About Glen Simard
When were you born?
Between 1966 and 1980 (Generation X)
Tell our readers a bit about your professional life. What do you do for a living? If you're an incumbent candidate, what did you do before you entered politics?
I am a teacher. In the early part of my career I taught grades 5-6. I've worked in academic support, peer mentorship and currently teach Physical Education at École Harrison.
What's the highest level of education you've attained?
Bachelor's degree
How long have you lived in the constituency? If you don't currently live there, what led you to run there instead of where you live?
I grew up in St-Lazare and moved to Brandon almost 30 years ago to attend BU. After graduating and meeting my wife, we decided to build our lives in Brandon and have raised our two boys here.
What is the biggest challenge facing your constituency, and how would you address it?
The biggest challenge facing Brandon East is access to health care services. Our platform will tackle this problem by implementing team-based care to draw on the expertise of all healthcare professionals (like Nurse Practitioners) while adding 10 new medical school seats for doctors training in Westman. These steps will alleviate the pressures on the health care system in Brandon. An NDP government will work to regain the trust of Manitobans by reversing many of the cuts made in health-care by the PC government.
If elected, what will be your first priority?
Priority #1 is improving health care, but Brandon and Westman deserve a strong voice in Winnipeg on issues like addressing the addictions crisis and lack of affordable housing. I'll also work to secure stable and predictable funding in K-12 and post-secondary education and advocate for investments in critical local infrastructure.
Who are your role models in politics, and why?
If local school trustees count, I would choose my father Tony Simard. He was a longtime trustee in the Birdtail River SD and the DSFM. He is a tireless volunteer and hard worker who, as a trustee, kept an even keel and treated all colleagues, parents and administrators with respect.
In mainstream politics, I admired Jack Layton who asked us all to lead for change in the world with love, hope and optimism.
Tell us something about yourself that voters might find surprising.
I love keeping busy and working with people to get things done and improve my corner of the world. I'm a big "community guy" and am always looking for boards to serve on or groups to volunteer with.
My wife and I are soon to be empty-nesters and I've been replacing my kids' activities with more of my own. I've been a coach, board member, commissioner and treasurer. My time with the Brandon Teachers' Association, Brandon Minor Baseball and Millenium Park are definite highlights.
Other candidates in constituency:
Trenton Zazalak (Liberal)
Len Isleifson (Progressive Conservative)