You’ve heard of The Green Mile. Now, get ready for the orange Miles. Meadow Lake resident Miles Nachbaur has been named as the Saskatchewan NDP’s candidate for the Meadow Lake riding in this October’s provincial election. Nachbaur was nominated by local Saskatchewan New Democrat members last Wednesday (May 29).
“I’ve been thinking about this for some time just in terms of my own personal journey,” Nachbaur told Northern Pride. “I did previously work for a minister at the Legislature. This was quite a while ago. And, come the last election, I tossed around the idea of running, but felt my family wasn’t ready for it. My family is a little bit older now, and I felt this is the time to put my name forward. I’ve wanted to pursue this – this has been one of my goals in life, to let my name stand to be an MLA. It wasn’t a hard decision.” Nachbaur said he started the nomination process several months ago, adding his decision to let his name stand has nothing to do with recent news concerning incumbent Saskatchewan Party MLA Jeremy Harrison and his decision to resign as government house leader. “I’ve known for quite a while I would be attempting to gain the nomination,” Nachbaur said. “The events that have happened in the last little bit have really had nothing to do with it. It’s just been something I’ve wanted to accomplish or at least try in life as far as my goals are concerned.”
After serving many roles at North West College’s Meadow Lake campus, Nachbaur now works as executive director of Meadow Lake and Area Early Childhood Services. He is also an avid community volunteer who coaches sports and sits on numerous boards. One of his major volunteer roles at this time is as president of the Meadow Lake and District Chamber of Commerce “The cost of living and health care are always going to be on the top of the list when it comes to problems anywhere in the province,” Nachbaur said when asked what issues the Meadow Lake riding currently faces. “That’s always something on the back of people’s minds, especially in rural Saskatchewan where we see a few more disruptions in health care services. Those are issues dear to me. I’ve worked in Pre-K, K-12 and post-secondary education, and that’s also one of my passions – trying to affect positive change in those areas. It is another issue, provincially, we are seeing a lot of news stories about. I want to be able to put a different vision or different ideas forward. Locally, we always talk about our poverty levels or the ability for us to be economically viable. Businesses are always looking for employees, and our local economy needs those employees to ensure our business sector can remain viable. Its these issues I try to advocate for as part of the Chamber, and, locally, it needs to be addressed.”
Harrison, meanwhile, has served as Meadow Lake MLA since 2007. Nachbaur, however, believes Meadow Lake constituents would support change. “We need leadership,” he said. “I’ve lived in this constituency all my life. That connection to our communities is important. It’s more than just Meadow Lake. It’s Waterhen, it’s Goodsoil, St. Walburg, Flying Dust, Pelican Lake, there are many communities and we need to be able to address the issues they have. It comes down to leadership and connection, and I believe I do that. I volunteer, I coach sports and I try to talk to people about where they’re at and where they want to be. That’s something important in terms of competing with the Sask. Party in all of Saskatchewan, not just rural Saskatchewan. I believe I can bring that to the table in terms of being connected.”
According to provincial NDP leader Carla Beck, Nachbaur is an “excellent addition to our growing team.” “He has strong ties throughout the Meadow Lake constituency and will bring accountability and experience to the table as we fight to make life more affordable, while improving education and health care access across the province,” Beck noted. In closing, Nachbaur said elections are funny things. “I have been a part of a few campaigns over the years,” he said. “I hope I can convince voters it’s time for a change. We’ve seen in the past here our needs aren’t being met, and it just seems as though were seeing a tired, out-of-touch government. I hope I can mobilize a few people to think the same way I do, and to get out there to vote for me. I will be a great representative for our community.” Nachbaur and his wife, Sherry, have three children – sons Hunter and Kai, and daughter Brea.