Don Cody will attend one more council meeting before he retires. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Election 2024

Don Cody welcomes retirement from city council with advice for those who remain

Sep 23, 2024 | 7:19 PM

Coinciding with the beginning of the 2024 civic election season, long-time Prince Albert councillor Don Cody is looking forward to retirement and one more meeting.

Cody has sat as a councillor for about 12 years, was mayor for eight years before that and was elected to the Legislature well before that. It adds up to over 50 years of public service.

“It’s a bit bittersweet, that’s for sure. You know, the bitterness is that you’ll miss your colleagues,” he said. “But the sweet part is that on a Sunday afternoon I can maybe go to the golf course rather than read a bunch of material.”

Cody pointed to changes such as the creation of the Cornerstone shopping district, building of the E.A. Rawlinson Centre, and the provincial courthouse as major developments by councils that he was part of.

“It’s all of us together. One person doesn’t make a city, a whole council makes a city, and its citizens make the city. But we had success in that, we certainly did,” he said.

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He also likes more recent developments, such as the construction of a new recreation centre in The Yard, parks scattered across the city and the ongoing effort to build a recreation/culture centre.

It isn’t all roses though. He pointed to the increasing amounts of crime but said that it’s not just limited to Prince Albert and peaks in crime have happened for decades.

“It’s nothing new, but those are the kind of things you don’t like to have to see,” he said.

Cody faced some personal controversial moments during his political career. In 2004, he was fined $600 and lost his license for a year following an impaired driving incident.

While he won’t be a councillor anymore, Cody plans to keep his involvement with the local NDP party as chairman and will remain working at Memorial Gardens.

The new council will have at least four new members and Cody said he thinks that might be the extent of changes for now.

“I’d be surprised, I think the incumbents that are running are all to win. They’re good,” he said, including current mayor Greg Dionne. “He’s done a good job for the city. He’s been fantastic to work with.”

Still, four people leaving is almost 50 per cent of council, so that means some changes regardless.

His key to success as a councillor is to be straightforward with voters.

“Don’t be afraid to say no because you have to say no from time to time. You can’t get everything and don’t think you’re going to upset the world because you’re not. You’ve only got one vote.”

Cody was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1971, representing Watrous and after a gap of three years, went on to be elected for Kinistino between 1978 and 1982 representing the NDP.

During that time, he was Minister of Co-operation and Co-operative Development and Minister of Telephones.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com