BANFF – Longtime Banff local Lesley Young joins Jessia Arsenio, Mark Walker and Hugh Pettigrew on the list of council hopefuls seeking a seat in the upcoming October municipal election.
Young, known better as Les than Lesley, filed his nomination papers at Banff town hall last week. In the mayoral race are former town councillor Stavros Karlos and current town councillor Brian Standish. Candidates have until Sept. 20 to file for the Oct. 18 election.
Young believes many concerns of residents have not been heard by the previous council, pointing to Bear Street redevelopment and the pedestrianization of Banff Avenue as just two examples.
“What I hope to bring to council are the views and opinions of a long-time private property leaseholder who appreciates the contributions of earlier generations of settlers and business people, many of whom feel that their voices are not heard and their opinions not appreciated,” he said.
Young points to the Town of Banff incorporation agreement, which states the townsite’s primary function is to serve as a centre for visitors to the park and to provide a comfortable living community for people who need to reside.
“I believe that failing to provide for the health and happiness of Banff’s ‘living community’, which continues the history and ‘community character’ of Banff established by those who have gone before us, runs the risk of losing what makes a visit to Banff National Park and the Town of Banff so unique and UNESCO World Heritage Site-worthy,” he said.
“This is what I hope to represent at council.”
Young has lived and worked in Banff since 1972, spending about 30 years in the hospitality and food service industry, which includes the Banff Springs Hotel and Banff Park Lodge, and about 10 years at other businesses like Gourlay’s Pharmacy and Husky service station.
“Basically, I decided to run because I was having a conversation with a Bear Street stakeholder one morning in early April, and that person more or less turned to me, and said, ‘why don’t I run?’,” he said. “I thought about it and it’s a convenient time for me.”
Young said he’s become interested in many topics, such as Bear Street redevelopment, the recreation grounds, a proposed 30-km/h town-wide speed limit and what he sees as a need for traffic lights at the intersection of Buffalo and Lynx streets.
He said the future of Banff Avenue pedestrian zone needs a community conversation.
“Does it get closed again for the next few years just because it worked so well during COVID-19 or now that things may be going back to normal for next summer, does it become open again for regular traffic?” he said. “Those are my main issues.”
In neighbouring Canmore, Christoph Braier, Vijay Domingo, Wade Graham, Hans Helder, Jeff Hilstad, Jeff Mah, Karen Marra, Jyn San Miguel and Rob Seeley have filed nomination papers for a council seat. Vi Sandford and Sean Krausert are in the race for the mayor’s seat so far.
