Mayor Ames Leslie. (Battleford/website)

By Alyssa Rudolph

year-ender chat

Battleford mayor reflects on a year of progress

Dec 29, 2025 | 1:00 PM

The town of Battleford achieved a year of steady progress, pointing to safety-focused infrastructure upgrades, and council collaboration.

Mayor Ames Leslie reflected back on town highlights from 2025. He said many small but important repairs have been completed throughout the community.

“Council has been focused on safety, adding small additions to keep our resident’s safe. There has been some strong feedback; t’s definitely been noticed by our residents,” he said.

Over the past 12 months, residents have seen results from last year’s budgeted items including a major sidewalk replacement on 22nd Street and both underground and aboveground repairs on 3rd Avenue. Additionally, turning lanes into the town were added in coordinance to the council’s strategic safety plan.

“It was a provincial initiative that the council of the town of Battleford has been advocating for the last few years. Those will increase the safety of people turning into our community as well as increase the flow of traffic,” Leslie said.

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Recently, Leslie talked to individuals from outside of the community; they explained to him that there is a common theme of people frequently travelling through the Battlefords but never stopping.

“Between economic development and focusing on tourism, we need to find a reason for these people to stop in our community, even if it’s for five minutes, 10 minutes, and maybe that turns to an hour,” he said.

Moving forward, working with regional partners and the City of North Battleford will be a focus for the town mayor and council.

“How do we make more people be interested in coming and stopping in the Battlefords and help grow that tourism sector of our region?” Leslie asked.

Going into the new year, residents can look forward to the Indigenous Summer Games, the 150th Celebration of Treaty 6, and upcoming rink renovations.

“Everybody enjoys our rink immensely as a facility, but everybody knows it’s outdated. So, the focus of our Parks and Rec team is to identify this need and it looks like it’s going to get started this year,” said Leslie.

The rink renovations will include an extended lobby with a portable wheelchair viewing platform, four new dressing rooms, and a referee room.

Leslie applauded his six councilors and said they were able to remain focused over the year to work together for the betterment of the community.

“As the mayor and the head of the council, it makes me proud to say that the six of them have done their best to make Battleford shine and be the best it can be,” he said.

Leslie encourages residents to get outside over the holidays to enjoy local amenities whether that be walking the town trails or cross-country skiing.

“I hope everybody has some time to relax and enjoy family and friends; and hopefully everybody finds comfort and prosperity in 2026.”

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alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com