MOOSE JAW — James Murdock has been mayor for two months and has come to realize there are more moving parts that drive the City of Moose Jaw than he initially thought.
“I have the utmost respect for the people that make the city run and … so far, it’s been a gradual process for me to gain knowledge and experience,” he said during an interview about his new job and the year ahead, noting that it is an honour to serve.
“But (we) could be talking three years from now and I’ll still be gaining knowledge and experience. So, it’s (been) very interesting and rewarding (being mayor). I’m enjoying it.”
Seated at a round table in his office, with most of his walls still bare, Murdock said he had not yet toured any major city venues to understand how the municipality operates. However, he expected to start in February after the 2025 budget discussions concluded in January.
“I’m dedicated to getting out into the community and meeting (employees) because I’m a city employee. So I’ll be having interactions with them at all the different departments and buildings,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to doing that because I’m a people person, and I know a lot of them already because of my strong connection with the city.”
Many residents think city hall is where everything happens, but that isn’t true since there are other venues — such as the wastewater treatment plant and the public works complex — that the city operates daily, the mayor added. That is why he wants to visit and learn more about them.
One interesting facet of city operations that Murdock has discovered is the tight relationship between city council and city administration. While many people think most business happens during the twice-monthly council meetings, he noted that there are daily conversations between elected officials and directors about how to move the city forward.
“I really had no idea that it was that connected,” Murdock remarked.
Many residents are passionate about how the city operates, something the mayor noticed while door-knocking during the 2024 municipal election campaign. He thought their convictions were heartwarming and wanted — with their help — to reignite that community spirit.
“The city is everything to me,” he stated.
Murdock’s vision is to grow the economy and build on existing success stories, such as SaskPower’s new Great Plains Power Plant. Moreover, he hopes to see growth in the Agri-Food Industrial Park and the construction of more single- and multi-unit dwellings — especially in the Westheath subdivision.
The mayor declined to offer specifics about possible industrial park tenants or major economic development projects, although he acknowledged that council should discuss reducing the price for Westheath lots since no one purchased any during the public draw last July.
Meanwhile, he wants to see “the jewel” of Main Street rejuvenated since that area generates millions of dollars through tourism, while he thought the expansion at 15 Wing Air Base and the upcoming World Men’s Curling Championship should be celebrated since they will put Moose Jaw in the national spotlight.
“We just need to promote the community to let people know what we can offer as … a welcoming, friendly community that you would be proud to call home,” Murdock added.
One of the mayor’s priorities is to enhance road repairs, especially with potholes, which he thought was possible after council purchased new paving equipment. He thought those new machines would allow city crews to repair infrastructure more quickly and make a noticeable difference.
Murdock thought the top issue facing Moose Jaw was homelessness and that more collaboration among charities, churches, and non-profit organizations — which are already “doing tremendous work” — was required to develop a viable solution.
“We know that time and time again, Moose Jaw continues to step up … on the volunteer side of things,” he remarked. “And I don’t think there’s a community that has a better spirit in doing that than Moose Jaw.”
The mayor acknowledged that the Ministry of Social Services must be included since it has the money for programs and housing. If council attempted to handle this issue, it would have to decide from where the money would come and what services to reduce.
With 2025 in general, Murdock said he was optimistic about the upcoming year and hoped the community’s main industries of agriculture and tourism flourished since they benefitted Moose Jaw as a whole.
As for the bare walls in his office, Murdock said he’s instructed the curator of the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery to decorate them — using a theme — with some of the 13,000 artworks from the vault. However, he’ll keep one corner of his office focused on Moose Jaw and the Snowbirds during photo opportunities for proclamations and presentations.
