Council Candidate Forum Highlights

Emelcris Aurelio - “Brooks has evolved into a different community… and businesses can innovate and adapt their businesses so they can continue operating successfully.” Emelcris emphasized representation and inclusion. She is the President of the Brooks Filipino Community, Vice-Chair of the Arts, Culture & Heritage Board, and a member of the Inclusion & Welcoming Committee. She shared practical ideas, such as a business directory app to keep spending local.

Carly Bryant - “We really need to work on our tourism and… our own community, our pride… are you saying to your friends, I live in a nice place, or are you saying I live in that stinky place?” Carly worked as a legal assistant at Bisbee Law and at the YMCA employment office before graduating in Wildlife & Fisheries Conservation. Carly brought a young-family lens, saying council needs “fresh eyes” and relatable voices for families raising kids.

Chad Falkenberg - “There's a lot of money that leaves our community… whether it be shopping in Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, online, money sent overseas… It's important that we support each other. It's important that we support businesses in town.” Chad leaned on his business and budgeting experience, citing decades in the family business, Cactus Group of Companies.

Clayton Heck - “I feel that we need a salesman for Brooks… we can rebrand ourselves through tourism… we have one of the best man‑made lakes… we can work with our fellow municipalities… work together instead of competing on the same weekend and try to attract everyone to different events.” Clayton focused on safety and transparency. He suggested he would do “Transparency Tuesdays” on Facebook.

Mohammed Idriss - “We have to increase our revenue and we have to lower our taxes… We need growth in our community… It also means… smart investments.” Mohamed highlighted experience, pointing to four years on council and his service on numerous boards locally, provincially, and nationally. His vision centers on managing growth responsibly, attracting businesses through incentives, and balancing affordability with long-term planning.

Jackie Johnson - “We need to focus on fiscal responsibility… a priority on infrastructure, our water treatment, our sewage, a priority on economic growth.” Jackie drew on her small-business, Halo Safety Management and government experience supporting Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry under Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She called for “needs over wants,” infrastructure investment, and economic development that keeps young adults working here.

Ryan “Skippy” Mobbs - “I want to give back to Brooks. It’s given me so much… this just feels like the natural next step for me to… be here and… be involved.” Ryan spoke candidly about personal growth and giving back. A longtime Brooks resident and coach, he shared a raw story of overcoming hardship and addiction, saying that experience drives his empathy and commitment to community service. He was also very involved with Ashton’s Place.

Anne-Marie Philipsen “Planning and development and economic development go hand in hand. You've got to do long‑term planning. You've got to know where the affordable housing and industry and business is going to go.” Anne-Marie served for five terms on the County of Newell council and gained hands-on familiarity with FCSS, the seniors’ lodge, regional water, and regional planning.

Paul Post - “My goal is to make… Brooks a safer community… make safer drivers in our community, make it safe for our children.” Paul focused on public safety and community pride. A retired RCMP officer of 30 years, 23 years in Brooks and owned four businesses. He wants to see a city-wide bike and walking path network while restoring Brooks’ sense of civic pride.

Mike Regner - “This is our new community that we have to… adapt to… and it should be very flawless to do if we open up communication with culture...” Mike underscored cleaning up the city and business-like accountability. Drawing on decades of running Imagination Unlimited and Longhorn Ad Board, he said the City should be managed like a business—transparent budgets, clear metrics, and strong partnerships with industry.

Marissa Wardrop - “Recreation and leisure activities are essential… nobody ever stayed in a city because they have great sidewalks.” Marissa is a current councillor and teacher who linked economic competitiveness to quality of life—recreation, housing, and social connection—arguing that people stay in places where they feel proud, safe, and supported.

Council’s job is to set bylaws, policy, priorities, and budgets. Administration runs day-to-day services and manages staff. Tourism and economic development teams deliver programs and marketing. So when candidates promise to run operations, like speeding up permits themselves, hiring or directing staff, or managing specific programs, those are admin tasks, not council’s role. Good ideas can still move forward, but through policy, budget, and clear direction to the CAO or partners.

Mayoral Forum Highlights:

Joel Goodnough – “I support the fact that we have the Brooks-EID Net… we recognized that small and large businesses need fast, leading global internet.” Goodnough defended Council’s 2021 broadband decision as a forward-looking investment that attracted $20 million in private capital and used federal gas-tax funding instead of local taxes or debt. He described BrooksNET as vital infrastructure that positions the city to compete in data-driven industries, comparing fibre optics to “building roads that are here to stay.” Beyond broadband, Goodnough emphasized his “safe, strong, sustainable” platform: hiring more bylaw officers, strengthening partnerships with the County and EID, and completing the wastewater project through provincial and federal cost-sharing. He presented himself as a proven collaborator who would “continue to advocate on your behalf to get the best deals for our city.”

Norm Gerestein – “We should not be in the business of telecommunications because we don’t know enough about it.” Gerestein took the opposite view, arguing that the City’s involvement in BrooksNET risks repeating the mistakes of Olds O-Net, which ended in a sale to Telus. Citing former Municipal Affairs Minister Doug Griffith, he warned that “technology changes every 18 to 36 months,” suggesting the network could become outdated before it pays off. Gerestein said his priorities are “transparency, accountability, honesty, and integrity,” and he would focus city spending on core infrastructure—especially the wastewater system, roads, and community safety—while exploring ways to reduce taxes. He framed his approach as “hands-off” in business and “hands-on” in maintenance of essential services.

Questions Raised in the Forum

• Mayoral candidate Joel Goodnough defended the partnership, noting it attracted a $20-million private investment and used federal gas-tax funding. He described it as an investment that keeps Brooks competitive and “future-ready.”

• Mayoral candidate Norm Gerestein and several council candidates argued the City should not be involved in telecommunications, pointing to Olds O-Net as a cautionary tale.

• Gerestein also questioned the longevity of fibre technology.

Did the project attract private investment? Yes. The BrooksNET partnership brought about $15–$16 million in private financing alongside the City’s $5.3 million federal grant investment to build the core fibre backbone.

Is the City of Brooks a telecommunications provider? No. The City does not sell internet service or manage customer accounts. It owns only the buried fibre backbone. All operations and retail service are handled by private partners.

How is BrooksNET different from Olds O-Net? Olds borrowed to build and operate its own municipal internet company, carrying full debt and business risk. Financial strain led to the sale of O-Net to Telus in 2024. Brooks used federal grant funding and left operations to private partners.

Will BrooksNET’s fibre become outdated in a few years? Unlikely. Independent studies and industry research report that properly installed fibre-optic cable has a service life of 20–40 years or longer. It can handle new technologies without replacing the cable.

Brooks Municipal Election - Election Day is October 20. Voting Stations will open at 10:00 a.m. and will be open nonstop until 8:00 p.m. at the JBS Canada Centre Fieldhouse. Proof of identity and current residence is required to be able to vote in municipal elections.

Institutional Voting Stations (Only for residents of these facilities):

• Brooks Health Centre

• Extended Care

• Newbrook Lodge

• Orchard Manor

• Pioneer Villa Courts

• Sunrise Gardens

Prairie Patchers Quilt Guild is holding a Quilt show on November 1 at the Trinity Lutheran Church 1:00-4:00. They will be displaying the beautiful quilts made by their talented members. There will also be a draw for a quilt (ticket included with price of admission), some items for sale, a couple sewing related vendors, and refreshments served. $10 admission

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