Some of N.B. council leaving chambers with regret

“This is a very difficult time for me. That having been said, I know when I wake up tomorrow and next month and the month after that, I won’t have all the meetings to go to and I’ll get sort of some of me back.” he said.

The last official meeting before the municipal election, which was held on October 15, had somewhat of a celebratory air to it as city staff presented all the councillors and Mayor David Gillan with framed prints of local artist Allen Sapp’s work.

Gillan opted to not run again after one term but took some time to reflect on the last four years and some of the accomplishments achieved.

“We have done a community safety plan in this council,” he said, adding that they are still working to implement it alongside community partners.

“I think the province has moved a long way from where we started because now, they’re making major investments in Saskatoon and Regina and that’s going to come here next.”

Outgoing Mayor David Gillan and Councillor Len Taylor part as colleagues. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

Another issue Gillan highlighted was the efforts of working with a diverse community that included urban reserves.

“We’re working on a meeting place in the city to try to really heal and bring our community together,” he said, referring to Tawaw Point, currently in development on King Hill.

“I think it’s working in that regard.”

Reflecting back on his career, Taylor said in addition to his time serving on three North Battleford councils, he was a member of parliament for nine years and spent eight years as an MLA.

“It’s a long time of answering the phone, identifying issues that need looking at, how do we find ways to look at those issues that can be resolved,” he said.

Taylor explained that although he’s stepping away from the day-to-day roles of a councillor, he still cares and wants to be a part of the process.

“I don’t think a four-year commitment to the public of North Battleford would be giving them 100 per cent,” he said.

“Maybe the next year I could be 100 per cent but two years from now? Three years from now? Four years from now?”

As Gillan gets ready to make his exit, he told battlefordsNOW he is sad Taylor wasn’t running again but understood the decision. Afterwards, he spoke of Taylor’s experience to guide him when he first walked through the chamber doors as a new mayor four years earlier.

“He has tremendous experience in government and not just helping me but helping others on council too as we navigate some difficult issues at times,” said Gillan.

The mayor explained he’s optimistic every council is going to have strengths and that will go for the new council.

“The new council will have also very interesting, diverse backgrounds and it’ll all add greatly into making great decisions for the City of North Battleford,” he said.

Once November 13 rolls around, Taylor said he has plans.

“I think I’ll just be a good citizen and if I see something and I think it needs attention, I’ll phone one of my councillors,” he said, noting he expects to have an ongoing relationship with city staff and elected members.

“I will attend some meetings, I will voice my opinions on occasion, I’m not giving anything up – just my chair.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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by Julia Lovett-Squires

Some of N.B. council leaving chambers with regret

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