Councillor Graham A. Milner
Honesty . Integrity . Accountability
About Myself
Biography
Hello and thank you for visiting my website. Here is just a snapshot of my life and career, which is still evolving. I was born in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, and then moved to a very small village along the Musquodoboit River (Middle Musquodoboit). I lived home until I graduated from high school and moved to Moncton to attend the Atlantic Baptist College (now Crandall University). I went to the Atlantic Police Academy after that at the tender age of 19. Looking back now, I have never regretted my policing career choice.
I moved to Sussex in September, 1976, after being hired as a Constable by the Sussex Police Department. Prior to that I worked for 2 years in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, on their Police Department.
Although I worked in several municipalities during my career, Sussex has been my home. I moved to Sussex Corner in 1976 where I lived at first near the Sussex Corner Elementary School. I then bought a house on Main Street in Sussex Corner and lived there for several years and finally built a home in Skyline Acres sub-division in 1985. Due to work requirements at the time I moved into Sussex around 1993 and have lived in Sussex ever since. I am very familiar with both communities and have understood the issues that surround both the town and village.
I worked for the Town of Sussex Police Force for 23 years, raised 4 children here and was active in the community. In 1998, as the Deputy Chief of Police, we transitioned the Sussex Police Force over to the RCMP and I continued my career with the Sussex RCMP until my eventual retirement as a Corporal / Team Leader on March 22, 2014, on my 60th birthday after 40 years of public service.
Council Election
Interestingly, that same year, 2014, Councillor Mark Wright was being accepted into the RCMP which left a Town Council seat vacant. With the support of my wife, Judy, family and encouragement from the community, I decided to run in the by-election to continue to serve my community, the community I had called home since 1976.
I was elected in the Fall of 2014 and was sworn-in in November, 2014. It is hard to believe that was almost 8 years ago and it has been my continued honour and privilege to sit on the Sussex Town Council. I am currently the Chairperson of the Protective Services Committee (RCMP, fire services, EMO, building inspection and animal control) and because of my background I feel this is the right fit for me.
Effective elected officials have a number of things in common – they are honest and act with integrity; accept responsibility for their actions; respect others and the institution of local government; have an ability to lead, listen, and positively influence others while working collaboratively.
Community Involvement
When I retired I said to myself that retirement was not a time to stop living but a time to continue to give back to the community.
Since 2014 I have taken on other roles in addition to being a Town Councillor. I am Chairman of the Board of Sussex Christian School, a member of the New Brunswick RCMP Veterans Association, President of the Sussex Valley All-Terrain Club, a member of Faith Bible Baptist Fellowship Church, participated in the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick Committee on Inclusive Community Practices and Secretary-Treasurer for the Homesteaders Association Inc., a non-profit group restoring the historic Schoales Dam Ranger Camp to be used by other non-profit organizations which has now transitioned to Sussex Valley All-Terrain Club.
These are all responsibilities that are near and dear to my heart but my primary responsibility has always been to the Town and the members of my community. If the people have faith to cast their vote for me as Councillor, my primary responsibility is to them.
