Les Arnelien
"It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Yorkton as city councillor for the past twelve years. During this time we have experienced unprecedented growth which continues to benefit our entire community. It is important that we continue to strive for growth and development, so that Yorkton continues to be the place "Where Good Things Happen".
I am proud to call Yorkton home after living, working, and raising my two daughters here. In addition to my council duties I am also Branch Manager of TD Canada Trust and remain committed to being involved within our community. I presently serve as Chairman of the Yorkton Housing Corportation, as a member of the Economic Development Commit-tee, as a member of the Emergency Measures Committee, a director of the Spring Expo, and a member and past president of the Yorkton Lions Club.
It gives me great pleasure as a city councillor to have been directly involved in the decisions that have shaped our city in to what it is today. Our city is growing with many new businesses, an expanding community college, a new firehall, water treatment plant, skateboard park, walking trails, and numerous job opportunities to retain our youth."
Robby Bear
My name is Robby Bear, and I am very honoured to be nominated for Yorkton City Council.
My wife Avery and I are raising a young family of four children (Sarah, Birdie, Kadence and Ryker) and we are very pleased to call Yorkton home. Moving to Yorkton at a young age, I attended school at St. Joseph Jr. High, as well as the Yorkton Regional high school. I studied business at the University of Regina, and have progressed as a successful business man in the community for the past ten years.
I have maintained strong ties with the community over the years and am presently in my third year as a Director with the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce. While playing Jr. "A" hockey with the Yorkton Terriers, I was privileged to be part of a great community based organization, and was honoured to receive the award of "most popular player voted by the fans".
My greatest priority in running for City Council is to listen to the citizens of Yorkton, and to address their concerns ensuring the best interests of the community. I have extensive experience in strategic planning, budgeting, development and implementation of policies and procedures, as well as working with a diverse team to accomplish results."
Chris Wyatt
It has been an honour to serve the people of Yorkton for the past 12 years on city council. The city of Yorkton is thriving with new housing developments and commercial buildings starting every week. My main goal in the next four years, if elected for a fifth term, will be to keep that momentum going. I believe that the latest annexation ruling in Yorkton's favour gives us industrial land to the north and residential to the south to grow Yorkton for the next 5-10 years. With the new commercial area by the Parkland Mall and future space available by the tourism building, businesses have choices where to start up or relocate their buildings.
Having the support of my wife Deb Link and two children gives me the resolve to make decisions not only for today's needs but our future as well. With my daughter in elementary school and son in high school I believe I am able to represent family concerns.
I have been outspoken and asked the tough questions when needed as we spend your hard earned tax dollars.
James Wilson
Mayor, James Wilson has spent the last six years on City Council building a better Yorkton for residents and businesses.
His goal is to create a community that works together helping each other to make Yorkton the center of choice to work, live and play.
As Mayor, the community prospered and grew. Under his leadership James led our city through the flood of 2010.
As a leader in business, James was the General Manager of Business Development for SecurTek establishing the national head office in Yorkton, and SaskTel District Sales Manager and now SaskTel Business Development Director.
James received education and training at Parkland College, University of Saskatchewan and Queen's School of Business.
Husband to Wendy for 29 years and father of their 3 children James has lived in Yorkton for 22 years. While raising his family, volunteer coaching and managing youth sport teams was always a priority. A leader by example James and his family built a home in Mexico for a disadvantaged family and volunteered at an orphanage in Ecuador and at a school in Guatemala.
Aaron Nagy
As, October 24 comes along Aaron Nagy requests your vote. Aaron Nagy has lived most of his life in and around the Yorkton area. A graduate of the Yorkton Regional High School Aaron recieved the Random acts of Kindness Award from the YRHS After he graduate Nagy went to take post secondary education in Saskatoon where he went to college and got a certificate in Radio and Television broadcasting.
When a tragic loss of his dear friend Jimmy Ray Wiebe was murdered at the shell gas station in Yorkton he then decided he needed to do something to protect people who are work over nights so no one would get hurt again. Nagy started what is now known as Jimmy's Law.
Nagy was one of the chosen few to run with the Rick Hansen metal this past winter. He was nominated as a difference maker in the world.
Randy Goulden
Four-term Yorkton city councillor and longtime community volunteer Randy Goulden seeks your support in the election on October 24.
Randy's many years of work in the community, as well as her involvement with provincial and national organizations, have kept her in close touch with the people of Yorkton and the issues that directly affect them.
She was first elected to Yorkton City Council in 1997, and was re-elected in the next three elections. She has served on all council committees and commissions, and was very active in both the provincial Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), and the national Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). She was a member of the board of directors of both organizations, and chaired committees at both levels dealing with community safety and protection, and ways to increase women's participation in municipal government.
Randy works as the Executive Director of Tourism Yorkton, and the Director of the Yorkton Film Festival.
Arliss Dellow
A former city councillor, long time resident of Yorkton and community volunteer, Arliss Dellow seeks your support in the civic election on October 24, 2012.
Arliss' many years of work and volunteerism in the community, as well as his involvement with provincial, national and international organizations have kept him in close contact with the needs of our youth, young families, and seniors as well as the business and legal community in Yorkton and the issues that directly affect all of them.
He was first elected in 1970 to Yorkton City Council and served on, and chaired, many of the committees and commissions of the city and continues to do so.
He is presently serving as chair of the Development Appeals Board. Now retired from the practice of Law after forty-two years, he has the time to work on behalf of all the citizens of Yorkton.
Richard Okrainec
It's been a very quick 3-years as my term of serving the Citizens of Yorkton comes to a close. Sitting as your Councillor has been a terrific experience, so much so that I am asking for your support in serving another 4-years.
I've been quite active in the Yorkton Community since moving to the City in 1995. I am a Past President of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, Past Presi-dent of Saskatchewan Fairs and Past President of Yorkton United Soccer. I've sat on dozens of various Committees and Boards over the years. While sitting as a member of Council we are involved in several committees with my main appointments for the past 3-years being Protective Services, Vice-Chair of the Gallagher Centre Management Board and Chair of the Property Standard Appeals Board.
I was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces in the 80's completing a UN tour in Cyrus, Greece and a NATO tour at CFB Baden West, Germany. I moved to Yorkton to become Manager of the Yorkton Exhibition Association and moved into my current position in 1999.
Larry Pearen
It has been my privilege to serve the citizens of Yorkton during this past term on Council.
I am proud of our record for the past six years as we invested in infrastructure which included a new water treatment plant, expanded our police force, secured fire protection with a new hall and developed a strategy to address the affordable housing needs in our community.
We have addressed a major flood with infrastructure development and holding ponds. I am very pleased to have supported our youth with the new skate board park.
I am proud of my community service I have provided over the past 28 years including leading the Saskatchewan 2005 Yorkton Committee, Yorkton 125 and Western Financial City Centre Park committee. Currently participating on the Yorkton Airport Authority, Planning and Engineering as well as District Planning keep me involved. I have used skills obtained from previous provincial and national leadership positions to help strengthen the community we live in.
Ross Fisher
It has been my pleasure to serve as a City Councillor for the last three years.
In my term on council I have served on the Protective Services Committee, Community Development Parks and Recreation committee and I am a member of the Management Board of the Gallagher Centre.
Yorkton has grown significantly the last few years, and that has made it an interesting and challenging time to be on City Council. We want to encourage that growth and investment in our community. We want our children to be able to find work here, and live and raise a family here. At the same time, we want Yorkton to remain a safe place to raise a family.
Many of you know me as much from my work as the Executive Director of The Health Foundation as from my work on City Council. The Health Foundation is a local charity that raises funds to purchase medical equipment that will enhance our local healthcare. The work I do with The Health Foundation is about building our community by improving the healthcare services available locally. It is about trying to make our community an even better place to live. I think the work of City Council should have a very similar objective.
Yorkton heads to the polls October 24. To see full bios on each councillor visit the City of Yorkton website: www.cityofyorkton.ca.
