Headingley candidates share their platforms

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/10/2018 (2630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Three incumbent councillors and four contenders are vying for election to fill Headingley council’s four seats. Incumbent mayor John Mauseth was acclaimed.

Scott Barenz
Scott Barenz has lived in this community for most of his life and is the fourth generation of my family to do so, as his great-grandfather came to Headingley in 1925. Barenz attended Phoenix School until Grade 7 at which time he and others were bussed into the city to complete their schooling.

Barenz says many of his friends from his childhood have returned to Headingley, and these people are still some of his best friends today. He and wife Leanne have raised three children in Headingley, and he hopes they too will return to Headingley one day.

As well as enjoying time with his friends, Barenz has several passions and one of them is cooking. He said he gains satisfaction from preparing meals for friends and family.

He said Headingley and its people have always been a part of his life and held a special place in his heart. He wants to be involved in shaping its future as well as supporting local residents to ensure that they have a similar experience and also become enamoured with the community.

Yolande Franzmann
Franzmann is seeking re-election as councillor after serving a two-year term.  

In her position on council, she has been and remains committed to keeping property taxes low, controlling housing growth, meeting the current and future recreation needs of all residents, and working with seniors’ organizations as well as other community groups to ensure their individual and collective voice is heard and considered at the council table. She views these matters as vital to her goal of maintaining and enhancing the infrastructure, services and community spirit for which Headingley is renowned.

For the past two years she served as the council representative to Headingley Seniors’ Services, Phoenix Recreation Association and currently sits as chairperson for Macdonald-Headingley Recreation District Commission.

Prior to commencing her role as councillor, Franzmann served for seven years on the Phoenix Recreation Association board and three years on the Headingley Recreation & Parks Advisory Committee board. She has volunteered extensively in the community for the past 15 years and took a lead role in organizing and co-ordinating the Headingley 25th/Canada 150 celebration on July 1, 2017. She was also responsible for organizing the indoor community yard sale for Headingley Municipal Library for five years.

Franzmann lives in south Headingley with husband Paul and son Cameron. Her daughter, Sydney, attends the University of Western Ontario.

Sean O’Dowda
Sean has been a resident of Headingley for the past 14 years, along with his wife Catherine and children Brendan and Camryn.

He is the owner/operator of Unique Graphics Inc. and also founder and editor of The Headingley Times and Cartier Times community newspapers. He feels the written and submitted articles that have appeared in the papers give him a unique prospective of the spirit in both communities.

O’Dowda was a volunteer board member for six years on the Phoenix Recreational Association and is a current member of the Headingley Chamber of Commerce. Community spirit in a small community is tremendously important, and staying active in Headingley has always been his priority.

For 10 years, he and his son have organized the Headingley Families Fishing Derby. He feels that there is no better way to spend a day, catching fish and making memories, with your neighbours and their families.

He says he has decided to run for council to give back to the community that has given so much to him and his family. Working to help promote more activities for youth and residents of all ages is a great way to continue building community spirit. He believes keeping the community safe, maintaining low property taxes and the residential housing growth rate are also very important.

O’Dowda said, if elected, he would work to provide an open relationship with council and all residents of Headingley, and be proactive in all the decision-making in the community for the next four years.

Jim Robson
Jim Robson has served as a Headingley councillor for the past 18 years and as deputy mayor for many years. He has been an active member of several council and community committees including the recreation planning advisory committee, Headingley Grand Trunk Trail Association, library board, finance committee, Cartier Water Co-op, Headingley Community Foundation, seniors’ services committee, works and operations committee, management and personnel committee and Winnipeg Metropolitan Region Board.

He said he’s worked to promote and support the construction of local recreational facilities, library, day care and 55-plus housing. He’s also encouraged the development of walking and biking trails, expansion of green spaces, parks and play structures including a splash pad. Major infrastructure projects have been completed including sewer, water, land drainage and road paving.

If re-elected, Robson said he’s committed to maintaining Headingley’s semi -rural character, a high standard of services, support for the fire and first responders and will work to address local seniors’ housing concerns. He hopes to continue promoting the ongoing development of recreation and greenspace which supports active transportation.

Robson said he’s also committed to ensuring municipal finances are well-managed in order to maintain moderate taxes.

Robson and wife are long-time residents of Headingley. He recently retired from a senior executive role with a major insurance company. He believes his education and work experience provide him with the administration and financial management skills to meet the challenges facing the community.

If elected. Robson said he will continue to work diligently for the residents of Headingley. He believes in an open, transparent and collaborative council.

Tom Roche
Tom Roche and wife Velvet has been residents of Headingley for 16 years. They raised their family here and savoured the Headingley experience.

Roche is a business leadership veteran with a unique perspective that he applies to local topics. The desire to preserve the essence of Headingley over the coming years of growth and staying ahead of infrastructure demand is one of his key objectives.

Roche has dedicated years of service to the Recreation Association, to the many teams his three boys have been involved in and currently sits on the Headingley Community Foundation’s board of directors.

Ian Ruth
Ian Ruth has been a resident of Headingley for 45 years and says he is very proud to call this community home. He raised his children in the area and it now gives him great joy to show his grandchildren what the community has to offer.

Ruth has been involved with the recreation centre, sports teams and business community.  He says he is proud of the achievements made by municipal council in his terms as councillor between 2006 and 2014, in particular seniors’ housing, daycare centre and walking paths and trails.

Ruth says the following signs of a healthy community will be his focus if elected to council: responsible government, fiscal management, flourishing business community, strategic housing growth, clean drinking water, recreational opportunities, senior citizen supports, effective fire department and first responders, and keeping Headingley safe for all residents.

John Van Massenhoven
John Van Massenhoven is seeking re-election, having served as councillor for the last four years. He says his top priority is to represent the interests of his fellow residents. By engaging in broad community consultation this past year, he understands that the priorities of residents include, but are not limited to, controlled housing growth, low property taxes, maintaining the character and unique nature of Headingley and expanded recreational and leisure opportunities for residents closer to home.

Over the last four years as councillor, John believes he has endeavoured to ensure that all people and matters coming before council are treated fairly and consistently and that each issue is determined based upon its merits. He has over 20 years of professional and executive experience, having worked as a lawyer, mediator and vice-president in the provincial health care system.  

He has also been actively involved in the community for 18 years. He is committed to making sure that the community of Headingley is nurtured, protected and made ready for the challenges and opportunities that will be faced in the future.  

Van Massenhoven lives on the north side of Headingley on a family farm with wife Jane and sons Blake and Luke.   

— Staff