Cranbrook’s new Mayor and City Council officially sworn in

Cranbrook’s new municipal government is officially in office.

Mayor Wayne Price and councillors Ron Popoff, Norma Blissett, Lynnette Wray, Wesly Graham, Mike Peabody and Wayne Stetski were sworn in by Judge Grant Sheard yesterday at the Cranbrook History Centre.

Price says orientation week for the new council begins Monday October 31.

“Certainly sitting on council for four years I see the need for that,” says Price. “It’s a full week, it’s going to be very in depth, very detailed, and it’s certainly what’s needed.”

He says the new council is a diverse group.

“That level of diversity that everybody’s going to bring something a little bit different to council,” he says. “I think that’s going to make for a really interesting debate and decision making goring forward.”

Popoff agrees, he says his background in public health will be useful.

“Community health and safety, and understating how proper growth should occur in a community,” Popoff says. “And understanding also the aspects of the underground, our water, our sewer, our watershed.”

Wray says she will put her years of work with non-profits and the business community to good use.

“We need to do both,” Wray says. “We need to support folks in need in our community, we also need to really support our business community. I’m really looking forward to working on that.”

Stetski says he will pull from his previous political positions to help solve problems for residents.

“I still have pretty good contacts actually both federally and provincially,” says Stetski. “If people have an issue, first of all I’d like to help solve that issue, but I can also send them to the right place I think.”

Graham says the mandate of council changes to fit the public’s demands.

“Now we got a bit more social issue with homelessness,” says Graham. “We just kind of get a bit of a shift in focus. “It’s not like you forget about [housing and infrastructure], but it gives you a bit more of a perspective of where the public is at.”

Peabody says the new council will work to build on progress made by the previous administration.

“Trying to get more housing, help out with the homeless situation that we have going on and trying to make it a better community for everybody.” says Peabody.”

Blissett says a major topic for council will be providing shelter for Cranbrook’s homeless population.

“We need to get that operating as soon as possible,” say Blissett. “And to work with BC Housing to get that moving ahead and to deal with he people that are on the streets.”

The first official meeting for council is happening November 7.