STURGIS - The Town of Sturgis mayor position has two candidates and 11 individuals vying for a spot on council, all looking for resident’s vote on Nov. 13. Advance Polls are Nov. 9. A meet and greet is scheduled for Nov. 6 at the Sturgis Community Hall.
Individuals running for mayor are Dean Harris and Randy Sommerville.
Dean Harris says, “I am the current Mayor of Sturgis and I am employed as a pharmacist at Paul’s Drugs in Preeceville. Previously, I owned and operated my own pharmacies in Southern Manitoba and have served on council, many sports boards and facility boards.
"In the past few months, many successful events have been initiated or completed:
"· A long-term lease with 123 Daycare has been achieved.
"· Vast improvements have been made towards maintaining our landfill. The Ministry of Environment is very pleased with the improvement in recycling plastics and paper, starting a compost pile, banning shingles from our landfill and providing education in regards to reduce, reuse and recycle.
"· An active Arena Board has been established.
"· Our new Sports and Rodeo Board provided a very successful and festive atmosphere for the two-day annual event.
"· Completion of the ultra-violet water treatment system at the plant is a huge step in keeping our water system safe and uncontaminated.
"· Yard clean-up will continue to beautify our community.
"· In an effort to keep our children and staff safe at school, 30 km speed signs, pedestrian signs and bus parking signs are being installed in the school zone.
"· Speed bumps have been installed to help reduce speeders in our community.
"As we move forward, some of the future endeavours are:
"· Fundraising and planning for new arena boards has begun. The hope is that the Arena will be a social gathering place for sporting events and social activities all year round.
"· The RCMP and Highway Patrol are providing a greater presence in Sturgis .
"· Yield signs are being replaced with stop signs at intersections to the highway going through town.
"· 'Your Speed' signs with digital printouts will be strategically placed to determine areas of speed violators. These printouts will be linked to the Town Office computers.
"· In conjunction with private individuals, discussions are underway to provide safe housing for seniors and young families by building duplex and triplex units.
· Unveiling of our NEW and interactive Town of Sturgis website.
"· Improvements to our ball diamonds will continue as we upgrade to make baseball more attractive to our youth.
"· Improvements to our Sports Grounds facilities and the Rodeo arena will continue.
"· Efforts to improve our retail environment are ongoing.
"· The landfill is a work in progress. We will continue to establish areas such as battery disposal, kitchen glass, clothing, and hazardous household waste.
"Please come out to the candidates forum presented by the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 pm at the Town Hall. Meet the candidates for Town Council and make informed decisions on Election Day, November 13. Your voice will be heard as you cast your ballot – PLEASE VOTE,” concluded Harris.
Randy Sommerville is challenging Harris for the mayor position. “I have lived in Sturgis my whole life. I have been a volunteer in town almost 50 years. I sat on town council from 2020 through 2024. My focus is I would like to keep taxes down and take care of and promote the many services we have in town. We have to control spending. All decisions must go through council. No one person has the right to do things on their own,” concluded Sommerville.
Eleven candidates are vying for a council position.
Michael Yaremchuk says, “I am running for council in the town of Sturgis. I grew up on my family’s farm east of Endeavour. I have lived in Sturgis now for 11 years and have been working at Olson’s Autobody for 12. Over the years I have served on community clubs like the Roughrider Snowmobile club and the Endeavour Eagles. I have always been proud to call Sturgis my home and want to have more of a role in the future direction of our town. My goals would be to have an accountable, transparent and fiscally responsible council. I want to support our daycare, which is an integral part of our community as it offers a key service and brings business to the community. Recreation is also important as it brings our community together through local events and activities. I also want to support all local businesses and promote new businesses within the community. Most of all I want to listen to the members of our community and represent them in council. Our small town more then ever needs to work together to create a strong and bright future for everyone and I’m hoping, with your vote, I can be a small part in that future,” he concluded.
Nathan Seghers says, “I am running for town council in hopes to strengthen our community and preserve the values that make our town special. I have lived in Sturgis for ten years, with my wife and two children. I am currently the band teacher in the surrounding communities. I currently serve on the arena board, local music festival committee, and coach minor hockey. In addition, I have previously been a part of the Sturgis Kin Club, and have been on various provincial boards. I believe in supporting local businesses, improving infrastructure, and fostering a welcoming environment for all residents; all of this while maintaining our close-knit community spirit. With a focus on transparency and listening to the needs of the people, it is essential to ensure that our town thrives for future generations, and that the town remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” concluded Seghers.
Carol Smith says, “This is the first time running for council. I have sat on many boards and committees during my 30 plus years from wildlife, band, school and the Ukrainian Dance Club. I have talked to many concerned residents who expressed issues with our only grocery store Co-op being relocated to the outskirts of town away from the downtown core. Once they move, our main street will be baron and we need to bring in some new business. I am a firm believer in growth and expansion and doing what is best for our community and the residents. I am open-minded and can work alone or with a team creating informed decisions. We need to continue to create an inviting community to appeal to the younger generation so they will move back. With many new faces and ideas and working together we can be prosperous community that cares about our future and the residents that live here. Moving forward council needs to work together to build those gaps for the betterment of everyone.
Mark Nickel grew up in Kamloops, B.C. and spent 35 years in the sawmill industry. He became a construction safety officer for the next 10 years. He moved to Sturgis to retire but finds himself wanting to be actively involved in the community. “I can offer a lot in the way of a more strategic perspective on problem-solving. While municipality politics are new to me, I do feel that I have acquired skills that will allow me to make a positive contribution to the community. I want people to realize the greatness of this community and in order to retain these qualities we need to grow and stay positive about the future. I would like to see a closer relationship between the municipality and our elected MLA to ensure that the people of Sturgis are not helpless audience to the actions of Regina. Saskatchewan’s relationship with the federal government is also becoming a concern and I feel that the mature voices of rural Saskatchewan must not be ignored as Saskatchewan looks at a renegotiation of its place in Confederation,” he concluded.
Tecia Fincaryk says, “I grew up in Sturgis and am proud to call this my hometown. After graduating from Sturgis Composite High School, I attended the University of Saskatchewan where I received my Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Finance. After 15+ years of working in the natural gas industry, I decided to put my career on hold as an Operations Manager, move back home and raise my family. My fiancé, Colton and I have two beautiful children: Hudson who is in Grade 1 and Olivia who is three. Colton owns and operates H&O Trucking, which I am the bookkeeper for. I also teach yoga at the Sturgis Family Resource Centre and am a member of the Sturgis Composite School Community Council. My children and I are also proud members of the Barveenok Ukrainian Dance Club.
"It would be an honour and privilege to represent the citizens of the Town and be a voice for any concerns that arise. I am confident that my knowledge, skills and experience would be an asset to our local municipal government. I believe that community involvement is essential, especially for those who represent the Town. I also believe that education and training is necessary to ensure that policy and procedure is always followed.
"My wish is for our beautiful town to be vibrant and thrive once again, upon which mutual respect, trust and understanding are the foundation that we can build upon. If elected, I would strive to ensure that transparency, fiscal responsibility and integrity is at the forefront of all decision-making. I would work toward restoring the harmony and stability that once was while bringing forth innovative solutions of today. I fondly remember working for the Town during the summer both in high school and as a university student and would like to see more summer employment opportunities offered to students in our town. I am proud of my small town roots and I would like to help create the same tight-knit community that I grew up in, so we can all say we are proud to be from Sturgis.”
Jacquie Christopherson says, “I grew up around the Sturgis area and am committed to doing what is best for our community. I believe people in political positions should be unbiased and honest. Transparency between council and residents will make a better community. Everyone has an opinion, and we can not get carried away and forget that. Council has a lot of work to do, from putting aside their individual differences, working as a team for the community and its residents and committing to working on projects that require attention. I am very up front type of person and will work with residents to help voice their concerns,” she concluded.
Jeff Chupik says, "I was born in Preeceville, grew up on a farm near Danbury and completed all my schooling (K-12) in Sturgis. After finishing at Sturgis Composite School, I attended the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) where I completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Sciences and a Minor in Soil Science. While in the middle of my university studies, I enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2006 as an Infantry Officer. I served for 16 years in the Canadian Army and is one of the highlights of my life. I’m grateful for all the opportunities the Army provided me and the diverse variety of roles I was called to serve in. I served overseas in Afghanistan, Latvia, and deployed domestically in Northern Manitoba during COVID-19 pandemic amongst many other exercises and travels. In 2022, my family and I made the decision to move back. We settled down in Sturgis with our young family and have enjoyed life back in rural Saskatchewan. I’m running because I think I can bring some fresh energy and a different perspective. I’ve lived in various places across Canada, I’ve seen life lived a few different ways. My time in uniform has given me a strong background in leadership, communications and administration. If elected, my efforts will be directed towards listening to people and their concerns, and seeing if a reasonable solution exists. I think that most of our work can be simplified to making the best decision possible with the information available. I believe many problems can be solved with open and honest dialogue. I believe strongly in appropriate transparency; the public should be well informed on matters. These are my commitments to you if elected. In closing, coming back to Sturgis has been a great decision for our family. I would like the opportunity to contribute something back to the community and hopefully get the chance to talk with as many of you as I can,” concluded Chupik.
Perry Keller says, “I’m proud to announce my candidacy for Sturgis town council. With 25 years of calling Sturgis home, I've had the privilege of watching our community grow and evolve. As a dedicated public servant with eight years of experience on town council and six years on the waste management board, I've worked tirelessly to ensure our town remains a vibrant and thriving place for all. As we move forward, I believe three key areas require our attention:
"Managed Growth: We must balance progress with preservation. I'll work to ensure new developments align with our community's values, enhancing our town's character without compromising its charm.
"Business Support: Local businesses are the backbone of our economy. I'll continue to advocate for initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, create jobs, and promote Sturgis as a hub for commerce.
"Putting Sturgis First: Every decision I make will prioritize the best interests of our town and its residents. Your voice matters, and I'm committed to listening and representing your concerns.
"My experience on the curling rink committee has shown me the power of community spirit. I've seen firsthand how collaboration and teamwork can achieve great things.
"As your councillor, I promise, to engage with residents, listening to concerns and ideas, to foster partnerships with local organizations and businesses and to make informed, fiscally responsible decisions.
"Sturgis deserves leadership that's invested in its future. I'm honored to have served our community thus far and ask for your support to continue working on behalf of our town. Together, let's build a brighter future for Sturgis,” stated Keller.
Other candidates who are also running but did not respond were Chad Rose, Kim Macleod and Daniel Wasylenchuk.
