In the weeks leading up to this year’s municipal election, Huntsville Doppler will be posting a commentary from each of the local candidates. The order of appearance is completely random. To read commentary from other candidates, click here.
Meet Dione Schumacher, a candidate for election to Huntsville Council in the Ward of Stisted, Stephenson, Port Sydney
I would like to start out by saying thank you to the Huntsville Doppler for allowing each candidate running for a position on town council to have an opportunity to introduce themselves to you, the Doppler reader. Thank you to the Doppler readers for taking their time to read through these commentaries. My name is Dione Schumacher and I am running for a seat on Huntsville town council as a ward councilor for Stisted, Stephenson and Port Sydney. I am hoping your vote and support will get me a seat at the Council chamber.
I was born in what was the Huntsville Hospital at the time, it is now currently Fairvern Nursing Home. I am a V.K.Greer and Huntsville High School alumni. I graduated High School and went away for post-secondary education. That is the role of youth to go off and explore but then to come back to a community that you want to live, work and play in. Huntsville is that Community!! I was fortunate enough that I could turn a part time job into a full time career to be able to live in one of the best places on earth!
So what are the burning issues for the upcoming council term:
- Two site model for both Hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge, but there is still work to do with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; advocating for change in the funding model.
- Long Term planning will be a huge topic for the upcoming council. Balancing development with environmental impacts is an issue for every community.
- We need housing in the Huntsville and surrounding area. There are full time jobs available but people need to have affordable /attainable housing/ housing geared to income.
- Excellent news on the redevelopment of Farivern but still work to oversee for the upcoming council.
- Accessibility—The town has done a fantastic job with their accessibility plan but I believe more education can be done on AODA.
- Looking at Capital asset management to continue to have our Community Halls in Aspdin, Utterson and Port Sydney are key for our community. They are hubs, places to gather and meet, get to know your neighbours – having more activities geared to the rural areas is something I’d like to see.
- And lastly one important issue is always roads and infrastructure – there is a priority list with the town and district. I would like to see some capital spending diverted to this area and also see if there are ways to do repairs more efficiently – like with Hughes Road, it took a local contractor willing to do it and some negotiation from staff, council members and community working together. That is what a town council does.
As part of my job I have committee experience and have been a committee member on working groups at a Provincial level with the Ministry of Community and Social Services and at times have had to work with three different Ministries to accomplish a goal – I understand what it is like to work from a local to a provincial level. I have worked with District Committees in my role as well. I am the type to look at all sides and listen well to make an informed decision.
In closing, I would like to say my parents both taught me a lot about community, volunteering, giving back and doing right by your neighbour. Aspdin and Port Sydney Turkey dinners, Stisted Fall fair these are what communities and memories are made of. My parents always made sure there were sports to be played – I was an Utterson Blue Jay. Swimming Lessons at Longs Lake or Mary Lake. I want to give back to a community that has given so much to me.
There are reasons people to choose to live in the communities of Port Sydney, Utterson and rural areas of Stisted and those need to be honoured. People want to be away from lights, noise, crowding, etc. I am hard working and want to be on council to advocate for you.
I am a proud member of my community sitting on the Utterson Community Club as the treasurer. A board member and Nordic coach with Special Olympics – in which we have 4 athletes attending provincial games from Huntsville. I’m excited and proud to be running for the position for Ward councilor for Stisted, Stephenson and Port Sydney and would honored and appreciate your support and your vote on October 12 through to October 22nd.
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