Veteran HSD trustee makes city council bid

The longest serving member of the Hanover School Division board of trustees has thrown his hat into the ring for a city council seat in Steinbach.

Ron Falk has served as trustee for 34 years, including 14 as board chair.

He said it was a tough decision to leave public education behind but added he felt it was time to close that chapter of his life.

“I think my time is done there, and I think others can move the ship in the direction they need to go,” he said. “I’ve contributed as best as I can and I think it’s just time to move on.”

With a goal of life being a continual learning experience, Falk said he felt the time was right to represent the community in a new way.

“We have a great community founded by people escaping tyranny and hoping for new opportunities in a new country,” he said. “Many, if not all, of these individuals arrived with very little and were simply grateful to be in a free country and forge an identity of faith through determination, hard work and ingenuity.”

Working collaboratively with others on projects like the upcoming lagoon expansion, flood mitigation, community safety and green spaces and pathways is important to Falk who said he’s had lots of practice.

Falk has worked with five different senior administrators, as well as countless others in the division and around the table.

“I’ve been able to work collaboratively with administration and with a lot of fellow trustees,” he said.

Falk said infrastructure is important and city council needs to be able to convince residents that we can handle large rainfall events.

Living in the Stone Bridge area, Falk said he was very nearly one of those who flooded.

His back-up valve activated but the pressure was so strong, it was still leaking, something he said they were able to handle because they happened to be home and aware of it.

But that’s not the biggest issue on the minds of his neighbours.

He said the most asked question so far is from others who want to know how he would have voted on the proposed variance for the six-storey building which will be added to the Bridge Park Manor complex.

“I probably would have liked to see it stay the same level as the other buildings,” he said, but added he did not have all the information and could not say for certain.

Falk said he understands the push for more density in downtown areas but added it’s important to have a uniform plan and be careful when this idea is expanded to suburban neighbourhoods.

“I want to just make sure we keep the neighbourhood in mind when we do these kinds of things,” he said.

Falk said it’s also important not to lose sight of the attractive aspects of Steinbach.

“Our community has been a safe place for families of all ages to grow, play and exercise,” he said. “We must continue to provide adequate police services and ancillary services to ensure that we can all use our walkways and parks.”

He also stressed the need for strategic planning, allowing the city to meet its goals and challenges while also remaining fiscally responsible.

Falk has been married to his wife Helen for 46 years.

They have lived in Steinbach for all those years and have four married children and 10 grandchildren.

Prior to his retirement Falk was in sales and sales management for 30 years with Loewen Windows and 14 with the Lynden Door group of companies.

Voters will go to the polls on Oct. 28.