WEYBURN – City council candidate Trevor Tessier wants to bring a new, different voice to Weyburn’s council table, to speak up for new residents to the city, and to support community-based organizations.
Tessier, who works as the director of primary health care for the Saskatchewan Health Authority for Weyburn and area, has not run for a political position before, and is the third candidate to declare for council race.
After serving with Coun. Dick Michel on the airport board, he wanted to pay tribute to him and contribute to council’s work to serve the balance of the term. Coun. Michel recently stepped down from council, and a byelection to fill his vacancy has been called for May 31.
There are three main points to his platform in running for council, including that the city should provide more support to volunteer and community-based organizations.
In other communities he’s lived in, Tessier noted that sometimes a town or a city will commit staff to help support groups in the community.
Secondly, council should also support small businesses to ensure a vibrant local business community, and work to resolve any issues they might be having.
His third point is for the city to be more welcoming to new residents.
“Weyburn is a great community,” he noted, but new residents who move in to the city don’t know a lot about it to begin with. A welcoming service would be a good asset to have to help new residents familiarize themselves with the businesses and amenities of the community.
“We need to show Weyburn is the best place to be, and is the most welcoming community,” said Tessier, noting he’s worked in western and northern parts of Saskatchewan, but is originally from the Arcola area, with extended family members throughout the southeast.
During COVID, he had wanted to be more involved in the community, and began volunteering with the city’s airport board. It was through that board he met Coun. Michel, and he was impressed with the councillor’s hard work and dedication to the community.
“He was an inspiration to me in terms of how to relate to people and hear people’s voices and concerns,” said Tessier, and when he heard the councillor had to step down from council, he wanted to put his name forward for the council seat.
In addition to his SHA responsibilities, which included serving on a professional conduct committee for medical personnel, Tessier is also the vice-chair for Southeast College.
