WEYBURN - A former arts director for the City of Weyburn, Lorri Wiberg, is running for Weyburn city council in the upcoming municipal election, after returning to the city recently.
Wiberg, a native of Fillmore, worked for six years in Weyburn, first as a programmer then as arts director in the 1980s, before she then moved to Prince Albert to be an arts and culture director in that city.
She worked with their museum and for many volunteer agencies, and for that city’s new theatre 12 years ago. Wiberg also worked with PA’s downtown business association for a year and a half.
As she took retirement, she decided to move back to Weyburn, where she has friends and family in the area, including her mother, and a brother who lives in Tyvan.
“I don’t like sitting still and I looked into being involved in the community,” said Wiberg, explaining why she wants to run for city council, noting her knowledge and experience with municipal government will serve her well in that position.
“I don’t think that municipal government is so much politics as making policies in the best interests of the community, and monitoring the budget. I’m very aware of provincial and federal politics, which is a whole different ball of wax,” said Wiberg.
“It’s dealing with local matters, like funding for construction and new developments in the city. I do have a really good understanding of municipal government operations,” she said, noting she was very involved in interactions with the higher levels of government.
In addition, said Wiberg, “I love people and talking to people, and hearing what their concerns are. That doesn’t scare me in the least, even when we obviously have different opinions.”
She took university in Calgary, and graduated with a four-year diploma in fine arts in 1983, worked in Weyburn until heading to PA in 1989, and retired from her work there after 25 years.
As a candidate for city council, Wiberg said she has an interest in being more aware of how things are budgeted in Weyburn, and has a strong interest in caring for seniors, and for the upkeep and promotion of the Weyburn Public Library.
“I’m retired and I very much enjoy working with people. I really would welcome this opportunity to spend the next number of years to work with people and community development. If I’m elected, I would be very proud to work with my fellow citizens,” said Wiberg.
