Fitzsimmons throws hat in ring

Having built a business over the past 20 years, news that MLA Janis Tarchuk won’t run in the next provincial election has prompted Springbank’s John Fitzsimmons to take the next step in volunteerism.

Fitzsimmons, owner of six Fitz Flooring outlets, said now is a good time to take a run at provincial politics as he’s an empty nester and has the time and dedication required, “to take the next step in volunteerism and work for the community.”

Last week, Fitzsimmons was touring the Bow Valley, looking for support in his quest to represent the Banff-Cochrane riding as the next MLA.

Born and raised in Springbank, where he and his wife raised two children, Fitzsimmons said he’s already enjoying the early stages of putting together a campaign. “I’ve met the most incredible people doing this. I’m finding there’s a good reception that someone from the business side is getting involved.”

Fitzsimmons admits he has no political experience, but he believes the integrity and honesty he has relied on to build his business will stand him in good stead.

“How did we grow the company? By getting great people and building a hard-working team,” said Fitzsimmons. “I believe that hard work and strong commitment to the people of Alberta will help ensure the province remains as a strong economic leader nationally and internationally.”

His slogan is John Fitzsimmons: Renewing the Energy.

Over the past three years, he said, his focus has been on his survival in business. “But I think things have come around economically and I have partners operating the business, which has freed me to serve my community.”

As well, before throwing his hat in the ring, he first talked it over with his family as their commitment was critical, he said.

Since he decided to run, Fitzsimmons said he’s been out, “door knocking, cold calling and meeting with whoever has time to talk with John Fitzsimmons. It’s been interesting and there’s a big learning curve.”

While he has no set platform at this time (“policy will come from the grassroots once I’m elected”), he says, “everyone has issues in a constituency like this that has tourism, agriculture, rural areas and towns.

“Everyone has their own issues in their home town and I want to help address them. I don’t want people to put me in to make decisions, I want to work with them to make decisions.

“I want to go to a meeting and find out what people need to know, not be telling people what they need to know.”

His Renewing the Energy slogan is fitting, he says. “We want to continue to bring a new energy to the party and to the people of this province. We want to enhance our reputation as an energy leader, while remaining good stewards of the environment.

“Environment, tourism, agriculture, oil and gas are huge in this riding right now. We’ve got Kananaskis Country which has some of the most precious lands in the world and the stewardship of those lands is also very important and I want to be a part of it.”