At 29 years old, Patrick Boyle believes he can put some energy into city council.
During a news conference at the entrance to Crescent Park on Wednesday, Boyle announced he would be seeking a spot on city council in the upcoming municipal election on Oct. 24.
“It’s really good to see a lot of younger candidates coming out,” said Boyle. “I’m a very energetic person and really want to see Moose Jaw do well.”
He said he wants to focus on three main areas — progress, communication and growth, which he said are “attainable goals” instead of “we go ahead and say it and nothing happens after.”
“I’m the type of personality that has to get out there and do something and try to make things better,” said Boyle.
If he can put energy into the progress of the city’s strategic plan, Boyle believes it will lead to more growth. He said the other part of the plan is to have a strategy to attract businesses and people to the city.
“We want to keep bringing companies and families here and showing them Moose Jaw is a great option to come here,” said Boyle. “Moose Jaw has the potential to do better and build upon what we’ve done.”
Boyle said communication is important internally and externally. Internally means communicating to the people in the city to improve the service and externally with companies and people outside of the city to draw people into the city.
Infrastructure is another main issue that Boyle said is a “partnership problem between all three levels of government.” He said the tax base in Moose Jaw alone is not enough to fix all of the infrastructure problems.
“That’s why I think we need to do more communicating and more saying: This is what we need. This is what Moose Jaw’s interests are and try to grow that tax base to eventually help out with that infrastructure problem,” said Boyle.
Boyle began working as the manager of corporate communications for the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority six months ago. He was born and raised in Moose Jaw. He came back to Moose Jaw about four years ago when he started to commute to Regina to work in the agriculture department. He has also worked with non-profit organization Trout Unlimited.
He said he believes his background in government and communications will be helpful.
“I think that communication aspect will bring something that we haven’t had before, something different and something we can build and improve upon,” said Boyle.
“I understand very well having worked with both the federal and provincial government on how things get done and working with municipal government. So understanding that is the first step. It’s not walking in blindly.”
