Ward 2’s Hilary Gough won’t seek reelection for Saskatoon city council

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The looming overhaul of Saskatoon’s city council continues to grow in scope, with the planned departure of yet another current councillor.

After two terms on council, Hilary Gough announced on Friday that she will not seek reelection in Ward 2 in the upcoming campaign. Gough made the announcement one day before the June 1 start of the official campaign period.

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She joins Mayor Charlie Clark, Ward 9 Coun. Sarina Gersher and Ward 3 Coun. David Kirton in announcing they won’t return in 2024.

“The opportunity to represent the residents of Ward 2 for the last eight years has been a true honour,” Gough said in a statement, calling the work in civic leadership “both challenging and rewarding.”

Gough was first elected in 2016 with 40 per cent of the vote, when she beat longtime councillor Pat Lorje by just 139 votes in an upset of a long-time incumbent. Gough was overwhelmingly reelected in 2020 with 67 per cent of the vote.

“I am grateful to every person who I have had the opportunity to work alongside to build a stronger and more equitable Saskatoon,” Gough said.

Election day is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Among her accomplishments on council, Gough said she is most proud of supporting efforts to address aging infrastructure, improve sustainability, expand active transportation networks and modernize Saskatoon’s transit system, and put in place plans for the construction of a new central library.

“I am proud to have supported efforts to achieve progress in these areas and on these projects,” she added.

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“I am also proud of the work to evolve our approach to civic work, particularly by more consistently embedding equity considerations into our decisions.”

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Gough studied at the University of Saskatchewan and then the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. She returned to Saskatoon and 2012, and sought the seat on city council four years later.

Gough served on a variety of civic committee and boards, including: governance and priorities, planning, development and community services, the board of police commissioners and the public library board; she was vice-chair of the environment, utilities and corporate services committee.

She has also served on the 33rd Street business improvement district’s board of directors, and the South Saskatchewan River watershed stewards.

Gough said her care “is deep” for the community she sees in daily interactions.

“I am grateful to every neighbour and community partner who has reached out to engage about challenges and opportunities in our community,” she said.

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