Terry Hunt has been a resident of La Ronge for around 50 years. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

municipal update

Hunt resigns from town council

May 15, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Terry Hunt has resigned as a La Ronge councillor, citing political infighting, administrative pushback and a lack of progress as reasons why.

“I found it frustrating; talk is cheap and to try and get anything done, by the time you go through all the channels and stuff like that, most of the things would just be pushed to the side,” he said during an interview with larongeNOW.

“I’m old school, and I didn’t think that is the proper way of doing it. I still don’t. I banged my head up against the wall for two and a half years to try and help out, and I don’t think I was successful, so I just packed it in.”

In specific, Hunt was disappointed in the lack of progress on fundraising for a new recreation centre to replace the aging Mel Hegland Uniplex. Council’s lack of headway on that matter led the Ice Wolves to relocate to the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre earlier this year.

He also mentioned moments of infighting by council during meetings, which led to arguing, as well as the lack of being able to communicate one-on-one with town staff.

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“The workers, if you suggest anything to them about doing something, they think you’re being a bully and basically all you are asking them is to do stuff and, if they don’t do it, they report you,” Hunt said.

Hunt, who joined council via a by-election in December 2022, wanted to thank residents for their support since his resignation. Although he thinks the town is currently in a stalemate, he wishes the best for it, and hopefully, it begins moving forward in the right direction.

La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski is thankful for Hunt’s service to the community, and he said leaving council was a personal choice for him. Hordyski also commented on Hunt’s allegation of political infighting during meetings.

“When something occurs when emotions get a little bit out of hand, I have always dealt with them, and I think we’ve calmed some of those situations down,” he said.

“Quite often, when you get an issue where you get passion from both sides of it, that’s no excuse to be unprofessional. Certainly, I think the tone at the table is pretty good right now. It hasn’t always been perfect, but we certainly don’t allow it to continue.”

Hunt was no longer a town councillor as of May 11. Read his resignation letter to council online here.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com