TBM organizations hosting meet-the-candidate series

Voters in the Town of The Blue Mountains have the chance to get up close and personal with their council candidates over the next few weeks.

Climate Action Now Network, Blue Mountain Ratepayers’ Association, Blue Mountain Village Association and Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce have combined efforts to schedule a meet the candidates series over the next several Monday nights at the L.E. Shore Library in Thornbury. In The Blue Mountains, there is a four-way race for Mayor and seven candidates for five council seats. Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon was acclaimed. The first meeting of the series will be held on Monday, August 29.

Climate Action Now Network member Rosemary Gosselin said the format was popular four years ago and they decided to continue.

“This idea of doing these sessions came from the community. People loved the format. It was informal and we had a great moderator,” she said. “One woman said she had never felt like she really knew who she was voting for before and that was really telling.”

Residents attending the sessions will have a chance to ask questions in a respectful and informative environment, which will provide the opportunity for voters to get to know their candidates.

Veteran CBC journalist Christopher Thomas will moderate the sessions.

“Bless his heart, we’ve hauled him out of retirement. We enticed him out,” Gosselin said.

Gosselin stressed the sessions will be entirely resident- and voter-driven.

“I want it to be clear that this is for the community. This is not for our groups. We will not be the ones asking the questions. The questions will come from the floor,” she said.

Gosselin said all but three candidates running for council in The Blue Mountains have confirmed participation and she is hoping to hear from the others soon. The plan is to feature two candidates per session.

Six sessions have been scheduled at L.E. Shore Library (173 Bruce Street, South).

August 29 – Shawn McKinlay and Jim Ross

September 12 – Peter Bordignon and Tony Poole

September 19 – Andrea Matrosovs and Elizabeth Marshall

September 26 – June Porter and Jennifer Seymour

October 3 – Paula Hope and Gail Ardiel

October 17 – Joe Halos and Alex Maxwell

Light refreshments will be served at the meetings.