Andrew R. Cooper for Division 1 – Red Deer County

It’s time to make rural government as responsive, clear, and effective as the people it represents. This campaign is about bringing energy, structure, and sunlight to every step of local planning.

We don’t need more noise—we need real results. Whether it’s unlocking infrastructure funding, stabilizing our watershed, or helping our neighbors upgrade their homes responsibly, I believe we can lead Alberta from right here at home.

With your support, we’ll make Pine Lake and Division 1 the benchmark for how rural communities can thrive — cleanly, calmly, and proudly.

See What You’ll Get

I represent the kind of leadership that knows how to move things forward — not through slogans, but through clear priorities, early action, and long-term thinking. My background is in engineering technology and civic systems planning. I’ve worked across Alberta delivering infrastructure in remote areas, coordinating responses during service breakdowns, and designing project plans that don’t just meet standards — they stay ahead of them.

I understand the people who live here because I live here too. My family is rooted in Division 1. I’ve stood at Pine Lake community events, volunteered alongside neighbors, and driven the same roads we’re trying to keep safe. That lived experience shapes every decision I make — and it’s why I won’t let outside interests define what this County becomes.

The people I speak for are the ones who keep things going: landowners who plan ahead, families who take pride in their place, volunteers who show up even when no one’s watching. These are the people who make Division 1 work. And they deserve representation that understands how to get funding, fix infrastructure, and coordinate real solutions — without overcomplicating what should be simple.

That’s the work I do, and that’s the approach I bring. Whether it’s water planning, road access, community halls, or funding programs — I’m here to help us lead Alberta from right here, using the tools and experience that match the reality we live every day.

My wife’s family — the Lawrences — were among the first to settle along Pine Lake. Their original homestead still stands near the lake and remains a visible piece of our shared history. For generations, they’ve lived and worked this land, shaped this shoreline, and helped anchor the community we still call home.

On my side, I’m a descendant of Matthew McCauley — Alberta’s first mayor, a founder of Edmonton, and a builder of public systems that put people first. He stood for fairness, education, and the belief that communities work best when they’re led by those who live within them.

Those roots matter. They shape how I see leadership — not as control, but as stewardship. Not as speaking louder, but as listening better. And not as politics, but as responsibility passed from one generation to the next.

Division 1 isn’t just a place where I serve. It’s where I belong. And that sense of continuity — of earning trust the way our families did, quietly and consistently — is why I’m ready to carry that responsibility forward.

My work has always been grounded in reality. In the places I’ve served, things don’t just have to be done — they have to be done right, the first time. I’ve built and maintained infrastructure in regions where service gaps can’t be ignored and where mistakes cost time and safety.

I’ve planned emergency upgrades in remote communities. I’ve coordinated with local contractors, environmental teams, and volunteer groups to implement critical systems where timelines and budgets were tight. I understand how rural Alberta works — and I understand what happens when it’s left waiting.

That experience isn’t abstract. It’s personal. I’ve had to find solutions fast, stay within scope, and make the tough calls that keep a project on track. And I bring that same clarity to public service: steady decisions, full accountability, and action that holds up under pressure.

The Clean Energy Improvement Program gives people a practical way to tackle major upgrades — like failed heating systems, leaking roofs, poor insulation, or dangerous drainage — without borrowing from a bank or pulling savings out of other essentials.

Instead of waiting for repairs to become emergencies, CEIP offers a fair, opt-in financing tool that connects upgrades to the property tax system. It’s secure, it’s tested, and it makes sense for the people who’ve been left out of big capital improvements for too long.

You don’t have to qualify for a loan. You don’t have to make a big down payment. And you don’t lose ownership or control. This is about supporting homeowners, farmers, churches, condos, and small businesses with a tool that fits how real people live and budget.

When we reduce the financial pressure to do the right thing, people step up. And that’s exactly what this program helps Division 1 residents do.

Communities like Pine Lake, Trenville, Lousana, and Poplar Ridge have been doing more with less for decades. They’ve organized events, maintained trails, fixed signs, and cared for shared spaces without waiting for someone else to take notice. It’s time the County matched that effort with tools that actually help.

We’re talking about benches, signage, lighting, recreation paths — the kind of basic infrastructure that should already be part of everyday life in rural Alberta. These upgrades won’t raise taxes. They’ll be funded through grants, matching programs, and coordinated regional planning that values small communities instead of skipping over them.

If elected, I’ll work to ensure these hamlets aren’t left behind anymore. Their energy and resilience deserve the same attention and support given to larger centers.

The people of Division 1 already know how to care for their land. They’ve managed shoreline erosion, runoff, slope control, and drainage problems with their own hands and resources for years. My role is to make sure they have access to better tools — not more red tape.

We’ll build a voluntary watershed strategy that maps our environmental needs, opens access to grants, and supports shoreline protection without forcing infrastructure changes or seizing local control. This isn’t about handing out rules. It’s about securing support.

When we have better information, we make better choices. When we coordinate data with landowner input, we unlock funding that respects private ownership while protecting the lake and agricultural lands we depend on. That’s what smart water planning looks like.

If you live in Division 1 or own property here, and you’re not voting somewhere else municipally, this is your place to vote. It doesn’t matter whether your name is on a house title, a farmland registry, a condo agreement, or a church deed — if this is where you’ve invested your time, energy, and resources, this is your home base.

Voting gives voice to the people who are rooted in this community. One person. One vote. One clear choice to shape how Division 1 grows, plans, and protects what we all care about.

My promise is simple: we will move quickly, communicate clearly, and get the basics done. CEIP will launch. Trail improvements will start. Infrastructure for smaller communities will be prioritized. Watershed protection will be organized around landowner input. And we’ll give local churches, boards, and residents the tools they need to apply for and win outside funding.

I’m not offering buzzwords or photo ops. I’m offering a year-one plan built around momentum, visibility, and small wins that add up fast. And I’ll report back on all of it — in plain language, with measurable progress you can see.

If you believe Division 1 deserves leadership that reflects its people — steady, prepared, and fair — I’m ready to deliver.