Councillors celebrate 20-year legacies

The final Steinbach city council meeting before the Oct. 28 municipal election marked the end of an era for two councillors.

Michael Zwaagstra and Jac Siemens both chose not to run again and were celebrating 20-year careers.

The pair were honoured in a ceremony after the meeting and were presented with a medallion given to those who made an outstanding contribution to the community of Steinbach from Mayor Earl Funk.

A lot has changed since the pair was first elected in 2006.

That year the community’s population totaled just over 11,000.

An average house in Steinbach sold for between $130,000 and $180,000, a brand-new entry-level vehicle could be driven off the lot for less than $20,000, and the average rent was $610 per month.

Gary Doer was Premier of Manitoba, Stephen Harper was Canada’s Prime Minister and the U.S. President was George W. Bush.

Funk told the small group of invited guests that the pair have attended 480 regularly scheduled meetings and 172 strategic priority committee meetings.

He credited Siemens for his current role as mayor.

“You’re the reason I’m here,” he said, explaining it was Siemens who inspired him to run for council.

Siemens thanked those who were instrumental in his life over the last two decades including family members and city staff.

He noted that his tenure with the city went back farther than 2006 when he was first elected.

He was hired as the facilities foreman for the parks department in 1982.

Michael Zwaagstra recalled his first campaign as a challenge as he was relatively unknown and did not have a common Steinbach last name.

But following advice he knocked on 4,000 doors to get his name out there.

“I just felt that I wanted to serve this city,” he said.

He added there’s a long list of accomplishments he’s seen in the community.

“There is no city like Steinbach and to be part of this council is just a remarkable opportunity,” he said.

Michael Zwaagstra won the PC nomination for the Steinbach constituency and will look to replace MLA Kelvin Goertzen in the next provincial election.