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Quesnel local Kyle Townsend vies for City Council seat

Townsend is a logger, miner and former volunteer firefighter
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Local resident Kyle Townsend hopes to win a seat on Quesnel City Council. Melanie Law photo

Local logger and miner Kyle Townsend has never run for political office before, but he sees some things in Quesnel that need changing, and decided to run for City Council to help make a difference.

Townsend and his wife moved to Quesnel two years ago from Topley, B.C., a small community between Houston and Burns Lake. He was a volunteer firefighters for 10 years in that community, as well as working in the forestry industry. His house unexpectedly sold, he says, and they chose Quesnel for its availability of prospecting and logging industry opportunities.

“I’m a logger full time, I work in the logging and mining industries.”

Townsend says he spends 70 per cent of his work time at camp, and runs a placer mine, which he calls “moderately” successful, in his spare time.

His time at camp won’t be a problem in terms of the council schedule though, as Townsend has already checked with his boss to make sure he can take time for council meetings and other necessary events. He also mentions he’s available to speak to residents via phone and Facebook message, as the camp has internet.

Townsend would like to address the city’s crime rate and drug addiction problems, as well as wildfire preparedness and small business and local entrepreneurs’ concerns.

Townsend ran heavy equipment as part of the 2017 wildfire response, and says he witnessed mismanagement firsthand.

“[There was a] lack of preparedness for fires coming close to town,” he explains.

In regard to crime, Townsend says he’d like to continue council’s work to get the RCMP detachment fully staffed.

“And the drug addiction problem, I don’t know enough about it to say what I would want to do; but I’d like to learn more and do more about it,” he notes.

Another concern of Townsend’s is that the city may be moving away from its roots.

“Some of the direction that the town is taking; it is maybe forgetting its grassroots.” As an example, Townsend talks about the small size of the parking spaces in downtown Quesnel. “Not being able to park a crew cab pickup downtown – this town is built on loggers and miners and they all drive that kind of pickup. How can they come to town to spend their money if they can’t park?”

Townsend says he wants to bring some representation to young and middle-aged working class residents, to help make the city more accommodating to the group.

“Being one, I think I bring something to the table,” he says.

READ MORE: Council calls for more police resources in Quesnel



editor@quesnelobserver.com

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