Finding common ground at City Hall

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This article was published 03/10/2018 (2800 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Basil Evan is looking to represent Transcona on city council in the Oct. 24 civic election.

Evan, 51, is a registered nurse who grew up in Transcona, graduating from Transcona Collegiate Institute before attending the University of Manitoba. He and his wife, Lezah, have two young children, along with a step-son. 

“I’ve spent the last 20 years taking care of people and working with issues that we identify as problematic,” said Evan, who has been the quality improvement officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s critical care program for the past seven years. “In the community, problems seem to be getting bigger, and there seems to be discontent.”

Evan’s interest in politics goes back to his youth, when he took part in anti-Apartheid rallies when living in London, England, in 1987. He believes his professional background could be put to good use on city council.

“A background in committee work teaches you how to reach across the table, how to establish dialogue with different people, different backgrounds and different special interests, and how to focus on what’s important,” he said.

Evan believes finding shared values among fellow councillors could help move projects forward.

“When we begin to come together as a team, that’s a big step,” he said. “I would like to see people learning to have effective dialogue. If we can learn from each other and look at what are workable solutions, I think that will restore a lot of faith from the public in their public servants.”

Public transit is one issue Evan would tackle, if elected.

“Transit seems to be a very big issue in Transcona, especially as it continues to expand,” he said. “Most of the bus routes have stayed the same, but in these new communities no one has access to transit. Either they have to walk for 20 minutes or drive several blocks to find a bus. Those issues need to be addressed.”

Evan is also in favour of expanded community services, especially for seniors and newcomers, and in promoting social responsibility at City Hall. He is hopeful that voters will connect with his message on election day. 

“It’s an exciting time to get into politics and use my background to make a meaningful difference in our community,” he said.

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

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