Long-time Crossfield resident and business owner Joanne Cornelssen is running for a position on Town council on May 10, and said she hopes to be successful in bringing back some unity to the organization.
“It seems that over the last few years [council has] been kind of dysfunctional because the group can’t seem to work together,” Cornelssen said. “If you’re not going to get along with everybody you work with, you still have a job to do, and we need to get back to running council.”
“I just want to see Crossfield get back and running as a whole. I want to see council successful and you’re not going to keep everyone happy but you’ve got to be able to keep the majority happy,” she added.
While she has no prior experience in municipal politics, Cornelssen said her 13 years as a Crossfield resident and 11 years as a businesswoman in the community have equipped her with the leadership skills and know-how to make a difference representing her fellow Crossfieldians. She is the owner of JC Graphic Designs, a company that offers signage, logo creation, custom printing and other such services.
“I have lived here a bit longer than [the other candidates] and so I've watched [the community] grow,” Cornelssen said. “I’m also a business owner and I’ve been a business owner on Main Street for 11 years, so I can represent both sides.”
Cornelssen has held multiple volunteer positions locally, including positions with the Kidney Foundation, Royal Canadian Legion, and community group fundraising. She is currently serving her second term as president of the Crossfield Rodeo Society.
According to Cornelssen, her time as a volunteer and business owner in the community has helped her get in tune with what the town needs. She said those needs include up-to-date infrastructure, affordable spaces for new small businesses, housing for young families and transitional living accommodations for seniors.
She added the oil and gas woes experienced in Alberta have taken a heavy toll on the community and her aim is to build it back to its former glory. But when it comes to campaign promises, Cornellsen said she doesn’t believe in them unless she knows she can deliver.
“I could have the greatest ideas, but in the end, it still comes down to the vote,” she said in a Facebook post introducing her candidacy. “It’s guaranteed that I will fight for what I believe in as the best for Crossfield’s residents and businesses as a whole and vote against what I don’t.”
“We need to get Crossfield running smooth like a well-oiled machine. When council and the Town office are functioning to the best of their ability, Crossfield will be a great place to live and work.”
Due to COVID-19 government restrictions, Cornellsen is not campaigning door-to-door but will be facilitating drop-in meet-and-greets at 901 Railway Street from 1 to 3 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. She said she will also be hosting a formal outside meet-and-greet on May 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., adding the meeting will adhere to all Alberta Health Services regulations.
