The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler is leaning towards seeking a fourth straight term in an election where nuclear waste promises to be a ballot issue. Asked last week about his plans for the fall municipal campaign, Fidler began by saying there is 'a long time before the election.' 'At this point in time I don't know of any reason why I wouldn't (run again), but I can't commit at this time,' he added. Fidler has been mayor of the town of 1,500 since 2003, having been acclaimed as the only candidate all three times. None of those elections have had any real hot-button issues _ it is Creighton, after all _ but that could change on Oct. 24. For over a year, the Fidler-led town council has been actively learning more about potentially storing Canada's spent nuclear fuel rods in a subterranean facility. At last week's Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce meeting, Fidler would not declare his personal support for the project. Bring information He said at this point he just wants to learn 'as much as I possibly can' and bring 'all the information to the area, to the people of the area.' Nonetheless, if there is widespread opposition to nuclear waste storage, Fidler could pay a price at the ballot box given his mere entertaining of the notion. Then again, nuclear waste is only one issue. During the chamber meeting, Fidler spoke of two projects that could earn him support should he seek re-election and face a challenger. He noted that the town's first columbarium _ where ashes of the departed are kept _ will be installed by the end of the summer. 'For many years, a lot of the residents of Creighton wanted their own cemetery,' Fidler said. 'It's not a feasible thing to do for us...so we thought the next best thing would be to bring in a columbarium.' With 60 slots and room for expansion, the columbarium will go up adjacent to a marble 'memory wall' where the names of lost loved ones can be engraved on elegant brass leaves. The columbarium and memory wall will go up at the green space at the intersection of Elander Ave. and Nejedly St., which is now being rezoned. 'It's something that Creighton's wanted to do for a while,' Fidler said. Fidler also mentioned that council has purchased two new town signs: one to go up along the Hanson Lake Road and the other on the Creighton Freeway. 'This is something we've been looking at for a few years,' he said, adding the signs will measure seven feet by 12 feet.
