ROB MURRAY: Christoph Braier is running for election for Canmore Council. Tell us a little bit about yourself and some of your related experience for the job.

CHRISTOPH BRAIER: We moved here from Germany 11 years ago, my wife and two daughters (now in their 20s). The community has been really good to us over the last decade so now it’s time for me to give back, to listen to people. What are your concerns? How can I help to keep the mountain town as it is today, or make it even better for all of us?

RM: You’ve been in town for some time. Why, in the 2021 election, did you hey, I’m going to put my name forward? In fact, you announced pretty early, didn’t you?

CB: I announced it pretty early. I thought about putting my name forward to 2017. However, at that time I wasn’t at the stage to do it. My business wasn’t at that level. Now, it’s the right time. We have some pretty big tasks in front of us in the next four years. I would like to be at the kitchen table and help get those results and find solutions. This is the time for me to offer my time to give back to the community.

RM: What would be your top or one of the top issues that you’re really passionate about, and maybe some ideas you have?

CB: I have four topics for my campaign. My number one topic is finances. I believe Canmore should achieve and receive municipal resort status that creates additional funds for the community through visitor taxes without affecting any residents. In addition, there are all these second homes and we have about 30% of those that are not counted when it comes to funding from the province. I would like to have those counted as well, because we do provide infrastructure for those houses. My number two topic is downtown and parking. I would like to make parking easy to find, and have the farmer’s market back downtown. I’ve spoken to a lot of businesses on Main Street, speaking to the Market (and the market is still ongoing). If more people are Main Street buying food or going shopping we’ll have all the people in one place, and that generates more revenue for everyone. The number three topic is, of course, Three Sisters Mountain Village. In one way or another Three Sisters Mountain Village will come back to the town. It’s now within the courts. I’m an architect by trade, so I know it’s doable to build on undermined lands. There are many houses built on undermined land in Europe. There are solutions. Why not have someone on Council with a professional, international background? My vision, my last topic, is to have an indoor community meeting facility where people can go for soccer, table tennis, track and field, pickleball, and other sports that could happen year round and for every age group. I think that’s something we’re missing at the moment. My daughters were in soccer here in town, and when they get to a certain level they have to drive to Cochrane or Calgary to play soccer. Why can we not have an indoor soccer place here? Those are the four topics I would like to achieve.

RM: Looking back on the last four years, what’s something you feel this past Council in Canmore did a good job tackling, and conversely, what’s something you feel that could have done a better job tackling?

CB: One thing console handled well, even though some people didn’t like the outcome, is the situation with the developer Three Sisters Mountain Village overall. What I would love to change is the communication between Town Council and the residents. There’s kind of a division between some residents and some people on Council, so I would like to bring this group together to have an ongoing conversation, an open discussion. I would like to offer my time, for example, every Tuesday my door’s open. Come talk to me. I’m willing to listen to all the concerns, bring it forward, and find solutions that work for all of us.

RM: I know you’ve already laid out your four main topics. Is there another topic that you’d like to discuss today that we haven’t really touched on?

CB: The biggest topic, of course, is affordable housing and all these people buying second homes, and the number is increasing. How can we handle that situation?

RM: Where can people find out more information about you?

CB: I have a Facebook page. They can email me or send me a text message or phone call – (403) 542-4110.

RM: Why should people vote for you in the upcoming municipal election?

CB: I’m willing to listen to everyone. I’m a strong advocate. I’m committed, I’m responsible and innovative. I would like to offer my time. I love to have people with professional backgrounds on Town Council. I believe we have some pretty big tasks in front of us. That’s why I’m putting my name forward and applying for this job.

Filed under: Canmore, Municipal Election