“There’s a real heart to this community that wants to support people.”
Those were the words of Michele Charles Gustafson, a mentor, life coach, image consultant and someone whose aim is to give confidence away.
Gustafson has been a long-time Lloydminster resident, leaving for university before coming back to start a business. When she came back to the city she got involved with multiple local groups.
“When I came back to Lloydminster I got involved with the Chamber of Commerce right away, with Rotary, Lloydminster Health Foundation, Interval Home, all these different places where people need to build confidence,” she said.
Now Gustafson is putting her bid in for municipal politics, a decision that came partially due to the curiosity of what’s going on with the city.
“It came up because I think like most people, you look at your tax bill and you’re like, okay that went up once more,” she said. “I wonder why the city is doing that thing they’re doing that way.”
Gustafson said she had questions, and when her friend suggested running for council she sat on the idea believing her skills would be a good fit.
“Knowing that I have these skills of development and success coaching as well as experience in business,” she said.
She says she has a high sense of optimism when it comes to change. Gustafson explained she wants to be an example for others.
“I’m a mother and I want my daughter to see that it’s important if you think your voice is important, that you stand in that voice and that you put yourself in places where you can help people,” she said.
Gustafson says it’s important to understand what issues are councils to deal with and what issues are something she can advocate for.
“Which issues are ours, delivering services and being smart with the money that we have in order to deliver those services is really important,” she said. “Not forgetting that advocacy to enhance those services, whether it be to provincial or federal or the people were working with.”
Gustafson says her strength is listening and understanding the stories people are telling her.
“You have to understand you’re not doing this by yourself, there’s a collective energy here and part of my strength is being able to listen closely to all the stories that people tell me,” she said.
Gustafson says it’s important to listen first and make fiscally responsible decisions.
“I think we’re listening first. We hear what people share and then from the government perspective we are making decisions that are smart with our money,”
In terms of the way council makes their decisions she says it must be practical.
“There is a sense of practicality and that means, does the solution work,” explained Gustafson. “There is this value of sustainability, does this solution work over time.”
She says currently the city is experiencing growing pains.
“I think looking at growth in terms of, you get city growth and you get growing pains,” she explained.
Gustafson says some of the issues plaguing the city are due to growing pains. She says the first step in solving issues is important.
“It can feel counterintuitive to embrace the community groups that are trying to do the work to make things better, but it actually is a first step because that takes the power back from the problem,” she said.
She says there is room for Lloydminster to identify who we want to be.
“I really just want to be proud of our city for becoming competent itself. Being a personal development coach I know what it takes for people to become confident in themselves,” said Gustafson. “I think Lloydminster if you personify it into a person it’s happening right now, there is an opportunity for our city to be more confident in itself.”
She says it’s important for the community to come together.
“I think being able to come together and listen to each other is a big piece,” said Gustafson.
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