Anne Skipsey intends to be the first woman to be mayor of Qualicum Beach.
The town has had 14 reeves and mayors, all men, according to a news release.
Those leaders include Skipsey’s father, Art, who was mayor from 1977 to 1990.
“I was giving a tour of the council chamber to a Grade 3 class and we were looking at the photographs of all the previous mayors, all of them men,” recalls Skipsey in the release.
“One girl asked, ‘Can a woman be mayor?’ and I said, ‘Of course!’ Having positive role models is so important.”
Skipsey moved to Qualicum Beach at six months old, and grew up playing softball where the entrance to Qualicum Foods is now.
She graduated from the brand new Kwalikum Secondary School and then moved away to finish her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Simon Fraser University.
Skipsey worked for the City of Burnaby for 15 years, rising to the position of acting city clerk, also known as acting corporate administrator. Six years ago, she and her husband, Randall, moved back to Qualicum Beach with their son, James.
“We wanted James to have the same extraordinary opportunity I had to grow up in this unique community,” she said.
Skipsey was a leader in the community campaign to save Qualicum Beach Elementary School. Four years ago, she was elected to town council.
“The last two councils have been split 3-2 and I want to bring a leadership style that works toward consensus,” she said.
“We need to make decisions that respect our Official Community Plan and honour what makes Qualicum Beach unique, from our walkable village to our natural waterfront to our community spirit.”
She supports thoughtful development; creating a comprehensive housing strategy; improving town maintenance standards; preparing for climate change; improving relations with town staff; and a responsible fiscal policy which includes changing the Development Cost Charges bylaw and creating a Community Amenity Policy.
She does not support a roundabout at Memorial Avenue and Highway 19A.
For more on Skipsey, visit www.anneskipsey.ca.
To contact her, call 250-752-6441 and email arskipseyqb@gmail.com.
— Submitted by Lois Eaton/NEWS Staff