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Twentyâ€"four years ago the Mutual Life Assurance Company of Canada, transâ€" ferred him to their branch in Waterloo. He and his wife Joan have two sons, Jack, 16, and Steve, 14. Both are students at Blueâ€" vale Collegiate. Providing _ recreational programs, developing the downtown area, setting up community _ organizations and bringing the governâ€" ment back to the people are all areas of concern for Mr. Zupko. "In the area of recreaâ€" tion I believe we have to be alert to changes," he said. ‘‘People are beginning to look at the four day work week and we will have a lot of leisure time on our hands. We have to be able to provide for it."" Mr. Zupko would like to see two changes come about in the area of recreaâ€" tion. He would like to see more girls and senior citiâ€" zens become involved in activities and the initiation of more activities for peoâ€" ple who are not athletically inclined. ‘‘You can make the city a better place to live withâ€" out turning things upside down,"‘ said Mr. Zupko. Mr. Zupko was born in Stockholm, Saskatchewan. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Manitoba and has obtained his Fellowship in Life Ofâ€" fice Management. John Zupko of 129 Chelâ€" ford Crescent in Waterloo, believes there are many small things a person can do in his community to make it a better place to live. This is why he has decided to run for the poâ€" sition of alderman in the coming municipal election. "I‘ve always had an inâ€" terest in music," said Mr. Zupko.‘" If you used minor sports as an example. muâ€" sic could become a form of organized recreation. This story is one in a series about municipal council candidates in the Dec. 6 election. As far as Mr. Zupko is concerned, it is up to city hall to experiment with these new programs. ‘"Council Should take the Zupko supports community group concept _ ELECT JOHN SHORTREED By Terry James ALDERMANâ€" WATERLOO 6 year member, Waterloo Planning Board 3 years chairman, Waterloo Planning Board Professional engineer Member, Waterloo Urban Renewal Committee Practising urban transportation planner Mr. Zupko believes that people who have a problem would find it easier to take it to a neighbourhood group where they know all the members personally, than to present it to council. The neighbourhood organization could then inform city council of the problems its community faces. "It was a good idea, howâ€" ever these meetings were poorly attended," said Mr. Zupko. ‘"Council has to take it one step further. It is up to them to get these organâ€" izations established in the neighbourhoods and deal through them. ‘‘Lakeshore Village Asâ€" sociation is a good example of a community group," he said. "I would like to see council getting input and participation from these neighbourhood groups."‘ Mr. _ Zupko â€" applauded alderman Brian Turnbull who _ advocated _ holding planning meetings in the communities. *‘*Neighbourhood _ groups have always been formed in times of crisis," said Mr. Zupko. ‘"City council should have more input than from crisis situations only .‘ ~ He believes the identity of Waterloo has to be reâ€" tained in regional governâ€" ment and decisionâ€"making should be retained at the lower levels. "I ~ was involved with planning boards before and I never saw much interest exerted on behalf of the merchants. This time I‘ve really noticed it. Community groups play an important role in the city and Mr. Zupko would like to see more of them being formed. Mr. Zupko is pleased to see development â€" taking place in downtown Waterâ€" loo. It is the first time he has seen réal participatiod and interest shown on beâ€" half of the business men, he said. ‘‘Governments are being removed from the people more and more," said Mr. Zupko. ‘"We‘ve got to bring it back to the grass roots. . Although Mr. Zupko beâ€" lieves that regional governâ€" ment â€" definitely â€" has its place, he feels strongly first step and find out if people are interested," said Mr. Zupko. Mr. Zupko believes that one of the main issues in the election campaign will be downtown development. ‘"For example," said Mr. Zupko, ‘‘neighbourhoods should decide dn the recre ational facilities they need, not regional government.‘*‘ ‘‘The city is interested in preventing the shopper‘s dollar from going to Fairâ€" view Plaza by developing a large shopping centre in North Waterloo," he said. ‘"‘They want to do this withâ€" out making downtown Waâ€" terloo suffer. It‘s a whole package deal. We‘ve got to watch downtown like a baby."‘ ‘"The Westmount, Towers, Parkdale and Glenridge plazas all have a place in the community and we just can‘t drop them," he said. ‘We have to watch that they are not sacrificed." that certain decisions should be madé by the people inâ€" volved. Mr. Zupko said that council will also have to watch the four smaller plazas in Waterloo. Mr. Zupko said that in the past the city has tried to plan in such a way that all major transportation routes converge on the downtown core and he beâ€" lieves that city bus routes should also come to a focal point. "If the city provides background _ and _ atmosâ€" phere it is up to the busiâ€" ness men to take it from there,"‘ he said. The city will have to make sure that there is an evening out of business between the plaza planned for north Waterloo and the downtown core, he said. ‘‘*Seeing things such as the expansion of Waterloo Square is encouraging."‘ **We must encourage the development of these beâ€" fore we start developing the outside fringes of the city," he said. Mr. Zupko does not feel that housing and developâ€" ment are a major problem in Waterloo but he does believe that many small vacant lots in the city should be developed. Mr. Zupko cannot think of any major decisions city council has made which will cause problems five to 10 years from now. snnfi lc h on s utss tee s .. »,. Waterinp Chronigle, Wednesday , November 3, 1976 â€" Page John Zupko, a former member of the city‘s planning and community services boards, is one candidate seeking election to council in the Dec. 6 election. Brochures intended to . to make a break into poliâ€" ing at the Mutual Life Asâ€" reach every household and tics. Incumbents have such Surance . Company. . His newspaper advertising are an edge," he said. "Of Community involvement has the main thrusts of Mr. course an incumbent deâ€" included memberskip on Zupko‘s election campaign. serves special consideraâ€" the Social Planning Council, His campaign is totally tion and therefore we must the Children‘s Aid Society, selfâ€"financed. work harder." the Christopher movement, . . the Catholic Social Services "I realize it is going to Mr. Zupko is presently Board and the Federated be difficult for a new person the supervisor of purchasâ€" Appeal. to make a break into poliâ€" tics. Incumbents have such an edge," he said. "Of course an incumbent deâ€" serves special consideraâ€" tion and therefore we must work harder." .6 *% y# TX