Six of the nine candidates in the race for Ward 6 are Aboriginal, and all of them have been involved in making the community a better place to live.
About 18 thousand people live in the ward, which encompasses all of North Central and part of Central Regina. It’s a mix of small, but well maintained homes and yards, as well as numerous boarded up and burned out houses.
It has been the scene of most of Regina’s murders, arsons and gang-related shootings. It’s also getting better, thanks to the efforts of community activists.
The Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism does a lot of work in North Central. Spokesman, Bob Hughes believes the election of an Indigenous city councillor would be another positive step forward.
“To elect an Indigenous candidate — that would say something about the city also in a positive way,” he said.
Hughes has seen his share of the damage that poverty and hopelessness has caused in the neighbourhood. He also knows that a community working together can make a difference.
“Something needs to change and there are changes happening in the community as the community itself is taking control,” he added.
The race is wide open. The incumbent, Wade Murray is not running, although his son Joel is.
If an Indigenous candidate is elected on October 26th, that person would be only the second Aboriginal elected to Regina City Council. The first was Ray Hamilton, who was on council from 1994 until 2000.
Here is a list of the candidates running in Regina’s Ward 6:
Trace Yellowquill, Bill Stevenson, Shelley Lavallee, Joseph Daniels, Connie Deiter, David Lerat, Joel Murray, Ashley Deacon and Femi Ogunrinde.