ROB MURRAY: Ted Christensen is running for re-election for council in Banff in the upcoming municipal vote. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your related experience for the job of Banff council.

TED CHRISTENSEN: I am married with two children that we raised in Banff, and have been in the community off and on since ’76 and steady since ’88. I started a business here. It’s been a very satisfying, rewarding, and challenging place to live. It’s beyond words that I can walk out across the railroad tracks from where I live and be in the wilderness. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my…sort of thing.

RM: How many years have you sat on Banff council?

TC: I’ve had the privilege of being on council for seven years now.

RM: Why are you running again in this 2021 election?

TC: I have a few irons in the fire, and I have talked with a number of my neighbours and friends. They’ve encouraged me to step forward again. It’s an interesting, a challenging job. I’ve learned a lot, not just about the town, but a lot about myself. I think our achievements are strong as a council. I think we have very interesting times ahead of us.

RM: What would be your top or one of the top issues that you’re really passionate about, and some ideas you have around it?

TC: The closure of Banff Avenue again in the summer is an issue that will come before the new council and need a thorough debate. In many ways it’s been quite satisfying to be able to see the activity on Banff Avenue, but that comes at a cost and a balance needs to be achieved. The other question is our management of our visitor experience and our resident experience. We are obliged by the incorporation agreement to provide a genuine tourist experience for our visitors and we have to review that on a constant basis. It’s a dynamic process. On a personal basis, I am still flying the flag for more long-term care for Banff seniors. It always saddens me when someone who has spent their working career and raised their family here has to do a circuit through another centre in order to spend their final years. Some don’t make it back to Banff. I think it’s up to us to do a little more for our own.

RM: You kind of already talked about successes and challenges on council, so let’s dig into that a little bit. If you look back on the last four years, what’s something that you feel this past council has tackled really well? On the flip side of that, what’s something that in hindsight maybe missed the mark a little?

TC: We have a very well-run transportation system. Our housing is something that we’re still working on. We have the new Aster going up on Banff Avenue which will be affordable housing for residents to buy. What we also have to do is re-investigate the question of staff housing. It used to be that if you had a business, you had to provide a certain amount of staff housing. We got lost a little bit along the line of cash in lieu of staff housing.

Our ongoing concern should be with our FireSmart program. We are being innovative. We are giving resource and time to it.

Age awareness has been something that has been brought to the attention of the community and council. We have a very strong committee of citizens called the Banff Inclusive Housing Committee.

We now have a Banff Poet Laureate. I think it is a touch of class that our citizens appreciate.

RM: How do you stay engaged with the people, the community?

TC: It still takes me sometimes an hour to get the mail!

We’ve been approached a number of times about transparency. We have to increase our efforts to include and encourage the public to speak. We need to have an approved, easy way of exchanging information between our community and our councillors. We could also increase our extracurricular council duties to include attendance with other community groups. The other thing that I was thinking of that I’ll run by you – it would be a good opportunity for council to do a comment on air.

RM: I’m certainly open to having a more Banff municipal government stuff on air. Where can people find out more information about you?

TC: I have a Facebook page. My phone is open for calls or texts at (403) 760-7910. I have taken many emails on my business email as well. In person, we have a couple of meet the public sessions set up. On the 14th from 12 – 3 I’ll be down town on Bear Street at the blue chairs, passing out cards and talking. On the 15th  we’ll be doing a trash talk from 11 – 12, meeting at the A&W. On the 17th we’ll be doing a hike up Tunnel, meeting at the top parking lot at 1:00 and hiking up Tunnel talking about politics.

RM: Why should people vote for you for Banff council in the upcoming municipal election?

TC: It’s always hard for me to ask for a vote. I just am pleased when people exchange information. It’s kind of classic to say that I can make a difference, but I think that I can continue to raise and discuss topics that some may not like to hear. I can certainly continue with strong support for our community activities and undertakings. I have a good rapport with our administration which is key to being effective as a councillor. People call me up with a question and I’m available. They don’t hesitate to give me hell when they’re not seeing it the way I’m seeing it, and I don’t mind listening and taking that because it’s part of the job. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t even have all the questions. I don’t mind hearing both sides.

Filed under: Banff, Municipal Election