An Okotoks councillor is looking for a second term representing municipalities at the provincial level. Coun. Tanya Thorn was elected to the Alberta Urban Municipality Association (AUMA) board of directors in September 2016 and is seeking re-election as the Director of Towns South at this year’s AUMA convention on Sept. 28. “I’ve really enjoyed it and I hope I can be voted back in for a second term,” said Thorn, who is also running for VP of Towns if re-elected to the board. She said there are a couple of reasons she wants to keep her seat at the AUMA board table – to understand what other municipalities are doing in Alberta and to provide a bigger voice for Okotoks at the provincial level. “It definitely provided me with different connections through provincial government being at that table, which hasn’t yet benefitted Okotoks in terms of a completed deal on a pipeline, but has definitely opened some doors for us to be able to get in and chat about it,” said Thorn. Being on the sustainability and environment committee allowed her to bring forward some of Okotoks’ issues with water and gave her the ability to help guide some policy with regards to water in the province, she said. It also provided her the opportunity to sit on the Alberta Water Council, which Thorn said was eye-opening. “It’s created this huge understanding for me on water in terms of it’s not just about municipal drinking water,” she said. “There is a lot of other players that are impacted by water in our communities and we need to be looking at broader policy around water in general.” Getting to hear about the struggle and initiatives of other municipalities is highly beneficial too, she said. For one thing, she said it makes her a better councillor for Okotoks because she can see what else is happening across the province. Most municipalities are doing the same type of work and dealing with similar issues, she said, so it’s nice to hear how others have tackled situations Okotoks might face. “Sometimes it opens it up for me to look at problems we have in our community and have resources out there to ask, ‘How have you handled this?’ and ‘Have you looked at this?’ and ‘What are you doing with it?’” said Thorn. “It gives me a broader perspective.” One of those issues was the impending cannabis legalization and how different municipalities were handling their bylaws surrounding its use, she said. Thorn said she’s a champion of municipalities in general and believes they are often undervalued for the services they provide to their residents. Between 60 to 70 per cent of infrastructure used by resident on a daily basis is provided by the municipality, she said. “We are the biggest form of day-to-day impact on people and we need a bigger voice, and it requires strong people to be at that table to make sure municipalities are getting that voice,” said Thorn. She said she’s learned a lot over the past two years and has just really gotten her feet wet with the position, so she’d like the chance to keep working with the board. Currently there is one challenger stepping into the race, Coun. Tara McFadden, who is serving her fourth term on council for the Town of Cochrane, she said. Thorn was one of three in the running for the board position in 2016. “It’s not a surprise at all,” she said. “There are lots of elected officials out there who have an interest in serving the broader good and participating on the AUMA board.” She’s got the support of her fellow Okotoks council members. Council voted on Aug. 20 to fund Thorn’s campaign to the tune of $1,000. In 2016, her campaign was funded up to $5,000, of which just $1,500 was spent. There are leftover buttons in stock and the Town is helping with printing costs for pamphlets, which will drive down expenses this year. Mayor Bill Robertson plans to give Thorn his full support. “I don’t see the challenger being able to unseat Coun. Thorn,” he told council. “I will certainly be there campaigning strongly on behalf of Coun. Thorn.”
