Moment with the Mayor

Another change of season has arrived at our doorstep. The transition to every other week curbside collection of the organic waste in our green bin has arrived with the arrival of November.

We are soon approaching Saturday, November 11. What is the significance of that date in your life, on your calendar, family plan or work schedule? As a gentle reminder, on this day in 1918, in a rail car in Northern France on November 11 at 5 a.m., the Armistice was agreed upon and signed.

Public transportation, often referred to as public transit, was a topic of discussion as City Council viewed the work completed so far on the Public Transportation Master Plan at the Governance and Priorities Committee meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023.

As Mayor, I receive many requests or inquiries. They arrive in different ways; most come by mail, email or phone. The invitations are often to bring greetings or a welcome on behalf of City Council and the City of Lloydminster. At other times, I am invited to be a guest at a gala, banquet or celebration. All these events are great opportunities for our community’s hospitality to shine brightly.

We have the pleasure to celebrate our small businesses who serve us each and every day. Small businesses range from restaurants to automobile dealerships to specialty shops and beyond. 

Once again, we look to make sure that we’re prepared in case of an emergency. This year, cooking fires is the focus of the Fire Prevention Week campaign, October 8-14. There are many aspects to fires and cooking, and some I would encourage you to think about include barbecues, stovetops, ovens, toasters and the like. Always ensure the cooking device is not touching something that may light on fire. 

I regularly have the opportunity to meet people who have recently moved to Lloydminster. There are local farmers and ranchers retiring, those leaving the big cities looking for a slower pace of life and housing that is more affordable. Lloydminster is also home to those who have moved from somewhere far off to answer the call for employment opportunities. Thank you for choosing Lloydminster.

It can be said that some things are a blessing and a curse all at the same time. We receive many benefits when it comes to being a community served by Canada’s two railway companies. Increased economic development is a direct benefit; the offset is the increased traffic on the rails and more time waiting at railway crossings.

Welcome back from a great summer as we start the transition to fall. I had the pleasure to connect with many of you at a number of summer events and gatherings. The city was fortunate to host a number of great events throughout the summer across the city and our surrounding area. Please plan to join us and our sponsors at Bud Miller All Seasons Park for Fall Fest on Saturday, September 16, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free for All. I hope to see you there!

We always look forward to summer! We’ve had some great weather already and some much-needed rain. I am sure the children are all ready for the school year to be over, as are the teachers.