With November marking the halfway point of her term, Portage la Prairie Mayor Sharilyn Knox reflects on the strides made by city council over the past two years.
Knox, along with the current city council, was sworn in on Nov. 2, 2022. She says the first two years have seen significant progress thanks to a strong, focused strategic direction.
"What I'd say I'm most proud of is that we really set out a strong strategic direction in the beginning and we've really focused on that," notes Knox. "We have an amazing administration team and city staff that works for our city and helps us meet the goals that we set out."
She adds that she's surrounded by a great council, as they use every member's thoughts, views, and expertise to move Portage forward.
When asked what makes Portage such a special place, Knox answers without hesitation.
"I could say the cliche of the people being the reason and people always joke when you say that, but it's true," explains Knox with a laugh. "We have amazing businesses and we have amazing volunteers. We have a beautiful city, when you think about our island on the prairies and the lake right in the middle. It's all of those things, but you really have to have everybody working together to make a city succeed."
Looking ahead, Knox emphasizes the importance of ongoing community engagement. As council enters its second half of the term, she wants to ensure residents feel heard.
"We've seen progress in different areas," says Knox. "From our implementation of the Community Safety Officer program to the completion of Saskatchewan Avenue. We have some big projects that are on the horizon, we just want to make sure that we're setting ourselves in a direction so that we can continue to accomplish the things we're doing."