Graham Parsons has learned a lot in his first term as Sylvan Lake councillor and hopes to represent residents during another term.
“What I learned is how the whole process works. I learned so much about other facets of the community, how all the threads come together with various groups. Volunteers — I didn’t know how they fit with the fabric of the community,” he said.
“All the soft services, they’re intricate — the amount of volunteer people involved who make the community tick.”
He’s also learned, “in this position you have to have respect — respect for people who have concerns, respect for everybody’s opinion. Just because it’s not mine doesn’t mean they’re wrong. People are passionate about their opinions, you have to address them.”
Parsons said the town’s Centennial celebrations have “really opened my eyes tremendously. This community is special.”
He referred to John Treleaven’s performance as Alexandre Loiselle when he looked back at 100 years. “He talked about the schools, one teaches French, all the people, all the roads, all the facilities, yet one thing remains constant,” Parsons remembered. “The lake, at sunrise when is sparkles like diamonds, when sunset burnishes the water. That’s the one constant we have, why I believe we’re the fastest growing community and it resonates with me. We’re fortunate to have an involved community on a lake.”
Change is another constant. “A lot of people hate change, but I love change,” said Parsons. “I’ve always liked growth. I like it when people visit my community, like it when people move to my community, then I know there’s something right about my community.
“As we move forward there will be a lot of issues four years ago I wouldn’t have fathomed thinking about.”
Big things, he predicted, will be regional sewer and water services — going to the river for water, infrastructure things to manage growth.
“Right now we’ve pretty much taken care of core services, public works, administration, police, fire. The rest are wants — necessary wants — the multiplex development is coming along. It will replace what we have positioned to help with development and regrowth of the downtown area.”
Parsons said just as Edmonton is putting a complex downtown, Sylvan is maintaining its recreation hub in the core.
“Downtown is another priority of mine.” With economic development and tourism strategies, he believes the necessary work has started. Other areas of town, the east and Lakeshore Drive are already being looked after, he said.
“An important part of the town’s operations is keeping the debt ratio where you have to, to manage the wants. It’s pretty healthy right now, but it doesn’t take much to put it in a less healthy position.”
He believes another priority, urgent care is moving along.
On the controversial topic of Highways 781 and 20, he said, “let’s push (the province) to finish the project” (swinging 781 over to join 20 and constructing an interchange) but admitted “the problem is the province has no money”.
Parsons has lived in the Sylvan Lake area for 40 years and is owner and operator of Sylvan Lake Summer Hockey Camp. Married to Bonnie, they have two adult children and one granddaughter. He’s also the Zone 4 director for Hockey Alberta.