Randal Ostafichuk

Randal Ostafichuk

Village of Lumby Council candidate. 

Questions

1) Why should voters cast a ballot for you October 20?

Voters in Lumby need to be assured that the people making decisions at the Council table are able to represent the entire population of the Village fairly, make educated choices, and have accountability for the valuable tax dollars that are spent.

As an incumbent two-term councilor, and having served seven years on the Parks and Recreation board, I bring experience and knowledge to Council. 

If re-elected, I will continue to make sure that the Village of Lumby
focuses on “smart growth”.

I am proud to participate in Council meetings, education seminars, and planning meetings for Lumby.

Besides being a strong representative for all of the Village residents, I volunteer my time to do things for others in the Village without expectation of anything in return. 

I started Lumby Live music in the park five years ago, and annually bring
free live music in the summer for all to enjoy. 

I have brought the Communities in Bloom program back to Lumby and the committee has achieved a top rated 5 Bloom status in 2018.

Everything from organizing downtown cleanups, to having wooden salmon donated to children to paint, and even building the herb baskets you see on the lamp poles downtown are all things I have done for the Village to enjoy. 

Being a homeowner in Lumby, working in a small business in Lumby, having a child in our schools in Lumby, and using all the services in Lumby means that I any decisions I make will affect me the same as they do every other resident.

 If re-elected, I will continue to dedicate myself to the Village to ensure that Lumby remains “Simply the Best”.

2) What would you consider Lumby's greatest strengths and weaknesses, and why?

Lumby is an amazing community made up of a wide variety of age groups and lifestyles. 

We come together in times of need, and we look after each other. 

Having such an age-friendly downtown core, with fantastic amenities and services all within walking distance make Lumby a very attractive town to live in. 

The “small town feel” of Lumby is something we are all proud of. I am humbled by the generosity of our community, and by the willingness of residents to volunteer for good causes. 

Winning the Kraft Hockeyville title in 2016 is a testament to how the Village of Lumby, and the surrounding areas came together to support the girls playing minor hockey at our local arena. 

We have to be careful with plans for the future though, as the community could suffer badly if we grow too fast or in the wrong ways. 

We have young families moving to our Village with no rental housing, few industries for employment, and an elementary school that is at capacity. 

It is much needed that we have houses to buy and rent for seniors and families, jobs available within our community, and schools that provide a fantastic education. 

Having served seven years on Council, the leadership of those making decisions has always considered impacts to our Village with every decision we make. 

One of the greatest strengths we have to date is our ability to plan for the future. I pride myself on the discussion and debate we have at Council, as good debate leads to great decisions.

3) What is the biggest issue facing Lumby, and as a member of the council, how would you work to address this issue?

One of the biggest issues facing Lumby is the fact that we are caught between a rock and a hard place with our growth. 

We have an elementary school that is at capacity due primarily to young families living in Lumby, yet we have very few affordable homes for rental or purchase for those families. 

Likewise, we have seniors that want to downsize their homes having difficulty in finding housing in the Village. We have many residents that travel to Vernon and other areas for employment as there are limited high paying jobs within the Village. 

We have a community that wants to feel safe, but we are seeing more property crime all over the Okanagan. 

We have to find a permanent solution to our flooding issues that are no longer a “once in 200 year” event.

We have many residents that require medical and social services and are unable to travel to Vernon for those. 

Our job as Councillors will be to allow for growth, but at a pace and in a style that suits Lumby. We will need to make sure that new housing developments are focused on obtainable and affordable houses, not what is in the best interest of the developer. 

We need to focus on developing our industrial lands to attract responsible industry that complements our lifestyle, not compromises it.

We need to promote our local businesses, trades, and industries to ensure that we maintain and grow our existing employers. 

We need to be able to be proactive in dealing with crime, drugs, and homelessness so we don’t end up having the same issues as some of our surrounding communities. 

We need to actively participate in doctor retention and expansion of our medical facilities and services if we hope to keep them in our community. 

We need to keep pushing the Provincial and Federal Governments to come to the table together and help us solve the issue of flooding as our businesses and residents cannot afford to sit back and wait. 

Every one of these items weighs in on every decision that should be made about Lumby and our growth. 

I want our community to remain affordable, safe, accessible, and family friendly. 

If re-elected, I would be responsible, accountable, and proactive in making sure that I plan for “smart growth” in our Village by considering all impacts from each decision I make.