JOHN PRINCE: Telling It Like It Is...

Time to fade away

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 15:10:00 +0000

A famous general once said: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." With this disappointing but expected election loss it is now time for me to fade away as well.

As many of my readers know for years I have spoken out (some say, ahead of my time) on the many ills and problems our community faced and still faces only to be rebuffed and reviled at every turn. But now with this loss I sink into the depths and sorrow of despair as what Galileo must have felt during the Inquisition when surrounded by a sea of ignorance.

However, on the bright side, I am no longer shackled by a sense of duty, obligation and responsibility to my community for the people here by casting me adrift have set me free. FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD I'M FREE AT LAST.

But who will free those left behind? What with the critics and complainers now in charge of the hen house and my being banished to Siberia, who is left to save the Pass from itself? Maybe it no longer needs saving as the saviours are now in charge? Time will tell. But somehow I feel it is but the calm before the storm. Batten down the hatches boys, for I fear we are in for a rough ride. Maybe not this year but certainly the year after, and the year after that, because you can only go backwards for so long before you hit a brick wall. Then what do you do when you have to move forwards? "How hard it is, sometimes, to trust the evidence of one's senses! How reluctantly the mind consents to reality." That will be the real test for this council.... and for this community. Moving forward when stuck in the past.

Whether what transpired last night was the best thing that could have happened as what the the majority obviously believe and hope is the case, or the worse, it is obvious at this time what it doesn't need or want is another hero.

With that I bid everyone adios. Its been a blast that could not last and as with Thunder in the Valley, I am now no more.

Tina Turner - We Don't Need Another Hero

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.

Election Day 2013 - Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:15:00 +0000

Election Day 2013
Monday October 21 10 am - 8 pm

Subdivision A: All electors from Coleman north and south of Highway #3 from 90th street west to the Municipal boundary. Voting Station: Crowsnest Pass Sports Complex, Banquet Facility 2nd floor (elevator Access) 8702-22nd Avenue Coleman
Subdivision B: All electors from Blairmore and Frank -91st Street east to 154th Street- North and South of Highway #3. Voting Station: Elks Hall, 2025-129 Street Blairmore
Subdivision C: All electors from Bellevue and Hillcrest – 155th Street east to the Municipal Boundary. Voting Station: MDM Community Centre (gymnasium), 2802- 222 Street Bellevue.

Voter Eligibility

Canadian residents who have lived in Alberta for 6 months prior to the election and are primary residents of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass on Election Day are eligible to vote.
Voters will be asked to show government issued identification at the polling station that shows the elector's photograph, current address and name. If you are unable to produce government issued ID you must produce two pieces of ID from the following list: Authorized Identification

Comment:
We need to take the right to vote as a responsibility and obligation - not a chore or a mindless irrelevant task.

The people we elect will represent our wishes on a local level for the next four years and its important every resident of age has a chance to have input into who those people sitting around the council table will be. In this regard, be informed and make your decisions wisely for you will have to live with them for some time to come. As it has been said: "You are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice."

UPDATE: 11:07 am

2013 Municipal Election Results
Viewing election results is now available on our new municipal website. Check it out here.

Every election is determined by the people who show up.

I've given it my all....

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sun, 20 Oct 2013 17:56:00 +0000

.... more than that I could not do.

Some say don't worry about winning or losing in this election; honouring your intentions and doing your absolute best is good enough.

If it is true that the mayor and incumbents will be no more after this election. New school in essence being banished for being 'too new'. Is it inevitable then that we will have a return to old school? Is the 'middle-way' option even in the game here?

Hard to say, what with the media censorship and hatchet job and black out of my press release, platform and campaign in general along with my campaign manager falling ill at the beginning and being incapacitated throughout, and with no team or financing to speak of, and of course no advertising budget, it has been tough slogging. But I never gave up.... but once, and even then I picked myself up and did what needed doing.

So even though it looks far from promising I believe it is at the same time far from hopeless. Maybe others have a different take on it, I do not know?

Being a veteran of several election campaigns one always wonders if one could have done more, gone that extra mile so to speak. But you know, I've spent years fighting the good fight in trying to awaken in people here a deeper understanding of how things are and why, and what needs to be done to turn things around for the better. Tomorrow we'll find out if enough people have been listening, or will far too many be like the ones I've written about recently who vote for candidates they do not really know due to being ignorant and ill-informed because they were too lazy to make the effort to 'edumacate' themselves beforehand. Will we once again be held hostage for another four years because of those who know not what they do in voting in who they do.

People here had the chance to support someone who was standing up for them, but I'm thinking will have chosen not to.... again. So who's the potential real loser here? The one not given the chance to show what he could do for their benefit, or those deprived of receiving those benefits? As it has been said: "It is much easier to get ten thousand to work for the laboring man than to get one to work for himself." People here seem incapable of working for themselves, instead choosing to allow the elites and special interest groups to lead them around by their nose like a dumb animal.... as someone recently put it here on this blog.

If in fact this is once again the case then I wash my hands of trying to be the positive difference for the betterment of this community and leave them to their fate. In other words, they won't have Prince to kick around anymore. In this regard, this post here will be my second to last (after the one tomorrow in which I tell people where they can vote). This last one, I have already written and will post it after the election either on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

I guess with that there is nothing more to say. I'll leave the last word to my man Frank who always said it best in situations such as this, with his immortal....

My Way

Practically the whole human race is hypnotized because it thinks what somebody else told it to think.

Back to the Past, or Forward into the Future

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sat, 19 Oct 2013 19:47:00 +0000

Is that where this community is headed after Monday's municipal election here? Some think if certain people get in that is exactly where we are headed, back into the past.... instead of into the future.

I mean look at Painter, Kovach, Lazzarotto, and Ward. Prior to this election did we ever hear from Painter? The answer is no. He was satisfied with his role within the fire department and status quo in the community, despite the fact our municipality was being run into the ground with two decades of authoritarian rule by our former mayor resulting in economic stagnation and serious population decline. Kovach and Lazzarotto despite their many years with Community Futures never delivered anything of a substantive nature to this community during all that time. Nor did Dean during his two terms on council.

The above four people's whole platform is very similar boiling down to cut, slash, and burn. That is all they ever talk about, or have ever done (remember Dean's successful crusade to get rid of our spring and fall clean-ups). For example, go on Dean's blog and check out for yourself instances where he talks about ways to build community. There's none, for he like the others lack imagination and vision for they are stuck in the past wanting nothing better than to keep us there.

Others of their ilk want that too, especially those from old school. You can see this for yourself by visiting some of our local Facebook groups on-line. These people, who normally are rational and intelligent somehow when it comes to elections here in the Pass undergo a metamorphosis of sorts, reverting to a zombie type state refusing to do their homework by doing basic research on those candidates running for election. Having, for many, pre-decided the outcome of this election even before it was officially called? Blair Painter and those from the Ratepayer Executive who are running, along with their advisers Dean Ward and Shar Lazzarotto are the chosen ones without quantification.

Now I ask you, do you blame me for posting what I did in my last post in trying to encourage those who are ignorant, ill-informed and lazy from voting in this election? For it is these very people who in all likelihood will decide the ultimate outcome of our election, and yet they are the very ones who are the least capable of making informed, rational, reasoned decisions on our behalf. Therefore I urged these people to stay home and not vote rather than endanger our community with the ramifications of their decisions, as what they did in the last election when they voted en masse for a name not even knowing the man.

Unless, of course, they break from the past by taking on the responsibility of being independent of both mind and purpose in researching for themselves who is best fit to not only lead this community, but to move it forward in a manner conducive to a future built on growth and prosperity for all, and not just for the elites and special interest groups only.

Growth and prosperity for all will not come from those with proven track records of never having delivered on either in the past for this community. Nor will it come from voters who vote blindly for a slate, rather than on individual merit based on sound reasoning utilizing ones own little grey cells.

There is two days left for people to get their act together and in doing so coming to the realization that going back in time is not an option, but moving forward is.

www.johnprince.ca

Past is a nice place to visit but certainly not a good place to stay.

Please don't vote....

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:15:00 +0000

.... if you're ignorant, ill-informed, or lazy. Instead of being reckless do yourself and your community a favour and stay home. Don't vote!

Not voting is a perfectly valid choice if you can’t do a good job. It’s a whole lot smarter to put the decision making into the hands of your better-informed, responsible neighbors and fellow citizens like me who know what the hell they are voting for. If you don’t know the issues, stay out of our way. You’re not doing the community a favor, you’re screwing over the rest of us. You need to invest some actual time to research the candidates’ basic positions.

I don’t want you voting if you don’t know enough about the issues to render a decent opinion. I don’t mean an ill-informed one – i.e., one that is the opposite of mine. I mean someone who hasn't got a clue until getting into the voting booth, who doesn't really know the issues or anything about his or her local candidates or measures. Or someone who is just following the crowd because you are lazy, and too afraid to do your own homework, while lacking in the area of having a certain degree of independence of mind.

This is my personal threshold test: You need to have spent at least as much time on this election as you did the last time you watched “Survivor” or “American Idol” before you cast your votes. You know that’s two hours if you watched the whole show. Two hours, is it truly too much to ask?

So if you are thinking of voting yet have done nothing to 'edumacate' yourself stay home because you are a danger to yourself and society, and therefore should not even go near a voting booth.

On the other hand, if you have done your homework, are informed, have studied the issues and the candidates, please vote as your vote counts and is important. For I know at least one of your choices will be for me, and as such, will be one that moves our community forward in a positive direction and towards a brighter future. Thank you!

I'm John Prince and I approve this message. This message has been brought to you by the re-education committee for proper principles in the electing of responsible members to our municipal government.

p.s. That should cut down on the B.P. supporters. :-0 :-)

www.johnprince.ca

My way of joking is to tell the truth. It is the funniest joke in the world.

The role of Mayor

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 17:57:00 +0000

The role of Mayor isn't about a particular issue. It’s about the ability to lead in order to achieve our vision for the future. The values I can bring to the job is that I am inclusive, genuine, have a respect for different perspectives and am a strong believer in a complete community. The competencies I can bring to the table are that I have extensive experience in the field of municipal politics, am a strong communicator and have very strong working relationships locally and provincially. My approach will be to always be well-prepared, action oriented and willing and able to take a leadership role.

What I will not be is one who makes pie in the sky promises every other week while never actually delivering on any of them. Or to deliberately mislead and deceive people about my true intentions with respect to the fire department, for example. Because of a poor judgment decision of mine in the past that lead to the chaos that ensued.

The most crucial element of true leadership is honesty. That is what people look for in leaders, is honesty and trust. Is he being honest with me and can I trust him to put my best interests ahead of all others? Then its, is this the type of fellow who can deliver or is he full of hot air as what our present mayor has been accused of? Will he be independent of mind and purpose or will he be weak, easily mislead and played with as a puppet on a string by those who put self-interest ahead of the common good?

A council made up of Bill and Shar for example is a scary proposition for these two come from a culture of secrecy and intrigue where it is the custom of the organization they represent to break rules all the time in order to maintain the status quo in achieving their ends. Will Dean be the de facto mayor some ask? If so, will it be by design or by subterfuge? After all, he did orchestrate a coup of sorts against Mayor Irwin when last on council. If members of the Ratepayers Executive are successful in getting in will they be as bad (or worse) as what they will be replacing? Some will say, if they are, it will be okay because hey, they're one of us.... ha, ha, ha, ha. :-(

If, as the word on the street has it, Decoux is done like toast in this election, and the next council is made up primarily of the above, who as mayor would ideally be best suited to curtail the excesses of this motley crew? The answer should be obvious.

The role of mayor is to lead.... not follow. To lead one must have the following attributes:

Top 10 Qualities That Make A Great Leader

With the deepest sincerity and humility I say to you my reader, I have the above leadership qualities.... in spades! My opponent does not. End of story.

www.johnprince.ca

Winners are not people who never fail but people who never quit.

Will it all be for naught?

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 15:42:00 +0000

I've spent the last few years working this blog in an attempt to share my thoughts, opinions and ideas with primarily the people of my community here in the 'beautiful' Crowsnest Pass. In four days time, we will see if it has been wasted time, or not?

If my time indeed has been wasted then I doubt very much that I will continue to waste it anymore and will instead shut this baby down, and pursue other interests instead. If it hasn't been wasted then the future is our oyster as they say, and then the real work begins. Work that will transform our community into one that can realize the great potential that lies within, while at the same time finally bringing peace and harmony to our valley.

I don't fool myself, that with the insurmountable disadvantages I have suffered from during this campaign, worse of which was my inability to reach the greater masses here with my message of hope in my 'middle-way' platform, that those I have spoken out against as being a real threat and danger to our community will ultimately be victorious. I believe it will take a miracle or some sort of cosmic awakening of the masses to be otherwise.

But you never know, sometimes miracles do happen, sometimes people come to a realization that what we have isn't what we want and what we had before isn't what we want to go back to either.

So do enough people know about the 'middle-way' option, I don't know? Do enough people still have this negative image of me ingrained in their minds by the likes of the Pass Herald and their minions, I don't know that either? With respect to this latter question, I have this to say "Don’t judge me by my past, I don’t live there anymore".... in fact, I never did.

On election day we'll all find out what our future holds for us. In the meantime, all one can do is do all what one can do to make it a future of our making, rather than one of theirs.

www.johnprince.ca

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

Some people get it.... about me

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 16:06:00 +0000

Yesterday, I received the following comment that touched me deeply.

Today I voted JOHN PRINCE! I have never voted for you in the past because everyone says you are a nut case. I read your blog and have to admit you are a bit of a nut case. But those self serving groups who fear you, have gone out of their way to undermine and antagonise you, and out of pure frustration of trying to get us to see the light you often made it easy for them. But reading what you stand for, seeing what you have fought for for years and watching you in the debate, it became clear you are the only one (of the three) capable of doing what needs to be done here. Good luck John!

For years, I've had to contend with a local rag and a mother and daughter team that can best be described as in Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work who are so afraid of me that they are compelled to use any means to ensure I never get in a position to show the Pass how very wrong they were about me, and how very good I turned out to be for this community.

It's self-serving users such as these who have held me back, and in doing so have held back this community as well. They fear to be shown up for what they truly are which is leeches who have sucked the life blood out of this community while contributing nothing to it. They are nothing but vile maggots feeding off the carcass of a dying community whose ignorant masses believe them to be their saviours, and therefore follow on the heels of their every word like what one finds within a cult.

Over the years until the present time this is what I have had to contend with, that according to them (and others like them), I am the nutcase and they are the saintly truthsayers.

Thankfully, every now and then I see a ray of hope, as with the above comment in which an individual does his/her own homework not relying on what to think by the mind controllers I speak of above.

Will on-line smear campaigns by those having little self-esteem while lacking in moral courage to buck the trend (wanting so bad to belong and to be thought of as important and influential when in fact by their very actions they prove their cowardliness and therefore are nothing but a sad joke), yellow journalism which blatantly plays favourites, political opponents advertising budgets approaching the stratosphere in dollars spent, more and bigger signs than what Jim Pattison has, conformity and a willingness to be the puppet rather than the puppet master to organizations and groups who do not necessarily have the best intentions for this community for are they themselves not in large part the very reason (with their self-serving ways) we find ourselves in our never ending cycle of problems in social/population decline, and economic stagnation.

These people who keep us mired in mud want no saviours such as I for they themselves believe they are it, despite all evidence to the contrary. How does a Christian defend himself against the Lions? He cannot, for only history can eventually tell the true story of who was right and who was wrong.... but by then, as with the fall of Rome, we too here in the Pass will fall also, because of leadership that was both weak and inept.

As with my commenter above, some people are finally getting it about me.... will it be enough?

www.johnprince.ca

The meaning of life lies in two major areas: your personal perfection and service to other people. You can serve while you are moving toward perfection, and you can move toward perfection by serving people.

Desperate times call for desperate measures

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:48:00 +0000

Q. What does that expression mean?
A. It means that when people get into trouble, for example financial trouble, they may be "backed into a corner" and feel forced to do things they wouldn't normally do in terms of survival.

So it has been this Thanksgiving weekend when out of the blue S.C. RudeGON (a play on words and spelling with S.C. RudeGAN featured writer with the Pass Herald) appeared on stage with his/her rendition of the FACTS on local municipal politics and issues in CROWSNEST CLAIMS VS. FACTS.

Why this person used someone else's name is a mystery? But nevertheless this deep throat with facts and figures only an insider would have has been successful in getting people talking. Unfortunately, it has been more about who this person is rather than the arguments he/she is trying to present. Some talk has it that this person is either the CFO or CAO for our municipality. Who knows?

One thing we do know is that he/she has singled out the Ratepayers Association and their allies. This is a switch since in the past it is the Ratepayers who have been slinging the arrows with mayor, council and administration doing their best to defensively fling them aside. This time the roles are reversed, with the Ratepayers now the target while seemingly unwilling or unable to defend themselves against accusations thrust upon them. Instead, they are relying on distraction (who is this person) while throwing out 'propaganda' accusations of their own, hoping this will suffice in lieu of actually having to deal with what S.C. Rudegon has laid down on their doorstep.

Seems they can dish it out but can't take it. From start to finish S.C. Rudegon makes the case for extremely poor judgement on the part of their mayoral candidate, to questionable motives and discerning priorities behind their president's actions and real reason for running for a council seat, to clear examples of naiveté and inexperience by some to fudging of facts and figures by others. Not a pretty picture. In fact, it is an ugly picture. One that seems to suggest that this community could very well find itself going from the frying pan into the fire, if we ditch the one and go with the other.

Therefore my friends there is only one reasonable course of action this community can take and that is with leadership that is neither old school or new school, by going with the "middle-way" approach as I have been advocating for since the beginning of this municipal election. With strong practical leadership that plays no favourites, makes no pie in the sky promises, having the experience and knowledge to get the job done in putting an end to our feuding here in the Pass, while taking us forward with a balanced approach that favours working together rather than at cross purposes, building community rather than tearing it apart, that is progressive rather than regressive, wanting to instill optimism and hope rather than defeatism and despair. In other words, we need to bring back the spirit of the Pass, our 'Mountain Freedom' mentality of looking at the world from the top of the mountain (rather than from the narrow confines below) knowing we can do anything, if we just put our minds to it.

S.C. Rudegon (pseudonym for the Municipal office?) believing as he/she does, I think, that the Ratepayers with their obvious inexperience and immaturity would be worse than what we have now, in wrongly taking this community back in time. Although they (mayor, council & adm.) themselves have been wrong in ramming through unwanted and unnecessary change, rushing us forward by putting the cart in front of the horse so to speak, in not ensuring we had the economic generators in place beforehand and thereby the means and ability to pay for their grandiose plans, they have now saddled us with.

So the choice is simple, do you want more of the same old same old with leadership that doesn't listen, taking us all on a hell bent course towards financial ruin, or to go backwards with slash and burn tactics that prove to be regressive rather than progressive, which ensures status quo rule by the 'good old boys' where it is more for the greedy and less for the needy, and where its not what you know but who you know that counts.

The "middle-way" does away with all that crap that has only brought economic and social stagnation and decline to our community.

It's time for change. Be the change you want to see in the Pass.

Vote experience. Vote Prince

www.johnprince.ca

Past is a nice place to visit but certainly not a good place to stay.

ADVANCE VOTING INFORMATION

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:46:00 +0000

Advance Voting in the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass will take place as follows:

Tuesday, October 15 (10am - 8pm)

The Advance Voting Station will be located at:

Elk's Hall in Blairmore (wheelchair accessible)

Advance Voting Qualifications

The persons authorized to vote in advance polls are the electors:

a) who have reason to believe that they will be absent from the local jurisdiction during the whole time fixed for the election

b) who by reason of physical disability find it impossible or extremely difficult to attend at the regular Voting Station

c) who are officials or constables who have been provided a certificate by the returning official entitling them to vote under section 83(3) or (3.1)

d) who for religious reasons are not able to vote on election day.

Vote experience. Vote Prince

www.johnprince.ca

Bad candidates are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.

Turkeys can fly... A Thanksgiving tradition since 1978

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:56:00 +0000

What would Thanksgiving be without a little humour. A staple in this regard, on Thanksgiving of course, is this classic segment from at one time the most famous radio station in North America, WKRP. Enjoy!
:-)

Comment:
To all friends - and adversaries - Keep your spirits alive. Spend time with family and friends. Thank you for sharing your time with me throughout the year. Now go eat until your heart is content. :-) Happy Thanksgiving!

One of the best gifts you can give someone is the gift of thanking them for being a part of your life.

S.C. Rudegon.... FACTS, NO FLUFF

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 20:09:00 +0000

S.C. Rudegan whose articles I have posted here in the past now has his own blog in which he speaks his truth to the people of the Crowsnest Pass, with respect to our many issues here.

With a municipal election upon us the timing could not be more perfect for I'm sure all residents and voters want to know as much as they can about CROWSNEST CLAIMS VS. FACTS.

UPDATE: 2:44 pm
A commenter here has just pointed out that there seems to be some confusion here as to S.C. Rudegan whose articles I have printed here on this blog previously, and S.C. Rudegon whose blog CROWSNEST CLAIMS VS. FACTS I am writing about here on this post?

If anyone can clear this up for us it would be appreciated. Thanks!

Any clod can have the facts, but having opinions is an art.

Fundamental difference between citizens and politicians

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 18:11:00 +0000

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen doughnuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

Comment: I've always felt the people with the best qualifications to be politicians are barber/hair stylists for they not only have the pulse of the community and the common man, but are practical reasonable people who have a whole lot of common sense.

RIP Hugo.

An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.

Crowsnest mayoral candidates debate

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 20:41:00 +0000

Once again, our intrepid reporter Joni MacFarlane with Crowsnest Voice gives us her take, this time on the Mayoralty Candidates Debate, which took place last Thursday at the MDM.

Give it a read (with video) here.

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

What you can become depends upon what you can overcome.

Councillor Gallant refutes candidates statements

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:42:00 +0000

Because of the format of the Council Candidates Forum many statements were made by some candidates which fly in the face of the facts, so says Councillor Brian Gallant.

With an eye to fairness and because individual candidates were not always given the opportunity for rebuttal I am posting a link to Brian's blog below where he endeavours to clear up some of these supposed errors or misconceptions.

If other council candidates wish to submit their rebuttals to what transpired the other evening feel free to send me your information for publication here.

In the meantime, here is what Brian had to say:

A Few Facts

UPDATE: 6:51 PM
I see Dean Ward also has some facts on Franchise Fees which can be read here.

There are no facts, only interpretations.

Riversdale Resources Open House

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 21:35:00 +0000

The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.

Crowsnest Council Candidates forum

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 14:02:00 +0000

C. Davis photo

Our intrepid reporter Joni MacFarlane with Crowsnest Voice gives her take on the Council Candidates Forum which took place last Wednesday at the MDM. Give it a read (with video) here.

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

I came, I saw, I conquered

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 13:10:00 +0000

Veni, Vidi, Vici.

From what I've been told, that's exactly what I did last night at the Mayoralty Forum. As one of my commenters just said in my last post, "John, I thought you did very well tonight and proved it is not just a 2 man race."

For those who were unable to attend below you will find my opening and closing speeches. For those like Ginger, Siegfried and Barbara, to name a few, who were able to attend thanks for being there! :-)

Opening Speech

You know, you would think with my having been up here four times already beginning in 2001 that I would be the most prepared of the lot here, but I’m not. I’m the least prepared, and that will probably become obvious as the evening progresses. Whereas my opponents have had a week or more to get ready, I've only had today. That’s because up to last night it was my intention not to participate in this debate for the simple reason I felt it would be a waste of time, as the die was caste so to speak.

What I mean by that is I could stand up here and speak about my educational and career experience in what this community needs more of in the area of Hospitality & Tourism, or my 20 years spent with my wife as owner operators of several businesses in the retail sector, or my time as a Realtor in this town, as well as my knowledge and experience as a former municipal councillor, or my visions, plans and hopes for this community, but you know, for too large a segment of the population here all that don’t matter. What matters to these people is whether or not I was born here. That is the only qualification they are looking for.

Let me give you an example, last election people here gave a landslide victory for the most part to a name, not knowing the man, an untried person in the political arena, but still a hometown boy, while passing on both an incumbent councillor and a former councillor (moi) who were considered newcomers. From all accounts we’re in for more déjà vu in that the perceived front runner again is an untried person with an incumbent mayor and former councillor about to be discarded like so much trash in order that once again a home town boy is placed in the mayor’s chair, whether he is deserving or not.

Now I ask you, is this a recipe for disaster, or what? Are some people here so insecure, so insular, you are prepared once again to, this time with dissolution in the air, to risk ALL because you want to keep it in the family, so to speak?

We've seen what happened to this community with this last council of new school ways of thinking, and we know what led up to this with decades of old school ways of thinking and doing things, only to have yet another untried old school mayoral candidate wanting to take us all back in time to where things worked fine for the privileged few, but not for the vast majority.

With my candidacy I am offering an alternative to new school and old school ways of thinking and behaving, and that is what I call the ‘middle way’. The middle way is where we take the best of both the old and the new and combine them into one. The oneness of the Crowsnest Pass. The bringing together of long-time residents and newcomers into one unified force where all are treated equally and fairly, as what one expects to find within a family. We are family; the time for feuding cousins is over. The middle way sees to this.

Thank you.

Closing Speech

Believe it or not, I want to talk about John Diefenbaker for a minute. I’m sure, everyone remembers John Diefenbaker our former Prime Minister. But how many of you know old Dief at the beginning of his career in politics had to run 5 times before he was finally elected. Five times…. Pause…. By the way, this is my 5th time. Just saying. I wouldn't want you guys to feel responsible for my breaking Dief's record. :-)

Seriously folks, I've lived here almost twenty years, three of which I served on council, in which time I got to meet and know more people, because of my position in that time, that would of taken another person 30 or more years to do likewise. I believe this experience has given me the knowledge and wisdom to understand and appreciate both sides of the fence, both worlds, of where long-time residents and newcomers alike are coming from. I believe this unique understanding and acquired appreciation along with my proven track record in standing up for this community is what is so desperately needed at this critical time. I am the middle way.

With ‘dissolution’ hanging over our heads, with Edmonton tired of our antics and now in possession of a report from their consulting firm of Farmer & Associates we need to protect ourselves with strong leadership having experience, knowledge, education (including my field of specialization, the school of hard knocks), and judgment, to see us through the coming months and years ahead.

To some people, I may come across as a rude, crude, dude, with attitude, but the truth is I truly believe that’s what this community needs right now. It certainly doesn't need more suits. No, I'm the medicine this community needs that tastes bad but is good for you.

On October 21st I ask for your support and your vote. I ask that you have faith in your future by putting faith in me. I won’t let you down and I won’t disappoint. That you can take to the bank!

Thank you.

Comment: Will my having gone make a difference enough to change the outcome of this race, I don't know? What I do know is I gave it my best and that's all anyone can do. The rest is up to the gods.... and fickle faith.

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

I will be attending the Mayoralty Debate tonight, after all

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:49:00 +0000

Got lots of work to do so I'll make this short. Last night, I decided to participate in the Mayoralty Debate. Even though I believe it to be a lost cause, I will endeavour to do my best and give it my all, in the vain glorious attempt at pulling off a miracle.

Wish me well, and I hope to see many of my followers here there as well.

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

I raise up my voice not so that I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard.

A Young Thief Gets Caught And Gets Exactly What He Deserves

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:47:00 +0000

We are not always what we seem.... everyone deserves a second chance.

To watch in full-screen mode click here.

Kindness is the language the blind can see and the deaf can hear.

Coffee shop horror freaks out patrons

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:37:00 +0000

If only I had this power.... I would definitely attend tomorrow night's mayoralty debate. ;-)

Customers Freak Out as Viral Video Unleashes 'Carrie' in a Coffee Shop

What if I told you your perception is a misconception because of media deception?

Council Candidates, where are they?

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 18:25:00 +0000

Over breakfast today, my wife made the following comment: "How come we never hear from any of the council candidates running for office, here on this blog?" That's a good question.

I know for having talked with many of them that they do in fact visit this blog regularly as do some of the incumbents, yet they are as quiet as church mice? What are they afraid of? Taking a stand or openly discussing any of the numerous disconcerting issues I have been raising of late? Afraid if they do so it might hurt their chances on election day, that if like Blair Painter they say as little as possible (in fact, nothing at all), they will manage to sneak in.

This certainly is an ominous sign that we may get a council full of cowardly lions, or worse yet, 'yes (wo)men', as what we had with the last council. I mean if these people are scared to stand up now, when by rights this is what they should be doing in order to stand out from the crowd and show everyone that not only do they have brains but a pair as well, then how effective will they be as councillors where taking a stand and making decisions on behalf of your community is what this job is all about?

Maybe this goading will get some of them spurred to action and we'll hear from them yet? Let's hope so, otherwise they'll be proving to one and all they just don't have what it takes for the job, or that they have so little respect for the voting public that they think we don't see the games they are playing.

One who surprises me here is Dean Ward who on his blog has totally avoided any discussion whatsoever on the Ratepayers Executive and their nominees running for election, along with Bill Kovach (their president) and Shar Lazzarotto's involvement in this election, including their apparent conflict of interests with their involvement with Community Futures, never mind not a word on his support for these people or for Blair Painter for mayor.

Dean has all the appearances of a man sitting on a fence who like humpty dumpty could be in for a big fall and therefore is being very careful to not be perceived as belonging or siding with anyone. In other words, 'A man with no Country', so to speak. However, for a man who was quite critical of this sitting mayor and his council, who is joined at the hip with Bill and his executive and actively involved in trying to do away with one while working alongside and promoting the other this tactic of his in now being cagey and sneaky, never mind silent, is in direct contrast to his earlier self of speaking out on issues that matter to this community.

I think I liked the old Dean better, for he was more truthful and honest, and less calculating.

Are they all running scared these council candidates who wish to lead but are afraid to step forward and be heard, or are they just praying they can get through a two-minute speech, answer a couple questions (hopefully from friendly supporters) and hope that they can coast to victory without ever having to show their metal, and thereby what they are really made of?

I'll end this post by way of a quote you will find in the About Me section of my home page here on this blog that I think is both pertinent and that I hope will be taken to heart by those running for office in stirring them to action:

"In this life, one does not have to stand tall, but one does have to stand up".

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward.

Is the Ratepayers Executive set to take over our town?

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 15:12:00 +0000

Just received an email from a friend who took the time to do a montage of sorts on our past year with the Ratepayers Association. Check it out.

The Ratepayers Actions over the past year also deserves some scrutiny

Comment: What is the common denominator here between the Ratepayers Association Executive and candidates from Community Futures running for council that I have been speaking out about in my last few posts? That's right, Bill Kovach. The extremely affable and approachable holier than thou self-anointed volunteer of the year, got his fingers in more taxpayer grant money for his so-called non-profit societies than you can shake a stick at, while at the same time sitting on the pork barrel board of Community Futures.

Bill Kovach is on record as saying to a general meeting of the Ratepayers that council's actions of imposing different types of tax (fees) increases amounted to approximately $80.00 per individual. Now the question I have for people here is, do you really believe that well-healed Bill Kovach stirred up the masses as he did solely because it was costing him $80.00 a year more to live here?

Or do you think that maybe it was all a ruse, a platform, for him and his cohorts at Community Futures to take over control of our municipality with their puppets on the Ratepayers Executive acting as their unwitting naive proxies? Along with an easily manageable green as grass 'good old boy' mayor who will act as their front man and puppet, and eventual patsy fall guy when things go south.... as they inevitably will.

On October 21st, The Ratepayers Executive is prepared to take over and run this town. Are you sure that is what you want? Consider your vote carefully – for the next 4 years.

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

Freeing a person from misconceptions, false truths, and lies does not take anything from him; it gives him something important.

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Community Futures

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 17:02:00 +0000

Back in March of 2010, I did a post on this blog on Community Futures that I believe is worth repeating here so that with this important municipal election now upon us people get their eyes open to the very real threat we as a community will be in if one of the directors of this board (Bill Kovach) and its employee manager (Shar Lazzarotto) along with a weak-kneed, lame duck, green as grass mayor (Blair Painter) are elected to manage our municipal and financial affairs here in the Crowsnest Pass.

Without further ado....

SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 2010
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Community Futures

I see that over the last few weeks of my writing about Community Futures they have been spending taxpayers dollars like drunken sailors on a self-promotion campaign like no other we have seen here in some time. Radio, newspaper(s) ads, articles, etc. have been inundating our community with advertising dollars. This has resulted in a much needed economic stimulus for our local economy. :-) That's the GOOD!

The BAD! is that while they are now trying to be all things to all people and painting themselves with a white brush while wearing a Halo, their track record speaks volumes as far as their dismal failures are concerned. Maybe I error here? Because in order to have failures one must have at least tried to attempt something e.g. CLC, Hotel/Casino, River Run, etc. From the mouth of their own manager they admitted that over the years since their inception (1988), they have invested (on average) a total of $90,000/yr into our community. I think a modern day hot dog stand costs about that much? Millions of federal taxpayer dollars has come into our local Community Futures office, but very little has ever come out of it... and into the hands of our local businesses and entrepeneurs, as it was meant to?

The UGLY! part is that Community Futures is a 'society' similar in all aspects to what our local Chamber of Commerce is. Now our Chamber of Commerce provides its members and the public with Financial Statements, its Bylaws, Board/Membership List, and advertises for new members and conducts Annual General Meetings (AGM's) open to the public. And prides itself on being an open, accountable and transparent entity that serves the needs of the community.

On the other hand, our local Community Futures does none of the above. They are secretive, unaccountable and have agendas best described as hidden. Having tried, I know for a fact, you cannot get Financial Statements off them, their Bylaws, Annual Returns, a Board/Membership List, and in the 15 years I have lived here I do not recall ever seeing them advertise when and if they have AGM's that are open to the public. For all intents and purposes they are a 'closed shop', despite being a duly registered Alberta 'society'? How the members of their Board are elected is any body's guess? If that ain't UGLY, I don't know what is?

So the moral of this story is: you can try and bamboozle the public all you like with your massive advertising and propaganda campaigns, paid for with taxpayer dollars, designed to fool the public that you actually serve a useful purpose, but at the end of the day all you will have accomplished is to have put lipstick on a pig. But you are still a pig!

Vote experience, vote Prince!

www.johnprince.ca

It takes too much energy to be against something unless it's really important.

Bruce Decoux: LRSD's 'New' School Board Trustee

noreply@blogger.com (John Prince) — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 01:14:00 +0000

It looks like Mayor Decoux saw the writing on the wall with respect to his getting another term as our Mayor and decided to jump ship by seeking a school board trustee position with the LIVINGSTONE RANGE SCHOOL DIVISION NO. 68. In this regard, on September 27 he was successful in being acclaimed as our area's new Trustee.

Read all about it here.

Comment: Can't see why he would have gone for this Trustee position, which can be pretty time consuming and demanding in its own right, while at the same time running for Mayor? Considering how he was recently complaining in his September Mayor's Corner that the position of Mayor was so time consuming that he was actually thinking of not running again, because of it?

Could we now be down to a two man race with myself and Painter only?

Bruce Decoux and Clara Yagos acclaimed to LRSD board

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.