A pair of former rivals for federal office in 91原创 jointly announced that they are running for Township council on Sunday, Aug. 28.

Rebecca Darnell and Carey Poitras faced off as candidates for the Liberal and Green parties, respectively, back in the 2011 federal election.

The two became friends during the campaign, and say their friendship is based on both what they agree on, and what they disagree on.

Both say their primary concerns are public safety, development, transportation, including SkyTrain and transit in general, and the environment and sustainability.

鈥淚 want to see us up our game, if you will, at council,鈥� Darnell said.

Both Darnell and Poitras have been frustrated by the tone of Township council debates in recent years.

Another thing they want to focus on is increasing the number of first responders and their capabilities, especially in fast-growing areas like Willoughby and Brookswood.

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Darnell said that Willoughby needs an additional hall to handle the massive population growth in the area.

Another area that Poitras is particularly concerned with is agriculture, the environment, and water issues.

鈥淚 just haven鈥檛 felt a really strong voice on there [council] for really one or two terms now,鈥� she said.

Smart development and adequate road and school planning are also on her agenda.

Also related to development is Darnell鈥檚 desire for transit improvements. 91原创 Township and its neighbours put a lot of tax money into TransLink, but where is the bus service, she said.

Neither Darnell nor Poitras will be joining a slate, and although they announced together, they aren鈥檛 officially running together.

With a slate, there鈥檚 an expectation that all the members will vote in a certain way most of the time, they noted.

鈥淲e鈥檝e always been able to find that we鈥檙e able to disagree with each other,鈥� Poitras said.

If they鈥檙e elected, they will be able to bring that collegial spirit to the council table, they said.

鈥淚t just makes perfect sense to us that we should be in this together,鈥� said Darnell.

Both also have significant ties to 91原创.

Darnell is a lawyer who has served on multiple local boards of directors, including for the 91原创 Community Services Society, the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Canadian Museum of Flight.

A 27-year resident of 91原创, she has also donated time to projects like The Foundry, and is a fixture at local charitable galas and golf tournaments.

Poitras grew up in 91原创 after her family moved here 37 years ago. She鈥檚 been involved with local and district Parents Advisory Councils, and has also been a board member with Ishtar Women鈥檚 Resource Society, and taken part in local tree planting campaigns and sustainability projects.

A supply chain management professional, she is of Metis and Ukrainian heritage, and wants to see diversity and inclusion on the Township council, allowing people from all walks of life to have their voices heard.

The Township voters go to the polls on Oct. 15 this year.