Two long-time councillors for the Town of Outlook received some special recognition at the SUMA convention held in Regina last week.
The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, which is set to undergo a name change to simply, ‘Municipalities of Saskatchewan’, handed out Honorary Service Awards on Tuesday night, February 4 to councillors who have dedicated 20 years or more to serving their communities. It recognizes the long-term dedication to and the involvement in their local communities, and the recipients are unique individuals who demonstrate leadership abilities and strive for an improved quality of life and strength in their local governance.
Floyd Childerhose and Donna Smith of Outlook were two of those award recipients, with Outlook actually taking up 50% of the recipients as there were four awards handed out.
Floyd and Donna were recognized for each serving on council for a period of 27 years, sharing the stage and accepting their awards with SUMA President Gordon Barnhart and the Honourable Lori Carr, Minister of Government Relations.
Floyd touched on his history with Outlook’s town council when he stopped into the offices of The Outlook last week, noting that he and Donna have basically been tied into local governance together from the very beginning.
“Donna and I came on at the very same time, I think it was 1992,” said Floyd. “Mayor (Bill) Childerhose was the mayor at the time and he knew a little bit about us, and I remember speaking to him at the time and he said, ‘Would you consider running for council? We’re having an election year and we’re trying to find some people who would be good’. So, we both got on and we’ve been on ever since, even after 27 years!”
Childerhose enjoys knowing the ins and outs of how Outlook runs as a community and knows that as a business owner, it’s important to feel involved in one’s community. Still, he’s somewhat in disbelief that more than 25 years have gone by.
“I think I just enjoy the process of how the town is working and what’s happening,” said Floyd. “Being a businessman, you want to be a part of the community. It’s been an interesting journey. We’ve gone through a number of administrators and a mayor or two. I didn’t realize that this many years had gone by, it just sort of happened.”
With 2020 being a municipal election year, Childerhose is weary about committing himself to a decision just yet as it relates to town council.
“I’m not answering that just yet,” he said, asked if he’ll run again. “I think that maybe I’ve run my gamut, but we’ll see with the election this fall. As you get older, there are so many things that help make your decisions. There’s pressure and there are meetings that take up your time. You get where you need to be, but maybe not where you want to be. Sometimes you have to reflect and say, ‘Have I done this enough?’ and maybe it’s time for a fresh face. Then you’ll run into others who go, ‘We’d sure like you to run for council again!’ We all have different emotions and different strengths.”
Likewise, Donna reached out to this reporter to share her insight into working for the citizens of Outlook for just over a quarter of a century.
“If I make it to November, it will be 28 years of life as a Councillor for the Town,” said Smith, in an email to The Outlook. “For the most part, I have enjoyed my time on council and believe I have contributed to the growth of the Town. Considering there were only four Councillors receiving the SUMA Honorary Membership, Floyd and I may have joined a rare group. I am grateful to the town office staff and the Council for nominating me for this award.”
For Smith, serving on council isn’t about recognition, it’s about doing the work on behalf of taxpayers and the general public in the community that you call home.
“I have been fortunate to serve with some wonderful Councillors and Mayors,” she said. “I didn’t run for the fame or glory – I ran because it is my deepest desire to make your community better.”
As things head into election season later this year, Donna seems much more assured of where she stands as it relates to her future in local politics.
“I am 99% sure that I will not run in the next election and look forward to going to sleep early on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month,” she said, tongue perhaps planted firmly in cheek.
