With four months until the civic election, Moose Jaw has its first candidate officially declaring their candidacy for mayor.
Internationally renowned Steve “The Goose” has craned his neck into the political ring honking his intentions to seek the top perch in local civic politics.
Steve “The Goose” recently rose to international and regional media prominence for surviving a fox attack near the end of June.
“He was stolen by a fox. The neighbour's daughter saw a fox carrying something white at 7 am and we presumed he was dead,” Carla Shymko said.
Despite Steve's apparent demise, Shymko said they took to social media to see if they could pick up a trail.
“It has all been crazy and all positive, the feedback we got…We worried we would look like a bunch of crackheads looking for a goose…we had well over a thousand people contact us,” she said.
Almost miraculously, about 24 hours after his disappearance, Steve showed up on the doorstep pecking at the back glass doors somehow surviving and goose-stepping his way home.
The incredible thing is, Steve, in the nine years he has lived on the acreage on the outskirts of Moose Jaw, has never left the acreage.
Shymko has no idea exactly how Steve survived the fox attack but theorizes “we think he played dead and when the fox wasn’t looking he headed for home.”
Steve, a white domesticated goose, cannot fly so he had to walk all the way home.
“It took him a good two weeks to get back to normal. He was really dirty and his feathers were really ruffled like he had been in a fight.”
Steve's history on the acreage is he arrived nine years ago with his mate Lulu. Lulu passed away four years ago after the pair raised three gaggles of geese together.
After his miraculous escape, the media started calling Shymko and Steve's story was picked up not just by the CBC but by newspapers as far away as New York and Washington, DC.
“We had people thanking us for such a heartwarming story. We think it took off because it was hope in such a negative time with COVID - 19,” she said. “People were saying we should rename the city to Goose Jaw.”
People encouraged Shymko to make children's books about Steve's adventures.
“Steve was pretty darn popular and more popular than (Mac) the Moose,” she said.
In June, a Facebook group sprung up honking out Steve's surprise announcement he was entering the political ring seeking the mayor's job.
In the Facebook group, Steve “The Goose” For Mayor Of Moose Jaw, the pledge is made if elected Steve would overturn the proposed increased Council remuneration.
“Steve "The Goose" is a family man, err, goose, who understands how people are struggling at the moment and promises to OVERTURN the pay increase the previous administration voted for,” the Facebook pledge reads adding, “In fact Steve will be implementing a pay freeze effective immediately with all monies saved going back into the city's coffers. A Vote For Steve is a Vote for fiscal responsibility. Do you really think you can have a family this size without knowing how to budget?”
The Facebook page also speaks to Steve's proven leadership abilities.
“Steve has what it takes to move this city forward with proven leadership skills. He is never afraid to get dirty or get down to the real work,” the page said.
Asked who is behind the Facebook page and bid to most likely face incumbent Fraser Tolmie in November's civic election, Shymko said she does not know.
When Shymko was asked about Steve's chances to de-perch the present Mayor she said Steve had a really good chance.
“I don’t know, I think his chances are good; he (Steve) is very popular and Mayor Tolmie isn't.”
“Steve is tough, smart and a good goose, reliable and he fights a good fight,” she said.
Just how popular Steve “The Goose” [was recently]; he was busy doing four press interviews including one with the on-line site “The Dodo” which boasts over 26 million people liking their Facebook page.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
