The Decision Makers: Deputy Mayor Brian Hedley (Part 1)

While Brian Hedley grew up on a farm outside Hamiota, he settled in Neepawa 25 years ago and calls it his “hometown by choice” these days. He hadn’t given a lot of thought to politics previously, but he was encouraged to run and received the support of his company to do so, and felt that at this point in his life and career he had something to contribute.

“The community has been good to me,” says Brian, “and I just thought this would be a great opportunity to see if I can give back to the community in any way.”

What he didn’t expect was to enjoy the position as much as he does. While he sees a lot of similarities to the way his business is run, particularly as he is a manager for Federated Co-ops which is run under a board of directors, it has also already expanded his experience a great deal.

One of his main roles is Chairperson of the Protections and Public Services Committee, which includes overseeing the volunteer Fire Department and RCMP detachment. As with many small communities and municipalities across Canada, the RCMP is contracted to do policing rather than each town having a separate police force. Both organisations have seen or are seeing new facilities being constructed in 2020 through 2022.

Working full time while serving on Council can be challenging, but the pandemic actually helped with the time commitment by reducing other activities.

One thing it definitely hasn’t helped with is supply chain issues and prices for much of the ongoing construction in town. Aside from the Fire Hall and RCMP station there are several housing developments, street work, and new infrastructure on the go in town. Another part of Hedley’s portfolio is NADCO (Neepawa Area Development Corporation), which has seen the medical clinic double in size over the past couple of years.

In a community such as Neepawa, Councillors are often well known enough to be stopped in the streets by citizens who bring up their issues. These are then brought to the Council table and discussed prior to Council meetings.

“People come to me and they say, ‘We expect water and sewer and good streets. It’s the other things that we’re looking for.’ But with that expectation is huge dollars,” says Hedley. Millions are being spent just on lagoon upgrades and water plant upgrades, on top of routine and not-so-routine maintenance on streets and water lines.

All of that notwithstanding, Hedley says he’s glad to be part of a growing and flourishing rural community after seeing so many in other areas that have been struggling.