Shaluk challenges Karrouze for Ward 1 seat

Until election day, The Brandon Sun will be running profiles on each of the city’s 10 electoral wards, asking candidates to identify the most important problems facing their ward.

Incumbent Ward 1 Coun. Heather Karrouze — who faces Ron Shaluk in the Oct. 28 election — says she wants to see more traffic calming measures along Braecrest Avenue to improve pedestrian safety.

Karrouze, 65, said there has been a lot more development near the road in recent years but safety features haven’t kept pace, despite improved pedestrian crossings with flashing lights being installed.

“Although we have a path on the south side, it is human nature to take the easiest, quickest route home, and so we see a lot of pedestrians walking along the north side of Braecrest where there is no sidewalk,” she said.

Another priority is to improve safety at the corner of Braecrest and 18th Street North.

The province and city were initially supposed to share the cost of building a roundabout at the intersection by this December, though construction is yet to start.

Karrouze in 2022 argued against the roundabout, though she did still want to see the intersection improved. On Tuesday, she said that previous opinion of hers was “wrong,” and she now thinks a traffic circle is the right answer after hearing from traffic experts.

“One of the things that happens when you become a city councillor is you learn a great deal,” Karrouze said.

Shaluk in an interview on Monday said he is also in favour of a roundabout at the intersection.

He said his biggest priority is also pedestrian infrastructure along Braecrest, and that he wants to see better bus stops, proper crosswalks and speed control.

While no one is against development in the neighbourhood, Shaluk said, there is a lot of “concern and anxiety” over the city’s ability to keep up with infrastructure for the residents’ livability.

Shaluk, 56, said a lack of green space and the need for a new school are two more of his priorities.

“Kirkcaldy (Heights) School is at capacity, and they’re busing kids elsewhere. So, plans for a new school need to start if they haven’t already to secure some space,” he said.

Ward 1, which was known as the Assiniboine ward until 2022, includes all of Brandon north of the Assiniboine River. It hosts major landmarks such as the Riverbank Discovery Centre, Corral Centre and Brandon Municipal Airport.

Karrouze was first elected in 2022 with 37 per cent of the vote in a five-person race. The ward was previously held by Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who is also seeking re-election in the city’s top job.

Both Karrouze and Shaluk live in the ward.

The Sun asked both candidates their opinions and plans on a variety of topics, including spurring growth in the ward and attracting people to its landmarks.

Shaluk, who is the Riverbank’s treasurer, said he is encouraged by the amount of interest the site receives, especially for the Peter Sawatzky Sculpture Park. He wants to see the area become even more of a destination than it is now.

He also wants to see the repairs needed at the airport completed, and make the adjoining museum more popular for tourists.

“The biggest challenge to keep them going — both places — is to leverage the private-public partnership of fundraising,” Shaluk said.

He said his experience at RBC and as a treasurer means he can be a strong advocate to help fundraise for the organizations.

Additionally, Shaluk said the city should put up a billboard near the intersection of Grand Valley Road and the Trans-Canada Highway near Kemnay to incentivize people to visit Brandon’s major attractions, as the Riverbank is right next to the eastern end of Grand Valley Road.

“We have thousands of vehicles that went by the Trans-Canada past Brandon every day. How many of them turn into the Discovery Centre or our airport’s museum? Maybe not as much as we like,” he said.

Karrouze said she would like to see development at the airport, such as a hotel.

“If you look at the community as a whole, we often host large events, and rooms are at a premium,” she said. “So, to add accommodation at the airport where there is space and where it would make sense for travellers, I think is a smart thing to do,” she said, noting it would be a long-term endeavour.

For residents, Karrouze said she wants Brandon Transit to stop inside the Corral Centre to better access the main stores.

“To have a quote-unquote Walmart stop on 18th Street North does create a bit of a hike for people who are carrying grocery bags or shopping bags,” she said.

Such a change would have to be worked out with the centre’s property owner.

“That is something that I would like to see the city work out with Shindico.”

Karrouze also said she wants to see the Riverbank continue to develop, and would like to see more lighting along walking paths at the centre as a safety precaution, especially for early nights in the winter.

She said she feels that she has worked hard during her first term and the experience is a valuable asset.

“Municipalities across the country are being faced with unprecedented challenges,” Karrouze said. “Brandon is no different, and with those challenges come also unprecedented requirements or need for funding, and I believe that having four years of experience at budget deliberations is valuable experience to bring to the coming term.”

Karrouze is one of the least vocal councillors at council meetings, seldom asking questions of staff or debating with other members.

When asked about her approach, she described herself as a good listener and said she only likes to speak if she feels as though she has something to contribute.

“When I have a question that I need an answer to, or if I have an opinion that I believe needs to be heard, I’m quite comfortable to speak up. But one does learn more from listening than they do from speaking,” she said.

The candidates both applauded the city’s quick work during flood mitigation efforts during the summer.

Shaluk said the city should explore the feasibility of rerouting part of Grand Valley Road, which is under provincial jurisdiction, about 100 to 200 yards farther north.

“For the amount of times that Grand Valley and 18th have been closed off since our big flood in 2011, I don’t think it’s realistic to rely on that,” Shaluk said.

He said he doesn’t know if that’s the correct solution to the problem, but it is an idea that needs to be explored.

He also wants to bring back ward meetings, saying there hasn’t been a ward meeting “in quite a while.”

“That’s something I do plan to bring back,” he said.

Both candidates have agreed to take part in the debate for Ward 1 at Brandon University on Sept. 21.

» alambert@brandonsun.com