No re-election for Saskatoon’s Ward 2 Councillor Hilary Gough

It’s been a rewarding and challenging eight years for Ward 2 Councillor Hilary Gough, who will not run for re-election again on November 13th.

Ward 2 covers 14 neighbourhoods including Riversdale, Pleasant Hill, Meadowgreen, Montgomery and King George.

She said there’s no single reason for the decision, but added the job requires a lot of time and commitment.

“When I look to the future, I feel I’ve really been able to put a lot of energy into this work over the last eight years,” she said. “I’m no less committed to this community, but I think that it’s time for someone else to lead the charge in Ward 2.

Looking back over the years, Gough said she’s particularly proud of the changes and moves around issues like improving sustainability, modernizing the transit system, building a new central library, improving access and equity of civic services, and expanding the active transportation system.

It’s the latter that is an issue close to her heart, and something she was involved in at the community level before she was elected to council.

“We know that there are ways we can build our roads, and design our roads, and retrofit our roads, and also change the culture of engaging on our roads to be safer for everyone,” she said. Adding that it doesn’t have to be an “either-or” situation between cyclists and drivers.

Gough said being a councillor is a complex job; the pace of change is high, and the expectation of residents from their civic government is also high.

“I think that’s a really good thing. I think we should be asking our communities to grow with the needs of our community, and the growing diversity of the community and the challenges that are very real,” she said.

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Her advice for the next Ward 2 councillor after the November election, is to spend a lot of time listening to residents and collaborating.

“Being in a leadership role isn’t about doing things alone or starting new things. It’s about building on what’s already there.”

She doesn’t have any special plans at this point, other than “a good long nap,” but said
she’ll remain active in the community.

“I am so grateful to everybody who has engaged with me in this role, who has reached out to discuss tough issues, share ideas and collaborate for a stronger and more equitable Saskatoon,” she said.