Springside elects its first female mayor

Springside was officially declared a village by the Province of Saskatchewan in 1909.

Monday, for the first time in the community’s history a woman was elected Mayor.

Debbie Banks became the first female mayor topping Doyle Ward for the spot. Both were looking for their first term as mayor as incumbent Jack Prychak chose to run as a Councillor being one of the six acclaimed in the town. They are;Anthony (Chuck) Allary, Jim Graves, Al Langley, Michael Pasloski, Stephen Spearman and Prychak.

“It was exciting,” said Banks. “... It hasn’t really totally sunk in yet ... but knowing I was the first female mayor made it special.”

Banks, who said she had a meeting with the Town Administrator set for Friday, has a general vision for the term ahead.

“I want to try to help keep our small town values,” she said.

While recognizing Springside is largely a ‘bedroom’ community for Yorkton, Banks said there has been a unique ‘feel’ to the smaller community in the past. “Some of that’s got lost ... I hope to pull he community together a bit kore again, get doing some of the things we used too.”