City councillor hoping to score big in new role

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/12/2010 (5761 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Herald reporter Adrian Alleyne recently sat down with Coun. Thomas Steen (Elmwood) to discuss the year that was and what his plans are for the coming year.

Question: How have the first two months in office been?
Answer: It’s been more than great. It’s been fantastic actually, with the reception here at city hall and in my area. It’s been a pleasure going around meeting people, and learning. I hope it stays on this course.

Q: Are there any similarities between being a hockey star in this city, and now a councillor?
A: Yeah, lots more than I thought before. The community part you did as a player too, they teach you well in the NHL. That part still comes with this job, that’s a big part of it, so far it has been.
The other part is I have more to learn, at the same time you have to work too…They have patience in the beginning, but it’s coming quick.

Q:  What were your reasons for running for civic office?
A: It started as a hockey player, doing all the charity work that you do then. I kept doing that after my playing career, and that led up to somebody thinking that I would be good as a politician. I was asked a few years ago to run.
Getting introduced to it, I started to feel that it was for me. So this time I ran on my own because I wanted to, and it felt really good. In the same area, well half the area, so I door knocked on the same doors again, but I felt a lot more comfortable this time.

Q: What are your hopes for the area in the New Year?
A: To bring the crime rates down in my area, and Winnipeg overall would be nice to be part of. Then it’s certain goals within the area, like fixing streets, and improving some of the things that people have asked me to do. Hopefully it’s received well, and we see people enjoying what we do.
But crime was the No. 1 thing. So we’re working on putting all the crime prevention in there, getting kids to stay in school, and be busy at night with good things.
We’re trying to do more with the community centres. There’s lots of great organizations in the area that do a lot of good work that I’ve been meeting. It feels very good and positive.

Q: Is working with the community members a main aspect of achieving these goals?
A: Oh yeah, we have some ideas for doing the programs with the community centres. Little hockey games, and all kinds of programs. But I see it’s busy, with music programs, there’s graffiti art programs that just started. For the seniors too there’s lots to do. It’s going really well.

Q: What do you think of the area you are representing?
A: Very humble people; it’s a really nice area. Maybe there’s a small part of Elmwood that needs help. The whole area is great, but that’s the first impression people get when they come over the bridge. They see boarded up houses, but they don’t see 90% cent of the area. We’ll see what we can do about that.