City Councillor Crystal Froese is hoping to continue serving as a voice for the community, with a re-election bid in the upcoming civic election on Nov. 9.
Froese is running for a second term on city council, after being first elected in the previous municipal election in 2016.
“It’s been a really challenging time and we’ve also gone through trying to modernize processes and procedures at City Hall, but there’s more work to be done,” said Froese. “I think having four years’ experience as a councillor means I can help our citizens navigate this time and look for more ways that we can support each other in areas that the municipality or City Hall has influence over.”
Froese is a long-time resident of Moose Jaw and a local business owner, operating a communications marketing business as well as Coteau Hills Creamery with her husband. She also sat on 10 organizational committees and boards during her past term as councillor, including the South Hill Community Association and Business Women of Moose Jaw, as she feels being involved is the best way to advocate for the needs of those community groups when she discussing the use of city resources.
“I knew that in order to be able to help those organizations and those advisory committees, you have to sit on them to have a greater understanding of what they do and how they participate in the fabric of our city,” said Froese.
She feels that her incumbent experience as a city councillor and her outside experience as a communications professional and business owner are all assets to her role as a municipal representative.
“There is a learning curve [in becoming a city councillor] and one of the advantages I have is a background in communications marketing and I also went to the University of Regina and received my local government authority certificate,” said Froese. “My husband and I are really invested in Moose Jaw, and I also really believe in the city and its potential.”
Past accomplishments and future ideas
One of the main focuses for Froese over the last term has been to connect various community organizations with city hall through representation and improved communication — which she hopes to continue doing if re-elected.
“One of the things I noticed immediately was that City Hall wasn’t strongly connected to all the different groups that govern our assets in the city, like the seniors’ centres, the Museum and Art Gallery, Tourism Moose Jaw, the exhibition grounds,” said Froese. “One of the motions I made was to review the contracts with these organizations but also invite them to come and participate around budget time to inform city council and our citizens of all the wonderful things they do.”
During the last council meeting, Froese was happy to see the bylaw to bring forth changes to the municipal cultural plan pass through council, which invites a member from Moose Jaw Pride and the southern Metis Local 160 and the South Central Regional Immigration Partnership to join the Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee.
“I think if we can move that forward in the next city council term, it is going to bring together a lot of those silos we have that are working hard independently, to share resources and map out all the wonderful assets of culture and arts in our city,” said Froese, adding that she wants to continue working on this plan if re-elected.
Froese is also proud to have brought forth heritage projects during discussions of asset management around Moose Jaw, including recovering the historical bell from City Hall, and making moves to provide funding for community plans like the downtown local area plan to make them effective.
She is also happy to have been part of sealing the SaskPower deal to build a natural gas power plant in Moose Jaw.
If she returns to council, Froese would like to continue working on cultural and heritage projects, like a solution to the Natatorium’s increasing needs. She also noted that infrastructure will continue to be a top priority and the cast iron water main replacement project will be ongoing. She also plans to continue being an advocate for city assets like parks and outdoor spaces.
Another large concern for Froese, looking ahead, is to approach the coming budget in a responsible way, to address the problems raised for citizens due to the strains of the pandemic.
“We really have to look for some relief for our citizens,” said Froese. “It's my intention to bring forward that we stay at a zero increase in taxes and zero increase in utilities. I think we have to live within our means and try and put the least amount of stress on our citizens and their businesses because we don’t know what’s coming on the other side of this [pandemic].”
Returning to council
For Froese, her role as a councillor is made up of many different responsibilities that she considers all equally important.
“I think as a city councillor, you can’t be solely focused on one issue because our city is made up of a lot of complex things and we look after so many areas,” said Froese.
Her position on the former proposed subdivision development in Wakamow Valley was that the project was designed to be a great asset to the potential neighbourhood, but situated in the wrong area of the city — although she was pleased to see the engagement from residents on the issue.
“There’s lots of things, of course, that I love about our city, but one thing I love about the citizens and the people of my hometown is that all you have to do is ask them what’s important to them on issues like this,” said Froese. “And they spoke loud and clear [about this issue.]”
Froese said accessibility is important to her as a councillor, and she encourages community engagement and will continue to do her part in addressing concerns from residents.
“I bring my university education and my diverse business background [to the position on council] and I’m open and accessible to people,” said Froese. “As people know when they contact me, I contact them back, I do my homework on issues, and I really try to be their voice at city council and make common-sense decisions that I think our city needs.”
Froese is also running for the Prairie South School Division school board, as a candidate in the Moose Jaw subdivision at-large. She is dedicated to advocating for continued public input on the new joint-use school in Westheath and developing a plan for the four school buildings that will be left empty when the project is completed.
Crystal Froese platform in the Civic Election of 2016
Dated September 12,2016
With deep roots in Moose Jaw starting back generations when her great-grandparents settled on South Hill, Froese has announced her candidacy for city council saying she has lots of fond memories of her hometown. Crystal is married to Kirby Froese, whose family are also long-time Moose Javians.
Leaving the province for 15 years and living in British Columbia where Kirby owned an award-winning winery and Crystal gleaned a wealth of business experience and knowledge holding positions in management, they have since moved back to Moose Jaw to be closer to family. Crystal has owned her own communications and marketing business since 2002, doing contract consulting, creating and implementing policy, bylaws and revenue generating strategies for government, non-profit organizations and businesses.
Crystal and Kirby are now venturing into a new project, Coteau Hills Creamery, manufacturing artisan cheese; the first ever in Moose Jaw. She has also served in a leadership capacity on a number of boards, committees and organizations. Froese is well-known and well-received in all her accomplishments.
“We want to build our business here and also be able to offer employment to others,” Crystal said. “I believe in contributing to the community I live in.”
Froese sees a few deficits that need to be addressed, one being “capital infrastructure that needs to be balanced,” as well as the water main replacement issues that have not yet been resolved.
“Through my diverse business experience,” says Crystal, “I will bring an informed voice to the citizens of Moose Jaw and help to create a bright future for the people of Moose Jaw.”
