$1.50 Vol. 59 No. 31 • Friday, October 30, 2020 Fort Qu’Appelle Candidates for mayor release their platforms By Alan Hustak I become your mayor. Grasslands News I commit an open door policy. Naturally not ev- eryone will agree but ev- With less than two eryone has a right to be weeks to go before munic- heard. That is a hallmark ipal elections take place of democracy. across the province, the I have lived in Fort three candidates running Qu’Appelle for 32 years for the highly contested and operated a business position of mayor in Fort for 24. I will work with Qu’Appelle have all given our business owners just Grasslands News “an el- as I did when serving as evator” pitch – a brief President and Vice Pres- explanation – as to why ident of the Chamber of they think they deserve Commerce. We live in a people’s vote on Nov. 9. community surrounded This year’s election by natural assets like no will see residents select other in the province. I ALAN HUSTAK | GRASSLANDS NEWS a new mayor for the com- Hockey is back will continue to work to munity, regardless of bring economic develop- )RUW.QR[IDQV·0HJDQ6FKPLGW7DUDDQG-HVVH'RXGWDNHLQWKHSUHVHDVRQDFWLRQDWWKH5H[HQ who is elected, as former ment to our town. I com- WUHRQ2FWZKHQ)RUW.QR[WRRNRQWKH5HJLQD&DSLWDOVLQDQH[KLELWLRQJDPH6L[W\RIIDQV mayor Jerry Whiting is mit to working with the DOORZHGWRRNLQWKHJDPH.QR[ZDQWVVHDWLQJUDLVHGIURPWR6HHVWRU\RQSDJH not seeking re-election. new council and all the citizens of town to make Lee Finishen Fort Qu’Appelle an inclu- all residents and busi- not true. I am a proud, things up. tween elders and youths, There are three rea- sive destination to work, nesses, while still keeping strong, confident woman I am educated in so- strategic planning and sons why I am uniquely live and play in year life affordable for all. from Muscowpetung Sal- cial work, a certified life goals for our community, qualified to be mayor: round. With my background teaux nation. I married skills coach facilitator. promote clean water, Experience, dedication Gus Lagace in different facets of gov- my high school sweet- My strengths are strong promote economic devel- and vision. The mayor’s erning as a whole, I re- My experience of hav- heart and we have three leadership skills, com- opment and promote a chair should not have spectfully ask for your ing served on municipal, wonderful children and munication skills, and healthy community with training wheels. The du- support on November 9th. educational and health three wonderful grand- human relations skills. a positive vibe. If we ties of a mayor are wide councils along with hav- children. We need to focus on work together, we can ranging and require ex- ing owned and operated Cindy McArthur People need to look youth. My focal points for make change happen. perience in many areas. a successful business, within themselves. I this election are to bring I live by these words: The learning curve for My campaign focuses I think qualifies me to choose to focus on the back the curfew, the ex- Love, Kindness and newly elected members of on the positive. If people work as mayor for the council is long. As long as talk badly about me, it’s positive. Let’s change change of knowledge be- Prayers. Town of Fort Qu’Appelle. I have been on council, I If elected, I would offer have made a strong effort a fair and common sense to expand my knowledge approach in dealing with to be a more effective all matters that come be- member. As a member fore council. My objective Sask. Party retains local seats of the Board of Directors is to work with the coun- for MuniSask, I chair the cil and with Fort Qu’Ap- Bylaw and Governance By Alan Hustak constituencies this year, but not enough to move the pelle’s cosmopolitan Committee that is a tem- Grasslands News needle. population to find com- plate on structure and If there was a surprise, it was the 6 per cent share of mon goals, and in turn operation of an elected the vote in Last Mountain-Touchwood that went to the to achieve results that The universe in the two Qu’Appelle Valley constit- organization. will keep Fort Qu’Appelle uencies unfolded pretty much according to the Sas- Buffalo Party candidate, Gordon Bradford. Bradford, With me as mayor, we moving forward. katchewan Party’s plan on election night. who lives in Lipton, took 400 votes for the Saskatche- can keep moving forward I feel it is important to To no one’s surprise, veteran MLA Don McMorris wan separatist party without almost any campaigning. as a town from Day 1. I build on our success, on increased his numbers and was swept back into office The re-election of McMorris raises immediate spec- have had the privilege of what we have achieved, in Indian Head-Milestone with an astonishing 68 per ulation as to whether Premier Scott Moe will appoint serving the people of Fort in order to sustain and cent of the vote. Qu’Appelle for over a de- him to his cabinet. McMorris, an experienced minister promote all future oppor- Newcomer Travis Keisig retained Last-Mountain cade and have been open who held a number of portfolios before he resigned in tunities. I intend to de- Touchwood for the Saskatchewan Party which had minded, approachable 2016, certainly deserves to be back in cabinet. During liver a trustworthy and previously been represented by Gordon Hart. Keisig, and committed to follow- the campaign, he pledged to get the economy back on transparent government, who logged 9,000 km in his truck on the campaign trail ing all legislation when with the limited revenues said he is “truly humbled,” by his win. track, “the way it was before Covid 19. That’s our job fulfilling my duties. This available, that will serve Both NDP candidates, Thera Nordal and Jared number one, day number one, after our government will not change when Clarke, picked up a few more votes in their respective is sworn in.” NOVEMBER 6 2” x 2” colour ad $50.00 Book your spot by calling 1-844-GNG-NEWS (ext. 230) or email [email protected] 2 October 30, 2020 0HOYLOOH$GYDQFH:KLWHZRRG*UHQIHOO+HUDOG6XQ)RUW4X·$SSHOOH7LPHV Grasslands News Melville Davison School Students learn democracy through mock election By Emily Jane Fulford “We talk a lot about the concept of Grasslands News Democracy as well as other fundamental human rights and that it is our responsi- bility to ensure that we know our rights It’s that time of year again – election so that we can ensure those rights are time. With it, the opportunity to provide respected and not infringed upon,” said children across the province with valu- Coomber, who also submitted a piece able education, not only in regards to that was done on the topic by a student democracy and its history, but the elec- attending Davison. toral process as well. In Melville, Sas- The following is a response from Jor- katchewan, students at Davison School ryn Kreklewich (Grade 6 Student): took part in the Student Vote, a mock Why do we learn about Democracy? election based on the provincial election. “We have been learning about Democ- This is one of a couple of mock elections racy so that we know that not just one that will be held at the school this fall, person or a small group of people can de- another based on the municipal process cide on things. So that we know not just will be taking place in November. one person gets to decide who the leader “One Grade 5 (Miss Senyk’s class) is or who they want to be in power.” and both Grade 6 classes participated,” Facts vs Opinions - “We have been said Daniel Coomber, Teacher at Davi- learning about this topic leading up until son. “We had students playing the role this election because when we have the of Poll Clerks as well as Returning Chief chance to vote as a class we have to Officers. These students did a great job know if what the leaders are saying is ensuring that the new rules were being true or if it’s just what they think we followed including social distancing and EMILY JANE FULFORD | GRASSLANDS NEWS Mock election want us to hear.” using hand sanitizer before voting with Students at Davison School in Melville got a chance to experience the election How I decided who to vote for? their own pencils.” “I used a website called Vote Compass The mock election was a project in- this week. Seen here is Brynn Alspach, Poll Clerk, checking the Voter ID card, which set up a quiz that was based on corporated into the Social Studies class 6RSKLD6WDY'HSXW\5HWXUQLQJ2IÀFHUDQG&KDFH)RUWXQHYRWHU what the different parties thought about while the election process was being each topic/question for people to do and taught as well as the function of the Pro- with their own ideas and beliefs. I use practice that they will continue to do.” at the end it showed which party my vincial Government. tools like Vote Compass so that the stu- Other topics in the curriculum cover ideas were closest to. Another thing I “I hope that students really take a dents can answer a quiz and see what some of the struggles that various groups did was just compare what each party keen interest in politics and I hope that party aligns with their own views.