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 Municipal elections 2008 |
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Candidates' views on skatepark
Sat Oct 18, 2008, MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Candidates' views on skatepark
Does this mean that we're closer to a site?
Town of Antigonish mayoral candidate Carl Chisholm wants to know what you think is important in Antigonish. Complete his online questionnaire
[Added June 2009 because pre-mayoral site is down: Send email to Mayor Carl Chisholm ( mayor@townofantigonish.ca)]
County Councilor Mary MacLellan's views on skatepark:
“I am disappointed and concerned with our inability to find a suitable location for the skateboard park.”
MacLellan has investigated a couple of options used in small towns like Picton, Ontario... “[A youth park] is the avenue to pursue in order to try to accommodate the needs of the skateboarders. In isolation, we are not really getting anywhere, but maybe in combination with other recreational facilities, based on that model. It might help with the process.”
"It has always been my preference for it to be located [on the exhibition site].”
(Library tops priority list for MacLellan, The Casket, Sep 3, 08)
Bill MacNeil is running for County council.
“We do a lot for our younger kids at Columbus Field. There is a playground there that is designed for very young kids, but the purpose of Columbus Field was to look at much older kids as well.”
...“I think those age kids should have a place to call their own. I want to see if there is anything I can do about [finding a site for a skatepark]."
(MacNeil returns to municipal politics, The Casket, Sep 17, 08)
Donald Grady is running for County Council.
“One of the biggest issues is youth,” Grady said in response to why he is offering for a county council seat.
“Councillors seem to fail to listen to the youth. They don’t seem to support them. They get a lot of promises through the campaign, but it seems with a lot of projects we are back where we started. Nothing seems to be done.”
The construction of a local skate park is one of those issues.
“I know it is very hard to put in because people do not want to be responsible for it,” Grady said.
Without a skate park, inappropriate locations – like the Canada Post building on Main Street where he is employed – have become locations for people to participate in the sport.
“That’s where 90 percent of them are right now. It is not a good place for them to be honest.”
When visiting voters in the district, Grady said one of his major messages, particularly to parents, is the importance of youth and their issues.
“If I am elected, our youth is going to be the major focus for me.” (Youth a focus for Grady, The Casket, Sep 17, 08)
Town Councilor Liz Chisholm is running for re-election. “The library and the skateboard park would be very, very high on the priority list.” (Liz Chisholm wants to return to town council, The Casket, Sep 9, 08)
County Councilor Angus Bowie's views on a skatepark:
"Finding a home for a proposed skate park in the area is another priority for Bowie. “That’s something that has been hard to find, but we hope to do that in the future.”" (Bowie enjoys council experience, The Casket, Sep 3, 08)
Town Councilor Donnie MacInnis is running for re-election. "Finding a home for a new library and the determination of a location for a skate park are high on the list." (MacInnis wants to build upon successes, The Casket, Aug 26, 08)
Town Councilor Diane Roberts is running for re-election. “I hope this upcoming term puts closure to some pending issues, including the library project, skateboarding park, lots and lots of paving and improvements to curbs for wheelchair accessibility.” (Roberts to seek fifth term, The Casket, Sep 3, 08)
Debbie MacPherson is running for Town Council. When announcing her candicacy she spoke in favour of a skatepark on CJFX radio.
"Community support of our youth is very important to me. The development of skateboard park is an issue I feel very strongly about. The social and health impact will be a very positive experience for the both the youth and the rest of the community. The work to date on this project by the youth themselves is already an example of one way in which these young members are being engaged in our community and that is only the beginning. I, as well as others, think the exhibition site would be a great location if it is available and I intend to do my best to help find a suitable location."
Comments about the need for a skatepark aren't limited to municipal council candidates. School board candidate Andrew MacDonald:
“I would very much like to see things that engaged our young people – such as the skate park. I would like to see that become a reality. I just want to do whatever is in my power to help build this to be a better community.” (Four to vie for school board in Antigonish, The Casket, Sep 17, 08)
School board candidate Hugh Landry wrote this about a skatepark:
"I believe that the skateboard park is the most pressing recreational facility requirement for the area at this time. It is a community responsibility to provide the facilities and services for our youth and with our youth that will enable them to become healthy, happy and contributing members of our community. We have a strong history of providing facilities for active youth. Clearly a skateboard park must be part of that reality. There is a sizable group of active youth skateboarders in Antigonish and surrounding area who have been working hard to make their dream of a skateboard facility a reality. The effort is supported by The Antigonish Highland Skateboard Association which has been actively engaged with the municipal units to find a solution for several years, yet no skateboard park has been developed. I believe that as a community we need to end the frustration and make finding a suitable site for a skateboard park our top recreational infrastructure priority."
--Source: email received Sep 18, 2008
The need for a skatepark has also been the focus of several letters to the editor.
More comments to be added as they become available
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Contact your municipal councilor and let them know why Antigonish needs a skatepark!
Benefits of a skatepark
How to contact Town councilors
How to contact County councilors
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Sep 1, 2010
Upcoming events
Sept. board mtg TBA
Photos-New/Old/Older
Year in Review 07-08
Newsletter--Apr2007(pdf)
Clippings Jun03-Apr08
AHSA on facebook
Shopping
Nova Scotia sk8parks
AntigonishEventsCalendar
Halifax movie Roller Town looking for roller skaters / Roller Town facebook page
2010 Skate & Create / 2009 winner, etnies The Legend Of Boxton Square
HOLY ROLLER (2nd vid has music)
Where we are, July 2010
Rolling with the punches, The Casket, Jul 26, 2010
Town trying to find site?, Jul 21, 2010
Request for space for halfpipe turned down, June 21
A safe, fun summer, Chronicle Herald, July 19
A new skate park for sick old tricks -Globe and Mail
The Chronicles of Zander, June 12; Trailer & poster
Northside Youth Centre & Indoor Sk8park Grand Opening, Fredericton, NB; sponsor: East Side Board Supply
Playgound installation May 15, photos
Spryfield park open; vid
Everyone wins, vid about youth engagement produced by NS Dept of Community Services
Local: Big Air in Bedford
To Fix Bridge, Skateboard Mecca May Be Lost for Years, Brooklyn Bridge, NY
2010 AGM / President's report / new board
Pics, Jeff at Moncton sk8park
BMX enthusiasts out of winter hibernation
Dedication unrewarded, Letter to the editor of The Casket, Apr 14, 2010
Local talent - sk8 vids featuring Brennen Breen: couldn't breen / brennen breen this is antigonish / Halifax commons skateboardin / scooter vid featuring Ryan Rossong: Beaver Gone Wild
Danny Way Stepping Aside as His Creation Soars
Connecting to a Culture Using 4 Wheels / Related: 4Wheelwarpony
Bob Biniak of Z-Boys, Dies at 51
Skatepark planned for Amherst, NS / Many benefits to be had in skate park
Snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White on the value of skateboarding
For Tony Hawk, the Skateboard Is a Canvas
A stunt cyclist's Tour de Fence / Danny MacAskill on Youtube
Bridgewater sets aside land for skateboard park, Bridgewater Bulletin, Oct 20,09
AHSA volunteers at HUNGRY4CHANGE banquet, Aug 11 photos
2009 HG parade photos
1st Annual Arichat Skateboarding Competition - photos
New sk8parks 2008/10
Spryfield
Bridgewater (planned)
Chester
Saint John
Truro
Glace Bay
Fall River / slide show
Amherst (planned)
AnnapolisRoyal (planned)
Why a skatepark?
Site selection criteria
Sk8parks & playgrounds
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