He’s been a champion for Manitoba municipalities and a longtime reeve who has had to navigate natural disasters, provincial funding freezes and a global pandemic.
Now, it’s time to step down to focus on his health and his family, said Kam Blight.
“It’s been an incredible run, absolutely,” said Blight, who served as president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities for six years and the reeve of the RM of Portage la Prairie since 2010.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun file
Kam Blight, Association of Manitoba Municipalities president, retires after longtime service
“This is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Blight, 50, said in an interview.
“You want to walk away on your own terms and unfortunately, I’m not necessarily doing that. I’m having to step away just to make sure I can focus on my health and my family.”
Blight has been at the municipal helm through daunting times: the 2011 flood of the century, the flood of 2014, the crippling snow storm of 2019, followed by the largest economic and health crisis in Manitoba history that arrived in 2020 — the COVID-19 pandemic.
All the while, municipalities were struggling with rising costs and provincial funding levels that had been frozen for years.
“We fought very hard to have the funding freeze eliminated,” said Blight. “That was a huge hurdle for us to overcome.”
The association has pushed for increased provincial and federal funding for infrastructure and water and waste water projects, he said.
“There were so many challenges we were able to navigate as a team,” he said of his municipality and the association that advocates for all municipalities in the province. “It’s something I’m very proud of.”
Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Ian Bushie said Blight has worked hard to make life better for Manitobans.
“His strong leadership and his 14 years as reeve of Portage la Prairie are a testament to his pledge to making life better for everyday Manitobans,” Bushie said in an email.
“His dedication to public service and his tireless advocacy for communities in all regions of our province will be sorely missed. I wish him and his family many years of health and happiness.”
Portage la Prairie MLA Jeff Bereza said Blight “left his stamp” on Portage la Prairie and its people, including himself.
“He’s done an amazing job as reeve,” said the Tory MLA, listing economic development that Blight had a hand in, including Simplot’s potato processing facility, the Roquette pea protein plant and beach development at St. Ambroise on Lake Manitoba.
“He’s a visionary.” When Bereza was thinking about running for office, Blight “was more than encouraging,” he said.
“Kam is really going to be missed.”
The association’s board of directors has appointed Kathy Valentino as its interim president. Elections for its executive committee will be held Nov. 27 at its fall convention in Winnipeg
Carol Sanders
Legislature reporter
Carol Sanders is a reporter at the Free Press legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. Read more about Carol.
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