Corinne Rikkelman is Running for a Council Seat in Westport
Corinne Rikkelman is the sixth candidate to enter the race for one of the four council seats in Westport.
She said she'd like to get to the table to help Westport grow. “It's a really interesting time because we have this new development that's bringing in a lot of people, and these people are passionate and skilled and interested in getting involved in the community,” Rikkelman said.
At the same time, she is concerned about protecting what makes Westport so “wonderful” in the first place. “I get to look at the lake every day, and I think it's such an important asset.” When she looks at the ecosystem, “parts of it feel fragile.”
For her personally, the timing is right, but she also sees an exciting opportunity to get involved to facilitate and steer change. “Growth is not an issue, but it can become an issue if not helped through some of the growing pains.”
She thinks it is important to protect the beautiful elements of Westport but believes that they can also help it grow in a sustainable way. She has previously worked in the tourism sector and sees an opportunity in ecotourism that would draw people who “celebrate what you haven’t touched.” A nature buff, she points to the local hiking trails, the “amazing geological and environmental features,” and the fact that the area is a “birder’s paradise” as opportunities to build on.
Linked to growth, she thinks one of the biggest issues that will confront Westport is affordability and cost of living. She acknowledges that it is an issue that does not have an easy answer. “I know bringing in high-income earners from the city supports the town … but we can't be that place that prices out people who work for businesses that you want to build.”
Rikkelman has a background in marketing and communications, mostly working in the heritage sector. She said that is where her heart is. She also thinks some of the unique characteristics of Westport could be better communicated and celebrated. “I think there are some things that you could definitely get grants for, that would help share the stories of Westport that you don't hear as much about.”
She said volunteering is a huge part of who she is. She has been doing it since the age of 14. She also has a special affinity for nonprofit organizations. “No one is there for the money. They're there because they believe in it, and there's a type of resilience and creative thinking and future-proofing that you get when you work for something you care about and you don’t have a whole lot of money.” She said she could bring those skills to the council table. Locally, she is involved with the Arts Council, PAWS cat rescue, the community garage sale, and other community events.
She is also part of the local artistic and creative community and believes that the strong arts community in Westport and the two annual music festivals are reflective of the unique village vibe.
“I think there's a lot of reason for optimism in Westport. I think that a lot of people find it really hard to find good things to be happy about right now, given the general state of society, but when you look at the people who care in Westport, there’s just so much passion and so much heart here,” Rikkelman said.
Originally from Winnipeg, Corinne and her partner were living in Ottawa when the pandemic hit. With the opportunity to work from home, they took a chance and moved to Westport. “The people that we have met here have been so welcoming and so wonderful, and I think it would be a real honour to help move the community forward, to just help with that,” she said.
She said she is an open book, loves to learn, and is a good listener. “I can't pretend that I have all of the answers,” she said. “But I will try to find a good solution if a problem is presented to me because I care about the community and I love Westport.”
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