Ron Dishko will be running for the open Meadow Lake councillor seat this September. (Nikita Ganovicheff/meadowlakeNOW staff)

By Nikita Ganovicheff

Byelection Q&A

A Q&A with councillor candidate Ron Dishko

Jul 12, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Councillor candidate Ron Dishko sat down with meadowlakeNOW for an interview ahead of the Sept. 18 byelection. As part of our coverage for both the vacant mayoral and councillor seat, meadowlakeNOW will reach out to all candidates as they are announced and pose similar questions. Some answers were amended for clarity.

For people in the community who don’t know who you, who are you?

I moved here about 8 years ago. I’m a farm boy and I used to manage a Co-op out of Borden. I moved here in 2011 when I accepted a position as petroleum manager at the Meadow Lake Co-op. Seven months later, I was promoted to service centre manager and now I’m a petroleum division manager. I’m married to my wife Joanne and we live here in Meadow Lake. We have three adult children. Brady is 25, he’s in Saskatoon and we have twin girls, Amber and Taylor, that live here in Meadow Lake as well. We’re pretty happy to call Meadow Lake home.

Why are you running for city council?

In my position at work, I’m involved with the community and my wife and kids fell in love with Meadow Lake and I did as well so it was pretty easy to call it home. We’ve been here 8 years and I think it’s time to try and give a little bit back. Try and help the community, help grow, help beautify it, help wherever I can.

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What sets you apart from other candidates and why do you think you’re qualified for a councillor position?

I’m hardworking and I’m a farm boy who appreciates honesty and I like helping my neighbour. I hope I can do well for the citizens of Meadow Lake.

I like to think I’m forward thinking and I’d like to see Meadow Lake grow. I’d like to see things evolve and make Meadow Lake a destination spot. When we get professionals coming in for working positions hopefully we can help to make them want to stay. Not use Meadow Lake as a kind of stepping stone and increase the population to help make things better.

What are the three biggest issues you see in Meadow Lake and how will you address them?

I don’t know if there’s any big issues. This is my first time running in something like this so I don’t know if there’s any big issues but I’d like to see change. If we’re the gateway of the north let’s make it attractive. Let’s make it attractive for people to live and for businesses to come in and help grow our community.

There’s a lot of great things in Meadow Lake that I would like to improve on and, of course, the infrastructure and streets are always a big one. That’s something I’d like to see continue to improve on and as long as we have a plan moving forward, whatever it is, just execute on it.

What is one thing you like that is currently being done by the city?

I like the fact that things are getting better. There is some street work, there is some working with our neighbours in Flying Dust and seeing some advancement in new businesses coming to town. Dairy Queen, Tim Horton’s and Boston Pizza, it just shows that we’re forward thinking and trying to move ahead and grow the community.

What is one thing that city council is doing that you dislike?

I have a lot of learning to do and I think there’s always room for improvement for everyone. Whether it’s road maintenance or whatever the scenario is, I think there’s always places to improve so I just want to be a part of it and help the community.

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nikita.ganovicheff@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Nikitaganov