Candidates

October 29th, 2006

Arm River – Gord Pederson

Gordon Pederson was born and raised in the province of Saskatchewan, has a farming background and was an operations manger in the Oil Patch. Gordon has grasped the Prairie entrepreneurial spirit having owned a number of businesses in the province. Gordon has been married to his wife Bonnie for over 30 years and has two adult children and 5 grand daughters.Gordon is proud to follow in the footsteps of his uncle Martin Pederson who represented the people of Arm River - Watrous and also lead the Party for a time. With this wealth of knowledge and experience Gordon Pederson will be a definite asset to the people of Saskatchewan.

Moose Jaw Wakamow – Tom SteenMy name is Tom Steen I’m the candidate for the progressive conservative party for moose jaw wakamow I would like to tell you a little about my self I was born In Saskatoon raised in moose jaw I attended both elementary and high school in the city also involved many sports hockey baseball and football also attended post secondary school at Kelsey campus in Saskatoon during my years in moose jaw I was involved in my children’s sporting activities including coaching minor hockeyIn the early 90`s I was a partner In a small trucking company then became self employed in the septic business
Became a foster parent in mid 90`s
At present my spouse and I have a group home
We own Steen’s auction
I am full time truck driver
I am proud father of five children
And five grandchildren
Saskatoon Fairview – James M. YachyshenJames Yachyshen was born in Saskatoon and raised on the family farm near Rama, Saskatchewan. James learned the value of hard work, family and adaptability at an early age from his humble beginnings. As a young man, James worked in a variety of fields, from farming to construction to the oil industry to food services. At the age of 25, along with his wife Cindy, James moved to Saskatoon and purchased a small service business that they have been successfully operating for over 15 years.Although this is his first time running for office, James is very familiar with political life. His uncle was a Member of Parliament for 26 years prompting James to be involved with the Progressive Conservative party at a very early age.

James and Cindy have proudly lived in Saskatoon Fairview for 14 years.

Saskatoon Nutana – Gwen KatzmanGwen Katzman was born in Saskatoon in 1980. She grew up going to school
in Dalmeny and graduated from Walter Murray Collegiate. Gwen is
currently working as a secretary and part time at Credit Union Centr
Thunder Creek - Leader Rick Swenson

  • Born and raised in the Baildon district, southeast of Moose Jaw
  • Post secondary education at the U of S and the U of R majoring in Political Science and History
  • Started full-time farming in 1974 with parents, Don and Dorothy Swenson
  • Wheaton Bee Farms was formed in 1976 - specializing in certified alfalfa seed production and dryland grass varieties
  • Installed irrigation in 1982 - irrigating over 400 acres of light-sandy land
  • Played a major role in the formation of the Baildon/Moose Jaw Effluent Irrigation Project starting in 1974 - project completed in 1982
  • Many crops have been tried over the years - cereals, oilseeds, pulses, hay - both legumes and grasses - registered seed
  • production of all of the above
  • Cow-calf operation added in 1995 - currently has 130 cow/calf pairs
  • Successful corn production for silage and winter grazing commenced in 2000
  • 2007 will mark the 8th year of corn production for corn silage, grain corn and winter grazing.
  • Co-operated with various seed companies and government agencies on annual field days on corn production in Saskatchewan
  • Served on a number of agricultural and community boards
  • Named “Farmer of the Year” in 2003 by the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company
  • Has been a Registered Seed grower since 1979
  • Served on the Board of Directors for Saskatchewan Alfalfa Seed Growers, Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association, Baildon Water Users and is currently the Chairman of ICDC (Irrigation Crop Development Commission in Saskatchewan)
  • Elected to the Board of Directors of Red Coat Feeders at Hazenmore, Saskatchewan in the fall of 2006, the first non-shareholder to be elected by the shareholders
  • Elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1985 in the constituency of Thunder Creek
  • Re-elected in 1986 and 1991 general elections
  • Served as Legislative Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture
  • Appointed Minister of Energy and Mines (1989), Minister Responsible for SEDCO (1989), Minister Responsible for
  • Saskatchewan Research Council (1989) and Minister of Indian and Metis Affairs (1991)
  • Served as Acting Leader of the Opposition in 1993 and 1994
  • Retired from political life in 1995
  • Elected by PC Party of Sask membership to be one of the ten party trustees to oversee the 2 election hiatus voted on in fall of 1997
  • Elected by the Executive Committee of the PC Party of Sask to the postion of Party Leader in 2004 to present
  • Returned to farming full time and has since formed R.J. Swenson & Associates to do consulting and advertising work
  • Rick has two sons – Andrew, who is currently employed at Saskferco as a corporate affairs officer and Eric who is entering
  • his carpentry apprenticeship with Graham Construction in Saskatoon
  • Rick and his wife Joanne currently reside on the family farm in the Baildon district