Carnduff Mayor Ross Apperley is looking ahead to another productive year for the southeast Saskatchewan community after a smooth municipal election.
“It was pretty seamless,” Apperley said. “We had two councillors that decided not to run, and we only had two councillors that stepped up to take the spot. We had no councillor election, and I went on unopposed.”
Apperley, who has served as mayor since 2009, reflected on key achievements over the past year, including a major infrastructure project that brought a new water treatment plant to the town.
“The water plant’s been up and running with reverse osmosis water — a big upgrade for the last year,” he said. “We’re just trying to get all the kinks worked out, so that was a highlight for us.”
Another milestone was the ongoing development of an outdoor multiplex for tennis and pickleball, funded through a grant. “The concrete for that was done, and now in the spring, we’ll do the sport court for it as well as some fencing,” Apperly said.
Looking ahead, the town is preparing for further infrastructure upgrades tied to its new water plant. “We’re starting to plan phases for some more infrastructure upgrades, which take years to plan and finance,” Apperley noted.
The town is also focused on maintaining access to health services through its collaboration with the Southeast Medical Group. “We belong to the Southeast Medical Group, which is made up of five towns and five RMs. We look after two clinics and three doctors,” he said. “Keeping that rolling and running isn’t always smooth, but at least we’re bringing healthcare to our community.”
Carnduff has also seen success with its community events, including the inaugural Fall Fling in September. Apperly said the event, which replaced the town’s former Canada Day celebration, was well-received and is expected to become an annual tradition.
Looking further ahead, the town is gearing up for its 2025 homecoming celebration to mark Carnduff’s 120th anniversary. “In 2025, we’re going to have a homecoming and do some celebrations the first weekend of July."
As the holiday season approaches, the town has a packed schedule of festive activities, including a teddy bear toss at a senior hockey game and a toy collection organized by the fire department.
Carnduff’s large Filipino community is also hosting a Christmas supper and entertainment event this Saturday following the parade, a highlight of the season. “They put on a heck of a show and a meal,” Apperley said.
With a strong sense of collaboration and ongoing projects to enhance the quality of life, Apperley said he remains optimistic about the future of Carnduff.