Things in Ward 6 are heating up this election campaign, with three candidates vying for a seat on Bradford West Gwillimbury council.
But Nickolas Harper is confident his credentials and experience will secure him a seat at the council table.
Running against incumbent Mark Contois and Bradford Library Chair Jennifer Harrison, he says it's time for a change in the ward.
"It's time for change, real change," he said.
Living on the boundary of Ward 6, he says he is familiar with many issues affecting the area's residents and has the skills and experience necessary for the role.
He and his wife moved to Bradford from Vaughan four years ago looking for more space for their growing family.
"We needed something with more space and a safe environment for our kids to grow up with a lot of activities and amenities, so Bradford was the right choice," he said. "People are just so much friendlier."
The three pillars of his platform are family, community and safety.
Over the years, he has seen an increase in speeding and petty crimes on local streets and wants to implement permanent solutions that will keep the community safe.
"The intricacies of the town council is about look and feel, it makes the most impact on our everyday lives so being able to implement real change, real safety measures, mitigations for traffic," he said. "We need to change today, for a safer tomorrow."
While he commends current council and the work they have done thus far, especially steering the residents through the pandemic, he believes there is room for improvement and change in terms of safety measures in the ward, in particular for the ongoing speeding problem.
Last year, the town had a 'Slow Down' sign campaign, which Harper says was a good effort, but not enough to provoke positive change.
"The changes they are making are not real changes," he said. "We need stronger behavioural changes that impact tomorrow, today. I am someone that can do that...If they weren't afraid to do it, they would have already done it."
As a father of four young children, he wants to see more recreational environments for the youth and families such as splash pads, dog parks, and skateparks.
"And I want to develop it in Ward 6," he said. "We need to invest in our community."
He says a modernized approach is needed when it comes to the town's development.
"You have to invest in new and diverse business structures," he said, noting there is a need for more C3-type businesses which can provide more jobs locally.
"So we can actually help our working families to not have to drive so far, and actually keep money in our pockets," he said. "If we... allow those diverse types of businesses to create jobs here, it's going to save money and grow our economy and stimulate our businesses."
With an anticipated recession ahead, Harper says it's important to help residents navigate economic hardships. He says the council status quo is not sustainable for the "new modernized Bradford" and with the new ward boundaries, there is an opportunity for a new focus of priorities.
Harper comes from a military background, serving in the Canadian Armed Forces for 11 years having fought in Afghanistan. He was also captain of the military's national soccer team. Upon returning he obtained employment as an officer with Peel Regional Police. He left the force 10 years ago and transitioned to business management, working in the culinary field. He also has a paralegal degree and currently has his own health and safety management company.
With his legal and business background, he says he will be able to answer the tough questions at the council table, providing his constituents with the service they expect.
Harper has already started campaigning, door-knocking and connecting with residents at events and online. He says he looks forward to meeting more constituents and answering their questions.
To learn more about Harper and his platform, visit his website here or Facebook page.
Municipal election day is Oct. 24, 2022.
