Kipling mayor Pat Jackson looks back on 2025
January 5, 2026, 9:22 am
Nicole Taylor, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The World-Spectator asked Pat Jackson what kind of year 2025 has been for the town of Kipling, and what she’s looking forward to in 2026:
What were some of the main projects the municipality worked on or got done this past year?
The biggest “new” thing was the Fall Fair. We had a full day of activities, largely on Main Street beginning with a pancake and sausage breakfast hosted by the Kipling and District Fire Fighters.
Over 50 vendors set up for a huge outdoor marketplace. Several food trucks plus some local eateries provided food service all day. Paw Patrol members were around entertaining kids. A special dedication was held at the Kipling Library in honour of Mary Balogh, our resident “Regency Romance” author (the room in the Library dedicated to her is available for use—talk with the Librarian!).
We ended the day with a concert in the Community Centre that was enjoyed by many.
Now council and staff have done debriefing and are looking forward to an even more successful Fall Fair in 2026.
What were some of the big challenges in 2025?
Transition is probably the biggest challenge. After hiring a new administrator in March of 2024, the council was informed in November that he was moving on. Thanks to the other office staff members and our retired CAO, the office was able to keep up from December until our new CAO, Brenna Ackerman, came aboard in March 2025. She has had her hands full learning lots about Kipling and our residents.
As the year has progressed, one other of our office staff has retired effective the end of December and another staff member has been terminated. This means that staffing is also in part in limbo as our CAO hires and onboards new staff.
What were you most proud of?
As always, our pride is greatest in the personnel that we have working for the Town of Kipling. We know that we have the best and the brightest working for the town. They do their utmost to provide exceptional service, whether in the office or in the field, for our residents.
What are some of the most common things you hear from your ratepayers?
Our ratepayers tell us, either at the Residents’ Supper in the spring or at casual meetings in the town, that they feel that they are being well served by the council and the staff. It is our aim that this continues.
What do you want to work on in 2026?
Following Covid, the council has taken a look at a project that was “back burnered” in 2020. We have plans well underway for the construction of a splash park in town.
While it may yet take a bit of time to get the planning and the funding in place, it is our hope that the ground work will begin next summer.
It may seem like it cannot be, but 2026 is the 20th Anniversary of the final trade in the Paper Clip saga. We are working on plans to have a celebration—certainly not of the size of either the Paper Clip Trade Day on July 12, 2006 or the World’s Largest Housewarming Party on the September Long Weekend of that year, but something that will mark the anniversary. It is amazing how many people still stop to take photos of the Paper Clip almost 20 years later. Stay tuned!
What do you find most challenging about being a mayor?
I am very grateful to work with a group of people whose main aim of being on council is to do the very best that can be done for the whole community. While each councillor has his or her own interests, each also knows that it is imperative that the whole community must be considered in every thing that we do. As for challenging—it is necessary always that we consistently look to our fiduciary responsibilities toward the people who pay the taxes in town. As costs rise for almost everything, we must make difficult decisions—the needs coming before the wants.
What do you find most rewarding about being a mayor?
When people of the community indicate that they believe that we are making good decisions, it is rewarding- and leads to council concentrating even more on making their good the primary focus.
What are the long-term goals of the town?
Housing is a primary focus for the short- to mid-term. We have very limited housing for sale or for rent. The focus must be to find people with the interest and funds to develop both types of housing for our community. Long-term, there is still interest and work going on to replace our ageing arena.
What do you personally want to see accomplished by the next municipal election?
As I am in my last term as mayor of the town of Kipling, it is my personal wish to see the following:
• A plan for succession for the various positions within the staff.
• A plan for recruiting dedicated council members.
• A viable five- to 10-year plan for growth within the town.
• A viable plan for economic development within the greater area including and surrounding Kipling.
