THUNDER BAY – Though she’s never before held elected office herself, Kristen Oliver brings one of the most extensive political backgrounds to this year’s municipal election race.
A first-time candidate seeking to replace incumbent Joe Virdiramo in what’s expected to be a heated Westfort Ward contest, the 47-year-old Oliver has spent the last seven years at the helm of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association lobbying for communities in the region at the federal and provincial levels.
Before that she spent several years working as a policy advisor in the office of then mayor Lynn Peterson, giving her plenty of insight into the mechanics of the City of Thunder Bay.
A lifelong Westfort resident, Oliver says she has a passion for the community within a community, adding she’s hearing a real call for change when knocking on doors.
“People see Thunder Bay as really stagnant and feeling that Westfort is really neglected,” Oliver said. “I feel that I bring a lot of experience to the table and when people are looking for change, I believe I am the change that will really move our community forward.”
Oliver recognized the city is a critical time, facing a number of social issues that lead to crime and stem from poverty and homelessness.
It has to change for Thunder Bay to have a prosperous future.
“It’s putting a stain onto our community. So when we’re trying to attract new development and new talent to move to Thunder Bay, we really need to address those issues,” Oliver.
Within the ward, crime is the No. 1 issue, Oliver saying the gang issues that have long plagued other neighbourhoods has started to creep into Westfort.
“We’ve got quite a bit of drug dealing going on that I’m hearing from seniors, in particular, who are very concerned. They’ve lived in this community for 50-plus years and are feeling very unsafe. And that’s not acceptable,” Oliver said.
Reluctant to say much about the ongoing legal saga surrounding the James Street Swing Bridge, Oliver said she believes a solution will be found and promised to work with Fort William First Nation to find one that works for both communities.
“At the end of the day it needs to open. We need that flow of traffic going back and forth because our commerce on either side of the bridge relies on open transportation.”
