Municipal leaders from Saskatchewan’s Central, East Central, Southwest, and Southeast regions came together from the comfort and safety of their homes for Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s virtual regional meeting.
The municipal representatives met via Zoom on December 2.
“Regional meetings are an excellent chance for municipal officials to come together to share successes and discuss challenges that are unique to their particular area of the province. In spite of the irregularities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the importance of these meetings and wanted to find a safe way to ensure they could still happen,” said Municipalities of Saskatchewan President Gordon Barnhart.
The meeting began with representatives from all regions gathering for remarks from the President, updates from Municipalities of Saskatchewan, and an education session delivered by Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s legal advisor Bukola Afolabi. Officials and delegates then split into their respective regions for region-specific discussions, where topics were as wide and varied as the regions themselves.
Traditionally, elections for regional directors and alternate directors on Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s Board of Directors take place at the regional meetings following municipal elections.
In Municipalities of Saskatchewan’s Central Region, Lumsden Mayor Bryan Matheson was elected Central Region Director and Fort Qu’Appelle Councillor Brian Strong was acclaimed Regional Alternate. In the East Central Region, incumbent Randy Goulden, councillor for the City of Yorkton, was acclaimed East Central Regional Director, and Preeceville Councillor Welma Bartel was acclaimed Regional Alternate. Maple Creek Mayor Michelle McKenzie was acclaimed Southwest Regional Director, and Shaunavon Mayor Kyle Bennett will serve as Regional Alternate. In the Southeast Region, incumbent Pat Jackson, Mayor of Kipling, was acclaimed Southeast Regional Director. The position of regional alternate is vacant in the region.
