City of Cranbrook councillor Denise Pallesen announced her intention to seek a second term in the upcoming election, saying that the critical issue of controlled, managed growth in the city will be her main priority if she is re-elected.

“With Cranbrook being the regional centre for many services, we will continue to attract people from all business sectors, age groups and family situations,” said Pallesen. “Therefore, it is critical that our growth be managed and sustainable.”

Pallesen said that while she recognizes that there is sometimes hesitation from Cranbrook’s residents in accepting the necessary changes that progress brings, in the end, controlled and managed growth benefits young business people and workers as well as retirees who have raised their families in the city.

“I want our children to stay because they can find work, rather than leave in order to support their families, which has too often been the case,” she said. “We are at the tipping point of change for our area. The Asia/Pacific programs are beginning to attract foreign growth opportunities and our newly expanded regional airport is setting us up as a bedroom community for the north. Without an abundance of available vacant home building lots, we are changing our by-laws to incorporate higher density housing and in-law suites because we need to continue working to attract sustainable long-term businesses to our area.”

Since being elected with more votes than any other candidate in 2008, Pallesen has supported many successful initiatives in Cranbrook that she says are integral to the city’s sustainability and managed growth, including: the state-of-the-art spray irrigation fields that are winning environmental kudos across Canada; the Memorial Arena upgrade that will provide social and physical benefits to user groups such as minor hockey and figure skating clubs for years to come; and the popular Rails-to-Trails Northstar Trail connecting Cranbrook and Kimberley. Pallesen also recently presented the City of Cranbrook’s positional resolution—including the issues and solutions decided upon by council—to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) on the B.C. Climate Action Charter.

“We are responsible for our earth’s future,” said Pallesen, “and I am proud that the City of Cranbrook is part of the Carbon Neutral Kootenays Program.”

Pallesen’s business background and her commitment to community building within Cranbrook and the surrounding region have provided her with the tools necessary to be an effective council member, she said. She has been the owner of Nutters Bulk & Natural Foods in Cranbrook, and particularly understands the issues that small business owners face. Before being elected to council, she was also active with the Kootenay Rockies Regional Economic Alliance, the Cranbrook & District Chamber of Commerce (of which she was president in 2007-2008), the Downtown Business Association, the Downtown Parking Commission and the Downtown Arches Committee—as well as a softball coach for Cranbrook Minor Ball.

One of Pallensen’s passions to which she remains committed is the Women’s Enterprise Centre of B.C. of which she is a director. She is a firm supporter of women continuing to break through the glass ceiling to be entrepreneurs, as well as political players.

“Increasing women’s participation in local government helps to maintain a good balance of thoughts and views,” she said. “We’re under-represented in the political arena, even though we constitute more than half of the population and a growing number of independent business people. It’s important for us to have a voice and a presence because I think we bring a unique and necessary perspective to government.”

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