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Mayoral candidate Nancy Nash would bring service-focused mentality to the position

'It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re serving songs or serving people their breakfast or serving them their groceries ... it’s all in the manner in which you deliver'
Nash, Nancy
Nancy Nash is running in the 2020 municipal election to be Moose Jaw's next mayor. Photo courtesy Nancy Nash

If elected mayor, Nancy Nash would attempt to act as a mediator on difficult issues and seek public feedback to solve problems instead of acting like a “warlord or tyrant.”

Nash is one of three candidates vying to become the next mayor of Moose Jaw, with John Kot and incumbent Fraser Tolmie the other two. Nash’s main goals are to save Wakamow Valley from development, preserve the community’s past, revive the downtown, increase police presence on the streets for a safer community, upgrade roads and clean up the municipality’s finances.

“Rather than coming at them (residents) like, ‘Well we have this idea and it’s gotta be that way,’ you got to be open-minded. You got to be flexible,” she said. “But … I go back to (my) motto: ‘There’s enough for everyone if we share.’”

Nash recognized that she would not please everyone as mayor, but she would do her best, so everyone has input.

Serving the people

Originally from North Battleford, Nash lived on Vancouver Island for many years before moving to Moose Jaw four years ago, where she now works in retail. She has been a Canadian blues and pop singer, was the first woman inducted into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame and worked with Bob Hope.  

She has also recorded under her birth name of Sazacha Red Sky and was nominated for best music of Aboriginal Canada Recording at the 1994 Juno awards.

Nash’s mentality is less “I” and more “we.” She credits her assistant, Becki Schultz, to help her submit her papers and get her elected.

“I have no interest in being a … tyrant or a king or a rock star or any of that,” she said, explaining that her life has been dedicated to service. This has ranged from helping raise her siblings to working in retail to being a mentor to Aboriginal musicians.

“It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re serving songs or serving people their breakfast or serving them their groceries, it’s all show business,” continued Nash, “because it’s all in the manner in which you deliver … .”

Strengths

Nash says her main strength is her empathy, which she developed by serving others during her life. She would not come with an agenda or ego but would look to others for advice and seniors for wisdom. She would also rely on the strengths of the councillors and attempt to build a team spirit.

Achieving goals

Nash’s slogan is “Let’s get it done,” which she hopes to use to provide a positive, brighter future for residents.

Her first goal is to preserve Wakamow Valley from development. She wants to know who the numbered company is that plans to develop the proposed upscale subdivision and believes following the money could provide answers. Moreover, she wants to know why project proponent Charles Vanden Broek is using an Alberta developer on this deal.

Between this issue and the fact many residents use the valley for leisure activities, the mayoral candidate believes existing vacant and abandoned homes in the city should be upgraded first.

Celebrating the past

Nash wants to preserve the community’s past while respecting and honouring it to contribute to a brighter future for Moose Jaw. She explained that she and her sister left British Columbia for The Friendly City “because the town was alive.”

Nash wants to ensure the downtown continues to thrive, which would keep the rest of the municipality healthy. She doesn’t want to see so many empty businesses, so she would work with entrepreneurs to reinvigorate the downtown.

“We’ve already started talking with business owners and they’re excited about it, so everyone comes together — a round table. There’s no monopoly,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I don’t want to be a warlord or tyrant.”

Reaching out in new ways

One way Nash would reach residents is to have a daily online news-type broadcast. Her vision would be to visit construction sites and get hands-on or explain what is happening. Similarly, she would also encourage seniors to provide a daily piece of wisdom in a one-minute video.

The municipal election is Monday, Nov. 9.

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