District 1 candidates forum set for Oct. 5; to be livestreamed

#AsktheCandidates is set for Oct. 5, and will be livestreamed on The Laker News FB page. (The Laker News Graphic)

FALL RIVER/MUSQ. VALLEY: With the Oct. 17 municipal election just around the corner, The Laker News wanted to provide residents in District 1 (Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley) an opportunity to ask their questions of the four candidates vying tor represent them.

In partnership with the Fall River and Area Business Association (FRABA), The Laker News’ Pat Healey will host the #AsktheCandidates livestream on Oct. 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be broadcast on The Laker News Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thelakernews) by Dagley Media, based out of Lower Sackville.

The four candidates—incumbent Steve Streatch; Steve Kamperman; Art Wamback; and Cathy Deagle-Gammon—have all agreed to participate in the event. There will be no in-person public attendance permitted so residents are asked to stay home and tune in.

“In the past we have done an in-person forum or debate, but because of restrictions related to COVID19 that is not possible this time around,” said Pat Healey, part-owner/reporter/ad sales with The Laker News. “I knew I wanted to do something, so initially it was going to be just a question-and-answer but in the past two weeks there was seen a need for something more.

“I looked at what was possible given the quick turnaround one would need, and a live stream off our Facebook page seemed the next best option and way tor each the most from the riding of Waverley-Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley.”

FRABA was more than happy to come on board.

“FRABA is happy to partner with Pat Healey and The Laker News to present this forum to our communities,” said Karen Chasse, president of FRABA.

Residents will get to have some of their questions, as selected by organizers to be among the 15 or so to be asked of the candidates, directed to the candidates during the live broadcast.

Questions will have to be generic in nature and ones that can be asked of each candidate and not directed toward one specific council candidate.

Each candidate will have a brief introduction before the questioning will begin. They will also have a short summary to wrap-up at the end of the broadcast, which is expected to run until 8:30/9 p.m.

To submit your questions please email thelakerelection@gmail.com with District 1 candidates question in the subject. We ask that residents limit their questions to one per email/per person. As we expect this to have much interest from the community, the organizers will go through each question submitted and choose the most pertinent ones. Those that are repetitive will be asked once.

The deadline for questions to be submitted is 4 p.m. on Sept. 24.

Please tune in on Oct. 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m., on The Laker News Facebook page. for the #AsktheCandidates forum presented by The Laker News in partnership with FRABA.

Telephone and Online voting runs Oct. 6-14, with in-person advance voting occurring Oct. 10 and Oct. 13. Official election day is Oct. 17.