By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 05, 2008
Heated community topics like the sports complex and a loss of rural living have re-ignited the political fire under Steve Heeren. Since sitting politically dormant for the past seven years, Heeren has stepped up to the plate as the Coldstream Ratepayers Association’s new president. Following Gyula Kiss (who temporarily held the position after Andy Danyliu resigned in March), Heeren admits he’s got a lot to learn. But he’s ready to put his burning passion for Coldstream to work. The retired psychology professor has been living in Coldstream since 1995 and was a good friend of Paddy Mackie. He’s served two terms on Coldstream’s Advisory Planning Commission and has attended several public meetings. But it was the sports complex debate that re-ignited the political fire in 70-year-old Heeren. “Right away my antenna were up on this issue,” said Heeren, who was among the majority of residents who voted against the complex.
Another issue that Heeren feels strongly about is the rural feel of Coldstream. He recites Margaret Ormsby’s book Nulli secundus. “To me she’s right, nulli secundus, Coldstream is second to none.” But with recent growth he can only laugh at such things as Coldstream’s old saying ‘Rural Living at its Best.’ “My private agenda is I’d like to keep Coldstream like it was in 1995, but that’s too late,” said Heeren, who moved to the area from Saskatchewan. An example is right from the picture window of his lake and mountain view home, where he has watched Middleton Mountain evolve into what it is today – covered in pavement and homes. He says it won’t be long until there’s a house on every square inch of all of Coldstream’s hills. So when Heeren came across the Coldstream Ratepayers Association he didn’t waste any time in taking out a membership. “I really like this organization because it’s grassroots,” he said. Heeren’s been involved in other such grassroot efforts, such as a Kelowna demonstration before the war in Iraq started. But trying to get a message across to George W. Bush from an Okanagan rally wasn’t working very well. So when he joined the CRA in May, he thought: “It’s time to think globally and act locally.”
Times have also changed, as Heeren has observed over his lifetime, making it easier to reach at least the local politicians. “You can fight city hall, whereas when I grew up the message was you can’t fight city hall.” He is also a strong believer in democracy and education (something that is evident not just as a former professor, but by the stacks of books in and around his coffee table, including a dictionary sprawled open in the middle). He has offered a couple of philosopher cafes at the Mackie House, taught a class at Okanagan College and is currently giving lectures for the Society for Open Learning and Discussion on psychoanalysis. When he doesn’t have his nose buried deep inside a book or pressed up to the computer, he plays tennis or badminton, Heeren is a father of three grown girls, who live in Montreal.
11 comments:
what a great organisation the Coldstream Ratepayers has become
We in this area have had dreadfful governance for years because of a handful of people who think that Vernon and Coldstream belong to their 'family'
So it is gratifying to see that citizens are standing up and claiming their proprietership
I agree there are some good things that the Rate Payers are doing..
However, it's somewhat ironic that the Rate payers (Both Vernon and COldstream) are demanding open and transparent leadership from the elected officials. However, when it comes to disclosing any details to the public about such things as a) Where is thier association consitution, b) Who are,or even how many actual members there are involved in the Rate Payers. It seems when pointed questions are directed to (obvious members of) the Rate payers on this blog, they (The Rate payers) hide behind the vail of the Charter of Rights. Does that sound even remotely close to Coldstream council saying that they can't disclose information because the decision(s) were made "In camera"?
Come on folks..The Rate Payers can't suck and blow. "Walk the talk" and practise you preach.
The Rate Payers (Vernon and COldstream) are acting no different than the incompetent politicans they challenge. As a voter, this vail of disception will be something that unless we, as readers of this blog get answers, will not sit well when it comes time to vote in November.
So what you are saying
is that because some folks work together to get active in their community they must of necessity have a 'constitution' or a 'list' that must be available to you or whoever asks
People make their choices when they get together with friends and they do not have to accept people they do not relate to
So getting together with others and becoming active in a public debate does not mean a'constitution' nor is it any business of anyone who or how many are involved
It is indeed a red herring
On the other hand an 'elected'public servant is subject to a different set of rules and expectations of accountability
How that relates to the election is a mystery!
You obviously cannot abide the success of the taxpayers who deal seriously with serious issues and have carried the voters with them on more than one occasion
Perhaps you have not not tried to participate or perhaps you are not welcome because of your hostility
Simply conjecture ofcourse but you really seem to have a bee in your bonnet
Move on
Can wait until November...
You got that right
RH
The coldstream rate payers shoul put up some good people for coucil
"good" people. I wonder if that refers to a bunch of mutually exclusive cronies, who can't or won't entertain ideas from outside their clique.
Politics is about gauging the will of the people and representing them. It is not about a coffee clatch that was formed for the sole purpose of whining about whoever or whatever, but not actually putting forth any reasonable platforms for solutions to the dysfunction that they rightly see. (Nattering Nabobs of Negativity?)
Yes, that's right, I said they are right about the dysfunction. But are they intending to clear it up or perpetuate it. There's the rub, ratepayers.
I hope there will be lots of election forums so we can hear your clear agenda and put it to the test in the polls.
You make the case for the Ratepayers Association and the Vernon Taxpayers Association
They have shown that unlike those mindless critics who cannot abide debate but prefer dictatorship by their 'cronies' the association has had the support of the majority of the voting public consistently
Can you deny this?
There is your answer
Unlike you they operate openly on ISSUES and invite the citizens to be engaged and vigilant so that we shall never again have a mayor who robs the taxpayers blind for himself and his cronies
You should applaud these groups of responsible citizens and join in with them and make a contribution to your community
The Taxpayers'Associations are out in the open- they debate the issues and they have carried with them the vast majority of the citizens on dictatorial behaviours by local mayors and councillors
And by the way coffee is good for you and talking about'whining' I submit reading you I perceive a case of the pot calling the kettle black.... with respect!
Read the papers and find out about the positions of the Taxpayers Associations on the issues of Civic complex- cultural complex absurdities presented by self annointed cultural gurus and how the vast majority of the population agrees with them by their vote
You sound like you have backed the wrong horse hence the sour grapes about taxpayers who come together to ensure accountability from those they elect
But where is the vision?
Represent me, and you have my vote. But you won't get it until you express a vision for where you think things should go.
I won't vote for you just because you say "I'm not them"!
I take my responsibility as a voter seriously. Propose something that inspires me to vote for your slate of candidates. Tell me how my community will be better under your leadership. Tell me how you intend to deal with rampant uncontrolled sprawl development. Tell me how you intend to deliver the services that will keep my family healthy. Tell me how you will do this and keep my tax bill reasonable. Show me how you will handle the increasing population and demand for recreational properties from the growing numbers of part-time residents. Tell me how you will solve the growing traffic congestion.
Am I in a minority here? Am I the only voter who likes to judge who to vote for, rather than who to vote against?
Is this asking too much?
I also sense an arrogant note of entitlement whenever I read a message from some anonymous person that supports the ratepayers associations. You claim to represent the will of the people, but have not been given a mandate to do so, yet.
Yes, you represented the will of the people with regard to some specific issues. For which you democratically organised and collected petitions opposing those certain very specific issues. For this service to the elctorate you are to be applauded.
But to go from this to the arrogance of asserting that you represent the will of the electorate in all things is frankly a bit of a stretch.
Get yourself some nomination papers and lets see what happens in November. Good luck. I hope you do well. Let's see what happens when the car-chasing dog finally gets control. Should be really interesting.
You are the only one asserting what the taxpayers'Associations represent!
The Taxpayer groups have never 'asserted' anything beyond taking a position on issues
THEY HAVE NEVER ASSERTED THEY REPRESENT ALL THE TAXPAYERS OR YOURSELF FOR THAT MATTER
In fact the associations are a very loose grouping without any hierarchical structure and within that grouping ALL SHADES OF OPINION PREVAIL!
That is the strength of the taxpayer associations
YOU on the other hand are seething about the taxpayers associations for reasons that are only known to you
It is clear that you are upset with the the taxpayer associations' successes and I am sure they look forward to debating you when you finally follow your own advice and reveal yourself!
The assocations will not only debate you in the open but they will also run Candidates' forums
Take out your papers and let's get it on!
RH
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