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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
With one term in city council under her belt, Amanda Mallon says it will be important in the next to deal with social and infrastructural issues that continue to plague the city.

Amanda Mallon, seeking re-election in the Oct. 15 municipal election, is focused on social and infrastructure issues in the downtown core. - Sara Wilson NNSL photo

"Social issues remain huge and how they impact our downtown core," said the 55-year-old Old Town resident.

Mallon currently chairs the city's social issues committee, which works with other government agencies to deal with issues such as homelessness, drug and addiction issues, and social justice. The committee features a number of advisors from the GNWT as well as health professionals and justice officials.

She has been trying to get a regular, constructive dialogue across all levels of government through the committee. She also co-chairs the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, which she hopes will soon lead to the construction of BETTY House and an alleviation of some of the homeless problems downtown.

Another item of concern is the state of infrastructure in the city, especially after the last year when the city identified a $74.1-million deficit for investments in water and sewer lines, roads and sidewalks and to complete a water treatment plant. To do this, most councillors, including Mallon, supported borrowing $20 million.

"I believe it is important to deal with our infrastructure problems before we start taking on any new projects," she said. "It is time to consolidate what we have and fix what we have before we start expanding too much.

"As a long-time resident of Old Town, I have been walking up and down that hill for many years and have seen huge infrastructure (roads and sidewalk) problems. I have wondered when we were going to address it and well, now we are addressing it. We have a chance to really make a difference in the city after what we set in motion last session (borrowing $20 million)."

To this end, Mallon is grateful certain things are done and don't have to be carried into another council term. Council was able to start the ball rolling on one of the worst areas in the city for infrastructure - Northland Trailer Park.

Over the last year, she took over the councillor responsibility for sitting in on Northland's condominium board meetings and to consult with members.

"Because I worked on the Northlands folder, it gives me a great deal of pride and joy that residents are able to get on with things and that we signed an agreement," she said.

She re-initiated the garden tours in 2011. The competition was held again this year and she is hoping to build on that by having the city work closer with the territorial government to develop a local food program.

"I think the city has an opportunity to work with the territorial farmers and the garden organizations to help move (sustainable food growth) forward," she said.

She sits on the heritage committee and is hoping to find ways to make the city's heritage landmarks more interactive for the public beyond plaques. She is also a member of the Yellowknife Combative Sports Commission and has been involved in sanctioning a mixed martial arts event this month.

Mallon currently works as constituency assistant for Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro but the former president of the NWT Teachers' Association identifies her profession as an educational consultant, in which she is contracted by the GNWT to research best practices and educational strategies.

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