With another four-year term confirmed by acclamation, Carlyle Mayor Jennifer Sedor is ready to lead her community through new developments and complete ongoing projects.
"I’m very excited and very grateful for another opportunity to serve my community," Sedor said. “I always feel like four years seems like a long time from the start, but by the time you get to the end, there are things that you haven’t quite finished yet.”
Among those projects is a new school for Carlyle, which Sedor says is a top priority. She’s also eager to advance infrastructure projects, including a sewer system and lagoon upgrade.
"Probably the one we don’t want to give too much attention to is the sewer, and that’s the really important one," she said. "We have our sewers being relined, our roads being redone, and our sewer system is actually in great shape, but it’s not nearly as fun to talk about as having a community splash park that’s available to everyone." The splash park, a project ten years in the making, opened to the public in 2021.
In her last term, Carlyle also saw the creation of a new culture and recreation department with a dedicated recreation professional. Moving forward, Sedor says they’ll focus on assessing Carlyle’s capital assets, including the community hall and other public spaces.
Carlyle continues to experience growth in both population and business, serving as a hub for the region.
"We hit way above our weight in terms of business," Sedor said. "We have a host of businesses across all industries that serve a huge area—anything from restaurants to construction, hospitality, oil fields, and farm equipment."
The town is also home to several cultural events, including the Dickens Festival, which Sedor says holds a special place in her heart.
“The Carlyle Dickens Festival is what actually brought me to the area 21 years ago," she said. "It’s one of the best in North America."
She added that Carlyle has seen an increase in community and summer festivals in recent years, fostering pride and involvement among residents.
Sedor will be joined on council by many returning members, with two new seats. Lauren Hume was acclaimed, while another vacancy will be filled in an election on Nov. 30. Sedor noted that council members bring a wealth of experience, including involvement with the fire department, local schools, the Lions Committee, and the museum.
Looking ahead, Sedor emphasized her commitment to enhancing the Parks and Recreation Department and creating a future plan for public spaces. "The best part of municipal politics is how you can actually affect change directly," she said. "In municipal government, you can see how the decisions you’re making impact the community, and you get direct feedback from residents, which can be bittersweet but allows for a closer relationship with ratepayers."