Council Candidate Sheldon Parsons Talks Chatham-Kent Sports

CKSN asked all candidates running for Chatham-Kent council and mayor, to give us their backgrounds in sports and recreation, and decribe their goals and views for not only sports and recreation in Chatham-Kent, but making Chatham-Kent a healthier, and more active place to live.

The Chatham-Kent Municipal election day is October 27, 2014.

Here are council candidate Sheldon Parsons’ responses. Parsons is running for council in Ward 5 – Wallaceburg.

1. Background in sports and recreation:

Sports and Athletics:

Hockey – coach and manager for house league teams from the mid eighties to the mid nineties (while 3 kids played minor hockey)
Box Lacrosse – coach and manager for travel teams from midget to junior – won Intermediate “B” silver medal at all Ontario championships, founding director and GM for Red Devil Junior “B” Lacrosse – won Founders Cup (Canadian Championship) in 2001, founding director for Wallaceburg Lacrosse Association
Field Lacrosse – manager for St Clair Spirit Junior Field lacrosse for over 20 years, founding director for Wallaceburg Minor Field Lacrosse and popular “Fall Ball”, ran bingos to raise funds for lacrosse programs for over 10 years

Health:

Sydenham District Hospital Members Caucus – lead the membership drive to enable control of the Sydenham District Hospital Board.

Sydenham District Hospital Board – currently Vice Chair and a member of the Tri-Board executive

Chatham-Kent Family Health Team – worked with staff and other community leaders to raise funds to expand the Wallaceburg Family Health Team location to accommodate 3 more family practice doctors

Recreation Programs and Organizations:

Wallaceburg Bingos – founded with two others, the Wallaceburg Bingo Association following the closure of our community bingo hall and brought bingos back to Wallaceburg. Worked as a leader in the Wallaceburg Kinsmen Club to buy and establish Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo and the Kinsmen Community Centre. From its inception, Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo Association has received almost one million dollars in bingo proceeds from the running of bingos in our charity hall.

Wallaceburg Kinsmen Community Centre – lead with other key kinsmen members, the purchase and renovation of the Kinsmen Community Centre where local charities and sports organizations can run their programs. The Community Centre hosts bingos, craft sales, community meetings, and other fund-raisers. The Gym hosts weekly volleyball leagues, basketball leagues, sports organizations and sports training programs, coaching clinics, birthday parties and other community events

Wallaceburg Splash Pad – a small but needed recreational project serving the community’s needs for active recreation. Spearheaded the fundraising for an improvement to the Jaycee Park splash pad. Working with others to investigate more neighbourhood splash pads through out the community

Sydenham District Pool – fought the recommendations of staff to close the Sydenham District Pool, established a user group to bring about operational improvements and facility renovations

2. What specific ideas or goals do you have for Chatham-Kent, to improve or maintain recreational programs and facilities, and support our athletes and sports organizations? Or to help build opportunities for future growth in these areas?

Additional Neighbourhood Splash Pads – will work with community groups to build at least two additional splash pads in the west/central and south sections of the community

Kinsmen Community Centre – will promote the use of the Kinsmen Gym for after school youth programs

Municipal Arenas – work with community groups to keep arena rental fees as low as possible

Sydenham District Pool – work with community and user groups to keep the pool open and available for public and school use

3. How will you work to make Chatham-Kent a healthier, more active place to live?

Bike Lanes and Community Trails – support additional infrastructure funding towards the development of additional designated bike lanes on major streets in the community

Parks – ensure that sufficient funding is set aside and allocated towards parks and facilities for active and passive use by community residents

Community Health Centres – continue to promote the availability of programming from CK CHCs for health programs such as smoking cessation and other disease prevention programs

4. Anything else you’d like to add? 

Urban and Street forests and trees – continue to work with environmental groups like WATCH and Sydenham Field Naturalists to ensure the protection and expansion of urban street trees and urban forests.

What did you think of Council Candidate Sheldon Parsons’ responses? Let us know in the comments below!