Active community member Lee Onslow announced her bid for the director’s seat in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District’s electoral Area B, in a statement released Thursday (July 7) morning.
Onslow moved to Blue River in 2017 after spending a decade vacationing in the area snowmobiling in the winter and soaking rays at the local beach in the summer.
Since then, she has been an active community member advocating for her new neighbourhood and the people within it. One notable example in the revitalization, transformation and continued improvements to the Blue River Community Garden, a project Onslow is passionate about and is a coordinator for. Grant funding for numerous projects were possible because of Onslow, who has also organized hundreds of volunteer hours.
She currently sits on the board of directors for the Blue River Powder Packers, is chair of the Blue River Trails Working Group committee, working closely with Simpcw First Nation, local government, businesses and forestry, and was a member of the Thompson Headwaters Services Committee, until it was dissolved not too long ago.
In her statement, Onslow says she will advocate for services based on the needs and wants of the community members of Avola and Blue River, bringing their voices to the table at TNRD board of director meetings.
“Lee understands many of the issues facing our communities and she will bring a wide range of knowledge, life experiences and skills to work for, and on behalf of, the constituents of Area B,” the statement reads. “Lee has integrity and she is honest. She has strong ethical principles and has the ability to be a respectful participant in discussions, to understand different points of view and to work collaboratively to achieve common goals.”
Her background is sales, enjoying a successful career in the oil and gas industry in Calgary. Onslow was hired as Canada’s second female drilling fluid technologist (also known as mud-man), working the rigs in northeast B.C. for five years. Her field experience was utilized during her career as a saleswoman for the next 11 years. In addition, Onslow was on the board of directors for the Calgary Women in Energy and was their technical director three years.
“Lee asks that you give her the opportunity to be entrusted with making decisions that affect the daily lives of the citizens, businesses and organizations within the TNRD.”
Current Area B electoral director Steven Quinn announced in May he would not be seeking re-election, though he encouraged anyone interested to “go for it.”
Voters in each of the TNRD’s 10 electoral areas will cast their votes on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, and will elect one person to the position of director for a four-year term, ending October 2026. If only one person is vying for the seat in any electoral area, that person will be acclaimed to the position.
For more information about voting eligibility and where to vote visit the TNRD website. For those who wish to run, more information can be found here, important dates here, and nomination packages will be available for download through the TNRD website once they are made available.
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