HUMBOLDT — Tawnie Johnson didn’t really have a sense of home before moving to Humboldt in 2007.
Growing up in Alberta and moving 24 times before she was 10 years old, Johnson said she felt immediately welcomed in Humboldt and wanted to raise her family here.
“As soon as I got here I knew it was the right place to be. Everybody’s been so warm and opening and genuine and I want to see Humboldt be home for as many people as it has been home for me.”
This combined with her long-time interest in politics has led Johnson to put her name on the ballot for the upcoming municipal election for the City of Humboldt.
Supporting the community, especially as a city council, is vital to helping Humboldt residents thrive, she said.
“If you don't start young then some of these things [in the community] die out. People don't continue to [invest] into them and I wanted to be able to [give] back, I want to be able to [invest into the community].”
While Johnson said she is happy to see infrastructure improvements to the city, she added there is always more that could be done to support more youth programming and small businesses in the area.
Johnson has been working at Prairie Diesel for the last eight years, so she sees firsthand the importance that small businesses play in Humboldt.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the community, she said.
Going to events around Humboldt has been important to Johnson and her family. Many events dry up if people stop supporting them so Johnson tried to go to as many as she could before COVID. Seeing the great work that is happening at both Little Lizzy's Intergenerational Learning Centre and the Humboldt Public School School Community Council, Johnson said she cannot say enough good things about the wonderful people in Humboldt that are caring and educating her two kids. Being involved in two amazing organizations just reinforced Johnson’s love of the city.
Johnson will be doing physically distanced door knocking in the coming weeks before the Nov. 9 election. Humboldt residents will be able to meet with her one-on-one to discuss city issues or concerns.
