By Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

Parker preaching infrastructure and growth as he seeks a seventh term on council

Sep 26, 2017 | 1:55 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Since 1998 in Lethbridge, nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and Ryan Parker successfully running for city council.

1998 was the first year Parker was elected, and he’s running for a seventh consecutive term in the October Municipal Election.

He was originally born in Taber in 1975 and moved to Lethbridge soon after.

Parker has held many different roles on various boards, committees and commissions and remains the youngest known Alderman to have ever taken a seat on Lethbridge City Council.

Parker says when you look back at the past four years city council, as well as the community, have really advocated for some major projects in Lethbridge and he’d like to see them through.

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“Everything from the northside of Legacy Park, to the new recreation centre as well as commercial development throughout the community. I think the big challenge facing us as a community is the issue of having the proper infrastructure to access facilities we already have, and those being built, so the whole community can utilize it,” Parker said.

As an example, Parker mentioned the new ATB Centre which is going to be highly used with regards to the recreational use.

“We have to make sure we have the proper roads in place such as twinning so we don’t have any bottle necking occuring. We also have to make sure we discuss all issues regarding transportation, including a possible third bridge in the city,” Parker continued. “It’s something council has discussed, maybe we will make it one of the top priorities over the next four to eight years. So those are the things that are really facing our community.”

In continuing to discuss the potential of a third bridge, Parker says the big thing is to accelerate the conversation.

“We’ve got lost of pressure on Scenic Drive, McMaster Blvd and University Drive. With the cost of roads and pipes being close to 20 or 25 per cent cheaper than they have been in the past ten years, this might be a good opportunity to kind of seize on that. If the stars align, and we can work with our provincial government, it might be the time to move forward on this,” Parked added.

Roads, and transportation, are among the issues Parker plans to continue advocating for. But not only that, he wants to make sure recreational and cultural facilities are also on the front burner too.

Another issue Parker is focused on is fair development.

“When I say fair development it means that people have opportunities to move or open a business in all areas of the community, south, west, or north. That the proper lands are zoned both for residential and commercial,” Parker said. “So that people don’t feel like the only place they can do business or build the house of their dreams is a certain area of the city.”

At 42 years old, and having been on council for 19 years, Parker has a vast amount of experience with municipal politics. At the same time, he believes that he still brings youthful enthusiasm as well as entrepreneurial spirit to the table.

“I think as the city approaches 100,000 people, we’ll be there before you know it, we just have to make sure we have the proper infrastructure, buildings and the proper environment for growth so we can keep building into the future.”