Connor Stewart has thrown his hat into the ring for the upcoming municipal election.

Stewart moved to Cranbrook eight years ago to manage Staples, and said he knew immediately that he found his home. He has been embraced by the people of Cranbrook, he said, and has forged strong relationships within the city.

“The community has given to me, and it’s important to me to take the opportunities to give back,” said Stewart. “I believe wholeheartedly in the vision of Cranbrook as an active, engaged and diverse community. There is so much potential here in terms of healthy lifestyles and healthy economic growth, and it’s my hope to participate in the successes that will continue to come our way.”

Stewart believes in a balanced approach to addressing the issues that Cranbrook faces. It’s important, he said, to preserve the quality of life afforded by living in the Kootenays and to ensure that future generations enjoy the same natural features and highlights that current residents do. However, Connor said it’s also essential that Cranbrook’s status in the region—and the important economic role it plays that encourages prosperity throughout the East Kootenay—is backed up with sound policies for controlled growth, business development and an eye to supporting new and existing infrastructure.

Stewart’s background includes 16 years of management experience in the retail and service industries, which he said have provided him with a strong foundation in planning and problem solving. He enjoys working with people in order to address conflict, create cohesion and move forward with a shared vision. Stewart has been a part of many non-profit organizations in Cranbrook, including the Canadian Mental Health Association, the committee for the homeless shelter and the board for the Cranbrook & District Community Foundation. He’s also a past-president of the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce, a role that gave him a greater understanding of the issues faced by the city’s business community. He continues to sit on the board of directors and works with various committees to examine those issues and move toward finding workable solutions that benefit business owners, the city and the region.

“I appreciate and encourage different opinions and points of view,” said Stewart. “I think there is a lot of value and opportunities to learn from other perspectives, even when they are vastly different from our own.”

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