Morris candidates on campaign trail

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This article was published 21/10/2022 (1016 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At least one third of the Town of Morris council will be brand new after Oct. 26, and a possibility exists that council could be left with only one incumbent.

That’s because nine candidates are running for six seats, with four incumbents in the running.

Candidates responded to questions emailed to them by The Carillon to introduce themselves and share their priorities, including aging in place, investments in infrastructure and expanding childcare.

Chris Hamblin

A one-term incumbent on Morris council, Hamblin has lived in the area since 1976 when she and her husband farmed near Morris. She’s also been part of community organizations as well as provincial and national boards including the Canadian Grain Commission, Keystone Agricultural Producers and the SeCan board.

She said senior’s housing with assists to help seniors remain in the community is an important issue that she’s already working on.

“As part of my duties on the current council, I have chaired a committee that includes representatives from the RM of Montcalm and the RM of Morris and we have established a not-for-profit to direct the establishment of an assisted living or similar facility in the area,” she said.

Attracting new business to town is also important, and Hamblin said council created an industrial park for that purpose.

“This is relatively new and if elected I will work with council to promote this industrial park and promote the many reasons why Morris is a good place to set up business,” she said.

“I am passionate about Morris and will work to see it grow and prosper,” she added.

Pro Lagos

Although he has homes in Winnipeg and Morris, Lagos has called the Town of Morris home for a decade.

The owner of Winnipeg Car Pro and a satellite business in Morris involving classic cars, Lagos is also the Director of the Morris Chamber of Commerce and the Manitoba Used Car Dealers Association.

While he hasn’t been on council, Lagos did run in the last municipal election four years ago.

He said he’s better known now than he was then, having taken part in community initiatives such as a fundraiser for a local sick child, raising $8,000 in three hours.

He said the road going to Morris (Highway 75 North) is a concern for everyone, and while it’s a provincial responsibility, he said council must continue to advocate for change.

“That’s the ongoing issue that everybody cares about,” he said.

Lagos said it’s important to make Morris a destination, pointing out that people drive through the community without realizing there are restaurants, parks and a museum.

“Nobody knows about that,” he said.

He’s hoping people will vote for him because of the fresh ideas he can bring to the table.

“I’m a new face to the community,” he said. “I think it’s been pretty stagnant in the way they’ve thought about things and how they do things.”

Taylor Braun

A Morris resident for 27 years, Braun has worked in the financial industry for the last 6.5 years. She’s also currently on the daycare board, volunteers where she can and is raising a family in Morris.

Braun hasn’t campaigned for elected office before.

“I do, however, enjoy learning new things and am always up for a challenge,” she said.

Childcare availability is an issue for Braun who said she would love to see a new build for their childcare facility.

“Doing so, we would ideally get our waiting list down and offer more families the childcare they need,” she said. “I‘d like to see us work together as a council, daycare board and others to make this work and perhaps incorporate many different businesses in one area.”

She’d also like to see more economic development with more industrial lots sold and new life brought to vacant Main Street buildings.

“We need to make Morris a place people want to bring business too,” she said.

Braun said ideas would include billboards on Highway 75 spotlighting industrial lots, working with those who express interest and possible incentives for people starting a new business or moving an existing business to Morris.

She said she would give it her all to work hard for the community.

“I want to see Morris thrive and will do whatever I can to help that happen as much as possible within the next four years,” she said. “To see change and growth you must be willing to put in the work required.”

Reba Krahn

A Morris resident for over 15 years, Reba Krahn is a masters student in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Graduate Program through the Department of Psychology at the University of Manitoba.

A first-time candidate, Krahn has served on several boards as a director and volunteer, most recently as a board member for the Morris Wellness Centre, working to get the gym up and running.

She said access to childcare, transitional houses, home care and creating awareness of local programming are important.

“The main question I want to answer: are the programs we offer reaching the majority of people in Morris? If not, why? And what can we do about that?” she said. “I also want to know what other programs the town can offer that may draw more people from town.”

Krahn said program evaluations, surveys, questionnaires and being approachable and available to the people of Morris are all ways to gather this information and make appropriate and effective changes.

“While I do have initiatives that I would like to see happen in town, my number one goal will always be to be a voice and advocate for all those in town,” she said. “My hope is to be a strong representative for everyone in town, with your help and vote, I can be!”

Trevor Thiessen

Incumbent candidate Trevor Thiessen is no stranger to serving his community.

A resident of Morris since 1987, Thiessen has been a member of the Morris Fire Department for 30 years, serving as Deputy Chief for the last several. He’s sat on numerous boards including Morris Minor Hockey, Valley Ag Society, Morris Manor, Morris Community Development Corporation, Morris Golf Course, and Pembina Valley Water Co-op. He and his wife own Hillbilly Garden Centre.

Thiessen has been involved in municipal politics since 1998.

He said the town needs to focus on seniors and children through aging in place and early childcare.

“I know from past experience that we lose many of our long-time community members to other communities as we don’t currently have the resources in place,” he said. “I feel with planning and careful lobbying of the province, we can address this.”

He added he would work hard on careful planning as a town to facilitate dialogue and meaningful action to move forward with plans for a new and improved childcare facility.

“I have integrity, I am hard working, and I am passionate about continuing to grow our great community of Morris,” he added.

Yvette Habes

Community is important to Yvette Habes.

She’s lived in Morris for 20 years, raising a family here, and getting involved by volunteering, fundraising and hosting street parties to get to know her neighbours

“I work at our local pharmacy where I get to talk to them and get to know them and their families,” she said.

This isn’t the first time Habes has run for council. She put her name forward in the past but at that time had to drop out of the race for personal reasons.

She’s well prepared this year, having attended council meetings to get an understanding of how things work..

“I hope to make an impact by listening to all who have concerns or ideas on how to make Morris bigger and better than it already is,” she said.

Habes said a new economic development officer is needed. “Our last one made things happen and I could see someone else doing the same,” she said. “Our vacant buildings need new purpose and I am hoping to see them reopen with new business ventures…”

Habes said she wants to promote the theme of buy local and support local as well as advocate for a new nurses’ desk that’s been in the works, but still not completed.

She’d also like to see a new facility for seniors to keep them in the community.

David Funk

A lifelong resident of Morris, David Funk brings experience serving in leadership positions including currently serving as the President Elect on the executive for the Manitoba Association of School Business Officials, the Hanover Tache Junior Hockey League, Morris Minor Hockey, Red River Wild, and is currently the assistant coach for the Morris Mavericks wrestling team and a 17-year member of the Morris Fire Department.

He too called for assisted living senior care and a long term solution for licensed childcare within the community.

“If elected, I would try to serve on applicable committees to learn the true barriers that we face to overcome these issues, as well as working with provincial and federal partners to tap into any available funding,” he said.

Funk said he hopes people will vote for him because he’s a hard worker who’s willing to put in the work necessary to help grow the community.

“I will provide honest and competent leadership,” he said. “I am well aware of the community needs and believe that I can help address those needs. I have a true passion for the Town of Morris as I have deep roots within the community and believe that this community is a great place to raise a family.”

Tim Lewis

Incumbent councillor Tim Lewis is seeking a third term on Morris council. Retired after 40 years with BellMTS, Lewis has lived in Morris most of his life, saying he’s long been a promoter of the community and an amateur historian.

He said focusing on seniors and development is important.

“We have lost a lot of our more senior citizens because they are forced to leave when they are looking for assisted living,” he said. “We have begun, in conjunction with surrounding municipalities, to work towards getting an assisted living facility in the town.”

Lewis said council has worked on attracting business by establishing an industrial park.

“The next task at hand is to bring business to the park and increase the tax base,” he said.

Lewis is hoping his experience will help him earn votes.

“I believe that I have a proven track record of listening to the concerns of the citizens and bringing those concerns to council for discussion,” he said. “I have a passion for the Town of Morris and think that I can continue to work for the community.”

Mel Baxter

An incumbent candidate, Mel Baxter is seeking his second term on Morris town council.

A retired pharmacist, he’s called Morris home for 26 years.

In addition to his council experience, Baxter also served as President of the Manitoba Society of Pharmacists from 2008 to 2013.

He highlighted fiscal management as a key issue, saying they must ensure budget dollars are allocated responsibly and efficiently.

He also highlighted the need for economic development through consultative promotion.

Why should voters give him their vote?

He answered simply, describing himself as an “experienced, resourceful manager”.