Mayor Shaigec traces his roots in agriculture in the Region back more than 100 years. Born and raised in Parkland County, he actively farmed until 2010 when he entered politics. As Chair and a facilitator of the vital conversations that will form the RAMP, he sees the Task Force as the driving force in shaping the face of agriculture in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. He feels the Task Force mission goes beyond protecting agricultural lands to advancing agri-business and leveraging innovation to diversify the economy, staking out the Region’s place in the global market. In the long term, he see RAMP informing land use planning in a new way; possibly through a different lens when looking at both urban and rural growth.  Mayor Shaigec believes this, in turn, can potentially strengthen the relationship between rural and urban municipalities. The resulting trust, along with a new policy framework, could contribute not only farmland preservation and certainty for farmers, but certainty for investors and opportunities for innovation in agri-business. And as a food lover, Mayor Shaigec notes it will ensure safe, local food sources for all who enjoy food as much as he does!

Mayor Doblanko is a 3^rd generation farmer who returned to her husband’s cow/calf operation south of Calmar following a career as an educator in Edmonton, and thus is closely attuned to the issues in the Region. She sees RAMP as our “last chance to save our quality agricultural land.” She wants the Task Force to be bold, and multi-level in its approach, partnering with all regional agriculture stakeholders to position agriculture’s value as both a non-renewable resource and a key regional business/industry. She believes the Task Force’s diversity of input – including its expert consultants and municipal advisors – give its conversations breadth and strength. Because of this collaboration, and by linking agriculture to food, Mayor Doblanko is confident the RAMP work will attract broader public interest to this critical issue. 

A breadth of agriculture experience defines Councillor Paul Smith. Farming for 40 years on family land established in the 1890s, he also brings knowledge gained over 30 years as a multi-level agriculture industry representative to the Task Force table. He says it gives him a broader scope on issues, one that anticipates potential unintended consequences of good intentions, because he’s lived them. Appointed by his Strathcona County peers, Councillor Smith embodies the hands-on, successful, experienced producer who will be focused on creating solutions that will stand the test of time. 

Councillor Walters was the apprentice of his grandmother Pearl, spending summers gardening at her side and later more fully engaged in the family’s cattle/grain farm near his home of Drayton Valley. As a result, he is well versed in the art of harvesting and preserving fruits and vegetables and so, like many urbanites, he is not far removed from the “spirit” and even the “romance” of agriculture. Councillor Walters sees this manifest in growing interest in local food and urban agriculture – a sense that people are searching for a relationship with food that is being lost as more people grow up without direct experience of agriculture. For him, RAMP holds out the promise of a pathway to clear achievable goals for agri-business and a more diverse ag sector, and ultimately provincial attention to these issues.

 

With a fondness for important, complex issues and eager for Beaumont to continue to engage in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Barnhart was pleased to join the Task Force, admittedly as a non-expert. That’s because Kathy was raised in New York City and, as a long-time resident of smaller centres since, provides an outside perspective. At the RAMP table she says she appreciates gaining a richer understanding of how all regional partners can benefit from RAMP’s work. Councillor Barnhart credits the initial Situation Analysis Report  as making the issues of agriculture through food “come alive” for her, and looks forward to the better understanding the role of urban agriculture and to Beaumont partnering more meaningfully with its neighbours, especially the rural members. 

Alanna Hnatiw says growing up in a small town, part of a 4^th generation family farm, helped shape the values she brings to RAMP, particularly the importance of creating a frame around agriculture that builds opportunity and not constraint for the community.  Farm life is a true collaboration that often demands commitment from whole families; where all contributions are vital; and where traditions are valued but new ways embraced, because it’s a long-term, complicated, and expensive commitment. Representing the level of government that is closest to the farm’s gate, Mayor Hnatiw sees RAMP as an opportunity to listen to producers and understand the challenges they face. We need to consider the land, the economy and the people, balancing the needs of agriculture and development in a land use framework for the future. Some things, she says, once done cannot be undone, underscoring the importance of broad regional engagement and education throughout the process.

Mayor Turner’s interest and focus as a Task Force member is in addressing the future of the Region based on the dual principles of agricultural land preservation and reducing urban sprawl. He recognizes it’s a potentially tough conversation, perhaps better started 50 years ago, but now worth whatever time it takes to get right. Without a direct personal connection to agriculture, Mayor Turner has appreciated overviews of the current status, noting that the Task Force’s “big win” would be to resolve the integration of those dual principles to the satisfaction of all sides.