Goldsbury brings wealth of business acumen to table as Liberal candidate
By Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
This is the third of five profiles of candidates for the Kootenay-Columbia riding.
The Kootenay way of life needs a champion.
Whether it is for affordable living, housing, access to healthcare, staff shortages, softwood lumber or being on the front lines of climate change, Liberal candidate Robin Goldsbury is ready to step into the ring for the Kootenay-Columbia riding.
“Solutions to big city problems often don’t work here,” she said.
Goldsbury’s platform is all about sustainable Kootenay vitality, inclusive collaboration and the need for an experienced, local voice in Ottawa.
“We need determination, passion and hard work to keep our small communities on the federal radar,” she said.
Goldsbury is from the Crowsnest Pass but moved to the Cranbrook area 30 years ago, managing corporate marketing with Adeas — an in-house ad agency at Koocanusa Publications where she wrote the popular feature, Healthline — and designing successful marketing campaigns for many Kootenay businesses.
For over 30 years the same issues that beset Kootenay businesses — staffing, succession and profitability mired by climate change, government policy and burn-out — have also afflicted Goldsbury and she has learned first hand what it takes to meet them.
“Together we have the creative, collaborative and workable solutions for sustainable vitality in our small communities,” she said. “What’s needed is the enthusiasm and the smarts to grab the government’s attention and get the work done.”
Goldsbury built a value-added forestry business that sold forest products to the floral trade worldwide. Her Kootenay Cone Company was the first licensed botanical collector in British Columbia, and at its peak employed 45 people. She also developed many sustainable harvesting techniques still in use today.
After 10 years in forestry Goldsbury returned to school and completed a master’s degree in neuroscience. She landed on Kootenay Lake in 2007 where she and her partner built the iconic Dock n Duck Resort at the Balfour Ferry Landing. In 2014 Robin was recognized as a “Top 10 Kootenay Business Operator.”
But it was the federal climate of the early 2010’s that prompted Goldsbury’s return to politics. While in college, Goldsbury represented over 60,000 students as Alberta Student Executive Council (ACTISEC) chair, and managed to glean a personal letter of recommendation from Brian Mulroney.
However, she found her home in the Liberal Party of Canada where she’s actively formed policy with the National Women’s Commission and pushed for the new Ministry of Rural Economic Development.
Goldsbury is also working on extended healthcare policies, green transportation and the new Adaptation Strategy for Climate Change.
The 2021 federal election goes Sept. 20.
The candidates currently include a roster of five:
• Rob Morrison – Conservative Party (https://voterobmorrison.ca/about/);
• Wayne Stetski – New Democratic Party (https://www.facebook.com/Stetski/);
• Robin Goldsbury – Liberal Party (https://www.robingoldsbury.ca/);
• Rana Nelson – Green Party (https://www.greenparty.ca/en/riding/2013-59015); and
• Sarah Bennett, People’s Party of Canada (https://kootenayppc.ca/kootenay-columbia-ppc-candidate-sarah-bennett/)
