SASKATOON — The residents of Ward 2 made history in last week’s Civic Election by electing the first African and immigrant, Senos Robert Timon, to represent them on the city council. The former community organizer was officially sworn in by Mayor Cynthia Block along with the nine other council members on Wednesday night, Nov. 20, at City Hall’s Council Chamber.
Block, who also made history by becoming Saskatoon’s first female chief executive, will lead a city council with six new members, including Timon, and four returning, two of which ran unopposed.
Troy Davies (Ward 4) and Randy Donauer (Ward 5) won their re-election bids, while Bev Dubois (Ward 9) and Zach Jeffries (Ward 10) ran unopposed for their respective posts. Kathryn MacDonald (Ward 1), Robert Pearce (Ward 3), Jasmin Parker (Ward 6), Holly Kelleher (Ward 7), and Scott Ford (Ward 8) are the new Council members.
The chamber was packed with residents, supporters, relatives, and friends of the new city council members. There was a significant number from the African community, as they witnessed Timon, who escaped the horrors of two decades of Civil War in the then country of Sudan, taking his oath of office.
Timon, who immigrated to Canada with his family in 2000, said he expects no significant change in his daily life, as he looks forward to learning the ropes of his new role and he is excited to work with his colleagues in addressing the issues that face the city.
He knows that the new city council has a lot of work to do, especially in solving the homelessness crisis and crime happening in the city’s neighbourhoods, two of the issues that Ward 2 residents brought up.
“[The] two main issues that I heard on every doorstep are about homelessness, and safety and crime in the community. So, those are the top priorities I wanted to get working on,” Timon told local journalists.
“I know it's going to take a lot. It's beyond the city by itself. But I think we're looking forward to working collaboratively with different levels of government and community partners to find solutions to address that issue.”
Ward 2 is composed of the neighbourhoods of AgPro Industrial, Caswell Hill, CN Yards Management Area, Gordie Howe Management Area, Holiday Park, King George, Meadowgreen, Montgomery Place, Pleasant Hill, Riversdale, SaskPower Management Area, South West Industrial and Westmount.
Hilary Gough previously represented Ward 2, serving two terms, but chose not to seek re-election in this year’s elections. She was among the more than 150 people who attended to watch the ceremony, which could also be her show of support for the new Ward 2 councillor.
Community organizer
Timon, the founder and executive director of The People Bridge Advocacy, has worked tirelessly toward inclusivity and social justice since arriving in Saskatoon before deciding to enter politics. He holds a Master’s Certificate in Social Economy from the University of Regina’s Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy and studied at the University of Saskatchewan and Athabasca University.
His volunteerism can be seen by being an active member in various boards and committees like the Broadway Theater Board of Directors, the Citizen Advisory Committee at the Regional Psychiatric Centre, Meadwogreen Community Association, St. Mark School Community Council, the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, and at the St. John’s Anglican Cathedral where he served as the People’s Warden.
Timon’s work in various community associations and organizations earned him the City of Saskatoon’s Living in Harmony Award in 2009, and he was one of the recipients of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Despite being sworn in, he said he is still processing his victory even though the election ended a week ago.
“It's something I'm feeling, ‘Is it real?’ When I first fled the war in South Sudan, I never thought I would put my name forward to run for city council. And today, Nov. 13, 2024, Sinos Timon, an immigrant from South Sudan, is now a councillor. I'm looking forward to the opportunity,” said Timon.
“I'm thankful to the residents of Ward 2, my family, [and] volunteers for their trust in me. I believe that the city is in the right direction right now. As you heard from our mayor for the first time, I’m the first black councillor elected and the first person of colour. Our city has become more diverse and more multicultural. And people wanted to see them represented.”
He added that residents, not only in Ward 2, wanted their voices to be heard, and that was reflected in the communities and neighbourhoods in the city of Saskatoon.
“I'm hoping to look forward to reconciling equity and diversity issues. I want to see our city reflect who we are and move forward in that work together with our colleagues and administration. I'm looking forward to getting to know my colleagues. I'm looking forward to knowing the administration and navigating that,” said Timon.
“It is a different territory. I came from a non-profit sector. This [being a council member] is something that I'm looking forward to learning from my colleagues, learning from the administration, and asking the questions that will help me be a successful councillor. So that's the number one thing I'm looking forward to that opportunity.”
Campaigning as a person of colour
Timon said he considers his victory of being the first black person, a person of colour, and an immigrant from Africa elected to council an achievement he shares with the minority community and is a big step in the city embracing diversity.
“They [my family and friends] are very excited and thrilled. You heard from the mayor that, for the first time, a black person had been elected to the council. The first time a person of colour got elected to this douncil is a huge deal for the visible minority community and our community as a whole,” said Timon.
“A lot has talked about inclusion and diversity. We want to get people reflected. We want to be more inclusive. And this is the beginning of good things for our city. So, I was very pleased to see all my friends, family, and those who work together today to support me in this journey.”
He added that the campaign was tedious work; he and his volunteers knocked on doors, met the residents, and listened to their concerns.
“It is a difficult journey to run. Number one, deciding to put your name forward is a tough decision. You never know what you're going to get yourself into. Second, it's really about the funding. For people who have not been part of the political process, it's difficult to connect and get people to know and [get] the support you need,” said Timon.
“At the same time, learning about the campaign process itself. It's daunting stuff, but I'm grateful that I have volunteers and supporters who have run campaigns before and with whom we have worked together in different other campaigns. I wanted to say it, but it is a tough and doable process. If I can do it, others can do it. That's all I can say.”
