Brian Sword

South Marysburgh Ward Nine

Brian Sword has a short answer and a long answer as to why he is running for council this term. The short answer is that he’s running for his kids. Sword has young children who call South Marysburgh home, and he wants to work to ensure that when they grow up there are decent jobs, affordable housing, better health care and the same vibrant community we currently have.

The longer answer is that Sword and his wife have been homeowners in the County for five years (and full-time residents for two and a half years), and in that time they have seen housing rates go through the roof. It’s very similar to what they witnessed while living in Vancouver. The market there went unchecked for 20 years and now housing rates are exorbitant while salaries are still modest, meaning regular people with good jobs can’t afford to buy. This has had negative effects on the neighbourhoods, the services, and the city as a whole. Seeing the seeds of the same thing happening here has motivated Sword to jump in because he believes it requires immediate action by council so that our children have an attainable future in the County.

“Additionally, when we moved here one of the common refrains we heard over and over again was that we need younger people on council. We need to diversify the voices. I’m in my mid-forties with a young family, who is running his own business and I am ready and willing to accept the challenge and bring my voice to council,” says Sword.

If Sword is successful with his council bid, he is hoping to bring ideas and not just words to the table. Some will be popular, some won’t. Some will be excellent, some won’t. Sword is a firm believer that councillors need to think outside the box when it comes to many of the problems facing the County, and the only way to get there is to focus on the generation of ideas and then discussion to discover the best way forward. Sword’s varied career experience brings with it a diverse set of ideas and ways of thinking.

“I’ve worked in big companies, small companies, owned a retail business and been (and am currently) self-employed. I am an artist (and a member of the Arts Council), but also enjoy working with my hands. I am also, as already mentioned, a father with young kids. All of these experiences help me form unique ideas by thinking about not just one side of an issue or one group, but being able to think about the issues from various sides and angles,” says Sword.

Many of the key concerns for Ward Nine are the same for other wards in the County: affordable housing, jobs, short term accommodations, and support for farmers. According to Sword, another big concern that is unique to South Marysburgh are the environmental protections on the South Shore (Natural Core Area). While there is widespread support for protecting the South Shore from industrial use, many homeowners are concerned that eventually it will infringe on their rights as homeowners. Especially in relation to hunting on their own land and fishing on the waters of the South Shore. Sword shares these concerns and would work to protect the environment from industrial use while also maintaining all the homeowner rights they currently have.

As far opportunities being presented to the next council, Sword believes that we are entering a vitally important period for the County. Decisions they make now will have a lasting impact on all our lives as the stage is set for what residents want the County to look like in 20 years’ time. Sword believes that council has the opportunity to help shape various elements such as short-term accommodations, constituents feeling “heard”, our tourism industry, supporting farmers and creating a sustainable housing initiative.