The Decision Makers: Councillor Darryl Gerrard (Part 2)

In the second half of our interview with Councillor Darryl Gerrard, we dig into some of his priorities for the Town of Neepawa over the next few years.

One of Gerrard’s primary roles is on the Protection and Community Services Committee, which encompasses the local fire department and RCMP detachment but also the veterinary board. While it might not be the most intuitive relationship, animal health and welfare falls under public safety, and in a rural area such as this one, veterinarians deal not only with pets or small animals but also livestock. All municipalities are required to provide space for veterinarians to set up a business, the same relationship they have with medical clinics.

Human resources is another area where he plays a larger role, though in a more big picture sense such as dealing with budgeting and contracts rather than dealing with day-to-day HR responsibilities.

“One of the first lessons I think everyone on council should learn,” he says, “is that when you’re on council, council has one employee, and that is our CAO. Meaning that a Councillor is to not go in and sit at someone else’s desk and direct. We have one employee, our CAO, Colleen Synchyshyn. So she meets with us ... and she manages that staff.”

Neepawa’s changing demographics provide both a challenge and an opportunity, in Gerrard’s view. While attracting large employers is on the radar to take advantage of the available workforce, they are few and far between. In their place, he says, we are seeing a lot of growth in our small business sector. As well, he comments on the need to make sure all residents are being represented, whether that’s in housing or employment or recreation.

“If I could have my way, one year from today I would see that we have a New Canadian, who’s in our community, who speaks Tagalog, sitting on the Neepawa Council,” says Gerrard. “I truly believe that’s something that our council would benefit from, to bring that perspective there.”

Taking a long-term view, Gerrard cites a long-discussed new hospital as something he’d like to see in the five-year plan, and ten years down the road maybe we’ll have made the leap to City of Neepawa.

Gerrard says that he is interested in continuing to work in municipal politics instead of making a bid for something at the provincial or national level. He’s found a lot of value in the work he’s able to do and looks forward to seeing where it takes the community next.