MD of Pincher Creek by-election candidate Garry Marchuk

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Garry Marchuk at his Beaver Mines home
C. Davis photo

Garry Marchuk is a semi-retired resident of Beaver Mines who also works at the Pincher Creek UFA store.  He is one of two declared candidates for the recently vacated Division 3 seat on the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 Council.  He worked for 21 years as a Community Constable, including 10 years in the Crowsnest Pass, 10 years in Pincher Creek, and 1 year in Okotoks.  "I worked for councils of all kinds and sorts, and all kinds of administrations."  Marchuk has been a resident of Beaver Mines for 32 years.

• To read our interview with Jacques Thouin, who is also running for the vacant Division 3 seat, click here.
• For the official MD By-election Notice click here.

Interview with Garry Marchuk:


Why are you running?

"This by-election is a perfect opportunity for me, because it's a one-year mandate, for me to see if I'm any good at it, and if I want to continue it, and if people like me."

What do you see as major issues for Division 3?

"Division boundaries.  Getting Castle Mountain into Division 3 and out of Division 1.  Which makes sense, they're at the end of our road here."
"Texas gates that's an issue in the community.  I think it has to be addressed fairly. I think it makes it (the Texas Gate Policy) very expensive for the ranchers.  It's not only state of the art, but it is extremely expensive to meet their criteria.  I would get more input from the ranchers involved."
"Affordable water and sewer to Beaver Mines... It's going to have come sooner or later, but it has to be affordable.  We need water to the homes here in Beaver Mines."
"Paving to the ski Hill.  The deals been done, let's get it paved."
"Staff issues within the Town and the MD.  I hear a lot of concerns there, about unhappy workers.  So I want to find out if it's true, and if it is true, why?"
"Relationship with the town.  I hear there is some hardship there.  Why?  We have lots of common interests.  Why isn't that relationship like family?  Why are we duplicating everything?"

The Beaver Mines Fire Hall is a major issue for you too, isn't it?

"I'm old school.  In a democracy you have to have the input of the people.  The Beaver Hall Community Association weren't approached, nobody in the community was approached, we were simply told that we're getting a new fire hall. They're buying 4.1 acres of land to put it on, and this is where it's going.  I think it's wrong in all three of those aspects. Hence you're right it's one of the major reasons I'm running.
I think it was wrong the way they pursued that, and they lost a lot of respect from the community."

Tourism?

"I've been here 32 years, and I have seen tourism increase every year since I've been here.  The cottage industry is lacking here.  There's lots of little communities that have less to offer, but yet offer more than we do.  We certainly know the area.  We could take people and show them what the back country really like, and what it's all about."

Community Values assessment

"The Communities Values assessment was done recently.  I want to know if those ideas are being pursued, or looked at, or incorporated." 

Gladstone Valley Road

"The Gladstone Valley, 20 years they've been waiting for a hardtop on that road.  Let's get it done.  They want the road that's there.  They want the soft spots dug out, repacked, and resurface the whole thing.  A 70 Km highway.  Don't take out all the twists and turns, because that's what makes it attractive, and beautiful, and charming, and a nice Sunday drive.
If you put in a 100 km highway it would change their quality of life because it would become a speedway for Saturday night.
People are in a hurry.  If the speed limit is 100k they will drive it.
You lose all your character, you lose all your charm, and they don't want to lose that.  And why should they?"

Castle Logging

"I'm not a fan of clear cut logging but I am a fan of keeping our forests safe. We don't want to have a forest fire come ripping through and burn us all out.  Lots of those trees they took out of here wouldn't even make good fire wood because they're all punky and soft on the inside.  That forest had to be cleaned up."

New MD building

"The MD needs a new building, I don't know that they need a 7-8 million dollar building.  I didn't hear about that, I didn't know they had a meeting there that one night to show the public. I think it was poorly advertised.  Information from the council to the public has been extremely poor in my estimate.  I think that we have to address those issues, keep the people informed of what we're doing and not be afraid to tell them the truth.
Put things back on the table.  There are so many things that happen behind closed doors."

In closing...

"Because this by election date is rapidly approaching, I wont have time to go and visit with all the residents of Division 3.  So I just want to let them know that if they want a long time resident with the same values and same concerns that they have, they want a strong voice to represent them, they want someone who's honest, approachable, and open, if they want someone to restore some dignity and respect to council, then vote for me.

And also, it's not so important that they vote for me, but it's important that they vote."