City of Cranbrook Councillor and local businessman Tom Shypitka (BC Liberal Party) is officially launching his campaign to be elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kootenay East in the May 9 election when with a grand opening of his campaign team’s office next Monday.

An open house at the office (#302 – 535 Victoria Avenue North, Cranbrook – NE corner of Save-On Foods Plaza) will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on March 20.

Shypitka, a serving councillor on Cranbrook city council, has been meeting and listening to people throughout the Kootenay East riding since he was chosen as the BC Liberal candidate for the riding in October, 2016.

He will be joined at the grand opening event by outgoing four-term Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett, who is B.C.’s Minister of Energy and Mines, and by special guest Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

Minister Bond has represented the riding of Prince George-Valemount since 2001. Since first being elected to the provincial legislature, she has held a wide range of significant cabinet positions including Minister of Justice, Minster of Education, and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. She leads the Government of B.C.’s work on the BC Jobs Plan.

Bennett is retiring as MLA in April, at the end of his current term. Minister Bennett is currently the Minister of Energy and Mines.

The grand opening event will include a sandwich luncheon, a ribbon-cutting as well as remarks by Shyptika, and ministers Bennett and Bond.

Shypitka’s opponent in the election is former City of Fernie Mayor and councillor and book publisher Randal Macnair (BC NDP).

Lead image: Tom Shypitka took part in the recent Griz Days festivities in Fernie, including a tour down main street in the annual parade. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW file photo

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