Corey Peebles wants to lead Drayton Valley forward over the next four years, and believes he has the vision to do so. Last week the two-term councillor announced that he’ll be running for mayor in the October municipal election.
Peebles moved to Drayton Valley as a child in the mid-1990s. He was first elected to council in 2010 and served for three years. He didn’t run in 2013 but returned and began his second term in 2017. After serving as a youth pastor for several years Peebles opened his first business in 2014. He is now co-owner of three gyms, including one in Drayton Valley.
After living in the community for 25 years he says he’s seen the town at both its “highest highs” and its “lowest lows.” Through it all Peebles remains a self-described optimist. As restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic ease he’s keen to talk about what the coming years hold for the community.
“I think the future is looking great in Drayton Valley again,” he says, citing returning strength in our traditional industries, along with a gradual diversification of the local economy. Peebles says he’ll always support the oil and gas industry, which has long provided the foundation of the local economy. He’d like to see the expertise garnered from oil and gas used to diversify and attract new industry to the area. That includes opportunities from the manufacturing sector rather than just the production of raw materials.
“We have so many trades in this community, and so many jobs can come out of value-added,” he says.
That increased economic strength is part of a broader vision which would see Drayton Valley continue to grow as people from other parts of the province learn the benefits of living in a small community that boasts good amenities and is relatively close to both an international airport and a major highway system, while having easy access to the kind of recreational activities found in and around this area.
“Here you can get 25 percent more house for 25 percent less money than in the city. We’ve got two brand new schools, the pool’s being built. There’s the pump track,” he says. “We’re creating the recipe for a community that is so great and so strong.”
An important piece of the puzzle is to get the message about what Drayton Valley has to offer out to the rest of the province and beyond. That means finding a way to let others know about the strengths of the community and the quality of life available here.
“We need to work on marketing to showcase the Drayton Valley you and I know exists,” he says. “I see a strong and diversified town that still has a real sense of community.”
Peebles says he believes Drayton Valley is looking for a mayor who will lead, rather than simply govern. For him that means listening to what people say and always having the best interests of the community at heart. He says it’s important for the mayor and council to understand the needs and wants of their residents and to make sure that their values align with the values of the community as a whole.
“The community needs to win. Not the mayor, not the council. The community needs to win,” he says.
“If we facilitate ideas that resonate with the community, that’s where we’re going to do some great things.”
Peebles joins Councillor Nancy Dodds in the race to become Drayton Valley’s next mayor. Election day is Oct. 18.
