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This article was published 17/9/2014 (2849 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A St. Norbert woman who has spent years raising money for local infrastructure is throwing her hat into the ring for her local council seat.
Janice Lukes is running to be St. Norbert’s next city councillor in the upcoming civic elections and she says she has a plan to improve the south end of Winnipeg for the residents who call it home.
PHOTO COURTESY DOUGLAS LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHY
Janice Lukes is running for city councillor in St. Norbert.
"I felt that this community needed someone who has worked in the community, who has lived in the heart of the community," said Lukes.
The St. Norbert ward includes Waverley Heights, University Heights, the University of Manitoba, Richmond West, Fort Richmond and new communities like Bridgwater Forest.
Lukes said she has 14 years of experience working in south Winnipeg as an infrastructure fundraiser. Having helped various groups raise over $65 million for active and age friendly trails and pathways, school playgrounds, parks, recreational facilities and heritage initiatives, Luke says she’s more than ready.
"I’ve got two priorities that I have been working on for years," Lukes said of her platform. "One of them is transportation, which I have worked on for 14 years. I have sat on advisory committees over the past 14 years and I think we can do a much better job in the area transportation. The St. Norbert ward is the gateway to Winnipeg in the south end."
Lukes says the rise of new developments in the city’s south end have snarled the ability of citizens to get around efficiently.
"Good transportation planning is the key to quality of life in the community," she said. "And it’s the key to economic development, with the job opportunities that come with it.
"The other thing that interests me is recreation. Some of the community centres around here are old and there are no community centres in Bridgwater Forest, Bridgwater Lakes or South Pointe yet.
Lukes said she wanted to run to capitalize on her experience, and that she’s running out of love for the community she calls home. She says some of the challenges that face her ward include transit to and from the University of Manitoba and planning for an age-friendly community.
"This expertise is all critical to have and use in the role of a city councillor," she said. "The expertise I have gained over 14 years is invaluable and very applicable in this role.
"I want to give back to the community by using this experience to continue improving our community."
Also running in St. Norbert are Joe Chan and Sachit Mehra.
For more information on Lukes, visit: http://www.janicelukes.ca/