When faced with difficult decisions, St. Albert Coun. Jacquie Hansen says she comes back to what her vote will mean for the future of St. Albert. That was no different when it came to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
"You can't make a decision at council without it having an ill effect on somebody, so you have to keep coming back to the greater good and the vision," Hansen said. "I've always believed in strong governance, and that really is about the future of our city. COVID is no different – how are we going to come out of this?"
In a year-in-review interview with the Gazette, Hansen reflected on some of her highlights over the last year, while looking ahead to opportunities in the future as the city continues to manage the effects of the pandemic.
Implementing the city's face covering bylaw was the "toughest" part of the year for Hansen, understanding there are differing opinions in the community. But she said she felt "very, very strongly" about her support of the mandate as a decision made for the "greater good of the community."
"I believe we just all need to do our part – we need to stay home, only go out if you need to, wash your hands, wear a mask and be as kind and compassionate as you can to one another," she said.
"People have lost their jobs. People are mourning, mental health issues are on the rise ... I might be in a leadership position, but I'm one of the team. I really believe we need to do this all together."
On the provincial level, Hansen advocated for environmental causes like extended producer responsibility, where producers are tasked with recycling post-consumer products, through the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association's sustainability and environment committee.
Finalizing the Sturgeon River Watershed Management Plan was a project Hansen said she was especially proud to be a part of, as the plan will guide municipalities around forming policies to collectively protect the watershed as development continues around it.
On a more local level, seeing the twinning of Ray Gibbon Drive start, the annexation agreement with Sturgeon County and expanding St. Albert Trail North were all "big infrastructure pieces" accomplished in 2020 that will set the stage for future growth and development.
Hansen said supporting programs and services for vulnerable populations during the pandemic was important to her. Last year, she brought forward a motion to hire a social housing specialist and voted against cutting back on Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) funding.
"The question is, do you invest in people? Or do you say, 'Sorry, you're on your own, there is no money.' I have always felt that $1 into social profits will reap you $7 in return, at least."
As for disappointing decisions, Hansen pointed to council's vote to move away from Active Communities Alberta's proposal for a multi-sport recreation facility in the city's northwest. She said she would still like to see a non-profit bring a new recreational centre to St. Albert without relying too much on taxpayers to get it up and running.
Looking out on the horizon, Hansen said she wants to see council focus more on revitalizing the city's downtown. Last year, Hansen withdrew a previous budget motion to revisit the city's downtown area redevelopment plan because of city financial constraints, she said.
"We need to start bringing people into our downtown, and post-COVID might be the most ideal time to do that," Hansen said.
Bringing the province's Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) to St. Albert is another goal Hansen said she wants to see up and running by the end of the council term. Under the program, homeowners sign an agreement with the city on a project, like installing solar panels, and the city then works with a provincial agency to finance the project. The homeowner than pays the funds back through their property tax bill.
When asked if she is running for re-election this fall, Hansen said she hasn't decided but will announce in the coming months.
"Being on council is obviously a privilege and an honour. It can be tough, it can be heartbreaking at times ... but I felt really lucky to be a part of this council. By the end of (this) year, I will have had 16 years in public service, and my four years on council has been the most rewarding."
