For the full interview, listen in to Connecting Albert County: The Audio Edit, wherever you stream your podcasts, or above.
As the 2026 municipal election approaches in Fundy Albert, voters in Ward 3 will have a choice to make at the ballot box. Among the candidates is James Wilson, a long-time local resident who says his campaign is rooted in bringing a broader range of experiences and perspectives to municipal council.
Wilson, who lives on Albert Mines Road, describes deep roots in the region. “My family has lived there for a long time. In fact, this year we’re celebrating 250 years in Canada,” he said.
As the 2026 municipal election approaches in Fundy Albert, voters in Ward 3 will have a choice to make at the ballot box. Among the candidates is James Wilson, a long-time local resident who says his campaign is rooted in bringing a broader range of experiences and perspectives to municipal council.
Wilson, who lives on Albert Mines Road, describes deep roots in the region. “My family has lived there for a long time. In fact, this year we’re celebrating 250 years in Canada,” he said.
Background and Experience
Many residents may recognize Wilson from his years working in retail at Kent in Riverview, where he spent about a decade and became familiar with multiple departments. More recently, he serves as assistant manager at the Albert County Museum. He has also been involved in community initiatives, including organizing Hillsborough Homecoming Days and running small fundraising events.
A Collaborative Approach to Leadership
Wilson characterizes his leadership style as adaptable rather than directive. “I would describe it as a mix of flexible and collaborative… Sometimes I have to lead. Sometimes other people have to lead and I support them,” he explained.
He points to his work reviving Hillsborough Homecoming Days as an example. When he took over organizing the event three years ago, it had dwindled to a single day. “With the help of many wonderful volunteers,” he said, “we were able to bring it back to a week-long event the first year.” The event has continued to expand, including the return of a parade and plans for further growth.
His community involvement has also included charitable efforts. Wilson described organizing small gaming tournaments that raised money for the food bank and helping coordinate donations for the Boys and Girls Club.
Learning from Challenges
Wilson also shared an example of a public misstep that shaped his approach to accountability. While running a blog about the Canadian monarchy, he once published a response he believed came directly from a federal leadership candidate. The information turned out to be inaccurate.
“I had to take responsibility. I put up a blog post. I apologized. I corrected the record,” he said. “I don’t like hiding when I’m wrong… it serves no one to claim that I am perfect.”
He added that the experience made him more careful in verifying information and reinforced his belief in transparency.
Why Run Now?
Wilson says his decision to run stems from a desire to broaden representation on council.
“Municipal councils get full of retirees and business owners. And that’s fine—you need those views,” he said. “But if you just have those types of people… I think it creates a blind spot.”
His own background spans retail, tourism, construction, and some self-employment experience. He believes that variety can help inform decision-making at the municipal level.
Campaign Priorities
Wilson’s platform centres on four main areas:
Wilson noted that New Brunswick municipalities face significant restrictions. “Every time I’d look into [funding ideas], I’d run into a wall—no, the municipality is not allowed to do this.” He would work towards fixing this problem.
Accessibility and Time Commitment
Serving on council requires a significant time investment, something Wilson says he has considered carefully. He has prioritized flexible work arrangements and is exploring increased self-employment to allow more availability.
“I am always willing to talk about politics,” he said. He has even discussed the idea of setting up informal weekly public meetups where residents could drop in and share their views. “I’m not in this to hide away… people can talk to me.”
Governance and Accountability
Wilson supports mandatory training for councillors. “If I was to apply for any other job, there would be mandatory training. It seems weird to me that you can join council and the training might not be mandatory,” he said.
Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
On transparency, he stressed both structural accountability and public trust. “If you don’t have those structures, something criminal might happen. But you also need the public to trust that the government is acting in their best interests.”
He also outlined how he would handle potential conflicts of interest, including stepping away from decisions where he has personal or professional connections. “I don’t want to even touch that,” he said.
Environment and Local Resources
Wilson highlighted the municipality’s natural environment as both an asset and a responsibility. He pointed to past efforts to protect green spaces and suggested exploring greater use of local materials in infrastructure projects.
“We have a nearly inexhaustible supply of river clay,” he noted, suggesting it could be used for brick roads or sidewalks that are easier to maintain.
He also voiced opposition to glyphosate spraying. “I’m against that for two reasons—health concerns and environmental impact,” he said, adding that it promotes a single-use forestry model rather than supporting diverse ecosystems.
Housing and Cost of Living
Addressing housing and affordability, Wilson pointed to several potential municipal tools, including reviewing unused municipal land and revisiting zoning practices.
He criticized restrictive zoning systems common in North America. “It gets a little crazy,” he said, contrasting it with more flexible approaches in Europe and Japan.
Wilson supports mixed-use development, citing local examples where combining residential and commercial spaces can increase tax efficiency and housing availability. He also emphasized walkability as a way to reduce household costs. “Cars are one of the biggest expenses a household can have,” he noted.
Economic Development and Tourism
Wilson sees the municipality’s role in economic development as creating consistent policies and improving access to information. “If a business is trying to find out, ‘Is this a good place to set up?’ and the information is hidden… people will quit in frustration,” he said.
He also pointed to underused local assets, such as the Petitcodiac River, and opportunities to expand tourism—particularly in the winter months.
Culture, Heritage, and Community Life
Wilson believes arts, culture, and history play an important role in the community. “We have really interesting history… and it’s great that people are starting to find it,” he said, noting increased visitation at the Albert County Museum.
He supports stronger collaboration between the municipality and volunteer organizations, as well as expanding local events into more regional attractions.
Infrastructure and Amalgamation
On infrastructure, Wilson again returned to cost efficiency and innovation, suggesting alternatives like brick sidewalks that are easier to repair.
He also addressed the ongoing impacts of municipal amalgamation, emphasizing the need for unity across communities. “You don’t benefit from having all of the different parts… at each other’s throats,” he said.
While supportive of amalgamation in principle, he expressed concerns about how it was implemented and called for better financial tools from the province.
Closing Thoughts
As he concluded the interview, Wilson kept his message simple: “If elected, I will do my best for Fundy Albert.”
Contact Wilson by email: [email protected] and on facebook at www.facebook.com/James4Albert
Many residents may recognize Wilson from his years working in retail at Kent in Riverview, where he spent about a decade and became familiar with multiple departments. More recently, he serves as assistant manager at the Albert County Museum. He has also been involved in community initiatives, including organizing Hillsborough Homecoming Days and running small fundraising events.
A Collaborative Approach to Leadership
Wilson characterizes his leadership style as adaptable rather than directive. “I would describe it as a mix of flexible and collaborative… Sometimes I have to lead. Sometimes other people have to lead and I support them,” he explained.
He points to his work reviving Hillsborough Homecoming Days as an example. When he took over organizing the event three years ago, it had dwindled to a single day. “With the help of many wonderful volunteers,” he said, “we were able to bring it back to a week-long event the first year.” The event has continued to expand, including the return of a parade and plans for further growth.
His community involvement has also included charitable efforts. Wilson described organizing small gaming tournaments that raised money for the food bank and helping coordinate donations for the Boys and Girls Club.
Learning from Challenges
Wilson also shared an example of a public misstep that shaped his approach to accountability. While running a blog about the Canadian monarchy, he once published a response he believed came directly from a federal leadership candidate. The information turned out to be inaccurate.
“I had to take responsibility. I put up a blog post. I apologized. I corrected the record,” he said. “I don’t like hiding when I’m wrong… it serves no one to claim that I am perfect.”
He added that the experience made him more careful in verifying information and reinforced his belief in transparency.
Why Run Now?
Wilson says his decision to run stems from a desire to broaden representation on council.
“Municipal councils get full of retirees and business owners. And that’s fine—you need those views,” he said. “But if you just have those types of people… I think it creates a blind spot.”
His own background spans retail, tourism, construction, and some self-employment experience. He believes that variety can help inform decision-making at the municipal level.
Campaign Priorities
Wilson’s platform centres on four main areas:
- Greater transparency and accountability
- A new funding model for the municipality
- A flexible rural plan
- Protection of architectural heritage
Wilson noted that New Brunswick municipalities face significant restrictions. “Every time I’d look into [funding ideas], I’d run into a wall—no, the municipality is not allowed to do this.” He would work towards fixing this problem.
Accessibility and Time Commitment
Serving on council requires a significant time investment, something Wilson says he has considered carefully. He has prioritized flexible work arrangements and is exploring increased self-employment to allow more availability.
“I am always willing to talk about politics,” he said. He has even discussed the idea of setting up informal weekly public meetups where residents could drop in and share their views. “I’m not in this to hide away… people can talk to me.”
Governance and Accountability
Wilson supports mandatory training for councillors. “If I was to apply for any other job, there would be mandatory training. It seems weird to me that you can join council and the training might not be mandatory,” he said.
Transparency and Conflicts of Interest
On transparency, he stressed both structural accountability and public trust. “If you don’t have those structures, something criminal might happen. But you also need the public to trust that the government is acting in their best interests.”
He also outlined how he would handle potential conflicts of interest, including stepping away from decisions where he has personal or professional connections. “I don’t want to even touch that,” he said.
Environment and Local Resources
Wilson highlighted the municipality’s natural environment as both an asset and a responsibility. He pointed to past efforts to protect green spaces and suggested exploring greater use of local materials in infrastructure projects.
“We have a nearly inexhaustible supply of river clay,” he noted, suggesting it could be used for brick roads or sidewalks that are easier to maintain.
He also voiced opposition to glyphosate spraying. “I’m against that for two reasons—health concerns and environmental impact,” he said, adding that it promotes a single-use forestry model rather than supporting diverse ecosystems.
Housing and Cost of Living
Addressing housing and affordability, Wilson pointed to several potential municipal tools, including reviewing unused municipal land and revisiting zoning practices.
He criticized restrictive zoning systems common in North America. “It gets a little crazy,” he said, contrasting it with more flexible approaches in Europe and Japan.
Wilson supports mixed-use development, citing local examples where combining residential and commercial spaces can increase tax efficiency and housing availability. He also emphasized walkability as a way to reduce household costs. “Cars are one of the biggest expenses a household can have,” he noted.
Economic Development and Tourism
Wilson sees the municipality’s role in economic development as creating consistent policies and improving access to information. “If a business is trying to find out, ‘Is this a good place to set up?’ and the information is hidden… people will quit in frustration,” he said.
He also pointed to underused local assets, such as the Petitcodiac River, and opportunities to expand tourism—particularly in the winter months.
Culture, Heritage, and Community Life
Wilson believes arts, culture, and history play an important role in the community. “We have really interesting history… and it’s great that people are starting to find it,” he said, noting increased visitation at the Albert County Museum.
He supports stronger collaboration between the municipality and volunteer organizations, as well as expanding local events into more regional attractions.
Infrastructure and Amalgamation
On infrastructure, Wilson again returned to cost efficiency and innovation, suggesting alternatives like brick sidewalks that are easier to repair.
He also addressed the ongoing impacts of municipal amalgamation, emphasizing the need for unity across communities. “You don’t benefit from having all of the different parts… at each other’s throats,” he said.
While supportive of amalgamation in principle, he expressed concerns about how it was implemented and called for better financial tools from the province.
Closing Thoughts
As he concluded the interview, Wilson kept his message simple: “If elected, I will do my best for Fundy Albert.”
Contact Wilson by email: [email protected] and on facebook at www.facebook.com/James4Albert
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