MOOSE JAW — City council has recognized three former city councillors for their time, efforts and contributions to help build up Moose Jaw and make life better for residents.
At the start of council’s Dec. 16 regular meeting, Mayor James Murdock honoured Crystal Froese, Doug Blanc and Kim Robinson by presenting them with their former desk nameplates that had been put into a frame.
Froese and Blanc were on hand to receive their framed nameplates, while Robinson did not attend.
“Your contributions have helped shape our community and we are grateful for your commitment and leadership. Thank you for your service to our city,” Murdock said.
Froese, Blanc and Robinson were defeated during the 2024 municipal election in November.
Blanc — looking to secure his second term as a councillor — came in eighth place with 2,232 votes.
Froese and Robinson both ran for the mayor’s chair and lost to Murdock. Froese finished second in that race with 1,439 votes, while Robinson received 494 ballots. Others who also ran and lost in the mayor’s race were incumbent mayor Clive Tolley with 601 votes and Mike Simpkins with 571 votes.
Froese had sat on council for several terms, while Robinson — like Blanc — first joined council as a councillor during the 2020 municipal election.
Roughly 32 per cent of eligible voters — or about one in three people — turned out for this year’s municipal election in Moose Jaw, which was an increase of almost 10 per cent compared to 2020.
The total number of ballots cast was 8,761, with 21 ballots blank voted and 134 ballots over voted, leaving 8,606 legitimate ballots. The municipality had estimated there were 27,264 eligible voters this year.
Therefore, based on the total number of ballots cast, 32.14 per cent of all eligible voters participated in the 2024 civic election.
According to data from city hall, this year’s voter turnout is the second lowest in the past five municipal elections.
In 2020, 22.4 per cent of the electorate voted; 41 per cent cast a ballot in 2016; 38 per cent voted in 2012; 39.6 per cent cast a ballot in 2009; and 42.5 per cent voted in 2006.
Meanwhile, 3,061 voters cast ballots during the advance polls that city hall held a week before the 2024 election. This is 987 more than in 2020 and 1,837 more than in 2016.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
