our bylaws that we’re asking important questions. You know, realistic questions. Some things that came up with some zoning over the last couple of years. They just let everything go. But I’m sitting there watching and I’m learning, well, if this wasn’t an issue before and they just want to rezone to put in addition, why are we making them do all these extra things?
So like just asking questions like, so do we really need to do this if it wasn’t an issue? Like, this is just additional cost for this business owner to be able to increase their business and keep it here. Or just different bylaws, like what impacts are these gonna have on the residents when we put them through, especially as we transfer from just Sackville bylaws and expand them into all of Tantramar.
So, yes, this is realistic within, we’ll say like the core of Sackville, but once we reach places like Dorchester Cape or Rockport or Centre Village, you know, do these really need to be impacted? So we just need a realistic view on those things I think.
Well, thank you so much for your answers and for your time. James MacDonald is running for council in Ward 3 in Sackville for the municipal election this May 11th. We sincerely wish you the best of luck."
James MacDonald is a first time candidate! Good luck James!
We’re blasting off for our first-ever Book Club at The Annex
Our April pick is the interstellar smash-hit Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of The Martian or totally new to the genre, this story of survival, science, and unlikely friendship is the perfect way to kick things off. Grab your copy now—you have until the end of April to finish the mission
THE DEBRIEF: Date: April 29th from 6:00-8:30 PM Location: The Annex Lounge (131 B Main Street, Sackville) Vibe: Coffee, tea, and curated discussion topics. Admission: $5.00 + tax | FREE for Annex Members
"The Sackville Rod and Gun Club is hosting a full weekend of community-focused outdoor events in early May, beginning with its Catch, Photo, Release Fishing Challenge on Saturday, May 2.
The event runs from 8 am to 4 pm, with participants asked to check in at Silver Lake, also known as Lillas Fawcett Park, between 7:30 and 9:30am to register and collect participation tokens. The challenge is free to enter, with donations to the Sackville Food Bank encouraged.
Anglers can fish anywhere – freshwater or saltwater – as long as they submit a photo of their catch alongside the official token and a visible measurement. Organizers say locations will not be shared publicly.
Participants must return to Silver Lake by 4pm for photo review, prizes, and a community barbecue. Prizes will be awarded across multiple age categories, and the event is open to all skill levels.
The weekend continues Sunday, May 3, with the club’s annual Small Bore Shoot at the Walker Road Range from 1:30 to 4 pm.
The shoot is open to anyone using a rimfire or air rifle, with multiple categories available for a small entry fee. Equipment is often available to borrow on site and cash prizes will be awarded.
Both events aim to encourage community participation in outdoor recreation across the Tantramar region."
"My elephant in the room is the gas plant. I know that I am limited. We all are limited because it’s a provincial project, dealing with a crown corporation and a US multinational. But that doesn’t mean we have to be quiet about it. That doesn’t mean we have to accept everything that’s coming down the road. We can definitely push back. We can organize the community. We have a wonderful set of groups: PCIC (Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition), Stop the Tantramar Gas Plant, Seniors for Climate. There are numerous other voices that are being heard. And now this project is having baby projects in PEI and Nova Scotia, so the movement’s getting bigger, there’s more Atlantic involvement. So those are my two issues. I wanna do what I can for openness, communication, and transparency, and to make Tantramar a place where everybody feels heard."
If you are focussed on communicating and connecting with others who also do not have a voice on what matters to them in Canada and you live in the region of Tantramar the VERY last thing you do is set up a "private" Facebook group online here: Stop the Tantramar Gas Plant! | Facebook
Photography by THE Indie Media Eastcoast - button from CanadaAction.ca -- why don't the local noisy anti-fossil fuels and gas activists EVER protest Saudi Oil in New Brunswick?
Photography by THE Indie Media Eastcoast - old Methodist Church 1875-2015 and pastor's residence property was re-developed by John Lafford into three new low rise apartment buildings with retail/commercial spaces at Main Street and York Street downtown Sackville, New Brunswick.
The current and latest rental housing and commercial spaces seven storey tower project underway by co-creators Lafford/Wilson is The York Building at this link: The York | Apartments in Sackville, NB
More found here on Lafford's remarkable world of building in New Brunswick here:
Penthouse at Italia´s Private Collection by award-winning Solterra. This 3 bed + flex home offers over 2,100 sqft of interior living and over 2,000 sqft of private rooftop terrace with hot tub and north-facing views of English Bay, downtown Vancouver, and the North Shore mountains. Open-concept kitchen, dining, and living areas designed for both everyday living and entertaining. Primary suite features a spa-inspired ensuite and custom millwork. Interiors include wide-plank hardwood flooring, Italian cabinetry, quartz surfaces, and a premium Gaggenau appliance package. A/C and smart home features included. Comes with secure parking, storage, and access to concierge, fitness, social lounge, and outdoor amenities. Located in South Granville near shops, dining, and future transit. Presentation Centre located at 880 Seymour Street, open Sat to Wed, 12-5 pm. (32773620)"
With the baby due any day and life about to change forever, we found ourselves looking back at how any of this ever came to be.
This week is a little different. More of a home movie. A look back at the story of how Kelly and I met, how we lost each other for a time, found our way back, and somehow ended up building an off-grid life together on a small island in Newfoundland.
It all started in an alpaca barn in Virginia, a first date by rowboat to a remote island in the Florida Keys, a 1600-mile rowing journey across the Northwest Passage, heartbreak, second chances, and eventually an old blue house by the ocean.
From rebuilding a forgotten house and learning to live off-grid, to getting married, starting a little funny farm, growing food, and preparing to welcome our first baby… this is the story behind the life you’ve been watching unfold here. A bit of where it all began.
Thanks for being here with us. We Love ya!"
At some point they changed the title of this video after releasing it.. I wonder why? New Title:
"I Broke Up With Her in the Arctic… Now We’re Having a Baby"
Today marks the official announcement of the Camp Skote charity we are forming together along with your help, and the beginning of Skote memberships. Join us right here on YouTube for our weekly chat and livestream for members only to discuss how we can do the most good together. 100% of membership dues will be used to fund this dream, join the club for $7.49CAD. Our first town hall meeting will be later this week. Love you all and thank you for being a special kind of online community!"
[Photo above: Tools of a tradesman.. from my Dad's collection.]
