(Submitted photo/Sask.Party)

By Glenn Hicks

better days ahead

Hope and the Future: Ross looks to economic growth and being seen from the eyes down

Dec 28, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The COVID-19 pandemic makes 2020 a year many may prefer to forget but there is hope for the future. We’ve decided to make that the focus of our series of end-of-year stories.

Recently-elected Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross sees the coming year as a time of renewed hope for the P.A. and area recovery, economic growth and for attracting new residents. She also expects it will offer her the opportunity to finally get out in-person in public to fully engage with constituents.

Ross said the earthworks for the aquatic and arenas complex in addition to the hoped-for ground-breaking on the planned $300 million Victoria Hospital expansion makes 2021 very exciting.

“The development on the south end of town looks like it’s going to be a very modern complex and add to the other great recreational centres we have here,” she told paNOW. “It’s great for our community but it’s also wonderful for the prospect of enticing people to come to our community.”

She said while the hospital expansion would entice professionals it was important to have modern recreational offerings to also entice those people’s families.

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While Ross is well known in the city, she is still early in her political tenure and the need to wear a face mask and socially distance since campaigning in the fall means she has not had the opportunity to get out and about in the community. She jokes that her face is only partially known.

“People know me from the eyes up. So, I can’t get new glasses because that’s how people recognize me.”

She’s hoping in the coming months and as COVID restrictions ease she can meet far more people.

“I’ve had an opportunity to attend events over Zoom but I’m looking forward to making that additional in-person contact. There are some areas where people don’t have that access [to online] so it’ll be good to reach out to people again.”

Away from the responsibilities of being a member of the legislative assembly Ross, like so many others, is also hoping 2021 brings opportunities on a deeply personal level.

“My goal is to hug my grandson,” she said with some obvious emotion. He lives in Calgary. “He turns four and I’ve only seen him once in all of this. He’s gone from being this little toddler to a little boy and I can’t wait to see him. I know there are many, many people in this situation and I’m hopeful and sure that we will return to normalcy and be with our families and put 2020 behind us.”

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glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow