She served as a councillor for the Town of Sylvan for a term, as well as working in the school and health care system, and now Royal LePage realtor Joan Barnes has added her name to the candidates seeking the UCP nomination for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

She says through all of her paid and volunteer work, including working as an assistant to a physical therapist for 14 years, has really given her a grass roots connection to the community.

“Once you establish a relationship with them, they start telling you their stuff. So you get to hear firsthand what their issues are, what they are facing day-to-day, where they hope to be and what they are doing in their lives. So it gives you kind of an ear to the ground kind of scenario where you can hear what people are saying and doing in their lives, and I think I represent most of those people on the average.”

One of the issues that Barnes feels passionate about is Bill 24 which was passed in November of last year, which strengthens the rules on gay-straight alliances in schools, including not allowing school officials to tell parents if their child is a part of the group, unless under special circumstances.

She feels the bill does nothing but divide families.

“Stripping the rights of the parents because what does is, it drives another wedge in the home, in the family, when we have such a crisis with families as it is, and families deal with so much, and now you are telling your children it’s no longer safe to be in your home because your parents may not agree with you, so it’s not a safe environment, which is detrimental to the whole family unit.”

She also talks about trying to find ways to get the province out of debt that doesn't involve the oil and gas industry, so future generations can find a steady stream of income and not have to rely on the boom and bust of the Alberta economy.

Barnes also sits on several boards within Sylvan Lake, including the Lighthouse Christian Academy School Board, and the Bibles for Grads board.