Pipestone Flyer
Wildrose members and ‘politically-curious’ residents gathered on Wednesday, December 3rd for a fundraiser hosted the Leduc-Beaumont Wildrose Constituency Association, promoting the Wildrose candidate for our region, Sharon Smith along with her husband Rick Smith and the Wildrose party.
Sharon Smith was a dynamic and congenial hostess. The evening’s emcee was Linda Osinchuk, Wildrose candidate for Sherwood Park and former mayor of Strathcona County (20102013), where she gained popularity and respect for her devoted service. She now focuses on being a dynamic ambassador for the Wildrose Party and campaigning towards a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the next election.
The choice of hosting this event at the elegant, modern Renaissance Hotel at the Edmonton International Airport was made to exalt the wonderful and prosperous region we live in. In the spacious lobby of the grand ballroom, guests were greeted by an excellent jazz quartet, Johanna McNeil’s ‘Traffic Jams’, featuring Miss McNeil’s vocal and guitar-picking talents, Freddie Mack on saxophone, Avery Brooks on drums and Kieran Dicke on Bass. These young Grant MacEwan University students’ impressive and confident talents added a festive note to the evening.
After the cocktail hour, guests were ushered into the grand ballroom where words of welcome were offered by Sharon Smith and Linda Osinchuk, both dynamic and articulate speakers. One hundred and twenty guests from the capital region were happy to witness the arrival of the guest of honor, Wildrose Party Leader, MLA and Official Opposition leader Danielle Smith.
Ms. Smith’s first strong comment to the guests was that Alberta’s Progressive Conservative (PC) government, in place for the past 44 years, has acquired a, “mentality of entitlement, out-of-control spending habits, and has lost touch with Albertans. The PC government has had 44 years. In the 2016 election, give the Wildrose a vote of confidence and 48 months to prove that we can make Alberta better!”
She went on to discuss the critical need for a balanced budget and a greater control of our infrastructure spending, for better care of our aging population and for a drastic overhaul of our chronic care management including more beds for longterm care patients. She added the need for a return to a decentralized health care system and local decision making. The questionable and excessive severance packages issued to government officials was also commented on.
During the post-dinner Q & A session, Danielle Smith, Linda Osinchuk and our regional Wildrose candidate Sharon Smith faced several questions from the guests, one on disaster relief to which Ms. Smith replied, “I think we need a National Insurance Program.”
Ms. Smith’s plans to create a Wildrose Service Club to encourage and promote social support in all corners of the province were highlighted by her recollection of a Wildrose Association summertime chili cook-off in her Highwood constituency (Towns of High River and Okotoks, MD of Foothills) and a ‘Baskets of Hope’ successful project that benefited victims of domestic abuse.
Sharon Smith shared how several young, energetic new candidates have come forward to support and promote the Wildrose Party, offering new ideas and fresh energy. Leader Danielle Smith was an inspiring and thought-provoking guest speaker at this successful fundraiser.
Pictured: Wildrose Candidates Linda Osinchuk and Sharon Smith pose with Party Leader Danielle Smith. Photo by Dominique Vrolyk