My name is Derek Reddekopp, and I have lived in Saskatchewan my entire life with my wife, Tammy. I grew up in the Hague area, and after we married, we moved several times within the communities surrounding Martensville before finally settling here in 2011. Thirteen years later, we couldn’t imagine living anywhere else; our roots are deep, and we truly value this community. We have three married sons and are blessed with twelve wonderful grandchildren. Additionally, we have a multi-generational home, with my mother-in-law living with us. For over 25 years, Tammy and I have been successful small business owners, operating a safety training company, which recently received a prestigious award as one of Saskatchewan’s top 3 Training Partners.
What are your thoughts on the current policing within the community and how do you feel safety within the community could be improved? – While the RCMP provides essential policing services across Canada, its primary focus on organized crime and more prominent cases can impact its capacity to address “petty crimes” in smaller communities like Martensville. Consequently, a gap exists between what the RCMP can deliver and the public’s expectations for local policing. If elected, I aim to collaborate with the city council and RCMP to explore solutions for improving local crime prevention. One potential initiative could be a new community watch program to involve residents in neighbourhood safety. Additionally, we can look at ways to encourage the RCMP to focus more on issues affecting Martensville’s citizens, such as dangerous driving within their local jurisdiction. While private policing remains an option, I hope to balance fiscal responsibility, police resources, and our community’s safety needs.
What made you want to run in this election? – Three key factors led me to run for City Councillor. First, thanks to my wife’s support in managing our business, I have the time to fully commit to council duties and remain well-informed on local issues. Second, my background as a small business owner, board experience, education, and desire to serve will all help me represent Martensville effectively. Lastly, I am motivated by a desire to give back to this wonderful community.
In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed within Martensville? – One issue I believe we need to address is maintaining financial responsibility while collaborating with surrounding communities and the RM of Corman Park without losing Martensville’s autonomy. Many residents have expressed a strong desire to retain our unique community identity rather than becoming a suburb of Saskatoon. As Martensville grows, we must explore more opportunities with our P4G partners. I believe partnering with the surrounding communities on large-scale projects can be achieved collaboratively without sacrificing our autonomy.
