SARM president hangs it up

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Published: March 14, 2002

One of the most famous jackets in Saskatchewan is now hanging in the

family room of a home near Moosomin.

Sinclair Harrison choked up at times during his final address as

president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities on

March 7.

He thanked his family and all who supported him during his 16 years on

the board.

He spent the last eight years as president and announced his

resignation in January, saying it was time for someone else to take up

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the challenge.

“I’m going to hang this jacket in my family room and it’ll be there

forever,” Harrison said, referring to the distinctive gold jackets that

easily identify SARM board members.

Tributes to Harrison abounded during the annual convention last week in

Regina, overshadowing the acclamation of new president Neal Hardy.

“I’m not Sinclair Harrison,” Hardy said in an interview. “I’m not going

to pretend to be.”

But Harrison did become a leading rural spokesperson during his tenure.

Hardy said he will take advantage of the doors Harrison opened.

Hardy, 67, is no stranger to rural politics.

He was elected a Progressive Conservative MLA for Kelsey-Tisdale in a

1980 byelection and later served in several cabinet portfolios,

including six years as minister of rural development in former premier

Grant Devine’s PC government.

He farms 1,200 acres in the Rural Municipality of Hudson Bay, where he

is a councillor, and had been SARM vice-president.

Bob Schultz of the RM of Wilton defeated Jim Hallick of the RM of Keys

for the position of vice-president.

Hardy said his political background is not an issue for RMs or the

current provincial government.

“I worked with all these RMs when I was a minister and I treated them

the way I’d want to be treated and I’ll do the same thing now.”

He said the possibility of another drought this year and the issues of

assessment and education tax will be SARM’s main concerns this year.

“I know we’re supposed to be more municipal government than

agriculture, but they all tie together,” he said.

“If our farmers out there have no dollars, then the RMs have a tough

time collecting the dollars.”

Hardy said he may be less front-and-centre than Harrison on some

issues, but hopes to work co-operatively with other governments and

organizations.

About the author

Karen Briere

Karen Briere

Karen Briere grew up in Canora, Sask. where her family had a grain and cattle operation. She has a degree in journalism from the University of Regina and has spent more than 30 years covering agriculture from the Western Producer’s Regina bureau.

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