After 12 years under Greg Dionne, Prince Albert's newly elected mayor is Bill Powalinsky. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Election 2024

Powalinsky says eclectic campaign team was a key to success

Nov 13, 2024 | 11:29 PM

After a dozen years of stewardship under Greg Dionne, Prince Albert’s new mayor was chosen by a decisive margin on Wednesday evening.

Bill Powalinsky said that his eclectic campaign team is one thing that helped him win.

“I’m thinking, wow, what a night,” he said, “but along the way it’s been the team support. We have a very eclectic team and, I call them the ragtag crew and family support has been unreal.”

He said he got positive results from his platform of dealing with crime, homelessness and renewed trust in city hall as being things that need to happen.

Mid Season Update

AAA Stars grab big win over Blazers in Red Pheasant

1h ago

COWS AND PLOWS

'Everyone has a role in this': Saulteaux band members protest over $81M treaty payout plan

2h ago

Court proceedings

Woman involved in death of Saskatoon mother, handed 18 year prison sentence

3h ago

Powalinsky said his role as mayor is still only one vote and he plans to work with council – four of whom are also new – to accomplish those goals.

Unlike outgoing mayor Dionne who said he would not vote in favour of a shelter in a location a community didn’t want, Powalinsky said a decision needs to be made.

“I think we need to have the courage that I’ve seen other municipalities and jurisdictions take and, deciding on a homeless location, I really think that we need to look at evidence-based research as to what happens when you do have a shelter.”

Several efforts by the YWCA – which has provincial funding for a permanent homeless shelter- has not resulted in a location that a neighbourhood will accept.

Powalinsky said that with winter coming, a decision needs to be made.

“Winter is coming and we’re not going to hae a new shelter built this year, but down the road, I think we need to take a look at the shelter and all of the other gaps that exist.”

Powalinsky receives congrats from friend Leanne Fyrk. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Powalinsky also noted his support for the construction of event centre that has been part of the plan for The Yard District.

“I’ve been consistently saying that it’s a good project, its something P.A. wants and needs and we really need to make sure that we’ve got our ducks in row,” he said.

Some consideration needs to be given to how it affects the tax base and the city needs to nail down the funding.

“As soon as we get those things figured out, we’ll move ahead.”

Powalinsky was congratulated by Brittany Smith, the third mayoral candidate but Dionne did not appear at city hall. The unofficial vote tally was Powalinsky with 4,400 votes, Dionne with 2,900 and Smith with just under 900.

Meanwhile around the council table, Dawn Kilmer kept her seat in Ward 7 with 492 votes, and Bryce Laewetz will fill the Ward 4 seat with 707 votes. Noting the uphill battle he felt he experienced during the campaign Laewetz described the victory as a sweet success.

And with respect to his first order of business, he acknowledged the upcoming budget talks.

“That’s a massive thing that we’re gonna have to deal with, so there’s gonna be some some hurdles coming up here and some stuff that we’re gonna have some steep learning curves on, and I think once we get our footing, we can start kind of moving towards some attainable tasks,” he said.

Laewetz thanked his wife Jennifer for her support, and noted she did a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes and was a big part of the success. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Troy Parenteau is the winner in Ward 2 with 574 votes and Dan Brown won in Ward 1 with 344 votes. Stephen Ring is the Ward 5 councillor with 735 votes.

“I’m over overwhelmed, humbled and I’m very, very happy with the result,” he said, adding he is also thankful for some of the other returning veteran councillors he can lean on for help. Ring also acknowledged he did receive some etiquette advice from his wife Cheryl, who is a former city councillor.

“And you know, I think that’s important. Everybody that’s on that council has to know what their roles are and what their duties are. And some of this stuff that has been floating around in the campaigns, it’s outside the purview of a counselor. And I’m not stepping outside that line. I’m keeping it straight and narrow. I’m a common sense guy, straight forward, straight to the point, honest,” he said.

The tally is not final until 24 hours have passed.

Results from local RM’s and Villages

Tyrel Tait was elected Reeve for the RM of Prince Albert. He had about 40 more votes than runner up Eugene Matwishyn.

For Buckland, Larry Eros elected Reeve.

Ryan Scragg was re-elected Reeve at Garden River

Dennis Daugton is the new Mayor of Christopher Lake

Marc Caron was re-elected mayor of St. Louis.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com and nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com