YORKTON – The 2024 Municipal Election set for Nov. 13 will see the public cast their votes with two mayoral candidates and 10 councillors to choose from.
Candidates for Mayor
Mitch Hippsley, Incumbent
Mitch Hippsley was born in Yorkton and has 40 years of small business experience in the city. In 2016 he was elected as a Yorkton councillor and in the 2020 Municipal Election he was elected as mayor.
Click here to learn more about Hippsley.
Aaron Kienle
Aaron Kienle has been a resident of Yorkton for 25 years. Over the last 20 years he's owned, operated and acquired several small businesses. Kienle served on Yorkton City Council from 2016-2020.
Click here to learn more about Kienle.
Candidates for Council
Dustin Brears, Incumbent
Dustin Brears grew up in Bredenbury and moved to Yorkton in 2010. He was first elected to council in 2020 and is part-owner of a company in Yorkton that employs up to 100 people in peak seasons. Brears is a member of the Legacy Co-op Board of Directors, Vice President of Parkland Search and Rescue and the provincial media liaison for Search and Rescue Sask.
Click here to learn more about Brears.
Gurjit Dhaliwal
Gurjit Dhaliwal relocated to Yorkton in April of 2023. Dhaliwal has been a nurse since 2007, with a career dedicated to healthcare in long-term care, home health care and retirement living. His roles have included floor nurse, Resident Care Manager, Home Support Supervisor, Manager of Wellness, General Manager, and currently, Executive Director at The Bentley.
Click here to learn more about Dhaliwal.
Randy Goulden, Incumbent
Randy Goulden has served and been an active member of the Yorkton City Council, and in that time served on every City committee. Goulden has been a board member for the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association for more than 14 years, including the last two as President. Goulden also represented municipal interests on a national stage through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for more than 14 years.
Click here to learn more about Goulden.
Quinn Haider, Incumbent
Quinn Haider was raised in Yorkton and has been teaching in the city for 30 years. Even before entering politics, he was a member of the Protective Services Committee, and is currently on the Civic Recognition Committee and the Planning and Infrastructure Committee. Haider is running for a third term on Yorkton City Council.
Click here to learn more about Haider.
Ron Irvine
Ron Irvine was born and raised in Yorkton. In 2007 he accepted the role of Eastern Regional Manager at Access Communications. His political and community experience includes five years on the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, where he served as President in 2012, as well as nine years as a leader and fund-raising co-coordinator with the Yorkton chapter of Scouts Canada and over 15 years on the board with the Yorkton Film Festival, currently as Co-Chair.
Click here to learn more about Irvine.
Todd Kulcsar
Todd Kulscar grew up in Yorkton and has been a long-time resident for over fifteen years. He currently serves as Chairperson on the Yorkton Business Improvement District and has been a board member for the past two years.
Click here to learn more about Kulcsar.
Greg Litvanyi
Greg Litvanyi has lived in Yorkton for the past 45 years. His career with Yorkton Fire Protective Services was from 1990 to 2016, retiring as the Deputy Chief of Operations in 2016. He has held several positions within the Firefighters Union including the Local President and Vice President of the Saskatchewan Professional Firefighters Association, and was also the President of the Saskatchewan Motocross Association and sat for many years as the Chairperson of the School Community Council at Yorkdale Central School. More recently he has been appointed the the Development Appeals board with the City of Yorkton.
Click here to learn more about Litvanyi.
Stephanie Ortynsky
Stephanie Ortynsky was born and raised in Yorkton. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and later completed her master's and PhD in public policy. Her professional journey includes various roles in family business, government, and academia. Her passions include implementing smart government choices. She resided in Yorkton full-time, working on research with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and other institutions.
Click here to learn more about Ortynsky.
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes
Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes was raised on a farm near Yorkton, and has called this city home for over 30 years. Her journey includes working with the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, SGI, and Suncrest College as well as serving on various committees including the Protective Services Committee and the Yorkton Public Library Board. Her commitment to public service is rooted in rural values and community engagement, and she actively volunteers with local organizations to stay connected to Yorkton's residents.
Click here to learn more about Ritchie-McInnes.
Darcy Zaharia, Incumbent
Darcy Zaharia is finishing his second four-year term on Yorkton City Council. Zaharia has spent the last 25 years as an auditor for the provincial government and has been active as a volunteer, currently serving as a coach for various sports and being a member of various boards and committees as well as having previously volunteered as a firefighter and RCMP auxiliary member.
