Melanie Beckett
Mel B for Area D!
I also think most people have forgotten where their food comes from. If they hadn't, we would have better water infrastructure so we could support the salmon and our farmers.
About Melanie Beckett
Born and raised in rural Alberta, I spent 5 years in China studying internal martial arts and meditation. Acting as treasurer for the newly founded non-profit organization, the "International Wudang SanFengPai Association". I currently reside in Falkland with my 7 year old daughter and my two aging parents. Don't plan to move again in this life.
Experience and qualifications
Treasurer
Currently acting as the treasurer for this non-profit whose mission is to connect international disciples of the SanFengPai lineage and maintain it's integrity through charity and stewardship.
Relevance to this office
I'm familiar with running and attending quarterly board meetings, participating in organization's agendas and managing the financials for a not for profit.
Accounts Manager
Create financial reports for management. Review profit and loss statements, account balances and prepare year end accounting. Also in charge of payroll and performance based bonuses.
Relevance to this office
Again, familiarity with balancing and managing accounts. How to read and understand financial statements. Data analysis for the performance based bonuses.
Where Melanie Beckett stands
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Ultimate goal would be to work with the facility owners to bring it up to compliance standards
I think composting facilities are great. This facility has admittedly had issues. The water samples taken were above recommended levels, and there needs to be a proper assessment done. The CSRD currently has a petition to the supreme court. I have had a tour of the facility and would like to look at the whole timeline. I plan to do a FOIPPA request for all documentation that I can access and work with the facility to meet compliance standards. -
Advocate to the province for water infrastructure
The biggest issue that I see is that the province hasn't made an effort to setup water infrastructure for the water shed. We're in several successive years of drought and so a band-aid solution like stopping farmers from irrigating isn't solving the problem for us or the salmon. I think the province needs to step up and work with the local communities to create water infrastructure, such as beaver dam analogs and reservoirs which would be beneficial for local farmers, fish and wildlife and also in the dry season when having a surplus of water becomes important for wildfire management. -
Opposed to the introduction of mandatory building inspection services
Having built a home with alternative materials (hemp), I can't imagine the battle we would have had to go through in order to actually build. There was very little room in the code book for any variation on building materials even if they're superior. I know others also enjoy this freedom. -
Advocate for the protection of Mallory Ridge
Logging 115-year-old forests right above our water supply is a risk we shouldn't take. Residents want a dedicated, non-motorized recreation area up there—and I completely agree. I will advocate to establish a permanent community or regional park that keeps our water safe, honors the work of the Gardom Lake Stewardship Society, and protects this peaceful landscape for self-propelled recreation. -
Discover ways to use the money for CSRD-owned assets
The money is there—over $540,000 sits in our local capital reserve. The problem is a top-down federal rule change that bans the regional district from cutting direct cash checks to our hardworking volunteer non-profit societies. I refuse to let our community halls, heritage parks, and volunteer-run grounds crumble under red tape. My platform treats this challenge as an opportunity for creative local leadership.