In episode 18 of *Strait Talk*, Town Councillor Blaine MacQuarrie sits down with Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot to explain why he’s seeking another term on Port Hawkesbury Town Council. With years of experience under his belt, MacQuarrie shares his reflections on serving the town and his motivation for continuing his work as a councillor.

MacQuarrie first entered the political scene when he was elected to town council in a by-election in 2018, and he successfully secured re-election in the 2020 municipal election. With six years of service behind him, he’s eager to leverage his experience in the next term.

“I have that experience, so if I was fortunate to be re-elected, I have that background of being a councillor,” he noted, emphasizing the value of his previous terms. “There’s quite a learning curve. It was a big learning curve for me when I ran for council and got on there. You don’t learn everything overnight.”

Before his time on council, MacQuarrie built a long career as a social worker, where he developed many of the skills he now applies to his role in public service. He worked for 11 years at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital before transitioning to Adult Protection, where he spent another 20 years. He retired from social work in December 2021, but not before acquiring invaluable experience in listening and problem-solving—skills he says have helped him thrive on the town council.

“The skills I have are skills that I had to learn and develop working as a social worker,” MacQuarrie explained. “And that was to be a listener; to listen to what people have to say and to respect what they have to say and try to look at problems and issues as a whole, gather as much information in order to make a decision.” 

He feels his emphasis on careful listening and considering all perspectives is critical to being an effective councillor. He believes that these attributes and his years of hands-on experience make him well-suited to continue serving his community.

MacQuarrie also shared insight into his decision to seek re-election in 2024, stressing his enthusiasm for the direction the town is heading.

“I’m very optimistic about the future, very hopeful about where things are going with the Town of Port Hawkesbury in general,” he added. “I see good things happening and I want to be a part of that progress.”

For MacQuarrie, the chance to help guide Port Hawkesbury through its next phase of growth and change is a driving force behind his re-election campaign. He believes his skills and experience uniquely position him to contribute to the ongoing development of the town, and he remains committed to addressing the challenges and opportunities ahead.