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PROFILE: Lorraine Dick, Grand Forks Council

1. Please give a brief summary of who you are and why you have decided to run for office.
 
I have great passion and love for this city. Even though I have only lived here for a short time, my heart has always been here. I have very deep roots in this valley (four generations of family).
 
I have been involved in numerous volunteer activities in Grand Forks.
 
I feel it is time for me to use my personal and professional experience in community service at the level of city government. I am running for office offering my skills to create a first-rate future for our community.
 
2. What is your background? Have you held office before? If not what skills do you bring to the job if you are elected?
 
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina and more than 20 years of experience in technical writing, information management, and education-related fields in various cities across Canada.
 
I have never held an elected office but I bring to Grand Forks City Council my organizational and communication skills, and my passion for learning and applying that knowledge to whatever it is required.
 
3. What do you think are the top three challenges facing the city in the upcoming term?

I feel the top three challenges that face our city in the upcoming term are:
 
  • To improve access to Service Canada for seniors and disabled persons;
  • To create more jobs;
  • To encourage housing that is both appropriate and affordable.
4. How do you think you can impact these challenges?
 
I will lobby Service Canada to schedule a presence in Grand Forks to help individuals with problems related to old age security, Canada Pension Plan, employment insurance, and record of employment, to name but a few. At present, anyone needing extensive help from Service Canada has to travel to Trail, Nelson, or Penticton which creates problems if you are disabled.
 
Appropriate and affordable has been an ongoing problem in Grand Forks. I will attempt to address this situation by creating a landlord and tenant advisory board providing advice and mediation services for both landlords and tenants.
 
Regarding job creation, I will continue the work started by the Economic Development Task Force Committee on Tourism, for which I was chair, to create a destination marketing and development group, a vision, a marketing plan, and continue to promote community pride.
 
I will also invite knowledge-based industries to consider Grand Forks as a viable option for relocating their business.
 
5. If you could describe yourself in three words what would they be?
 
I am an accountable, articulate problem-solver.
 
6. Other comments that you feel are important to the voters.

I am presently serving as co-ordinator of Kettle River Community Garden named Hanneke’s Place. For the past two years I have attracted new gardeners, volunteers, grant funding and donations. I am also serving as secretary of the Grand Forks and Boundary Regional Agricultural Society.