Shoal Lake newspaper publisher seeks PC nomination for Riding Mountain

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Published on Thursday, January 22, 2015

Press Release

Greg Nesbitt of Shoal Lake will seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in the provincial constituency of Riding Mountain.

Riding Mountain MLA Leanne Rowat announced in September that she would not run again in the next provincial election, which is scheduled for April 16, 2016.

Nesbitt, 57, said he has had a life-long interest in politics, fueled by following the careers of local MLAs through his 38 years as a community newspaper publisher in the area.

“I have the utmost respect for the work and commitment of current MLA Leanne Rowat and previous MLAs Len Derkach, Glen Findlay, Harry Graham and Wally McKenzie to the citizens of this area,” said Nesbitt. “I realize the job of an MLA is to listen to his or her constituents and these five were among the best at understanding and looking for solutions to area issues.”

On the flip side, as publisher of Crossroads This Week and the South Mountain Press, which cover an area from Russell in the west to Erickson and Onanole in the east, and from Kenton north to Riding Mountain National Park, Nesbitt has also been privy to plenty of candid conversations about what really matters to area residents and the issues faced by communities within the constituency.

“I think my career has allowed me the unique opportunity to hear what people in this constituency are really thinking - what they feel is working well and what needs improving,” explained Nesbitt, who is midway through a two-year term as chairman of the board of the Canadian Community Newspapers Association, which represents over 840 community newspapers across the country. Nesbitt has been on the board of directors since 2003, and served as national president from 2012-2014. He has also served two terms as president of the Manitoba Community Newspapers Association.

The timing is right, said Nesbitt, to put his interest in politics and his longstanding connection to the constituency and its people into action.

“The constituents of Riding Mountain are hardworking, family people that have built this area. I have great respect and admiration for them and feel privileged to have been allowed to share their stories with readers for almost 40 years,” commented Nesbitt. “I want to do my part to ensure this area continues to thrive. We have a very high quality of life and good things cost money, so we need to focus on economic development, exploring new revenue opportunities and creating good jobs for our young families. It needs to be a focus for our area and the province as a whole.”

The Riding Mountain constituency, created in a boundary review prior to the 2011 provincial election, runs from the Saskatchewan border to Minnedosa, and from the boundary of Riding Mountain National Park south into the Oak River, Rivers and Rapid City areas.

“It’s a huge constituency, but I know a lot of people in the communities and I will definitely be working hard to earn their support in my bid to be the Progressive Conservative candidate for Riding Mountain,” said Nesbitt. “I certainly appreciate the encouragement I have received from a number of people across the constituency in the last few weeks.”

Nesbitt moved to Shoal Lake in 1968 with his parents Joe and Shirley Nesbitt and siblings Darrell (Cindy), Joanne (Gary Findlay) and Laurie (Christa). After graduating from the Shoal Lake Collegiate in 1975, he purchased the Shoal Lake Star in 1977. He purchased the Rossburn Review, Birtle Eye-Witness and Hamiota Echo and eventually merged them into Crossroads This Week in 2002. The business further expanded with the purchase of the South Mountain Press in 2006 with the help of his brother Darrell, and his son, Ryan (Jill). Nesbitt also has a grown daughter, Kayla, who lives in Red Deer, AB.

Nesbitt is a partner in the Russell Inn Hotel and Conference Centre and Asessippi Ski Area & Resort near Inglis.

Besides his business interests and work at the national and provincial newspaper levels, Nesbitt served a term on the council of the Village of Shoal Lake, served on the Shoal Lake Fire Department, coached, managed and officiated hockey at the minor and senior levels, coached fastball and has been the statistician for the North Central Hockey League for nearly 40 years. He currently serves as secretary of the Shoal Lake Regional Airport Authority.

“I’m looking forward to meeting old friends and making new acquaintances in communities across the constituency over the next few months,” said Nesbitt. “I will encourage them to get involved in the nomination process and make their voices heard in selecting the next Progressive Conservative candidate for this constituency.”

No date has been set for the Riding Mountain constituency nomination meeting.