2025 Candidate Q’s: Gary Henry
Thank you High River residents for taking the time to ask our 2025 Municipal Election Candidates the many questions before and at the All-Candidates Forum.
While we couldn’t get all the questions answered in person, we did go through the questions, remove the redundancy and have the Most Asked questions below that our candidates were invited to answer AFTER the forum.
Read on to learn more about your candidates and the issues that have been top of mind for our engaged citizens.
What does advocacy mean to you and how best do/will you practice this attribute of leadership?
As a potential member of council I believe that Advocacy means representing the needs and priorities of our constituents and not our own personal agendas and beliefs. Advocacy involves listing to our community, understanding their needs, and working to build change that aligns with their vision and what our community can realistically sustain.
I will practice this by listening and arguing for policies and projects that are within reason and achievable. We can do this by being upfront and honest on decisions that are made in council.
What is your position on water conservation?
I believe that water conservation is the responsibility of all the rate payers of High River, including council and the organization. Good management practices and a well informed public is crucial to maintaining such an important resource, especially during dry years. Leading by example is the first step, and getting the unaccounted for water rate down to a reasonable level, should be priority one for council.
A lot of the candidates talk about local economy specifically; how do you plan to grow the economy? And how do you plan to encourage sustainable growth?
I believe there is a strong argument to be made for an Economic Development person/dept within the Town of High River. This will give us a clear indicator of what types of business we can sustain and in what areas of town they will fit. There are a lot of missed opportunities if we are not looking for them, an EcDev position can help find alternative revenue streams and grants.
The second thing that I feel is important is having a strong plan and understanding of what our infrastructure can and can't handle. There is no need pushing things like heavy commercial or industrial development before the Waste Water Treatment upgrades are planned and completed. Things like sewage loadings and treatment capabilities will be critical to understand what we can support.
How do you plan on responding to the growing needs of the youth demographics (ages 10 to 16) of High River to help retain or bring them back when they become adults?
There are many good resources in our community for youth. Things like the Rec Center, Skatepark, Basketball Court, Baseball Diamonds and Outdoor Rink are examples of this. We also have many programs in our community like the Foothills Emergency Services Program, Boys & Girls club and the local library that host many events for youth. We need to continue to promote these programs and facilities and look for more ways to engage young people .
What I think is missing, ties back to local economy. We need to ensure we are providing meaningful employment for youth and young people. In an increasingly expensive economy it is getting harder for young people and families to afford basic necessities and extracurricular activities. A strong economy and meaningful employment will help youth and young families grow and stay in the community.
With an aging population and increase in disabled persons in our town, what steps do you propose to ensure a meaningful life for all residents?
It is important to ensure we have an accessible community and businesses. We need to continue expanding and replacing mobility ramps and ensure our parks and pathways are maintained and designed with ease of access and safety in mind.
FCSS is another resource that does amazing work in our community and provides supports to many people in and around High River. Their work is instrumental in promoting well-being, connection, and access to resources, and I believe continued support and collaboration with FCSS and similar programs is key to strengthening our community for all.
What does urban sustainability mean to you?
To me urban Sustainability is " Building Foundations For The Future". Protecting and maintaining what we have right now to ensure we can support the needs of tomorrow. Urban Sustainability is making purposeful, well informed decisions and ensuring that we have the financial means to continue growing our community. Its understanding the environment and resources around us and how it all ties into our plans for growth. And importantly, it includes ensuring access to essential services like healthcare, housing, and other basic needs that allow our residents to live well today.