The five candidates in the running to become the next mayor of Moose Jaw took part in an all-candidates forum on Tuesday night at the Moose Jaw Events Centre.
Taking part in the forum were Clive Tolley, Crystal Froese, James Murdock, Mike Simpkins and Kim Robinson.
Some of the subjects that were touched upon during the forum included:
- Housing and the unhoused
- Community health and wellbeing
- Downtown development
- SAMA and property taxes
- Economic development
- Employee morale and accountability at City Hall
Clive Tolley
Tolley, the current mayor of Moose Jaw, is running for re-election, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted connection to the community.
Tolley first became mayor after winning the 2021 byelection, stepping in after Frasier Tolmie resigned to pursue federal politics.
“I believe we’ve made some progress in the time that I’ve been mayor, but we aren’t done yet,” remarked Tolley.
Born and raised in Moose Jaw, Tolley attended Ross Elementary School and Peacock High School, where he was actively involved in sports and student-led productions. His high school years were marked by his involvement with the Saskatchewan Dragoons militia unit, a decision driven by a desire to honor his family’s military service and to gain independence.
Tolley’s academic journey took him to the University of Saskatchewan, where he initially pursued a degree in education. After two years, during which he played Huskies hockey and embraced university life, he decided to return to Moose Jaw.
Determined to avoid a blue-collar career on the railway, he completed his degree at the University of Regina and joined the Graduate Assistance Program, which led to a full-time job as an employment counsellor. This role required him to move to Prince Albert and later Regina.
Despite a promising career in the federal government, Tolley’s passion for hockey led him to leave his job and become the assistant coach and assistant general manager of the Moose Jaw Canucks hockey team. However, the demands of coaching and extensive travel prompted him to reconsider his career path.
As mayor, Tolley has embraced the multifaceted nature of the role, which involves promoting and marketing the city, fostering economic development, and addressing the concerns of citizens.
He believes his leadership has been instrumental in tackling the challenges facing Moose Jaw.
“I believe I’ve proven I’m well-suited for this difficult job, providing leadership as we work together to produce practical solutions to the problems facing the City of Moose Jaw,” Tolley stated.
Crystal Froese
Froese, with deep roots in Moose Jaw, is bringing a wealth of experience in her run for mayor. With eight years on the city council, four years as a Prairie South School Division Trustee, and her role as chair of the Moose Jaw Police Commission, Froese has demonstrated her commitment to the community.
An entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in communications and marketing, Froese’s educational background includes public relations and local government administration from the University of Regina, with a focus on municipal finance and legislation.
“I believe my education and experience have prepared me to take Moose Jaw forward as your mayor,” she stated.
Froese’s extensive service includes participation on 10 boards and committees, ranging from the police commission to the youth advisory committee.
Her priority has always been public safety. She has been a strong advocate for increasing the number of officers, securing funding for the Police and Crisis Team units, and enhancing patrols throughout the city.
She has also implemented a trespassing program, connected businesses with crime prevention resources, and created a community resource page.
“If we receive funding from the Sask. government next, we will be working on the Community Safety Strategy to make Moose Jaw safer for everyone,” Froese emphasized.
Looking ahead, Froese acknowledges the challenges the city will face, particularly with the upcoming budget.
She stresses the importance of balancing infrastructure and public safety needs while continuing to fund over 10 local organizations.
Froese believes that Moose Jaw has missed opportunities for growth and is committed to driving economic development by supporting local businesses and exploring new opportunities, such as value-added agriculture that aligns with the city’s strengths.
She plans to create economic advisory groups to ensure City Hall is ready to support growth.
“I have a plan and I believe we need a mayor who will roll up her sleeves and start working from day one,” Froese declared.
James Murdock
Murdock, a long-time resident of Moose Jaw, spent many years in the funeral profession. He recently retired and has refocused his efforts on community service. His decades of business experience and unwavering commitment to the community have made it clear that now is the right moment for him to run for mayor.
“I do not need to be doing this. I’m at the stage in my life where I want to do this. I am driven and I want to be here for the City of Moose Jaw not to just lead it forward for the next two, three years, but for the next 30 to 40,” Murdock stated.
Growing up in Central Butte, Murdock learned the values of hard work, community, and family. He moved to Moose Jaw over 30 years ago and has since been dedicated to seeing the city thrive.
His vision includes creating a business-friendly environment by cutting red tape, streamlining permits, and attracting new industries to support local growth. Murdock also plans to invest in Moose Jaw’s unique attractions to boost tourism and drive more revenue for local businesses.
“We can make Moose Jaw a place where young professionals want to build their futures and raise families through education, career opportunities, and a welcoming, active community,” Murdock emphasized.
Murdock’s priorities include modernizing public services, repairing roads, and securing funding for long-term growth. He is committed to open communication, ensuring that all residents’ voices are heard. He acknowledges that many people feel unheard and frustrated, and he aims to change that.
“Attitude will shift with council, it will shift with city hall and administration, but most importantly it will shift for the citizens because you deserve it and you are frustrated and we will listen,” Murdock promised.
He feels his commitment to driving talk into action and getting work done makes him a strong candidate for mayor.
Mike Simpkins
Simpkins, a life-long resident of Moose Jaw, is running for mayor with a commitment to bring integrity, accountability, and strong leadership to City Hall.
With nearly 38 years of experience working with CP Railway (now CPKC), Simpkins said he has a deep understanding of hard work and dedication.
In 2010, he founded Miles Ahead Driver Education, followed by Miles Ahead Motorcycle Training in 2016, attracting students from as far away as Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba. For the past 14 years, he has also been responsible for driver’s education in local schools.
Simpkins’ primary goal is to eliminate wasteful spending and address the disconnect between city administration and city council.
“City Hall needs to have good clean and good strong leadership. People that are working hard together and for each other to bring things back and put things back into a good clean running. We are not running in sync. There is a missing there and we can see that,” he stated.
He believes that a strong work ethic, integrity, and bringing back the heart of the people are essential qualities that are currently missing in city leadership.
Simpkins aims to demonstrate these leadership skills by leading by example and building a team that values and works together for the betterment of Moose Jaw.
“As I knock on doors and talk to people, everybody seems to say we need a change. So, I think the need is to look for new people who have a new approach and a new vision for the city in order to tackle the old problems that still exist,” he emphasized.
Simpkins is committed to bringing strong core values and common sense back into the city chambers. He advocates for sound business decisions and spending practices while ensuring that the voices of the people are heard.
“The mayor’s office on down has to have integrity and accountability in City Hall. We need to have a commitment and courage to suggest the difficult decisions and issues that our city is about to overcome,” he declared.
He has observed that people often feel unheard when making presentations to city council, with decisions seeming pre-determined.
“It was like the decision was already made and these people didn’t have value and I say that has got to stop,” Simpkins remarked.
Kim Robinson
Robinson, a long-time resident of Moose Jaw, is running for mayor with a vision to enhance the city’s economic opportunities, safety, and livability.
Robinson grew up in a family-owned small business environment, where he learned the importance of good service, quality products, and exceptional customer experience. His professional journey began with an education in accounting and administration, leading to diverse roles in the service industry, owning a construction company, and working with both provincial and federal governments in tax collection and at the local Armed Forces base.
Robinson has been actively involved in sports since his youth, participating in hockey, football, and baseball as a player, coach, and official. Currently, he enjoys playing pickleball and walking his dog.
His commitment to community service is evident through his numerous volunteer activities, including work at food banks, his church’s hunger programs, and serving on various boards such as the Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation, the parks and recreation committee, Tourism Moose Jaw, Heartland Hospice, and the board of police commissioners.
Most recently, he has been involved with the Moose Jaw Humane Society board and the Citizens on Patrol program both locally and provincially. For the past four years, Robinson has also served as a city councillor.
Through his extensive community involvement, Robinson has fostered deep connections with the people of Moose Jaw and understands their values and needs. He believes the city has squandered many economic opportunities and has not done enough to enhance safety and livability.
“I believe I am the leader needed to make Moose Jaw better for all of us,” Robinson stated.
Robinson emphasizes the need to support local businesses and residents, invest in tourism, and provide better support for seniors. He is critical of the current council’s tendency to take the easiest and simplest paths and stresses the importance of accountability and responsibility to the residents.
“Council always wants to take the easiest and simplest way, and it’s time council is accountable and responsible to the residents,” he remarked.
You can watch the entire forum below: