This is Dr. Ivan Yackel's first political campaign as the NDP candidate in the Melfort riding for the upcoming November 7 provincial elections in Saskatchewan.
Yackel's professional experience is deeply rooted in education. He most recently served as the interim executive director for the provincial League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents.
In 2009, he retired as Director of Education with the North East School Division after a career as a teacher, principal, director of education, and assistant deputy minister of education.
A father of four, Yackel was born and raised in Lipton, Saskatchewan in the Qu'Appelle Valley. He came to the Melfort area after he met and married his wife, Twila, who grew up on a family farm northeast of Melfort.
Yackel says he is really enjoying talking to people in the constituency.
"I'm new to politics and new to the whole concept of being out there knocking on doors," said Yackel. "It has been a very interesting and exciting experience, and a very positive one, too."
The candidate says he hears a variety of issues from residents in the Melfort area, and these issues centre around a feeling that people are not participating in the boom or the wealth in the province at this time.
"Most of the time people are a little guarded about what they share on the door step," Yackel said, "but the sense is that the gold that we keep hearing about in the province is not translating into people's pockets."
In his platform for the election, Yackel states that one of the strengths of the NDP is in its pursuit of finding ways they can make life more affordable for people in Saskatchewan.
"I believe the NDP will find ways of using the money that is available (in the province) to better meet the needs of all citizens in Saskatchewan," the candidate said.
Yackel says that he's had an overwhelming response to the visits he has made by door-knocking, and hopes that it will translate into votes on November 7.
"If it doesn't," he said, "then I guess what that says is that people are genuinely polite and warm and receptive regardless of their political views."
Yackel will be participating in a candidates' debate on October 24 at 7 p.m. at the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort. The event will be hosted by the Melfort Chamber of Commerce.
