By David MacDonald M ayor Dicks, for those who may not know who you are, can you please tell the readers about yourself? ND : Absolutely. This is my first term as Mayor of New Glasgow. Previously, I had the honour to serve a term as a Councillor, so I understand the perspective of the six councillors with whom I serve. So in total, this is my fifth year on Council. As a mother of three adult children and a retired teacher, I understand the importance of listening to all voices within our community. “Early on, I got involved with volunteer organizations and took advantage of many of the great assets here in our community, such as the arts and music scene – and sports. We have it all in Pictou County.” And what does it mean to you all to call New Glasgow home? ND : My family moved here when I was eight years old, so
I have been raised and grown up in New Glasgow. Like many others, I moved away for my education with no direct intention of settling back in my home town. But fate inter- vened and my first job was here in Pictou County. Not many are lucky enough to get a job in their chosen field in their hometown, especially a town that is so vibrant and where there are so many opportunities to get involved. These opportunities were and are immense. Early on, I got involved with volunteer organizations and took advantage of many of the great asset here in our com- munity, such as the arts and music scene – and sports. We have it all in Pictou County. My children have been taught to take advantage of the opportunities this county has to offer. They received a great education growing up and had every opportunity a parent could hope for. The town and county’s proximity to every- thing meant that there was never a shortage of places to go and things to do. I have family on Prince Edward Island and it’s so fantastic to be able to visit so easily – Cape Breton as well. FM: I grew up here in Pictou County, just outside of the town of Pictou. There’s something that I learned over the course of my life that I think is unique to Pictou County: Any time someone would ask where I’m from – whether I was away at university or travelling – I’d always say Pictou County, rather than specifically where our family home was. New Glasgow has always been the commercial service centre of the county, it’s where the hospital is; there are multiple banking services, recreational facilities and shopping centres. GM: I grew up in Heatherton, a small community in Antigo- nish County, a little over an hour away. Growing up I thought the whole area was New Glasgow. I quickly realized when I did move here in 2005 that most people here don’t see those boundaries either. When I started working in economic development, I realized that people see the region as a community because it benefits everybody. There are so many shared amenities within these six municipalities that people like myself, who lived away for many years, choose to relocate to this particular area of Nova Scotia because of its perfect mix of nature, community, and commerce. It’s a great place to raise a family, it’s adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway, and it’s centrally located in the province with wonderful access to the airport. New Glasgow is right at the corridor to Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island, New Brunswick, and Halifax. It never takes you more than a few hours to get to any of these destinations. I love it. Mr. MacFarlane and Ms. MacDonald, can you please tell the readers about what your positions entail and what motivates you to do your jobs with such conviction? FM: I am employed by both the Town of New Glasgow and
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 2017
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