Local business owner Anne Middler has thrown her hat into the ring to become a Whitehorse city councillor.
Middler is the founder of Kicksled Revolution, a business located in downtown Whitehorse, but she has lived across the territory since moving here in 2001. Middler said as a councillor, she would bring knowledge she’s developed from a variety of work and volunteer experiences to the table.
Middler recently finished a term on the Yukon Utilities Board and she is a member on the board for Fiddleheads Yukon. Before starting her own business, she worked with the Yukon Conservation Society. She also has done work for the Yukon Historical Museums Association.
With the Fiddleheads, Middler helped organize the recent Pan-Northern Youth Fiddle Summit as well as the Canadian Grandmasters’ Fiddle Championship. Among other responsibilities, she was in charge of shuttling fiddlers around town.
Middler’s platform focuses on sustainability and community safety — in more ways than one.
As a downtown resident and business owner, Middler said she loves the downtown — she's also been a member of the downtown residents’ association. However, she does acknowledge there have been some changes in peoples’ sense of security, and that there are things that the city can do about those changes.
Furthermore, Middler said she wants cyclist commuters to have the safe infrastructure to get to work.
That said, Middler is aware of the tough financial situation many Whitehorse residents are in — and doesn’t want to add to it with city taxes.
“A government needs to also figure out ways to tighten its belt and ensure that we're not putting more burden on citizens when times are already quite tight,” said Middler. So, she said, council will need to figure out how to do more with less, especially when it comes to the fundamental city services like water, garbage and recycling, and road infrastructure.
Gary Bailie, the founder of the Blue Feather Music Festival, told the News Middler is a “wonderful gal.”
Bailie said as an active community member himself, he knows Middler through her community work.
“She's got a good, kind heart, and she’s very, very community minded,” Bailie said. Middler is able to connect with young people in the community as well, said Bailie.
He knows her to be an avid skier, as well as kicksledder.
“I just find that the people that are actually healthy people, healthy mind, body and spirit, are people who are going to be consistently good decision makers,” said Bailie.
Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
