FULL CANDIDATES FORUM LINEUP – The Killarney-Turtle Mountain Council Candidates Forum took place at the Shamrock Centre on Monday evening, October 19, with a full line-up of people hoping to capture a seat. From left to right are: Janice Smith and Merv Tweed (who are both are running for the mayor’s chair), followed by councillor candidates Laurie Campbell, Katherine Carlisle, Julie Dyck, Aaron King, Kyle Neufeld, Phil Neufeld, Matt Nichol, Rick Pauls, and Gwen Tripp. Moderator for the event, Betty Sawatzky, is pictured at the podium (right). The municipal election is set for Wednesday, October 28, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the Shamrock Centre Hall, 725 Broadway Avenue, Killarney.
BY JAY STRUTH
Close to 200 folks filed into the Shamrock Centre on Monday night for the Killarney-Turtle Mountain Council Candidates Forum.
Candidates on stage included mayoral hopefuls, the incumbent Janice Smith and former mayor Merv Tweed, along with nine of the candidates for councillor: newcomers Laurie Campbell, Katherine Carlisle, Julie Dyck, Aaron King, Kyle Neufeld, Phil Neufeld, Matt Nichol, and incumbent councillor and former long-time mayor Rick Pauls, and former long-time councillor Gwen Tripp.
Incumbent councillor Jaret Box and newcomer Tim Freeman were both out of the province. However, they each submitted their answers to the organizers of the event.
Three questions were asked of each candidate; questions they could prepare for ahead of time. Following that, two questions were asked that they were not prepared for. After that, a few questions were asked that had been submitted prior to the forum, or collected that evening in a basket by the door.
Prepared answers
Tell us about yourself and the skills you have that would benefit you, and the community, in this role if you were elected?
Mayor candidate: Janice Smith
“Having served three terms on council, including this last term as mayor, I know first hand about both the challenges and opportunities facing our municipality,” said Smith. “That expertise has given me the valuable knowledge of the projects underway and the decisions that are still needing to be made, and the importance of being accountable for the decisions we make.
I continue to be active in the workforce and in our community. I make it a priority to be accessible, to listen, and to understand the issues that matter to the people across our entire municipality.
Leadership isn’t about one person. It’s about being able to work as part of a team, respect different perspectives, build relationships, and find a way forward together.
The connections I have developed within our community with neighbouring municipalities and the government partners help strengthen our ability to advocate for the municipality and get things accomplished.
Most importantly, I truly care about this whole community and its future. I have the time, the energy, and passion to continue doing this work. I remain committed to being reliable, approachable, accountable and accessible. I am proud of what we have accomplished, but I also know there’s more work ahead.
I would be honoured to continue putting my experience, relationships and commitment to work again for you and our municipality.”
Mayor candidate: Merv Tweed
“My name is Merv Tweed, long time Killarney resident, but actually my life with Killarney began at a very early age,” said Tweed. “I spent probably the first six years, six to 12, coming to Killarney every summer to take swimming lessons. My mom and dad would rent Cooper’s Cottages or we’d bring a trailer.
So I got to know the community, and it’s something that when we made a business decision as our company to locate a second car dealership in southwestern Manitoba, Killarney was the only place that kept showing up as the potential to make it work.
I do have experience. I’ve served in a lot of capacities. I think that bodes well for me and for the community.
I started out as a councillor in the RM of Brenda when I was 21 years old. Since then, I have served as the MLA for Turtle Mountain. I led the doctor recruitment years ago that brought several of the doctors, and we know who they are that stayed in this community, but also for all of rural Manitoba. I was appointed the Minister of Industry and Trade and Tourism by Gary Filmon, and I served in that capacity until the next election. We had a lot of issues to deal with, and I was honoured to take on that position, and I maintained a lot of the contacts that I’ve made over those years.
I then ran to be the MP for Brandon-Souris, which includes Killarney-Turtle Mountain. It was a big change getting to know all the communities surrounding us, but we managed to do it, and we managed to bring communities together, and I was happy to be appointed the chair of the Transportation Infrastructure Committee.
And I want to make a point here. This was in 2008, during the recession. And we built 22,000 projects in two years and got things done.
I want to be your mayor. I want to represent you, and I’ll do everything I can to serve the people of Killarney.”
Councillor candidate: Jaret Box
“I grew up in Ninette, where my family opened The Grocery Box,” said Box. “Growing up in rural Manitoba gave me a deep appreciation for community, hard work, and helping others. I graduated from Killarney School, and Killarney has proudly been my home for the past 10 years.
My career has been dedicated to serving and caring for people. I began working at Tri-Lake Health Centre 19 years ago, and have worked in a variety of healthcare roles. Today, I serve as Manager of Health Services for Long Term Care, supporting Bayside Personal Care Home in Killarney, and facilities in Cartwright, and Baldur, while also continuing to work as a nurse at Killarney Hospital. I care greatly for residents, patients, and my teams.
Community involvement has always been important to me. I have served on several local boards and committees, including The Killarney Foundation, Killarney Food Bank, Killarney Handi-Van, Physician Recruitment, and others. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of our community’s needs, and the importance of advocacy and collaboration.
It has been a privilege to serve on Council for the past four years. Being appointed to Council was a tremendous honour, and I have worked hard to listen, communicate openly, and represent our residents with integrity and respect. I believe in bringing people together, supporting our municipal staff, and ensuring all voices are heard.
While I represent a younger demographic on Council, my personal and professional experiences have allowed me to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds.
If re-elected, I will continue to be a caring, approachable, and a dedicated advocate for Killarney-Turtle Mountain, and work toward thoughtful, responsible decisions that benefit our entire community.”
Councillor candidate: Laurie Campbell
“I was raised in Killarney and I cherish that I grew up in such a great place,” said Campbell. “My husband, Darren, and I have two daughters, Lindsay and Allie, two son-in-laws, Ryan and Rich, and granddaughter, Scotty, who we love very much. We’re lucky to have all of us living here and call Killarney home.
My parents, Bert and Dorothy Campbell, built the Killarney Livestock Exchange in 1969. With their entrepreneur spirit, they taught me my work ethic, and that it’s important to give back to your community in which you live.
I moved to Alberta after high school to further my education, and ended up staying there for 31.5 years. I had a fulfilling career, where I continually learned and gained invaluable experience. My career involved being a leader of complex solutions, management for multi-million dollar projects in IT, and networking solutions where I led teams performing contract negotiations, solution designs and delivery.
We moved back to Manitoba 15 years ago to take care and spend time with our parents. I semi-retired about seven years ago from my career and the skills that I have that I think will be the most helpful in my role as councillor are my financial acumen, ability to bring team members together to accomplish projects, contract negotiations, and project management.
I’ve led national and provincial teams, and worked with clients across many business sectors, including unions, governments, both provincial and federal, and private industry, small and large.
I believe in giving back to the community. Since I’ve been back, I have served on the Manitoba Shared Health Board, where I advocated for rural health care. I worked on community futures, both Westman and Manitoba, and the Killarney Lakeside Golf Course.
And last but not least, it’s the most proudest I am (with the work I did) with the Killarney Foundation, acting as the host hospital liaison. I spearheaded the acute care washroom project to get our washrooms up to regulations.
I will bring sound judgment, thoughtful questions, fiscal responsibility, and constructive challenge. I have the ability to balance risk, manage interests of multiple stakeholders, all while keeping long-term value creation at the center of our conversations.”
Councillor candidate: Katherine Carlisle
“I have lived in Turtle Mountain for over 40 years,” said Carlisle. “I’ve raised three children, and have nine grandchildren. With my husband, Rodney, we’ve owned and operated a five-generation farm near Ninga. We now live on Pelican Lake.
For over 30 years I have been an educator: 24 of those years, the director of Turtle Mountain Adult Education Center.
I recently just retired, having helped over 600 students receive their high school diploma, of which 300 or more are from the surrounding area.
I am proud to belong to a caring and family-oriented community. I want to continue being a positive role model. Being on council will provide opportunities for me to do that. I’m intrigued to learn about where I live in my home and the people who live in it. I will do my very best to connect, communicate, and commit to do the best I possibly can.
Councillor candidate: Julie Dyck
“I was born and raised in Killarney, as were my parents, grandparents, and pioneer great grandparents, who migrated to this area from the UK,” said Dyck. “My husband Wes and I raised three boys here, Mike, Matt, and Mitch.
Two have gone out to Alberta and BC, and Mitch and his family farm in this area. I have nine grandchildren.
It was a great place to grow up, raise our family, and be part of a beautiful community to call home.
The skills that would benefit me if elected would be I worked at the Turtle Mountain School Division board office for almost 18 years, first as term executive secretary, then payroll clerk, and finally payroll and benefits administrator until my retirement. I belonged to the Manitoba Association of School Board Officials, where I attended many provincial seminars regarding funding for all areas of division business.
These experiences gave me a good look into what prioritizing looked like that would help me in my job, such as the five-year plan that the Secretary-Treasurer would put together, funding proposals, the annual budget and ventures. As the Payroll and Benefits Administrator, I dealt with all aspects of payroll, including income tax, EPP, EI pension and staff benefits, and ensured the staff were paid efficiently and in a timely manner.
Sometimes a lot of pressure was on me but it was always rewarding. I helped with the fiscal year end as well as the public sector accounting board year-end. I was also able to sit at the board table on occasion to help with the payroll and benefits side of teacher and support staff contract negotiation.
I feel the knowledge and skills I gained in my career would be a great asset on council.”
Councillor candidate: Tim Freeman
“My wife and I, along with our family, farm near Wakopa, the former village and school district southwest of Killarney,” said Freeman. “From 2008-2022 we also operated a market garden and sold produce in Killarney and at the Killarney Farmers’ Market. In the last two years I have started my own electrical company.
I think that building community, like farming, requires hard work, ingenuity, and teamwork and I would hope that I could contribute in these ways to council.”
Councillor candidate: Aaron King
“I grew up on a family farm just north of Killarney, where I live today with my wife Allison,” said King. “I am a proud graduate of Killarney School where I attended K-12. I then went on to Assiniboine Community College where I obtained a diploma of agribusiness.
From there I went to work in the grain industry, doing marketing consulting and origination. This work gave me the opportunity to live and spend time in many small towns across Manitoba and southern Saskatchewan. I came home to the family farm after this, and I’ve enjoyed farming with my father, Gary. You may also have seen me at my other job working at the post office here in town.
Since moving back to Killarney, I also became involved in several volunteer groups. I’m currently the president of the Killarney Ag Society, organizer with the Bull Riding Committee, past president and current member of the Killarney Marketing Club.
There are many reasons I feel I would make a good councillor. I’ve picked out three main ones that mean a lot to me, and show who I am as a person.
The first is that I welcome discussion. Being approachable is important for any councillor, and being able to hear out someone’s problems in order to find solutions is critical for the role.
Second would be my knowledge and experience with looking ahead and planning for the future. We need to be prepared for unexpected projects and costs as much as possible.
And lastly, I am a very dedicated and results-driven person. I believe in getting things done today, instead of waiting for tomorrow. If elected, I would carry this through to all municipal projects, working to make sure they are completed efficiently, responsibly, and on time.”
Councillor candidate: Kyle Neufeld
“I’m a business owner, husband, father, and someone who has always believed in getting involved and giving back to the community,” said Kyle Neufeld. “Through owning and operating Alair Homes Brandon, I gained a lot of experience managing budgets, making difficult decisions, solving problems, and being accountable to people who trust me.
Our business is built around transparency and communication. Making sure people understand where their money is going, what decisions are being made, and why. I believe those same principles are important in municipal government.
I’ve also spent years volunteering as a firefighter, serving on community boards, coaching minor baseball, and helping with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Those experiences have taught me the importance of teamwork, listening to people and showing up when people need you.
I’m someone who likes to get involved, take responsibility, and see things through. I don’t expect to have all the answers, but I’m willing to ask questions, do the homework, listen to different perspectives, and make decisions based on what’s best for the community.
Ultimately, I believe my combination of business experience, leadership, and community involvement would allow me to bring a practical, accountable and community-focused perspective to Council.”
Councillor candidate: Phil Neufeld
“My family and I are proud to call Killarney home,” said Phil Neufeld. “Over the years, this community has supported me, and my run for council is giving back in a meaningful, practical way. But I bring to the table a combination of real world experience, financial discipline, and work ethic. In my professional life, I balance budgets, manage resources efficiently, and make decisions when expenses mount.
Municipal government faces those exact same processes every day, and how each dollar is stretched without sacrificing essential services. Beyond numbers, my greatest asset is the ability to listen, and build consensus. A good councillor doesn’t enter the chamber with all the answers, but has the willingness to listen to the residents, weigh the evidence, and collaborate with municipal staff and regional partners.
Whether it’s listening to urban taxpayers or the business owners or the agriculture producers, I take pride in accessibility, level-headedness, and a practical nature. If elected, I would bring the same pragmatic, hands-on approach to Council every day.”
Councillor candidate: Matt Nichol
“I was born and raised here in Killarney,” said Nichol. “I graduated from KCI. After graduating, I entered the workforce, working at Killarney Tire, and then I joined my dad in the family business at the funeral home here in Killarney. I was a graduate of the Canadian College of Funeral Service in 2009, and then started growing the business here with my family since then.
My wife Kaitlyn and I live here. We have four amazing kids ranging from ages four to 11, and we are rooted deep in this community. Our children are involved in hockey, ball and gymnastics, keeping us busy running everywhere.
I feel that through my job I have good communication and people skills. I think that’s something that is important. I love working with people. I work with people every day, and I think that that’s a skill that I’d bring to council.
I also do have past board experiences, sitting on the Manitoba Funeral Service Association Board, the Killarney Foundation, the Killarney Ball board, Killarney Minor Hockey and the Killarney Kinsmen.
And I believe that those past experiences give me a holistic view on how things work as a community, and I think that that is an asset when it comes to council in this communities.”
Councillor candidate: Rick Pauls
“I grew up on a farm just outside of Winnipeg, and in 1992 I decided to head this way, and I bought a restaurant in town called Chicken Delight,” said Pauls. “I had that restaurant in town here, and it morphed and grew into the Blarney Stone Pub and Restaurant. And then I changed it to a Chicken Chef, so that I could sell it here, which I did a year-and-a-half ago.
I’m proud to be a member of the business community here for over 30 years. In that time, I’ve seen an awful lot of changes on Main Street. Not all of them have been positive. And I think that’s something that we need to work on as we keep going.
I’ve been involved with council now for over 20 years, which makes me the veteran up here. I am so happy to see some new people, but I also think that it is important to maintain a little bit of continuity on council.
I’ve always been the person around the table who thinks outside the box. I don’t think we have to keep doing things the way that we always have. I think that you have to change, and I think you have to morph, and I think you have to adapt to the times.
We have a lot of challenges moving forward, and I hope that my experience and the relationships that I’ve made, with both provincial counterparts and regional counterparts, will help us in the next four years.”
Councillor candidate: Gwen Tripp
“I was born and raised in Killarney-Turtle Mountain,” said Gwen Tripp. “I grew up on the farm in the Ninga area. I’m married to Derek Tripp, and we have one son, Tyson, and he’s married to Chantel. And we have three beautiful grandkids, Riley, Kaylee, and Brittany.
This community has always been my home, and I care deeply about its future. I have 16 years municipal council experience, 35 years business experience, my husband Derek and I operated Tripple-T Plumbing, and I’ve operated Gwen’s Trends for 25 years.
I understand how municipal government operates, the importance of responsible financial decisions, and what it takes to get things accomplished. My years of business have made me realize your community has to do well for your business to do well.
I’ve worked on committees and projects to move Killarney forward, some being the new Young Street, Splash Park, recruiting doctors and maintaining 24-hour emergency service for Killarney Hospital, and the Shamrock Centre we’re sitting in right now.
I worked on the Shamrock Centre fundraising and building committee for 14 years. Did we make mistakes? Yes. But in the end, I’m still proud every time I walk into this building. When other communities come into this facility, they often express, ‘Boy, I wish we had this.’
My goal is to protect the services we have, support responsible growth, and help keep Killarney-Turtle Mountain a great place to live, work, and raise a family and retire.
To the mayoral candidates: What are you most proud of during your time as mayor?
Janice Smith
“Of the many things that I am proud of during my time as mayor, physician recruitment has been by far one of the most rewarding. I have been fortunate to be closely involved in the process, from interviews and site visits, to showcasing the community we are so proud to call home.
Through collaboration with Prairie Mountain Health I’ve gained a strong understanding of what it takes not only to recruit physicians, but to give them a reason to stay. For me, that means maintaining those relationships after they arrive.
Moving to a new community is a major transition. Moving to an entirely new country is even greater. What makes me especially proud is how Killarney has responded. Our community has welcomed all of our new doctors and their families, making them see how special Killarney is.
Having a full complement of doctors is something everyone should be proud of. It strengthens Killarney’s role as a regional health care hub, and it gives us an even stronger foundation from which to advocate for the future of our health care facilities.”
Merv Tweed
“I only served (as mayor) for 18 months, but it was a very educational and a very quick learning experience.
My proudest moments: we reorganized the town office in the Shamrock Centre, and during the transition, I spent seven weeks here every day managing the Shamrock Centre while we found out what our next step was. And that was during COVID, which was a terrible situation for our whole community.
We found local and outside investors to bring a $7 million, 32-suite apartment block to Killarney. And I’m very proud of that. I’ve met a lot of the people that live there. And many of them aren’t from Killarney. They’re from out of town. They found a place that they like. They found a community that they like, the services. It’s a great addition to our community.
Our council also approved RFNOW to install cable to all of Killarney-Turtle Mountain, providing access that wasn’t always there, particularly to our rural residents.
I’ve always believed in politics you can’t look back. I think we’ve got to look forward. We have to have a vision to go forward with. And as we progress tonight, I will share that vision with you. And hopefully you’ll support it.”
To the councillor candidates: What is your motivation for running for council?
Gwen Tripp
“What is my motive for running? This is a tricky one. I guess because I miss council. I don’t sleep when I come up with an idea for days. And if I hear something’s gone wrong or I’m not happy about something, I text Rick or I text Janice and I’m like, ‘What the heck?’ So, I guess that’s a little bit of my motive.
Our seniors are so important to our community. One motive I have is to make sure they’re able to stay in the community that they’ve been in all their life.
Our school is growing. I believe we need to continue supporting our school and the opportunities it provides our children, while maintaining and making the most of the recreation facilities we have. Strong schools and recreation opportunities bring families together. They attract new residents, and help make Killarney-Turtle Mountain a place to call home.
With the school growing, this in turn makes finding childcare a real challenge. Access to affordable, reliable childcare doesn’t just benefit the parents. It helps local businesses find and retain employees, encourages young families to settle here, and support the growth of our community. That is why I want to work together to support our existing childcare providers, and explore opportunities to increase the number of daycare spaces available.
I want to see Killarney go forward and hunt for that new industry or new business. Growth does not happen overnight. It takes teamwork, planning and willingness to welcome opportunities.
Agriculture is a backbone of our community. Being in business for so long, I’ve seen firsthand if the farmers don’t do well, business does not do well. Our farmers and farm families work hard. They support local businesses, they create jobs, they contribute to so much of our local economy.
I like to make sure our rural residents always have a voice at the table. I see in my business every day how important tourism is growing in our community. We have two beautiful lakes, we have two amazing campgrounds, and we also have two beautiful golf courses right at our back door. When people drive into town, I hear often, ‘Wow, this town is amazing, I may want to move here.’
I’m not sure if this answers the question, but I want to continue building on what we have accomplished while planning for the next generation.”
Rick Pauls
“So what motivates an old guy like me who’s been on council for years and years and years to want to keep going? Because I don’t think we’re done yet.
When I first ran, years and years and years ago, I made a comment that got me in a lot of trouble in this community, because we used to run as Killarney is the best place to retire. And I said, I don’t think that that’s right. I want it to be the best place to raise a family, and that they stay till they retire.
And over the last few years, we have seen slow but steady growth. We are now to the point where our school actually needs an expansion, which at one time in my tenure on council here, we were just over 300 students. We’re now over 600 students in this community.
We have looked for slow, attainable growth and we’ve achieved it. We need to keep that momentum moving forward. It needs to be practical, but we need to be able to keep moving things forward. We have some big projects that need to get done over the next few years, some infrastructure projects, while maintaining a steady tax base, without cranking the taxes.
One of the things here that we can see over the last 20 years, we have had very nominal tax increases compared to anybody else in the province. And I think that that’s something that our councils and the past councils should be very proud of and try to maintain in the future. Doing growth, but doing it practically on a balanced budget.
So that is my motivation to keep going.”
Matt Nichol
“My motivation for running is I love Killarney. I love this community. It has been so supportive to my family, my businesses, and myself. And I just believe in getting involved. And basically, yeah, being involved in our community is very important to me. The betterment of our community is important to me and I believe getting involved, being on council, I can assist with that.
I also believe in keeping the momentum from past and current councillors going. I think that we’ve, our current council and past council, have done a great job with things, and we have amazing people that work for the town, from the people in the office, the people here at the Shamrock Centre, to the people that mow grass. It’s amazing to see town employees that actually care about the town, and I think it’s very important for this council to keep the momentum going of what’s been done in the past.
I also believe that surrounding ourselves with good people turns us all into great people. I’ve sat on various committees with people up on stage here, and I think that we all bring different skill sets to the table, and I think honestly, no matter what happens in this election, our town and community is going to be better for it because there’s some great people up here.”
Phil Neufeld
“My motivation is very simple. It’s stewardship.
Killarney is a super unique, vibrant hub, and it has a strong agricultural background. The lake, the tourism, the recreational scene, this facility. But vibrant communities don’t happen by accident, and so they require forward thinking and running, careful infrastructure planning, and responsible economic growth.
I’m running because I want to make sure that the municipality remains vibrant, supporting local businesses, looking for young families to come here and call home, just like we did, I guess that’s 18 years ago. I don’t believe in running on personal agendas, grievances, or empty promises. I’m running to be a constructive, forward-thinking voice on council.
One of the focuses of long-term sustainability is protecting the local tax base, and keeping communication open from council and the people we serve. I want to leave this municipality stronger for the next generation, and that’s what drives me to ask you to vote for me.”
Kyle Neufeld
“My motivation for running comes down to wanting to give back to a community that means a lot to me and my family.
I spent a lot of my life involved in different aspects of the community, whether that’s through firefighting, coaching baseball, volunteering, or helping local organizations. I’ve always believed that if you want to see your community succeed, you need to be willing to get involved and contribute.
I also believe local government has a real impact on everyday lives. The decisions Council makes affect our taxes, infrastructure, recreation, local businesses, and the opportunities available to our families and future generations. I want to be part of making sure those decisions are made thoughtfully, with open communication and clear understanding of the impact they have on residents.
As a business owner, I understand that resources are not unlimited, and that tough decisions have to be made. I believe we need to be responsible with taxpayers’ money, look for practical solutions, and be willing to have honest conversations about the challenges we face.
I’m not running because I think I have all the answers, or because I want to criticize what’s been done in the past. I’m running because I’m willing to put in the work, listen to residents, ask tough questions, and be accountable for the decisions I help make. At the end of the day, I want to help Killarney be a great place to live, work, raise a family, and build a future.”
Aaron King
“I’ve actually already been on council once before many years ago. When Rick was mayor, he came to Killarney School and made a presentation to students about becoming junior councillors. I signed up, getting the opportunity to share my opinion on matters before council, and sit in during several council meetings. Since then, I’ve always had an interest in municipal politics and desire to serve on council.
I’ve also been encouraged to run for council by many people, including past mayors and councillors, business owners, and other residents of Killarney. I am running not just for these reasons, but because Killarney is my home, and I want to make sure it, and the people within it, are set up to succeed.”
Tim Freeman
“I have long been intrigued about community development: what is it that makes some communities thrive, and other communities stagnate, or even die?
Sometimes events beyond the control of a community, like a mining town that loses its mine, can affect a communities fortunes, but I think that more often than not it comes down to the motivation of individual members of the community to start and operate businesses, serve on councils and committees, and for all of us to take pride in our community.
My motivation to run for council is to contribute to the health and vibrancy of Killarney-Turtle Mountain.”
Julie Dyck
“Having lived here all my life, I care about what happens to our community. We have a multi-generational population, and I want all residents of Killarney-Turtle Mountain to feel like they are being listened to, supported and represented.
I also feel it’s my turn to get involved. It takes all of us to help Killarney-Turtle Mountain become what it can be. It’s easy to complain about issues and problems. But bring them to your councillors and let them listen to you.
I would like to be able to take your concerns, ideas, and maybe solutions to some of our issues as a community to council. I’d like to be your eyes, ears, and voice at the table and represent you.”
Katherine Carlisle
“That’s a really good question. And a dear friend of mine suggested the idea of me running for council. Surprisingly, I was intrigued and thought, why not?
Turtle Mountain/Killarney have been supporters of Turtle Mountain Adult Ed for years. And being part of the council would help me have a greater understanding of the area and how it operates.
I’ve always been a strong advocate for individuals to improve their life, work and confidence. I feel I can add a strong perspective and views. I’m a good listener and I’m a person who gets a job done. I like reviewing past practices to know what worked and didn’t work. This helps us to move forward, to keep an open mind and listen, and research is an essential skill.”
Laurie Campbell
“My motivation for running for council is pretty simple. I love Killarney. I think moving away and retiring back home has given me a great perspective on what we have in our municipality.
To have a rural community with so many services like dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, a variety of businesses that support every fundraiser we have in our community, the Arts Council, an amazing school where our children can learn, a hospital that is fully functional with practitioners, the Shamrock Centre which young and old utilize, it’s our place where we meet and gather as a community.
Killarney-Turtle Mountain is a hive of activity with our farmers, our trades, our lake, which attracts a lot of tourists, and our service groups, who give back to the community in so many ways. We’re very fortunate to have all this; not all rural communities do. I want to build on that success, and be part of a team that does that.
I believe in community first, and good things will follow. We need to work on responsible growth, and facilitate that growth. We need a detailed strategic plan, with short and long-term goals that we all know about and work towards.
I’m committed to contributing to that plan, listening to others, and continue to learn so I can bring value to council and my community. If elected, I will work with our CAO, Meghan Klassen, and the municipality team members to facilitate that plan.”
Jaret Box
“My motivation for running for Council comes from my deep commitment and desire to continue serving the residents of Killarney-Turtle Mountain. Having grown up in rural Manitoba, and spending my career caring for people through healthcare, I understand the importance of strong local services and a thriving community. It has been a privilege to serve on council over the past four years, and I believe my experience allows me to continue contributing in a meaningful way. While change can be positive, continuity is also important to ensure projects continue moving forward, and the municipality remains successful.
I enjoy engaging with residents, listening to their concerns and ideas, and working collaboratively to find practical solutions. I genuinely care about people, and believe everyone deserves to be heard. As a nurse and healthcare leader, caring for residents, patients, families, and my teams I work with every day has taught me the importance of listening, advocating for others, and finding solutions that strengthen our community.
During my current council term, I was actively involved with physician recruitment, and we were successful in recruiting physicians. We currently have a full complement of five physicians in Killarney. I would like to continue exploring opportunities to attract other health care professionals and tradespeople, as these are vital services for the community. I am motivated by the opportunity to make a positive difference for all community members.
Ultimately, I am running because I care about our community, believe in its future, and want to continue being a thoughtful, approachable, and a dedicated advocate for the people of Killarney-Turtle Mountain.”
Name four priorities you see for Killarney-Turtle Mountain, and elaborate on two of them.
Please listen to the audio recording (below) of the top four priorities of the election candidates, in the following order: Gwen Tripp, Rick Pauls, Matt Nichol, Phil Neufeld, Kyle Neufeld, Aaron King, Julie Dyck, Katherine Carlisle, Laurie Campbell, Merv Tweed, and Janice Smith.
Councillor candidate Jaret Box’s response sent in:
The Municipality of Killarney Turtle Mountain has a lot of priorities that I support. My top priorities include investing in the long-term sustainability of the Shamrock Centre, continuing recruitment efforts for healthcare professionals and skilled trades, supporting the development of a local daycare, and maintaining strong fiscal responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and effectively.
Every elected official must be fiscally responsible with taxpayer money, which I feel is incredibly important and should be held to a high standard.
I would like to actively continue recruitment efforts for health care professionals and tradespeople.
The Shamrock Centre is requiring upgrades to ensure operations continue. The facility is aging and requires a new ice plant in the near future; therefore, I feel we need to invest in this asset.
Although, a new daycare falls under a provincial mandate, I feel not having daycare services available impacts the community’s ability to attract newcomers, recruit professionals, and in-turn which impacts businesses. Adequate daycare seats are vital services for families and children.
Thank you for taking to the time to listen to me. I would appreciate your support in the upcoming Municipal election on October 28!
Councillor candidate Tim Freeman’s response sent in:
Four priorities of Killarney-Turtle Mountain would be:
1.) Infrastructure; roads and bridges
2.) Water supply and waste management
3.) By-law enforcement
4.) Parks and recreation
Roads are obviously an important part of the infrastructure of Killarney-Turtle Mountain. Maintaining our network of roads in Killarney and across Turtle Mountain throughout the year is a priority item that affects the entire community.
By-law enforcement is an important part of equitable treatment of our entire community: we must apply the community’s by-laws in a fair and equitable way.
Live unprepared questions
1. What are the greatest challenges facing our rural municipality?
2. What are the greatest challenges facing our town?
Please listen to the audio recording (below) of question 1 (rural challenges), in the following order: Janice Smith, Merv Tweed, Laurie Campbell, Katherine Carlisle, Julie Dyck, Aaron King, Kyle Neufeld, Phil Neufeld, Matt Nichol, Rick Pauls, and Gwen Tripp; and question 2 (town challenges) in the reverse order.
Councillor candidate Tim Freeman’s response sent in:
1.) What are the greatest challenges for our farming community?
I think that the greatest challenge for the farming community is the rising costs of inputs. The most practical thing we can do at the municipal level, I think, is to maintain and build our network of roads.
2.) What are the greatest challenges facing our town?
Economic development, in my opinion, is the greatest single factor facing our town. We are an area with abundant resources and very good services in health care, etc. but an increase in economic development would create the jobs and opportunities that would employ and inspire the next generation.
Councillor candidate Jaret Box’s response sent in:
1. What are the greatest challenges facing our rural municipality?
One of the greatest challenges facing our rural municipality is making sure our residents receive fair representation for the taxes they contribute. Rural communities pay their share, and we need strong advocacy to ensure we receive the funding and support necessary to meet our needs. During my term on council, I was the council representative for the Local Urban District (LUD) of Ninga and met regularly with the LUD members.
At the same time, the cost of maintaining and rebuilding our infrastructure continues to rise. Our roads and bridges are essential for residents, farmers, businesses, and emergency services, but repairing, maintaining and replacing them is extremely expensive. With limited municipal resources, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep up with aging infrastructure while maintaining quality services.
Our challenge is balancing responsible spending with the long-term investments needed to keep our municipality safe, connected, and growing. We must continue lobbying the Provincial Government for fair funding, careful planning, and strong partnerships so that our community gets the value and representation it deserves.
2. What are the greatest challenges facing our town?
One of the greatest challenges facing our town is managing rising costs while continuing to provide the services and infrastructure our residents rely on every day. As expenses increase, we as councillors have to ensure we are being responsible with taxpayer dollars while maintaining the quality of life people expect.
Balancing competing services including the Shamrock Centre, our water treatment plant, lagoon system, and landfill are essential to our community, but they are also costly to operate, maintain, and upgrade. These investments are necessary to support a healthy, growing community and to meet both current and future needs.
At the same time, we must continue creating a safe, welcoming place to live, work, and raise a family. The challenge is finding the right balance between managing costs, maintaining critical infrastructure, and supporting community growth. With careful planning and responsible leadership, we can meet these challenges while ensuring Killarney Turtle Mountain remains strong and vibrant for years to come.
Questions from the public (Killarney Lake)
Questions submitted by residents for the evening event included how the council members would support Killarney Lake going forward, in efforts to minimize the algal blooms and to support efforts made to mitigate aquatic invasive species.
Please listen to the audio recording (below) of the answers to the Killarney Lake question by the election candidates, in the following order: Janice Smith, Merv Tweed, Laurie Campbell, Katherine Carlisle, Julie Dyck, Aaron King, Kyle Neufeld, Phil Neufeld, Matt Nichol, Rick Pauls, and Gwen Tripp.
Councillor candidate Jaret Box’s response sent in:
What does supporting Killarney Lake look like to you?
Supporting Killarney Lake means continuing to be a committed partner in protecting one of our community’s greatest assets. The Municipality has always been one of the lakes strongest supporters. We have consistently listened to concerns, worked with community groups, and supported projects brought forward to improve the health of the lake.
If there is a proven solution, then our role is to work with stakeholders to develop a realistic plan and budget to implement it. Right now, the aeration fields appear to be helping, and we are fortunate to have the expertise and guidance of the Lake Action Committee to help us make informed decisions. The reality is that council members are not scientists, so we rely on expert advice and evidence-based recommendations.
Looking ahead, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have the potential to be our next major challenge. Preventing their spread will require collaboration with neighbouring municipalities, lake users, and government partners. “Clean, Drain, Dry” must become second nature, just like putting on a seatbelt. Protecting Killarney Lake is not just a municipal responsibility, it is everyone’s responsibility. We all have a role to play in keeping our lake healthy and clean for future generations.
Councillor candidate Tim Freeman’s response sent in:
I agree that Killarney Lake is an important part of Killarney-Turtle Mountain. I think that working closely with the Lake committee is the best opportunity we have to improve water quality and manage the algae situation.
A few more questions from the public
If elected would the candidates push for the hiring of a bylaw officer to enforce town bylaws?
Then a question regarding council’s ‘reactive approach’ as opposed to a proactive approach to marketing Killarney to attract more young families was also presented.
And finally, what would each of the candidates do to help bring in new industry?
Please listen to the audio recording (below) for the answers to the last few questions from the public.