Greetings everyone
My name is Pat Rypien and I stand as a candidate for your next Mayor.
Thankyou for being here and thankyou for giving me some of your time.
Before I earn your vote I think its important for you to know who I am and where I come from.
First of all to address the elephant in the room and there might be others which can be addressed later but first and foremost to answer your question “How old is this woman who wants to be Mayor”. Well it’s a valid question, but I think its more important to focus on.
My energy, my commitment and the work I do every day.
I’m an early riser, I do a 45 minute walk every day. Play my guitar every day and learn new songs to keep my mind sharp.
I try to get all my reading in early.
I have been deeply involved in the community attending multiple meetings each week for the various committees I sit on. Of course since I have made a decision to run for Mayor I have eliminated some of my committee groups.
My Focus is accepting challenges, delivering results, staying engaged, communicating respectfully and bringing fresh perspectives.
These qualities I believe are essential for the Mayor's role.
I did some research on contributions to society or the world by the elderly and as you may know its amazing what some can do.
But I like what the astronaut John Glenn once said and I quote “If there is anything that I have learned in my years on this planet, its that the happiest and most fulfilled people are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self interest”.
I respect the seniors in this community who have helped and shaped the rich culture and history of the Crowsnest Pass.
I love the Crowsnest Pass I have been raised here my whole life, I want the people of the CNP to be healthy, happy, safe, acknowledged and Informed.
I want people of the Crowsnest Pass to live comfortably, able to afford things for their families and all the while enjoy the beauty and adventures the Pass has to offer.
I would like to see the good things we have made even better for kids for youth for moms and dads and seniors to enjoy.
We are extremely fortunate to live in the most beautiful place in the world.
I'd like to start by acknowledging my family spanning six generations of Rypiens who were born, lived, worked and or died in the Crowsnest Pass.
We have lived and stayed in the Crowsnest Pass because we love the Crowsnest Pass. We grew up in the Crowsnest Pass, have old friends and have met and made new friends over the course of many years, those who were here and those who came later. I have lived in Bellevue, Blairmore and Coleman.
The unwavering support and love of my husband and my three sons has been a cornerstone of my journey and achievements.
I am deeply grateful to my entire family for their respect, love, influence and commitment to family .
I’m a mother a grandmother and a great grandmother and it wasn’t easy getting here.
Life isn’t like the Brady Bunch.
But once you become a mother you become the General Manager of the family.
And if you need lessons in multitasking just ask a mother.
But whether you are a mother or a father grandmother or a grandfather the single most important thing no matter what you do is Family .
I’ve raised 3 sons who I’m proud to say are responsible, reliable, honest and caring fathers and excellent grandfathers and they would not have become so without their Father.
The people in your family matter, they must be first, otherwise you won’t understand how other families and people matter.
So if you’re concerned about having the best for your family I get it I’ve learned the importance of responsibility and commitment, its at home where you learn, teach trust, respect good listening skills and the ability to lead.
I am retired registered nurse, having worked for over 37 years, 28 of those years as a manager.
I also earned a certificate in LTC administration which guided me to the best way to direct care to the most vulnerable people in our community the infirm and frail elderly.
I’m an auctioneer and have had fun with that not having made a career out of it but learned a valuable skill, earned a real estate license although never used it, tough course tough career, My respect to those who do it.
I’ve been the chair of my church finance committee for several years.
I’ve studied and contributed to the budgets of the Historical Society, Heritage Crowsnest and my department budget for Long Term Care as well as Crowsnest Cultural and Recreation Society currently a big budget for the restoration of the Roxy Theatre so I understand the budgeting process, and the principles of budgeting recognizing of course the municipal budget is a big one.
I’ve written policies and procedures and chaired department head meetings.
Served on 9 different boards in the municipality over the years chaired many of them. I’m Currently the Director of fundraising for the Crowsnest Cultural and recreation society and responsible for my Fundraising budget and so I’ve learned the importance of accuracy, trust and honesty all through the value of volunteering in your community.
In 2020 I was named Outstanding volunteer of the year, alongside so many incredible volunteers in this community.
I’ve Organized many successful fundraising events over the course of many years and acted as emcee for most of them, giving me an opportunity to become a pretty good speaker, which is important and valuable for the Mayors role.
I’ve emceed several large functions both through AHS and here in the community.
I am one of the founders of the Crowsnest Sun Dawg music festival committee. Whose mission is to showcase the incredible musical talent in the Crowsnest Pass, I currently serve as the secretary of the group.
The point is the choices I’ve made as a mother a wife, a nurse, or a volunteer have been about helping people, caring for people accepting roles to help organizations and community groups grow and make a difference, I understand the value in trying to make a difference.
Cause people have to be first.
I’m the oldest of 7 kids although a generation apart from half of them.
Grew up with very little, I did not live in a fancy house or have fancy clothes, I wore hand me downs as I grew up and never owned a new car until much later in my life.
I went to work in the local grocery store when I was 12 years old on Saturdays to earn spending money got a two dollar bill at the end of the day and yes they made two dollar bills in those days.
One day when I finished work got home and while emptying my pockets I accidentally threw the 2 dollar bill in the coal stove, I quicky opened the ash box at the bottom of the stove thinking I could retrieve my 2 dollars.
I could see the imprint in the ashes and sat down and cried.
So if you are that person struggling for a better life and not having enough money I get it I was there , I’ve learned the value of hard work sometimes for small pay but the important lesson is self worth, learning to recognize what you’re good at, challenging yourself to something greater or better.
Married very young
I was 16 yrs old had my 3 sons by the time I was 20 the trials and tribulations of marriage and family life are hard.
Staying in a relationship probably the hardest thing you will ever have to do.
They say marriages are made in heaven, well so is thunder and lightening.
In those early years I was packing my suitcase every other week along with my 3 little kids. Not sure where I was going.
But when I realized there was nowhere to go I told the suitcase to get back in the closet.
Dedication and commitment and learning how to solve problems matter, family matters people matter.
Point is if this is you and you’re struggling I get it I was there My marriage lasted 60 years before my husband died.
After 14 years of marriage I decided to go back to school and then on to nursing school hardest thing I’ve ever done leaving my family took everything I had--- thank God their father took good care of them, I learned the importance of trust and how important it is to understand you are not the only one who can take care of things other people matter, other people have ideas, other people have voices and sometimes a better way of doing things.
My career as a Registered nurse was truly one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done.
I had incredibly talented mentors who gave me a chance.
While I worked in all areas of care from the operating room to the surgical and medical floors, recovery room, emergency and maternity ward my first love was to care for the elderly, I have likely looked after someone in your family.
I became the Long Term Care manager of Crowsnest Pass Continuing Care in 1987 and had anywhere from 50 to 60 nurses under my direction, and at one point upwards of 100 nurses, while serving a Manager for both Acute Care and Long Term Care Directing the care of patients and 60 LTC residents while trying your best to be respectful of families and staff was a huge challenge.
Every day that I went to work, my hope was to make a difference for a patient, for a resident, for my department, or for the staff working for me. Caring for the most vulnerable residents in our community was and is the greatest opportunity for the best lessons life has to offer. My heart remains there.
I learned the critical importance of listening and hearing what people were trying to say, I learned respect, confidentiality, trust. I learned the art of diplomacy I learned how important it is to give voice to seniors and their families if you want respect AND I believe seniors in this community need to be heard, I learned how to discipline when necessary and I believe I earned the respect of my colleagues, employees the people I cared for, their families and Physicians.
I worked with 3 different unions over the course of my career College and Association of Registered nurses of Alberta, Alberta Union of Public Employees and The Canadian union of public Employees.
I sat on the management and employee side of contract disputes , walked the picket line as a staff nurse as well as worked through several strikes as a manager once for 21 straight nights 12 hour shifts.
I worked on both sides management and staff at Alberta Health Services so I understand the value and the challenges of both.
I worked with Human Resources and the Labor relations lawyer for AHS when conflict arose and or mediation was required to settle a dispute.
I understand the importance of safety, emergency planning and the organization of Mass casualty planning.
Worked long hours through the flood of 2003 evacuating the hospital and 60 residents to safety and again through the fire that nearly destroyed parts of our community.
Thanks to our local firemen in those days, it was their efforts that saved Hillcrest from being lost.
I taught the Health care aide course to high school students from Claresholm to Crowsnest in 2010/2011, 4 of those girls went on to University to achieve a Bachelors degree in Nursing.
There is great satisfaction in being a part of someones success, whether it’s a student, your child or your community.
The point is my work and board experience offer value in understanding the importance of Leadership, Management Governance, safety for the community, dealing with disasters, understanding the need for qualified people, understanding the need to recognize individual concerns, the need to teach and inform people and especially how to respect and care for them. AND it will take strength, commitment, a good work ethic and the good sense to listen to the people to do the Mayors job .
There are few places where transparency and accountability are as important as they are in health.
I understand the principles of accountability and transparency, these principles are critical to the governance of the municipality, having worked in health as a nurse these principles are so often tested when a physician expects you to carry out a procedure for a patient. You must explain to the patient exactly what you are going to do and then recognize that you are accountable for your actions.
In LTC if an elderly resident falls out of bed because the caregiver forgot to put the rail up.
In a leadership role you have an ethical and honest obligation to explain to the family what happened and why it happened and accept the outcome. Most often honesty will help the outcome and lead to a teaching moment.
Understanding governance is extremely important for a new council and Mayor as a vision and direction for the community must be set. This will only happen by listening to all voices and collaborating. Transparency and accountability I believe, strengthen the democratic process and bring about trust from the people you serve and then will help to improve the effectiveness of the services provided to the community.
Any new policies created must reflect a shared vision with the community .
I look forward to hearing your dreams and hopes to help the community grow.
If elected my intent is to have town halls, ask for information through surveys and any other means of communication.
Trust is important and is something that builds over time, it is also something I value deeply so I will make every effort to earn it.
If I am elected I am here to serve not to dictate if you ever catch me doing so please let me know.
If you’re a senior wanting a peaceful retirement I believe you have the right to stability, access to good services, a safe environment and amenities to fulfill your life.
I believe you have a right to be an integral part of a supportive community.
If you are young parents with young children I believe you have a right to amenities that provide enjoyment, and safety for your children.
I’ve lost my father my mother a sister a grandson my husband and friends, the loss of a loved one is a very difficult journey and everyone’s journey is different but if this is you and you’re struggling and grieving because of loss I get it I’ve been there.
I’ve learned by the struggle of grieving, and the despair of loss that you must move on and accept death, never forget those we’ve lost but move forward one step at a time accepting difficult things. Life’s many challenges closely mirrors the management of a municipality, you win, you lose you agree you disagree, you celebrate you grieve, you’re challenged you must make tough decisions but you must be fair, inclusive kind and respectful. And you must move on.
Again the point in all of this is that life and death teach you many things, give you an opportunity to grow, teach you to respect life and live the best way you can teach you to be kind and care for and about people, while encouraging you to be strong.
In this way people can live together and work in harmony, to make the community better and stronger. Our goal as Crowsnest Pass residents is the same We want a community that has something for all of us.
People who struggle matter, people who are hurting matter, people who want a better life for their family matter, people who can’t find a house matter and maybe that’s not any of us here today but people matter all people matter.
Every effort to consider the needs of people and the community must be met.
People must be first, every person in the Crowsnest Pass must know whats going on with your council. Communication and Transparency are paramount.
I would like to develop a comprehensive communication plan to ensure better and more effective communication and transparency, if there is anyone out there with communication expertise if elected I sure would like to hear from you.
People deserve respect, People deserve to know you care.
The concerns expressed by people in this community, such as:
High Taxes
Better roads and service
Participation at council meetings and beyond
Concerns regarding Land development and the housing need
Lack of industry
Failure to welcome business and newcomers to the Community
Effective and greater programming for youth and our kids all are important concerns
I too would like Taxes to be affordable for everyone, so I hope with a new council we will continue to research industry that brings economic value to the community and helps to stabilize the tax base.
There is still a process that the potential mine needs to get through, while we wait for a decision.
I believe people need to be heard, listened to and respected.
I know the roads should be in better shape. I drive over them too.
I would like to see a phased road and sidewalk plan that is at a better standard that what we have.
Land development and the need for housing requires greater input from the public, from contractors, Real estate experts and developers, all so decisions are made in the best interest of the community and not just for the pocketbook of land developers.
Businesses and industries wanting to relocate or startup in the Pass must be listened to and welcomed and assisted if they can bring diversity and economic value.
Recreation and programming for youth and kids is always important, we need to listen to the voices of youth, get them involved, seek out help and programming maybe with help from our Police force and firefighters and others.
Tax payer dollars must be spent in the best interest of the community, so service to the community is the priority.
I want to see the debt repayment plan if there is one and or ensure we create one
I know there are people in the community who are unhappy, disappointed and angry. And they deserve better, better explanations better opportunities to express their concerns and be heard.
I believe the health and welfare of our seniors is a priority.
I believe community needs and services are a priority.
I don’t have all the details around these concerns but if elected and any decisions are made I will ensure they are communicated to you.
I’m not naive.
I get that you cant fix things overnight.
I get that you cant please everyone.
I get that there are things you cant change BUT
I believe there are things you can change and you can do that through community engagement, listening being visible and talking to people.
I believe its not about who council is but its about what they do.
This election is not about politics but about the people.
I believe the power comes from the people, and I know there are many intelligent people in the community who can be consulted.
I believe every effort must be made to listen to the people.
I know there are hurdles, challenges, road blocks and unhappy people but creating trust, offering community engagement opportunities, creating good communication and being transparent the Crowsnest Pass can become the best Alberta municipality, one who every other community hopes to follow.
I don’t have answers, but I’m willing to ask those who do.
I’m willing to listen, learn and respect the opinions of those with expertise and experience.
I’m not afraid to talk to people.
I’m not afraid to be criticized, I just hope its constructive criticism.
I’m not afraid to be out and available to talk to people where they are, I think its important for a Mayor to be visible.
And I do believe its time for change.
My goal in letting you know who I am is to listen to your ideas, and solutions to move forward and help make the Crowsnest Pass a place where there is trust, collaboration and partnership with the community and local government. With trust collaboration and hard work the community can come back together, eliminating the division that’s been created. People matter all people matter.
I know there are angry people in the community, but I hope if elected and with a new council we will work hard to earn the trust and respect of the community.
On October 20th, 2025 don’t forget to vote and remind your family and friends to vote that’s how the community can change that’s how, the community can heal, that’s how the community can move forward and that’s how, the community can become what you want it to be, but it wont be because of a new council it will be because of you this incredible community.
This is who I am and I believe people must be first.
Thank you
Pat Rypien