Citing a slew of community experience and a commitment to healing city council, Mike (Michel) Parent has announced his candidacy for Ward 5 in the 2022 municipal election.
“The past four years have been wrought with divisive, unbecoming and troublesome behaviour in our city hall chambers,” Parent said in emailed correspondence to Sudbury.com, adding that the city deserves better.
“Our community and council is left divided, in search of answers, transparency and accountability. As a result of the turmoil, our city’s top priorities – a devastating housing crisis, infrastructure and major capital projects – are not getting the attention and scrutiny they deserve.”
Parent said that he’s the candidate to take charge in Ward 5 and bring “relevant experience to the table” as well as someone willing to seek “input and understanding from the community through the decision-making process.”
He previously worked in the Ward 5 community as a paramedic and then as an underground miner at Falconbridge. He advanced in the mining industry and became corporate manager and chair of the health, safety and environment committee for an international mining company.
For the past six years, he has been serving as an executive for a not-for-profit organization.
In a media release issued today, Parent also lists his educational credentials as including the completion of executive training at IMD Institute in Switzerland, leadership training at Queen’s University, governance with CSAE, environmental management at Royal Roads University and ambulance and emergency care and occupational health and safety at Cambrian College.
His volunteerism includes hosting free CPR sessions for the public, volunteering in youth sports and serving on the Opiates Roundtable for Trades Workers chaired by the federal minister of health.
The Oct. 24 election is a good opportunity for change, he said, and to ensure the city has got “integral, passionate and selfless” representatives.
“Let’s elect a council that will work cohesively to address our major issues, bridge the great divide and renew our sense of optimism and civic pride.”
Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan announced in a recent social media post that he will be seeking reelection.
