Bow River MP Martin Shields will soon retire and hang up his political hat.
Shields announced a few weeks ago that he won't be running for re-election in the riding.
Chestermere Mayor Shannon Dean said he knew Shields before he went into politics.
"I was driving to Saskatchewan to go on a family vacation, this was during the last election, and out on the highway just outside of Brooks I noticed someone was setting up Martin Shields election signs."
It wasn't until Dean got closer that he noticed it was Shields setting up the signs himself.
"Here he is as a multi-term MP out there doing the work, and just personally doing the work to get re-elected to continue to serve his constituents."
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Dean told StrathmoreNow that Shields has been a mentor and someone he can have a conversation with about work or life.
"He's been an elected official for an extended amount of time and being able to pick his brain about different things has been invaluable to me as a mayor."
Dean said he's going to miss the banter that he and Shields had at the Country Fair Parade in Chestermere.
"We came in his convertible and parked in the same spot."
Dean noted the importance of having strong relationships locally, regionally, provincially, and federally.
"To whoever is sitting in that chair, I look forward to establishing a relationship with them."
A date for the 2025 federal election has not been decided.