Tom Roulston
Hi Scott,
Thank you for your email and for the questionnaire.
Please see my answers in bold italics in the original email below.
I’ve also attached a candidate headshot for use as you see fit.
You can learn more about me and my priorities at www.electtomroulston.ca
Best,
Tom
Candidate Questionnaire:
1. Do you support community-led organizations like the LFGA in their efforts to promote conservation, ethical hunting, and responsible firearms use for sport and education?
Yes. LFGA is one of the many organizations in our city that foster community. We need organizations like these that enrich the lives of people who live here. I believe quality of life in any city or town is tied to the groups, associations and clubs that allow people to form connections around the things they’re passionate about, whether sports, recreation, the arts, etc. Supporting such organizations is a priority for me, if elected.
2. In your view, what role should the City of Lethbridge play in protecting access to outdoor spaces for recreation, conservation, and education? How will municipal policies ensure that legal, permitted outdoor recreational facilities, such as shooting sports ranges, are recognized and protected as part of the broader community landscape, and not unfairly impacted by land use changes such as urban growth or rezoning?
I believe the city should be playing a leading and active role in protecting and earmarking outdoor spaces for these activities. I think it’s fair to say that while an outdoor shooting range doesn’t belong in a residential or commercial area, its important to maintain recreational spaces for these uses, and ensure these designated areas don’t fall victim to re-zoning pressures.
3. Should recreational activities such as sport shooting and archery receive equal consideration alongside other sports in municipal planning and recreation policy? Would you support including representatives from these sports as formal stakeholders in long-term discussions around recreation, land use, and community health planning?
Yes to both. The more diverse spectrum of sports and recreational stakeholders at the table the better. We don’t want to get a reputation of being a ‘one sport city’ that prioritizes the needs of some groups while ignoring others. That’s not a great way to foster community.
4. Do you personally participate in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, archery, or shooting sports? If so, please share how those experiences shape your views on land use and recreation.
I do not personally participate, however I do have a number of close relatives who do and I understand the passion that comes with these pursuits. If elected, I support land use for these activities, especially when the advocating body is committed to ethical hunting/fishing, responsible firearm use and education.
5. In one or two sentences: Why do you believe you are the best candidate to support organizations like LFGA and the values we represent?
Because I’m a candidate that understands and places a high value on community and the organizations working to enrich the lives of our residents. Some might argue the work and priorities of associations like LFGA fall into the ‘nice to have’ category. Whether it’s sports, recreaction, arts or service clubs, their work and efforts in the community are ‘need to have’ and we, as a city need to be an ally for their needs whenever we can.
6. Is there anything else you’d like our membership to know about your views on outdoor recreation, conservation, or supporting legal firearm owners.
I just want to reiterate my piece from above about community, and the importance of supporting the work of organizations like yours. While you can live and work anywhere, I believe a key piece to attracting and retaining both investment and talent is being a city that also places a high value on organizations that can enrich the lives of its citizens. We want to be a city for everyone, and to do that we need to make sure we’re spreading our support across a diverse spectrum of organizations and not falling into specific brackets that could brand us as a ‘hockey city’ or ‘baseball city’ thus alienating people with other passions. For community to thrive City Council must take a big tent policy when it comes to supporting sports and recreation organizations.