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Kelly Allard is running for Medicine Hat City Council. (CHAT News Photo/Bob Schneider)
First time running

Council hopeful Allard wants to create a bus-riding culture

Feb 16, 2021 | 4:45 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Kelly Allard is one of the first to toss her hat in the ring for Medicine Hat City Council this fall.

Allard says her time on the West Coast gives her a different view on things, something council lacks.

“There’s too much consensus on council right now,” she says. “To make better decisions you need different viewpoints.”

Allard and her Carl settled in Redcliff in 1989, moving to Medicine Hat seven years later.

She’s often thought of running for office but instead focused on her family responsibilities. Her husband passed away a couple of years ago and her children are grown now, leaving her with the time to dedicate to the community.

During her 25 years in Medicine Hat Allard’s been disappointed by the lack of progress in two key areas.

“I’ve been here over 30 years and they haven’t done anything with the river development until recently and the transit system has not improved at all. I grew up on the west coast and we had an amazing transit system out there and I’d like to see that get better.”

One suggestion for transit is for the school districts to buy bus passes for high school students.

“If just a thousand of those took the city bus it would bring in $387,500 each year to the city transit system and we would start a bus-riding culture, which we don’t have. Nobody takes the bus. Every time I see it they’re empty.”

Then there’s the financial aspect of the plan for school districts, she says.

“I discovered right now the province is paying I think it’s $595 per eligible child for busing. A city bus pass would cost $387.50 for the 10 months in school. That would be a significant savings.”

Her West Coast roots also play a part in her desire to see the waterfront developed.

“Waterfront property was very highly valued, it was always developed. You had lots of public spaces and it’s a big tourist attraction and we can make use of that. I’ve long thought that we should be able to sit by the river, have a meal, an adult beverage and enjoy the river view.”

Allard’s children have jobs ranging from mechanical engineer to journeyman welder to tattoo artist and hairstylist. She also has what she calls a bonus child who reconnected with her late husband before his passing. Carl was a trucker.

That blue-collar nature of her family also will help her bring a different viewpoint to council.

And there’s one more thing she wants you to know.

She’s not related to Tracy Allard of UCP Alohagate infamy.

“The Medicine Hat Allards had a Zoom Christmas,” she laughs.

See Allard’s Facebook page for more on her platform and vision for Medicine Hat.

The municipal election is on Oct. 18.