Colin Ratushniak's last day in La Ronge is Aug. 6. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

looking back

‘Unapologetically me’: Ratushniak talks candidly about efforts to change hearts and minds in La Ronge

Jul 21, 2022 | 3:32 PM

A planned one-year stop in La Ronge to further his flying career became so much more for Colin Ratushniak.

When he moved to La Ronge in April 2019, he had no idea a global pandemic would occur that would upend his life and force him to create a new normal. After being inspired by his and the community’s successful effort to raise a Pride Flag on a municipal-owned pole in June 2019, he decided to run as mayor during the November 2020 general election.

Council chambers was beyond capacity as residents called for council to hang the Pride Flag in June 2019. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“That was the moment for me I realized people wanted something different and the status quo just wasn’t going to be what people wanted anymore,” Ratushniak said about raising the Pride Flag for the first time. “It can be difficult to go against the grain. It can be difficult to speak different and act differently to how the norms are. I am very proud of me staying to my true morals and values and advocating for change.”

He would go on to win the 2020 election with 52 per cent of the vote in a four-way race. As a newcomer to La Ronge, Ratushniak believes he had so much support because people were ready for something new or didn’t see themselves represented by those elected to council in the past.

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He also thinks residents wanted someone who was going to go to work for them and speak on their behalf on a local, provincial and national level.

“I think what people appreciate in a small community is someone that goes to work for the community to make it better,” Ratushniak said. “Someone who sets up activities, someone who brings people together. I think I worked really hard at doing that.”

Ratushniak stretched the limits in his role as mayor and never shied away from being himself. He wasn’t afraid to become involved, even if it meant going shirtless during a Pride event and allowing a drag queen to remove bills with her mouth from his waistline.

In response, Ratushniak explained that authenticity is important and that it is crucial people follow the beat to their own drum.

“I’ve been unapologetically me since I got here,” he said. “I was warned I would probably have to go back into the closet, that I would have to change who I was simply because the conservative nature of Saskatchewan, of northern Saskatchewan, and I just didn’t believe in that.”

Ratushniak participated in Baltic Pride in Vilnius, Lithuania in June 2022. (Submitted photo/Colin Ratushniak)

When it comes to the possibility of the town sliding backward when it comes to equality and human rights, Ratushniak urges those who don’t want that to happen to get involved and run for council. Ratushniak was never afraid to speak up against oppression or to those who wanted to undo what had already been achieved.

“I think there are some fantastic and fearless leaders who are in this community and have the capability to really call out that behaviour and call out the injustices that will likely continue to happen because that’s exactly what I did,” he said.

Ratushniak will join Flair Airlines as a pilot as of Aug. 8 and he hopes one day to be based in either Toronto or Vancouver.

He also stressed the importance of finding a spouse, adding he was unable to do that in La Ronge and he wants to find someone he can spend the rest of his life with.

“I’m 36 turning 37. I’m single. It’s lonely in a community where there’s not a large pool of LGBTQ people my age,” Ratushniak said. “I have to think about myself too. All these investments professionally can be lonely. It would be nice to have a partner in crime and get to date and have a little bit more balance in my life.”

Tri-community leadership reacts to departure

La Ronge deputy-mayor Viviana Ruiz-Arcand called Ratushniak a friend, and she said he has contributed extensively to the community. She noted he will be a great loss to council and to the region as well.

“More than anything, he has shown people who may have wanted to do things in the past, but didn’t necessarily have the inspiration, that honestly anything is possible,” Ruiz-Arcand said. “I think a lot of people know that, but it’s just a matter of seeing it in action and that in itself can inspire and motivate a whole bunch of people to do more and do better.”

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief, Tammy Cook-Searson, mentioned she will miss working with Ratushniak. She stated he was an ally to the band and he will be known for how he brought people together.

“I think he had a really good leadership style,” Cook-Searson said. “He brought the community together and he hosted many events. He was always with us, even when we had National Indigenous Peoples Day, he was always right there with us.”

Ratushniak joined fellow community leaders in cancelling Canada Day events in 2021. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Air Ronge Mayor Julie Baschuk also talked about the genuine collaboration and partnership that was formed between the village, town and band in recent years. She said Ratushniak, Cook-Searson and herself formed a mutual respect to do their best to make the communities a healthier and stronger place to live.

“His resignation as mayor for the Town of La Ronge comes both as sad news, but also a time to celebrate all the attributes he contributed during his time of service,” Baschuk said. “He leaves behind a large roll to fill, and I wish him much success and happiness in his new endeavours.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno