Despite having to wade through some huge challenges brought on by the pandemic, Winkler Mayor Martin Harder says 2021 was a productive year for the city.

Harder said completing the updates to the zoning by-law and city's secondary plan were among the list of accomplishments and highlights.

"We've received the approval for the new wastewater plant coming up. That's an eight or nine year process that we've been at that one," said Harder. "We look at Highway 32, we look at the Greg Ens Memorial Park, and the new concrete at the Emerado School..."

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The pandemic continued to create division and huge challenges for many people in 2021. Through it all, Harder said he continued to see a resilient spirit among the people in the city.

Harder recalled a combined initiative last winter to purchase gift certificates from struggling restaurants and merchants. "It was industry, together with the city, and the Chamber of Commerce got together and said, 'let's do something.' So we bought all those gift cards. Over $150,000 was raised to do this, so again showing the resilience. I look at Central Station at the services they provide."