Winnipeg Election 2018

Michael Thompson - Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry

Why did you decide to run in the 2018 (Winnipeg Civic Election / School Board Election)?

I strongly believe in our city and in our communities. The reason I chose to run for office is because I want to be the person who listens to and represents the citizens of our ward to implement positive change within our city. My corporate experience in computer operations and project management as well as my volunteer work has lead me to this point. Each experience has given me the opportunity to work with teams within a variety of organizations, to be in leadership roles with important responsibilities and to help individuals directly. I am an open minded flexible individual who will prove to be a trustworthy advocate for you and for our community.

What experience will you bring to complement your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee)?

I have been a part of many long standing community organizations in Winnipeg. These include the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Agassiz Music Festival, Toastmasters International, Junior Chamber International (JCI), and Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel to name a few. With each experience I have worked with diverse team members and folks within each unique organization. I have developed strong listening and observational skills in order to learn the needs of my team members and to identify the culture of each organization. I am also able to weigh the risks and opportunities in every situation in order to carry out a detail oriented and well executed plan. These learned skills and experiences will be a huge help in working with the strong and diverse ward of Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry.

What are some issues that you would like to stand for in your role as (Mayor / Councillor / School Trustee), and why are these issues important to you?

I believe the following issues are important based upon my conversations with people living within the ward:

• Improving the quality of our roads, back lanes and sidewalks
• Addressing a significant shift in homelessness, increased use of high risk drugs, and property crime. Working together with WPS, community agencies and neighbourhood organizations
• Improving our transit service frequency, accessibility, affordability and safety
• Improving the efficiency of public services in regards to obtaining permits
• Increasing funding for recreational facilities
• Continuing to improve city communication, governance and transparency regarding municipal projects. The city can improve upon their utilization of technology to reduce costs and to communicate more effectively and efficiently with the public

What is something that you appreciate about the (City of Winnipeg / the ward / the school ward or school division) you wish to represent?

It may sound strange, but even with all of the geographic differences and layouts of the various neighbourhoods, there is also an amazing amount of similarities across the ward. People love their neighbourhoods, their homes and the features around their communities. Time and time again I hear how proud people are of their street and how important the neighbourhood is to the quality of their lives. I appreciate this and I would be honoured and proud to represent such a community minded ward. I believe it to be the best ward in the city and I want to help to ensure its success for generations to come.

Do you have any other comments regarding your candidacy?

There are a lot of topics that don’t make the daily news cycle and I am interested in all of them and how we can make improvements. I strongly believe that the most important people are those most impacted by or at the front line of a given issue. I will be there to support these people and to help remove obstacles in order for our neighbourhoods, our ward and our city to be successful. I have seen how much people can achieve when they are supported and I promise to follow through on issues that impact our ward. I ask for your support in this election so that I can make a positive difference for everyone. Thank you.