Mayor Colin Ratushniak is ready for what 2022 will have in store. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Year in Review

La Ronge mayor looks back at 2021 with eyes set for the future

Dec 24, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Town council is committed to getting back to business in 2022.

That’s according to La Ronge Mayor Colin Ratushniak, who said the biggest loss in 2021 was the sudden passing of Hugh Watt, 58, who was on his second term on council. He died in August and his seat was later filled by Matthew Klassen who won a Nov. 30 byelection.

Watt is remembered as a committed husband, father and devoted community member. He was also a well-known local businessman.

“I can say from everybody at the table that we miss having him here to be that father figure, in a way, because he knew this town inside and out,” Ratushniak said. “With Matt coming to the table, it’s really great to have another person who sat at this table before and who understand the processes. I think the Watt family, specifically, have really given Matt the blessing to really sit in where Hugh was previously.”

Ratushniak believes the relationship between tri-community leadership has never been better, noting they are all in a good place for learning and growing. For instance, he said members of La Ronge council are set to undergo Truth and Reconciliation training next year. They already acknowledge the town is on Treaty 6 territory before every meeting and there are plans to fly the Treat 6 flag outside the town office.

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Back in June, La Ronge joined the Lac La Ronge Indian Band and Air Ronge to cancel Canada Day events in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day. The decision drew considerable media attention as it came after the discovery of children’s unmarked remains at Kamloops B.C., Manitoba and Saskatchewan Indian Residential School sites.

La Ronge, itself, was developed on the site of Lac La Ronge All Saints Indian Residential School where ground penetrating radar occurred this year.

Early in the year, council awarded two tenders to RC Strategies, including a La Ronge Parks Open Spaces and Trails 20-Year Master Plan for $49,000. The second was a feasibility study to replace the Mel Hegland Uniplex valued at $39,500.

“Quite quickly into the New Year, we are going to start seeing, hopefully, a plan that will go into seeing a replacement of the Mel Hegland, whether that’s going to be on the site or somewhere completely new,” Ratushniak said.

In 2021, an economic development coordinator was hired to find different sources of funding and grants, as well as to improve communication between council, administration and residents. The town will be launching a new website and an app to go with it.

A $96,000 Highway 102 Economic Corridor Study is currently being developed by community planning firm Crosby Hanna and Associates. It will focus on three main areas including a development plan for Highway 102, bringing in necessary experience to help communicate and promote opportunities within the corridor, and identify infrastructure servicing requirements necessary to bring development adjacent to the highway.

Replacement of the wastewater sewage plant and piping will also be considered in 2022. Ratushniak mentioned serious repairs are needed on infrastructure that is between 30 to 50 years old.

“It’s very expensive and those aren’t the shiny new things residents get to see,” he said. “Without those things fixed in a strategic manner, we can see things potentially be an issue for us in the next couple of years.”

In the coming months, council will also look to hire a new chief administrative officer to replace Steven Brown, who left Dec. 3 after less than a year on the job. Heidi Frank, whose last location was in Maple Creek, was hired on a temporary one-year contract until a permanent solution is found. Ratushniak is hopeful it won’t take long to find someone, adding some resumes have already been submitted.

Ratushniak also wanted to send out a Christmas and New Years greeting to La Ronge residents and those living in nearby communities.

“I really hope people take the opportunity to spend that quality time with their family and friends this year and we look forward to a prosperous 2022,” he said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno