Town councillor Colin Clarke is putting his name forward once again in the upcoming municipal election next October.
Clarke grew up in Drayton Valley and graduated from Frank Maddock High School in 1999 before attending university. Over the years he’s obtained professional designations from the University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University of Fredericton, and McMaster University.
When he finished up at University of Alberta, Clarke returned to Drayton Valley to work at Pembina Pipeline. Before long, his career took him all over North America before he ended up in Whitecourt, where he lived for seven years before returning to Drayton Valley in 2014 with his wife and three daughters.
Clarke says that politics are something he’s always been interested in.
“I have always been fascinated by politics at all levels, and with former mayors and councillors in my family and friend circle, I have been exposed to municipal governance for years,” he says in an email interview.
During his career, Clarke held several leadership positions where he worked with a variety of teams in many challenging and high-pressure environments.
“These experiences have helped me develop strong problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills,” says Clarke.
However, until 2020 when Clarke became a realtor and co-owner of Century 21 Hi-Point Realty, he didn’t have the flexibility in his professional life to run for council.
If Clarke is elected again he hopes to continue to improve the working relationship between the Town and Brazeau County.
“This partnership has grown into a collaborative one that benefits both municipalities, and I want to build on that momentum,” says Clarke.
After spending three-and-a-half years as a councillor, Clarke is already familiar with many of the issues the Town is currently dealing with. One of the more contentious issues is homelessness, and Clarke says if elected again, he will continue to lobby the province for funding and resources. The goal is to keep any municipal tax dollars needed for solutions in this area to a minimum, with the preference being none.
“I firmly believe this is a provincial issue,” says Clarke.
He also would like to see a field house type of facility in the community, which could give residents a place to go for sports, fitness and mental wellness during the long winter months.
But for Clarke, his biggest passion lies in the nitty gritty details of municipal issues, such as infrastructure, budget management, and taxation.
He says for himself, it’s important to get all of the information before forming an opinion on a matter. This includes listening, analyzing and understanding the information so he can make informed decisions.
“Above all, I believe true leadership begins with listening. When we take time to truly hear the concerns, ideas, and hopes of our community, we can build a future that reflects the needs of the people we serve.”
