Meet the Area C Candidates
Residents of Electoral Area C Eagle Bay, Tappen, White Lake, Sunnybrae will be going to the polls on Saturday, October 15 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at Eagle Bay Community Hall, Sunnybrae Hall and White Lake Community Hall, to cast a ballot for a Columbia Shuswap Regional District Director.
There have already been candidates’ forums, sponsored by the South Shuswap Chamber, at Eagle Bay and White Lake but there is one more on Wednesday, October 12, 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Sunnybrae Community Hall, 3595 Sunnybrae-Canoe Point Road.
The two candidates for Area C are Marty Gibbons and Nicholas Najda, both of White Lake. We asked the candidates five questions.
Why are you running for Director of Area C?
What is your background and how does it relate to the role and responsibilities of an Area C Director?
What unique strengths and assets distinguish you from other candidates?
If elected as Area C Director, what community issues would be your top priorities?
How do you promote working together on issues that can raise diverse or conflicting points of view?
Area C Candidate - Marty Gibbons
By Barbra Fairclough
“I was concerned watching the incorporation process that we were losing our rural way of life. We love our lifestyle and have made a conscious decision to not live in the city. I deeply care for the community and believe we are at a crossroads and our rural identity is being threatened with unnecessary regulations and rules.”
Marty Gibbons is a long-term resident of White Lake. “My family moved to White Lake in the early 1980’s. Just like kids today, I rode the bus and attended Carlin Elementary, JL Jackson Junior High and graduated from Salmon Arm Senior High. Our family is extremely active outdoors people, enjoying paddle boarding, hiking, hunting, camping, cutting firewood, and skiing. We love our peaceful rural lifestyle, our favorite activity is walking our dogs and getting to wave hi to our fellow residents.”
Believing in continuous improvement, Marty has several professional designations; Certified Employee Benefit Specialist, Retirement Plans Associate, Group Benefits Associate, Canadian Risk Manager, and Canadian Registered Safety Professional. He is Board Vice Chair and director with BC’s largest health care and benefit provider. He has served on the Investment and Loan, Audit and Conduct committees and is current Chair of the Risk Committee.
“I am the elected school trustee for areas C and F. Over the last four years, I proudly served as Chair of the Partner Group enabling collaboration between School district leadership , teachers, CUPE, support workers, principals and vice principals, district parents as well as local First Nations. I also served as Trustee liaison to the First Nations Education Council, chaired the Budget Committee in 2020 and was elected as representative for the Thompson Okanagan School Trustee Branch serving for one term.”
“I have extensive and diverse board experience combined with a commonsense solution based approach. I have been told that my superpower is communication, with an ability to explain complex issues in ways that are understandable and digestible.”
“My number one priority will be to ensure that tax dollars collected in Area C are utilized in Area C. I want to see a development of key risk/performance indicators for things such as timelines for permit completion, denied permits and citizen complaints. I support sustainable growth that makes sense for Area C. I would continue to support community organizations as they are the subject matter experts. With record inflation, fiscal responsibility has never been more important. Many taxpayers are struggling to make ends meet and continue to be burdened with ever increasing taxes.”
“As Area C’s elected school trustee, I chaired Partner Group bringing all stakeholders together to a common table. I believe that a problem well stated is half solved. I prefer to work with facts verses emotions. At Partner Group, we have had factual and respectful conversations, whenever possible working towards group consensus. As the elected representative for Area C, I will continue working to bring people together in a collaborative and respectful manner.”
Learn more about Marty on his Facebook page, Marty Gibbons for Area C Director.
Area C Candidate - Nicholas Najda
By Sionna McTavish
“I made the decision to run as Area C Director to continue giving back to the area where I live and being an active participant in its future.”
In 2015, Nicholas and his family moved to White Lake because “they fell in love with the lifestyle, clean lakes, and lush forests in the area.” Once settled, Nicholas said he “looked around to see all of the great work being done by non-profits” and became involved with “community building to create a sustainable place to live.”
Nicholas believes volunteering makes a community stronger, and demonstrates his leadership qualities “by example.” He has joined organizations to work on initiatives for community health, affordable housing, water protection, wildlife awareness, arts and culture, and outdoor recreation.
“By working together with a shared vision of a vibrant sustainable community, we can all have a role in balancing the existing rural charm and growth of the area.”
Currently, Nicholas owns a consulting company that finds local solutions to local issues for non-profit organizations, small businesses and government with strategic planning, program development, and project management. Recent clients include the Arts Council for the South Shuswap and South Shuswap Health Services Society.
Nicholas graduated with a degree in psychology, along with studying sociology and business at Simon Fraser University: a foundation from which he has proceeded to build his professional expertise.
“I have a proven track record.”
“I feel by volunteering and working on local initiatives already, I have established relationships with community groups and leaders, while working across industry and community to achieve positive results.”
As an example, Nicholas recently spearheaded a forestry road relocation proposal which was supported by BC Parks, BC Forests, and BC Timber Sales. A section of problematic road is scheduled to be relocated out of the foreshore area of White Lake to reduce run off, sediment build up and potential contamination from an accident. This project will help “keep the fishery healthy into the long-term.” Nicholas explained that White Lake is one of the top five lakes in BC for rainbow trout fishing, and generates $1.5 million in annual revenue for the local economy.
Housing: Nicholas is a founding member of South Shuswap Housing Society and believes it is especially “important to have options for young families and seniors who need live-in support” by establishing local policies, accessing provincial funding, and working together with community groups and developers to address such barriers as affordability and zoning alternatives.
Accessible Communities: “The longer a person can stay in a community and maintain connections and relationships, the healthier they will be.” Nicholas would like to be a part of making outdoor recreational opportunities accessible and inclusive for everyone. This might look like creating walking trails that are stroller and wheelchair friendly within local communities so “all residents can continue to enjoy this amazing place.” Or, locating health services a short distance from neighborhoods.
Environmental sustainability: Nicholas continues to expand on his involvement with land and water conservation, and promote food security through encouraging support of locally grown products, farmers markets, and self-sufficiency. He and his family have begun micro-farming by raising chickens and growing a food forest.
Arts and culture: A valuable asset unto itself, Nicholas highlighted that research indicates for every dollar spent on arts and culture, there is a 3-5 dollar return to the local economy. There is a “vibrant arts scene” in the south Shuswap, and he would like to continue expanding on events such as festivals and musical performances already taking place such as the Small Hall Music Crawl at Carlin Hall and Music in the Bay, in Blind Bay.
5. Nicholas explained that it is “important to understand all of the challenges and opportunities” when addressing issues. His approach is one of “collaboration and cooperation” “that also includes “balancing financial and resource realities of a community” and it’s stakeholders.
“I pledge to use my skills, experience, and commonsense values for the betterment of the entire Area C.” Furthermore, “I invite you to visit my public Facebook page to share your ideas or thoughts and learn more about me by entering: Nicholas Najda for CSRD Area C Director into the Facebook search engine. Alternatively, feel free to contact me at: NajdaAreaC@protonmail.com.
