Ira Dales has lived in Moose Jaw for the better part of 14 years and believes he is a suitable candidate for city council.
“I’m a qualified business person and small business owner in Moose Jaw,” said 32-year-old Dales, who is also an information technology contractor for Agrius Solutions in Belle Plaine. “Moose Jaw is my home and I want to improve it. So those are my motives for being the best city councillor I possibly can.”
This week Dales announced he would be running for a seat on city council in the upcoming Oct. 24 municipal election.
“I think there’s a number of skills I have as well as experience that will lend themselves well to being a city councillor,” said Dales.
He said his priorities include addressing infrastructure problems, such as roadways, sidewalks, water and sewer. He will also look at policy-making through some issues that he’s seen as chairman on the municipal heritage advisory committee (MHAC).
“I’d also like to focus on bringing new business into the community to help create jobs with Valley View closing in the next few years kind of a thing,” said Dales. “I think it’s important that we make sure we have jobs and for the people graduating from SIAST to keep them in the community.”
Other of his objectives include maintaining a transparent, fiscally responsible and effective government, and making year-round recreational activities available to residents of the Friendly City.
Dales first tried running for city council in 2006. Since then, he has worked with the MHAC to promote the heritage of the city. Some of his current projects include seeking long-term use for the Natatorium and creating a website that includes all of the heritage buildings in Moose Jaw.
Dales came to Moose Jaw in 1998 after high school to further his education. He graduated from SIAST Palliser Campus in 2001 with a diploma in computer engineering technology. Shortly after, he began working with Bombardier at 15 Wing.
He has been an information technologist for 11 years. Dales has worked in a number of business sectors such as banking, aerospace, health care and government.
Dales said he has developed skills in program management, project management, business analysis and systems, as well as network architecture.
While employed as a business analyst with eHealth Saskatchewan, Dales worked exclusively on the Saskatchewan Telehealth Program and a wireless stethoscope solution to enhance health care in urban and rural centres.
“I think those can translate from business to government pretty well,” said Dales. “So I’ll be able to apply those skills that I think will be beneficial to city council, especially in policy development and ensuring our services are set up right.”
For more information, visit Dales’ website at www.ira4mj.ca.
