Myron Gulka-Tiechko’s office walls are bare, his coffee table is empty and several moving boxes are on the floor, all signs that the city clerk/solicitor is preparing to retire.
Gulka-Tiechko has held the dual role for the City of Moose Jaw since Sept. 2, 2008. After 13 years of providing guidance at city hall, his last day downtown will be Wednesday, July 28.
City council celebrated Gulka-Tiechko’s efforts during the July 26 regular council meeting, which moved him deeply.
“It was very emotional for me,” he said after the meeting. “Retirement is something you sort of see off in the distance, and when (you) come face to face with it, it’s a very sobering moment.
“I was very flattered by their comments and appreciation. That was very much reciprocal from my perspective.”
Laughing, Gulka-Tiechko admitted that he was worried that council and city administration would “roast” him during the meeting, something that had been promised on July 12. But, instead, he appreciated how they showed restraint in honouring him during his last council meeting.
One aspect of working at city hall that impressed the retiring city clerk/solicitor was how collegial staff and administrators were while working together and dealing with challenges. Strong teamwork is something Gulka-Tiechko will remember forever.
“There’s always lots of issues … and files that were challenging or went sideways or whatever, and those happen in any organization and eventually you can sort them out,” he said. “I pay tribute to the co-workers here at the city that really pitch in to get the job done for the community.”
There have been many projects over the years on which Gulka-Tiechko has worked, but one that stood out was the cast iron water main replacement program. He explained that the biggest challenge with that program was getting it started in 2015 and figuring out how to pay for it.
“The one satisfying part was that it actually brought the issue to the fore, and the public realized this wasn’t something you could sweep under the rug; it had to get dealt with however it got paid … ,” he said. “That was a very satisfying program.”
Gulka-Tiechko has no immediate plans to take on part-time work or sit on any boards after he retires. Instead, “the slate is clean,” and he intends to reset and relax. He will also appreciate the freedom to decide what to do and when to do it on his own time.
What he won’t miss about working is keeping a weekly schedule, especially having to attend meetings on Mondays. Yet, Gulka-Tiechko will find life different on Sunday nights since he won’t have to prepare for meetings the next day.
Throughout his career, whether as head lawyer with SaskPower or at city hall, Gulka-Tiechko held to the belief that people — whether co-workers or the public — deserved to be treated with respect and dignity. This was particularly important at city hall since residents usually told him how to do things better.
“People have an opinion about everything … ,” he continued. “(Conversely), in a large corporation, you’re insulated. Even though you have oversight from cabinet ministers, you never have to interact with them weekly.”
Many municipal issues can usually be resolved with clear communication, Gulka-Tiechko added. Most people understand why decisions were made after hearing the explanation, even if they disagree with it.
Myron and his wife of 44 years, Dianne — a retired principal of seven years — are looking forward to seeing their son Brayden again after more than a year of pandemic restrictions. He is a lawyer who lives in British Columbia and works with the Ministry of Finance; he is expected to visit in August.
Their other son, Kellan, is a private lawyer in Regina.
Gulka-Tiechko has held season tickets with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 20 years, so he is excited to see football return in August. Meanwhile, he will spend more time at his cabin at Crystal Lake during the week, giving him the chance to sit, relax and enjoy the clean air. The cabin is also near his hometown of Canora and his wife’s hometown of Preeceville.
The other project Gulka-Tiechko plans to focus on is landscaping his yard to make it more interesting and brighten it up.
