Wolfrom running for Liberals in Elmwood

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This article was published 27/08/2019 (2519 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A familiar face is running for the Manitoba Liberal Party in Elmwood in the provincial election on Sept. 10.

Regan Wolfrom, a 39 married father of two, is the Liberal candidate for his home riding. Wolfrom has run previously under the Liberal banner, in 2009. Previously, he was at the forefront of the fight to save Kelvin Community Centre.

“That was a long venture,” Wolfrom, who now lives in the north end of the Elmwood riding, told The Herald. “Not only were we working on the political side, but we were trying to run the club. A lot of times, when children don’t have safe places to go, they get into trouble. And we saw that. It was good we were there. I believe we made a difference.”

Wolfrom was also active in the push to keep the Disraeli Bridge open during construction of a new overpass.

“I think we did a good job getting people involved,” he said. “It worked out OK. It wasn’t the plan that I advocated, but it ended up that the community was not isolated from downtown, which would have created huge traffic issues. That was important to me.”

After that first foray into politics, Wolfrom remained active in the community, writing a blog about local issues, and often appeared at City Hall to advocate for Elmwood. He said he felt the time was right to run for office.

“Now that my children are a little older (11 and eight), I thought I should get involved again,” Wolfrom said. “I think we need more respectful dialogue. I see a lot of toxicity in how the other two parties are speaking about each other.”

Along with health care, Wolfrom believes that issues at the top of mind for Elmwood residents are climate change and the meth crisis.

“We’re getting a lot of parents saying that their children are terrified of climate change,” Wolfrom said. “We’re the only party that actually has a plan around how to deal with climate change at the provincial level, and, for instance, dealing with the problems in Lake Winnipeg.”

As for the meth crisis the city is currently dealing with, Wolfrom believes community groups already working to address the problem should be supported by the province in their efforts.

“What do we need on the ground now?” he said. “There are community programs dealing with this, and police need support, and not just in Winnipeg, but around Manitoba.”

Wolfrom is passionate about bringing change to the local political scene.

“People wonder, are we ready to lead and make a difference? I would say yes,” he said. “We have the policies, and we have the heart to enact it. It’s time to do things differently, and the Liberals are ready and willing to do things differently and for the better.”

Sheldon Birnie
Managing editor

Sheldon Birnie is the managing editor of the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

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