Misa Nikolic, who's worked at North Battleford's Historic Archives, wants to bring that perspective to the mayor's office. (Submitted Photo/Misa Nikolic)

By Josh Ryan

Tackling social issues

Mayoral candidate focused on reconciliation, fixing social problems

Oct 6, 2020 | 2:36 PM

Working as an archivist in North Battleford has given Misa Nikolic a unique perspective on the city’s history, one that he hopes to help shape the city’s future.

The former project coordinator, who until recently worked the Allen Sapp Gallery and North Battleford’s Historic Archives, is running for mayor in what is becoming an increasingly crowded municipal field. Nikolic made the decision several months after becoming one of many employees laid off during the pandemic.

“I had three months to reconsider why I was here and why I was doing it,” Nikolic said. “And I felt I might [have more influence] and do more good entering the public sphere.”

More than 30 years in the arts sector, in a variety of occupations, provide Nikolic with a background that he believes will give him a different view and skill set compared to the other candidates. He said he’s spoken to people who come from all walks of life and saw how other communities found innovative ways to address some of the issues facing the Battlefords.

“I think I have a very broad range of knowledge to bring to it, including seeing how other municipalities have dealt with economic issues, crime, dwindling population,” Nikolic said. “Innovative thinking is what we need right now and that’s where I think I can contribute the most.”

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Nikolic said the biggest issue facing the city isn’t specifically crime, but rather the social problems that lead to it. To fix this, he believes in pursuing a different path than those in the past.

“For about four decades, successive mayors have approached crime with the same strategy,” Nikolic said. “Obviously it hasn’t worked.”

An area that Nikolic said is connected to crime prevention is addressing the needs of the significant Indigenous population in the area, who he said are still suffering the effects of intergenerational poverty and institutionalized racism.

“If we can address these issues by building up our social services and working on reconciliation, we might be able to make an impact on crime,” he said.

This makes reconciliation a particularly big focus for Nikolic. He said it’s something society has become comfortable with, but has plateaued on.

“People know to change their email signatures or open their speeches with a land acknowledgement, and those are good things, but it’s not enough,” he said. “It’s time to reach out, build relationships and ask for help.”

Nikolic added he would treat the mayor’s office as a full time job and come with a clear agenda, saying council needs to show leadership during this time. With the increase in interest from young people for this election, he said he’s noticed almost everyone is now focused on the same things.

“The pandemic has shone a light on things we didn’t want to admit before,” he said.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports