MOSSBANK — Greg Foreman was acclaimed as mayor of Mossbank in November of 2024. His role began when he won a byelection in November 2023.
Foreman ran for council three times previously and was defeated all three times.
The mayor moved to Mossbank in 2009 after having lived in Edmonton. His wife’s family is from the area.
While in Edmonton he served in a variety of leadership and volunteer roles which he believes will help him as the community’s mayor. He also experienced Mossbank from the front-line having worked in the town office for a little more than a year.
He wants Mossbank to be a place associated with more than just a highway sign but rather as a desirable southern Saskatchewan community to visit.
“There are a number of things that can be attractive to the visitor or newcomer. The Old Wives Lake festival and community car show are but two examples. We also have a very good museum,” says Foreman.
Perhaps, Foreman acknowledges, being off the highway entices visitors to make a trip in to find out what Mossbank is all about. It has been said that people feel safer being directly off the highway route.
The civic leader says he is excited to say, that after sitting vacant for four years, the Mossbank Bar and Grill is now back in business.
“Our rink board does a great job of attracting surrounding communities to use their facility as it is hard to get ice time. Lots of tournaments are held here, and in turn, that attracts people to town. A strong senior hockey team also benefits the rink.”
Foreman feels the community used to have an aging population, but that has changed.
“There has been a turnover of second-generation families; families moved back in from the farm or completed education and returned home, as people who grew up in Mossbank want to return ‘home.’ This town has more children in it than I have seen in years.”
Some of the attraction factors can be attributed to an ag based community closer to larger centres. Cheaper cost of living in Mossbank and a midway commute to either Moose Jaw or Assiniboia are also factors.
“Goals for upcoming four-year term include concentrating on maintaining the basics like keeping taxes at a reasonable level. Keep town operational, replacing equipment when needed, maintaining infrastructure,” Foreman says.
“We have to keep looking at the basics as we have to be aware of what we can do and what we can’t do it, so being realistic while helping the community grow.”
Foreman says some highlights he could pinpoint are close proximity to larger centres, a pleasant town to live in, the location is desirable as once you get over the hills on the trip from Moose Jaw, it is beautiful and their location is very close to Grasslands National Park.
Challenges Foreman mentioned would be community expectations versus what can be afforded as their administration wants to be fiscally responsible. He would also like to get a younger generation involved in government and leadership roles.
“If it weren’t for provincial and federal grants continually researched and sought, we couldn’t do what we do. For example, the walking path was made possible through grant money and a charitable organization. We are looking for a grant right now to help do updates to infrastructure,” adds Foreman.
Mossbank Wellness Centre has a nurse practitioner who works three days a week, and the community is also closer to larger centres if needed.
“We might not have all the solutions, but our great team are motivated to be a well-balanced community with an optimistic future for Mossbank. Transparency is an important part of what I emphasize as everyone needs that and sometimes it is forgotten,” said Foreman.
The community is seeking a grant for hockey and curling rink ice plant which needs replacing with an estimated cost upwards of $500,000. About $200,000 has been raised and the town admits it cannot afford to help out acknowledges the mayor.
“We have a swimming pool and campground adjacent to it that always appear busy in the summer. School is also a draw as people from a varied radius, like Mitchellton, and even further away, come to this school. We are also in the process of developing more residential lots.”
Another exciting addition is the upcoming official opening of a new daycare, with one councillor being a driving force behind this development. With daycare being such a premium, people are coming from outside of Mossbank to secure daycare spots, which resulted in the need for expansion.
