Who is Bob Kendel? I have enjoyed a successful career as an entrepreneur most of my adult life, owning several businesses with my wife Debbie.
Our move to B.C. was facilitated by the sale of our HVAC/fireplace business in Saskatoon, which we ran for 23 years.
We moved to Grand Forks five years ago, started Riverside Heating and Air Conditioning and see our long-term future here. I see myself as a “change agent”.
My strengths are that I am innovative, resourceful, approachable, determined and collaborative.
Recent conversations with friends and acquaintances often turn to the desire for meaningful change in our community. We all know the answer. We cannot afford to continue losing seniors for lack of health care and young people for lack of opportunity.
Grand Forks has a rich history with many proud accomplishments. We now need to have a clear vision with a motivated leadership to embrace and create meaningful change. Some of my ideas are:
1) Revitalize the agricultural community. How? The new Haskap Berry (super fruit).
By getting involved now, at the leading edge of production, we can become a recognized leader in this field.
By developing a value chain and processing the fruit into commercial products, we will create jobs and opportunities.
2) A must is to utilize our position on one of the busiest highways in Canada. How? Create an easily-accessible tourist travel plaza anchored by a large scale co-op farmers market.
3) Adopt an open for business mentality as a council to further new business initiative.
When I speak of the possibilities for the Grand Forks area, I feel overcome with boyish enthusiasm. We have so much to offer. Together we ordinary people can do extraordinary things.