Kindersley swears in new mayor and council

By Joan Janzen

There’s a new mayor in the Town of Kindersley. On Monday evening, November 25th, Mayor Ken Francis was welcomed by the Town Council at an Official Swearing Ceremony. Warren Schafer was appointed as Deputy Mayor by Mayor Francis. Councillors Rob Anderson, Anthony Barlow, Randy Ervine, Shaun Henry, and Kevin Martin were also invited to the team.

Audrey Hebert, CAO, and Kindersley’s new Mayor, Ken Francis, are pictured at the Official swearing-in Ceremony on Monday evening, November 25th. Photo by Anna Polsfut

Mayor Francis said he’s excited to continue where he left off as Deputy Mayor in 2018. “I was only there a couple of years with Mayor Rod Perkins. We had a brand new council back then; Shaun Henry was the only carryover,” he said. He credited all levels of government for all the work that has been done since then. “I’m excited to get back and carry on where this last council left off.”

He acknowledged that the combination of three new councillors and three returning councillors brings a wide range of experience and knowledge to the team. Shaun Henry, Kevin Martin, and Anthony Barlow are the new Councillors, and Randy Ervine, Warren Schafer, and Rob Anderson are the returning Councillors.

“I’m not sure the public fully appreciates the effort required to serve on Council; mostly everyone on council has a regular job and family commitments,” he said.

Mayor Francis said taking care of infrastructure will always be at the forefront. He’s also confident the team will focus on efficient spending of taxpayer dollars, smart borrowing and building for the future. “We need to keep the momentum going with building and infrastructure replacement,” he added.

The mayor’s recent involvement in the provincial government equipped him with experience in numerous areas, including energy, resources, and agriculture, which are the heart of our local economy. Those experiences will enable him to effectively represent our community at the municipal level.