Scott Akkermans
Coalhurst Town Councillor
Hi, I’m Scott!
Hello, and welcome! Thanks for taking the time to learn a bit about me and my vision for Coalhurst!
In September of 2020 my family and I moved to town– and instantly fell in love. The transition from Edmonton to small town living was easy. With the ability to work from home I could stay working with the instrumentation company I love working with.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and taking our son on adventures, as well as disc golfing, hiking, fishing, and playing board games.
For a more in-depth profile of who I am check out my about section.
Why did I run?
Although I’ve only lived in Coalhurst for a year, it feels like home. And I would love to help make Coalhurst feel like home for others. Listening to my neighbours thoughts and ideas has sparked a great interest in me and I want to invest my dedication into this awesome town. I want to help create and implement plans and policies that will be beneficial to all.
Thank you!
Running has been a rollercoaster for myself emotionally. I really don’t do well with the not knowing what’s happening part of it. At the end of the day I’m incredibly happy with my choice to run, the experience of running in an election, and finally the support shown to me by the community.
Before I had run I only had known a hand full of people in the community, however during the course of the election I really had a chance to get to know my neighbours. I knew that getting to know you would be great regardless of the outcome of the election. However I did manage to secure a seat at the council table and am very eager to learn about a variety of new topics and represent the people who put their faith in me.
I can’t say thank you enough for the support that was shown my way during the campaign and all the positive notes and comments since then. I fully realize there’s a good chance along the course of time I’ll do something that may upset you however I’m going to do my best for the best interest of town. I’m always open to having discussions on why I’ve made the choices I’ve made and to listen to what input you have!
My goals
When I look at Coalhurst, I see a community that is in a great spot. We’re close enough to Lethbridge that we can easily access their facilities and services. That being said, Coalhurst is a growing town and we need to be able to bring in both commercial and residential growth.
I’d love to see more opportunities for residents to get involved and active within the community. This could range from planning green spaces that account for different physical and social activities or providing services that create a positive impact on quality of life. Some of my favourite memories growing up were of the celebrations my hometown put on (I’m looking at you, Canada Day)!
With community feedback and working with other council members we can create a vision for the future of Coalhurst and start taking action to create it together.
My Council Core Values
Be Engaging
Communication is key. I believe a strong council relies on the input of residents. To have their best interests at heart we need to understand their wants and needs. Without engagement, we miss out on the goals of the community as a whole.
Be Accountable
Council should be transparent about its plans and actions. News about town activities and decisions should be easily accessible for all in a timely manner. This allows for accountability as all residents can be as involved as they choose to be.
Strive to Succeed
Taking pride in what we do will lead us to be able to provide efficiency as a council. When we use our skills effectively we can achieve more. By leveraging our skills and personal traits we can achieve our community goals.