Mayor Kelli Hawtin: Support for North Battleford’s new direction
Kelli Hawtin’s election win in November 2024 meant she is the first woman to serve as the mayor of North Battleford, Sask., in the city’s 110-year history. Photo: Kelli Hawtin
Kelli Hawtin was never intimidated by the notion of serving as the mayor of North Battleford, Sask. After all, she served three consecutive terms as a city councillor in North Battleford, beginning in 2014.
Being the mayor, however, does bring with it decidedly different realities. In November 2024, Hawtin was elected as the mayor of North Battleford.
The significance of her election was also something she didn’t focus a lot of attention on. But other people certainly have pondered what her election has meant. Hawtin’s election meant she is the first woman to serve as the mayor of North Battleford in the city’s 110-year history.
A Historic Win – Probably
Hawtin said she didn’t appreciate the significance of being the first woman to serve as North Battleford’s mayor. At least, she said, not as much as she should have.
Since her election, Hawtin has had community members come up to her and say how much her accomplishment has meant to a lot of women and girls. Hawtin would try and deflect the praise, saying things like, “Oh, no, it’s really no problem” and “It’s just a job and I’m just trying to help and be part of the community.”
But the more Hawtin has reflected on the praise being heaped upon her, not just by women and girls but men as well, the reality of her achievement has started to settle in.
To hit this point home, Hawtin often reflects on a gift she was recently given. A woman in the community recently gifted Hawtin a t-shirt they made for her that says, “I’m NB’s first female mayor.”
They made the t-shirt themselves, Hawtin said, because they were so excited that there was a woman in the role. But then she started seeing the excitement at home.
Hawtin said she has been moved to see her two girls so excited to see her do this job and then go tell all their friends that not only is their mom the first female mayor but that this means any of them could be mayor one day, too.
“It’s sort of changing this whole conversation. It’s just not something I really thought about as part of my resumé of what makes me unique for the role,” Hawtin said. “But it is, and I do see it different now. I still probably can’t put a whole tangible feel on it, but I’ll explore that more as we go.”
Mayoral Pressures are Tough
Located in west-central Saskatchewan, on the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River, North Battleford is approximately 140 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
Hawtin said the time since her election has felt a little like “living in a blender.” She admits she may have underestimated the time, energy, and commitment it takes to be the mayor.
It’s a job, she said, that becomes part of someone’s entire being. It isn’t a job that she can just turn off at the end of the day. But while it may be a bit more exhausting than expected, Hawtin said she feels like the city, and her council, are “in a good space and doing the right thing.”
This may be why Hawtin is so eager to laud the sense of optimism she says has felt palpable since this council’s election. She also believes the residents of North Battleford as sensing “a bit of a shift” as well.
“There’s a bit of a refreshing tone in the community that they’re seeing a change. They’re seeing that there’s a willingness to do something different,” Hawtin said. “They’re sensing that there’s maybe a want and a willingness and initiative to become more active as a community. An opportunity to embrace more opportunities.”
Today’s Local Pressures
Those opportunities Hawtin speaks of may be even more important given the pressures on local governments today.
Municipal government in the purest form, Hawtin said, is here to deal with infrastructure, fire, and policing; to oversee recreation facilities – those kinds of things. Over the years, she has witnessed municipalities being pushed to deal with social services as well. This includes managing the crises of around housing, mental health, and housing.
Municipal leaders live in their communities, Hawtin said. They see these issues every day and live them as well alongside their neighbours.
But municipalities often don’t have the resources, capacity, or ability to deal with those issues. She sees it as something of a “grey area,” as municipalities are constantly being pushed to deal with these crises without necessarily have the financial resources – or the expertise – to deal with them.
Hawtin is quick to join other municipal calls for greater support from their federal and provincial partners. There needs to be a better way of not only funding these issues but finding practical solutions to them.
The situation may seem dire to many, but Hawtin said she believes there are solutions to be found. And key to those solutions, she said, are partnerships.
“We share similar, but unique, issues in so many ways. They’re similar issues on different scales. So, I think for all of us, it’s all about partnerships,” Hawtin said. “If you try to go at any issue alone, I don’t think you’re going to be successful.”
A Little Personal Introspection
Hawtin would be the first to say how much she enjoys being the mayor of North Battleford. Still, her typical day to day is hectic. Personally, she said, she’s still the same person she was before – just with a few more priorities on her plate.
Hawtin said she is committed to balancing her family and work life. Hawtin’s kids and her husband are all involved in her work life outside of their school hours and work hours. But it’s important to her to make sure that she can still have a good connection with her family.
Thankfully, at his point, she said they’re still making that happen. But even so – and harkening back to the need to build lasting partnerships – Hawtin said she is eager to collaborate with community groups, sporting associations, arts organizations, and whomever else can help increase the vibrancy of North Battleford.
“At this point, I’m unchanged. I’m excited. I get to meet people all the time and I get to connect people,” Hawtin said. “That’s probably one of the greatest things about the role, hearing about the good work going on in the community and being able to help influence some of those ideas to come to fruition. So yeah, it’s good.” MW
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Sean Meyer is digital content editor for Municipal World.
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