Throughout the next few weeks, we'll be featuring interviews from the fifteen Moose Javians running for city council in this year's municipal election. Joni Brisbin is one of those candidates.

Each candidate was asked the same list of questions. Here are Brisbin's answers.

Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers? 

A: I'm a professional engineering technologist, community member, been in Moose Jaw for 20 plus years. I currently sit on the Moose Jaw Transition House Board, I've been a member of various boards across the province, community advocate, and volunteer, and now I am a private business owner. I am married with two amazingly beautiful daughters and one amazing grandson.

Q: What do you think is the most significant accomplishment of the current city council?

A: There's a lot of things. I think the most significant recently was their strategic plan that they worked so hard on and had the consulting firm come in and work with them. From there they came up with Canada's Most Notorious City, which I really like, but a lot of the points that came out of that plan I think are incredible, and will be a positive direction for the city.

Q: What could be improved?

A: I think the lines of communication, but I think that's any organization. Communication is key. There seems to be a lack of communication between the city council, administration, the city, and its clients - which is of course the residents. And even within city council, at least from my perspective.

Q: What experience or knowledge do you bring to the table?

A: I'm a water resources engineering technologist with a major in environmental engineering, so an extensive background in infrastructure design operation treatment. Lots of regulatory experience, I was part of the Environmental Management Protection Act consultation for the 2010-2016 round for the province of Saskatchewan. Past board experience with the operators' certification board out of Regina, and I have an extreme passion for effecting positive change.

Q: What do you think are the biggest issues facing voters right now? 

A: Depends on who you ask, but building relationships to grow opportunities within the city and intercity - so between the cities within the province. I think there's a lot of opportunities to work together to build ideas for all cities within Saskatchewan and across the province. Instead of reinventing the wheel, work together to utilize the brains of the incredible people in this city with incredible ideas. I think we need to build relationships and share.

Q: How do you envision the city coming out of the pandemic?

A: I don't think anybody really knows the answer because we're still in the heart of the pandemic. I think that's something that will be more of an intercity decision on how to go forward. If we keep on with the strategic planning and keep that going, I think it's got great bones to build from, but we really need to start developing possibilities within the city. Support our businesses that are currently there, get them a little more out in the open, and quit playing second fiddle to Regina. We see ourselves as the 'poor country cousins' to Regina and we don't really promote ourselves as best we could I think, especially on social media.

Q: What is your overall vision for the city of Moose Jaw?

A: There are three points to that; build a cohesive team within city council and with the city of Moose Jaw managers and personnel, to implement the strategic plan and grow the city - and that doesn't necessarily refer to population, but grow the quality of life and help develop businesses, and most of all to effect positive change.

Election day is on Nov. 9. 

*(Some answers have been edited for clarity and length.)*