Albertans are being asked to not only vote for their next MLA on Monday, they will also be handed a separate ballot to choose Alberta’s three Canadian senate nominees.
    One of the thirteen candidates stopped by Drumheller on Wednesday, April 18, to share his passion for what the senate could be.
    Scott Tannas is the founder, president, and CEO of Western Financial, which has one of many locations in Drumheller along South Railway Ave. Tannas decided that now was the right time for him to campaign to be in the senate.
    Tannas will travel to over 40 communities around Alberta to share his platform and get Albertans excited vote.
    “I’m glad to be here, we’ve crisscrossed the province. This is the 39th community that we have visited over the course of the campaign. We’re having a ball and spreading the word about the senate election, it’s been a lot of fun so far,” said Tannas.
    Tannas first priority, if elected as a senate nominee, is to reform the senate.
    “I’m keen to reform the senate,” said Tannas. “When you talk to Albertans the perception out there is the senate is useless, or near useless, that’s certainly something I agree with. To me, the first step is, over the next number of years, to make the senate useful.”
    From there, Tannas explained there are many challenges that the senate is in a unique place to address.
    The first is developing citizenship and immigration tied to a workforce strategy. For example, Tannas stated that Alberta doesn’t have enough people for the workforce demand.
    “We’ve got to get proactive if we want to have an economy and a tax base to sustain us,” said Tannas. “It’s a prime example of a problem that is ignored, because it can’t be solved quickly, tidily, and has some controversy.”
    Another challenge is creating a national water strategy. Tannas explained that water could become a limited resource in the future and strategies are needed to use it wisely.
    First nations challenges are high on the list as well. Tannas feels that despite spending billions of dollars, that the money is not being used effectively.
    The last is duplication between levels of government. Tannas wants to eliminate duplication that can leave individuals, organizations, and even municipal governments caught in bureaucratic limbo.
    Tannas believes that Alberta needs a senator that will stand up for Alberta.    
    “We need good, effective senators that can go and talk about Alberta’s interests wherever we need to,” said Tannas.
    Tannas has a family history of politics that inspired him to seek a senate nomination. His father was a school principal who later was an MLA under the Klein government.
    “I had a ringside seat at what public service is about and what the responsibilities are,” said Tannas. “I this stage in my life, I’ve got ten good years to dedicate to something and this is it.”
    Tannas feels uniquely qualified to help move the senate forward. Tannas founded Western Financial 20 years ago with a vision of what he wanted it to be. Slowly and steadily the company grew from one location to being spread all over western Canada.
    One surprise that he’s found during his campaign is that most Albertans aren’t aware that there is a senate election on Monday, April 23.
    “This is our opportunity to transform from something that is not fulfilling it’s purpose, an institution that could be incredibly useful in charting the direction of our country,” said Tannas. “When people go into vote and they think  ‘who best to take this and make something of it?’ I think my track record with Western Financial gives people some comfort.”

Tannas (left) had an opportunity to meet and chat with Mayor Terry Yemen during his Drumheller visit.

Tannas (left) talks with Landon Bosch about the Senate's role in Canadian politics and his desire to revitalize it.

People using the Badlands Community Facility early in the morning are getting used to a familiar sight.
    Drumheller resident and senior Dale Gimbel can often be found in the fitness centre early in the morning hopping between the treadmill and the sit-step. Or one might pass by him as he bounds up the stairs.
    When Gimbel started working out a month ago, those same stairs might as well have been a small mountain.
    “A month ago I found it hard to walk up those stairs, that’s how bad I was,” said Gimbel. “Now, I can climb up them easily.”
    For an hour at least each day Gimbel does a light workout, consisting of five minutes on the treadmill and ten minutes on the sit-step. The sit-step is a machine that works the legs and arms while sitting down and is specifically designed for persons with limited mobility.
    “It isn’t really heavy, what I’m doing,” said Gimbel. “For now anyway. I’m coming along.”
    Before the Community Facility opened, Gimbel spent his time at the Pioneer Trail Centre or at home. There wasn’t much physical activity in his life.
    Gimbel learned about the fitness centre just before the Community Facility opened and decided to give it a chance. Now Gimbel describes himself as hooked.
    Not only has his general fitness improved dramatically, he   feels better all around and has a much more positive attitude.
    One of the pieces of advice Gimbel gives to anyone wishing to give fitness a try is to take things slow.
    “You don’t want to overdo it either. I decided to work into it gradually and it’s working out fine,” said Gimbel.
    Fitness centre users may soon see Gimbel expanding his workout to include other machines. He explained that his current workout is great for just starting out.
    The Badlands Community Facility is open 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
    “I’m a senior citizen, not that young, but I have improved myself,” said Gimbel. “It’s a great place to come. If you’re not in shape to start with, there’s machines to help get you stronger.”