For the past 18 years, Niverville Mayor Myron Dyck has occupied a seat in council chambers. The first 10 years were served as a councillor, and the final eight he has fulfilled as head of council.
Come election day on October 26, Dyck hopes to continue in his role of mayor for another four-year term.
A lot has happened in the nearly two decades of Dyck’s time on council. At least two impressive community accomplishments have bookmarked his time there.
On the early end was the fulfillment of the dream to keep the community’s seniors at home by creating the Heritage Centre, a unique, 10-acre aging-in-place campus which would eventually evolve to include a primary care medical clinic.
On the latter end of the spectrum was the completion of the $20-million Community Resource and Recreation Centre.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that excitement there were also some rocky moments, like the cannabis plebiscite of 2019.
But during Dyck’s years on council, Niverville became known for one more undeniable trademark: it was the fastest growing community in Manitoba and, according to the most recent census, the fifth fastest in all of Canada. In less than 20 years, the population has tripled in size.
“I have a heart for this community and the people of this community,” Dyck says. “I truly do care for each one and [I am] humbled and honoured to have had the privilege of serving them as mayor these past eight years. Being a part of Team Niverville, and in the role of mayor, there is still much work to do.”
Some of the work he anticipates in the coming years is a plan for more affordable housing and the consideration of a fourth school location as the community continues to grow.
In terms of infrastructure improvement, Dyck plans to continue working together with three bordering municipalities to realize the vision of a shared wastewater treatment plant.
Expansion of the town’s medical and emergency services will be essential, too, as well as the addition of the new RCMP office.
And there’s still much to think about as Niverville gets set to host the 2026 Manitoba Winter Games, for which they have first right of refusal after the 2022 Games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some improvements will be needed to the sports facilities in Hespeler Park. The feasibility of developing an RV park will soon be on the table.
As long as Niverville remains a destination for new families to put down roots, land acquisition will also be a top priority for council in the coming years.
The primary platforms of Dyck’s 2022 campaign include building community, building relationships, and building destination.
Building community, he says, means creating support systems and opportunities for togetherness, and celebrating diversity and inclusion in order to build a thriving population.
As for relationships, Dyck adds that there’s much to be gained from the 18 years he’s already spent building connections with various levels of government, businesspeople and professionals, local volunteers, and town staffers.
As each of his four-year terms has come to a close, Dyck says he’s turned to a simple pros versus cons analysis to determine whether he’ll run again. After that, he checks in with his wife, children, and close friends to ascertain their ongoing support for his plan.
Finally, he seeks out some residents and local business owners for their perspectives.
“Once [that information] is all gathered, I make the decision,” Dyck says. “And I have to say, once again, I am greatly humbled and honoured that those I have spoken with are not wanting me to quit and are in support of me allowing to let my name stand to serve as mayor for another term.”
