THE OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER IN THE CANADIAN WEST

Vol. 127 No.47 Friday, January 29, 2010 PM# 40049987 Minnedosa, Manitoba Canada R0J 1E0 90 cents + tax

Mayor LaCoste will National award for Onanole Principal

not seek re-election
By DARRYL HOLYK

M ayor Duane LaCoste

announced Tuesday
night that he will not be
seeking re-election in the
October Civic Election.
Duane was first elect-
ed to Town Council in 2002
and was acclaimed Mayor
following the untimely
passing of Mayor Rick Ev-
erett in 2003.
After serving two
terms on Town Council,
Duane has decided to re-
tire from politics and let someone new take the reins to
lead the community into the future.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the
past seven years as Mayor and as Councillor for one
year,” remarked LaCoste.
During his announcement at the Committee of
the Whole Council meeting Tuesday evening, Mayor
LaCoste reminisced on some of the goals he hoped to
achieve when he was acclaimed Mayor.
“Seven years ago some of our priorities were up-
grading the water, streets, and sewer infrastructure and
I think we are well on our way with that. I had indicated
that I’d like to see better communication established with
our Chamber of Commerce and we have achieved that as
well as a solid working relationship with our neighbour- Photo by Darryl Holyk
ing R.M.’s,” stated LaCoste. “I also said I’d like to see our
taxes kept at a reasonable rate and mine have increased Onanole Elementary School Principal, Laurie Bachewich, has been honoured by The Learning
something like $114 over the last seven years, so that’s Partnership as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals of 2010.
$17 a year or $1.50 a month, so I think that is pretty darn
By AMANDA BOYD communities, they nurture and will travel to Toronto port staff, and bus drivers.
reasonable considering the number of things we have
their staff, and they create in February to attend a “There’s an amazing staff
accomplished.”
During his tenure as Mayor, Duane has witnessed a
number of positive steps forward for Minnedosa. Some
L aurie Bachewich has
dedicated a good por-
tion of her career to the
an environment that in-
creases student success.”
In its sixth year of running
week-long leadership and
management conference.
Onanole Elementary
here who work so closely
together as a team. We
keep each other in check
he pointed out included the completion of the new Hus-
Onanole Elementary the program, The Learn- School is very unique in and we support each other
ky ethanol plant, upgrades to the water treatment plants,
School, first as an edu- ing Partnership chose 32 that it is one of the only because the ultimate goal
town office upgrades, bypass intersection upgrades, sav-
cator and then as an ad- administrators from across UNESCO schools in ru- is making sure we are do-
ing of local government jobs, industrial park upgrades,
ministrator. So when The the country as Canada’s ral Manitoba. UNESCO ing the very best for our
and new businesses which have opened. The current
Learning Partnership sent Outstanding Principals schools work in support of students.”
Town Council has also been instrumental in the plan-
out invitations to nomi- for 2010. Bachewich, the international understand- As one of Canada’s
ning and development of a new arena, Minnedosa Re-
nate Canada’s Outstanding only Manitoba teacher, ing, peace, inter-cultural Outstanding Principals of
gional Events Centre and trying to attract a hotelier to the
Principals, the staff at the was among the principals dialogue, sustainable 2010, Bachewich attributes
community.
K-8 school could think of awarded the honour. “It development, and qual- a love of the job to her
“I think all of us have been on council for all the right
no one more deserving of feels overwhelming and ity education in practice. school’s success. “Coming
reasons – the betterment of our community,” mentioned
the honour. very humbling, but I’m “We are really trying hard to a job that I absolutely
Duane. “We have not always agreed on everything but
“Great principals also very grateful,” Bach- to teach our kids about love every day (is very re-
have certainly always reached some sort of consensus
build great schools,” states ewich remarked of the peace, education and how warding). Working with
and moved on without any hard feelings.”
a press release from the news. This year’s win- to make a difference in people that I respect and
Following his term of council, Mayor LaCoste will
Toronto-based, non-profit ners join a forum of 155 the world beyond the cur- learn from every day and
pass on the gavel to a new mayor to lead our community
organization. “They com- previous recipients in the riculum,” Bachewich ex- getting to teach kids who
into the future. Duane is looking forward to retirement
municate a compelling Learning Partnership’s plained. She also praises teach me probably more
and spending some quality time with his wife Jean and
vision, they engage their Academy of Principals, her staff of teachers, sup- than I teach them.”
their family.