After spending eight years on the local Catholic school board as a trustee, Shawn Cooper is hoping to join the council table where he wants to work to engage more youth in municipal governance.
“It is my intention to pursue a youth advisory committee with staff resources assigned to it,” said Cooper. “We can learn a great deal from the thoughts and opinions of our youth.”
Cooper is the son of the current mayor, Sandra Cooper. He was born at the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and graduated from Jean Vanier Catholic High School.
“I have been raised to have my own opinions and values,” he said.
Cooper attended Mohawk College of Applied Arts and Technology where he studied law and security administration. He was a legislative assistant at the House of Commons and worked in consumer affairs at the corporate office for National Grocers. Cooper was the local trustee for the Simcoe County Catholic School Board and served two years as director of the Ontario Catholic Trustee’s Association.
He is now a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s Parish in Collingwood and was a member of the Collingwood Trails Committee.
“Giving back to the community is an integral part of my life,” said Cooper. “I was drawn to municipal politics because I feel it is our inherent responsibility to improve the quality of life for Collingwood residents for future generations.”
Part of that quality of life, according to Cooper, includes a developed waterfront in Collingwood, one that benefits all residents and showcases the community to visitors.
“I would like to see a splash pad and a skating loop at our waterfront,” said Cooper. “I would like to see a world-class restaurant and hotel at our waterfront within our downtown core while maintaining public access to our waterfront.”
When it comes to accommodating the mix of residents in Collingwood, Cooper said he would be working with developers to “insist” on a blended housing strategy for new projects.
If elected, Cooper has no plans to stop his door-to-door canvassing. He said communication is the biggest challenge in the relationship between council and taxpayers and, therefore, he’s committed to canvassing community neighbourhoods to listen to the thoughts and opinions of residents while he is on council.
“The best attribute of Collingwood is our people,” said Cooper. “I would respect their thoughts regarding our waterfront, our grain terminals and the future of the region’s healthcare.”
He said part of the communication strategy needs to be innovative with technology through uses like mobile applications for town services.
Peering into the town’s future, Cooper said it will be necessary to plan for a new wastewater treatment plant at a replacement cost of approximately $80 million. He also thinks the town should be setting its financial priorities to “drastically needed” road improvements and infrastructure enhancements.
Cooper committed to being an approachable, hardworking, thoughtful councillor and effective communicator.
The most important part of a councillor’s job, according to Cooper, is to “make informed decisions that positively impact all residents and businesses of Collingwood.”
Cooper is one of 19 candidates for councillor in the upcoming October municipal election. Voters may choose up to seven candidates on their ballots for councillor.
The Collingwood Chamber of Commerce is hosting a meet-the-candidates event for councillor candidates on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Collingwood Legion. Doors open at 6 p.m. The last event was at capacity and some residents were turned away from the meeting.
The chamber will be posing questions received by members of the public to each of the candidates during the meeting. Click here if you have a question you’d like included.
