The five candidates for Parrsboro’s vacant council seat, from left, Ralph Foster, Troy Melanson, Lloyd Smith, Gleneida Canning and Lisa Ward, participated in a candidates’ forum at the Parrsboro Fire Hall on Nov. 19.

One seat is available on Parrsboro town council, and the five candidates who want it met with those who can make it happen in a candidates’ forum at the Parrsboro Fire Hall Thursday.

Candidates Gleneida Canning, Ralph Foster, Troy Melanson, Lloyd Smith and Lisa Ward responded to questions from the crowd, in a forum hosted by the Parrsboro and District Board of Trade. Past president Frank Hartman served as moderator while current president Karen Dickinson was timekeeper.

Opening up the questions was Bruce Graham, who aimed his question primarily at Canning and Smith as councillors up until last year, asking what the candidates would do to spruce up the “deplorable condition of Main Street” with its closed storefronts and deteriorating buildings. 

Canning, who admitted she does not have all the answers, responded that there are things being done, such as the town’s ongoing participation in the Communities in Bloom project.

“That’s a responsibility of everyone in town, not just the council, to see that this happens,” she said. “It’s the responsibility of everyone to support the businesses that are in town already. There are lots of things we can all do to try and encourage businesses.”

Another resident, Giselle Henwood, complained that local businesses are receiving “no value” for their business taxes, and asked the candidates how they would see that those taxes benefit the business community. She also suggested the town could do more to promote its businesses.

“You can only do what you can afford,” said Foster, who said there is no commercial tax base left in the community right now. “What has to happen is that there has to be some marketing and research done to find out what is available to come to Parrsboro to build our Main Street up so we in turn can do that marketing and promotion that will come automatically if you have the facilities there for people to come to. 

“Basically, there’s no sense in having a major marketing program if you have nothing but empty buildings on Main Street,” he concluded.

Michael Levy said he did not see a lot of the candidates involved with volunteering in the community, and asked them how important they felt volunteering is for the town. Smith, a past King Lion and current deputy fire chief, said he could not stress enough how important volunteers are.

“Volunteers are the heart of the community,” he said. “You couldn’t tax the people in town enough money to pay for the services in the community that volunteers do.”

Bernie Pettigrew asked the candidates what plans or backing the youth are going to have in the town.

Ward, a mother of three, said it is up to the youth to bring their ideas forward, and to become a part of the process.

“The youth have to know exactly what they want as well, and they have to be willing to work at what they want,” she said. “I don’t think it should just all be given to them on a silver platter. I don’t think that’s a healthy atmosphere for them.”

Jim Salter asked the candidates what they see as ways to encourage larger businesses to locate in Parrsboro, and how they would promote the town to bring companies with 20-25 jobs.

Melanson said businesses can be brought here if people can dream and be inspired by what the area already has, such as its scenery and its new offshore tidal power development, which he said is a great opportunity to promote Parrsboro as a green community.

“All of us have probably heard the same story that Parrsboro is a sleeping giant,” he said. “I’ve heard that many, many times, and I think it is, but I think that we as a community need to reach out and promote the town and everything we have here.”

Parrsboro will elect its new mayor and councillor on Dec. 5, with advance polls being held on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1.

For coverage of the mayoralty candidates' forum, visit http://www.springhillrecord.com/index.cfm?sid=305995&sc=481

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