How cool is this? It’s the way my parents raised us as well and I hope my kids still open the door for others, give a seat to someone older, or pregnant or in need of a seat and remove their hat as a sign of respect:
“So today I was in a funeral procession on route to bury my grandmother. I was so moved by the respect from drivers and people along the way. A special thank you to the man walking on the sidewalk who removed his hat as we drove by. A real class act. Makes me proud to live in this city, which I call home.*”
*Source: Facebook post from Sault Ste. Marie, the city where I was born.
Respect should be a part of everyday life so that when the extraordinary happens, like a funeral procession driving by, it comes naturally to us.
So what about when it comes to politics? When did it become OK to yell at your town councillor in a public park in front of their children because you don’t like a decision about a dog park?
When did it become OK to call people names, and scream at them as you walk away?
Not about life and death, not about life changing events, but because you don’t like a decision about the location of a park?
The truth is, it’s not OK.
It has never been OK, and never will be OK.
But this is an election year and there will be people who want to run for council next term who believe this is how they will get their power.
I would like to suggest a few things you should do if you want to run for council and a few you shouldn’t:
1. Talk to a lot of different people face-to-face. There are over 20,000 voters in Cochrane. You are going to need about 2,000 of them to vote for you if you want to win a seat on council.
2. Find out what the current 10-year-plan is for Cochrane, then meet with people face-to-face to find out what they support and what they don’t support.
3. Review the town budgets for the last two years. Understand where the money comes from (each account), where it goes and what it’s for.
4. Read the Municipal Government Act so that you know what you can and cannot do. Understand the difference between a statutory public hearing and general public engagement.
5. Attend every open house, public hearing and council meeting from now until October, so that you are really connected to what’s happening, feedback that is being given and planning that is underway. Facebook just doesn’t give the full picture like face-to-face meetings do. Learn what proper decorum is, after all you want to be in one of those council seats next term.
6. Show yourself as a constructive thinker. A solutions-based thinker. A consensus builder.
7. Understand the history of Cochrane, and the planning that has gone into supporting the building of Cochrane to get it where it is today. Also, be aware of the 50-year-plan that is in place that guides our direction for the future.
8. Be respectful, kind, know your values, portray yourself as a professional in all dealings with all people.
9. Be open to the fact that you don’t know everything, others feel and believe differently than you. You can learn a great deal from others.
10. Being a member of council is not about what you want. It is about what the community wants – all 26,000-plus residents and in four more years, maybe 30,000. You are not the first person to live in Cochrane, nor the last. Be open to change, learning, and most of all be respectful in conversation and in all dealings with all people. Know you will be making decisions that will not make everyone happy all of the time. Be true to your values.
P.S. I will not be running for council next term. My husband and I have reached that glorious age of chosen retirement.
