STOUGHTON — Stefan Clark has spent most of his life in Stoughton, and even during the brief periods he lived elsewhere, he remained connected to his roots in the small southeastern Saskatchewan town.
Clark’s family history in Stoughton stretches back generations, from his great-grandfather to his grandfather, his father, himself and now his children.
After attending Stoughton Central School and graduating in 2000, Clark took a year or two off before enrolling at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in geology.
Upon completing his degree, Clark embarked on a career as a geologist, taking on various roles involving diamonds, gold and silver.
When he returned to his hometown, he married Reine Clark, whom he had known all his life. The couple has two sons: Nixon, 8, and Parks, 4. Keeping family traditions alive, they purchased and now live in his grandparents’ home.
Clark’s family has a long history of civic involvement, with members serving on the town council and as mayor. During their tenure, significant community improvements were made, including building the water plant in the 1960s, paving streets and constructing the rink and curling rink.
“There is a lot of history in this town, and I want to see it preserved,” said Clark.
In 2016, Clark ran for council and was elected. He served a four-year term and successfully ran again in the next election. When the former mayor chose not to run for re-election, Clark decided to pursue the role and was elected as the mayor of Stoughton.
The town recently completed a new water plant, which Clark sees as a significant milestone.
“It is important to have a good water source in your town, as this is attracting to new people,” he said.
The project was 75 per cent funded by grants and savings, with additional support from the R.M. of Tecumseh.
Clark emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between long-time residents and newcomers.
“We have a lot to offer in this town, with our pool, rink, curling rink and golf course,” he said. “We also have great soccer fields, with several of them being new. We need to preserve what we have and maintain them.
“These buildings belong to the town, and we need to keep them in great condition for the next generations.”
As mayor, Clark aims to improve the town’s appearance, including upgrading the signs at the town’s entrances and enhancing Main Street. He noted that many sidewalks are still asphalt and need repair, requiring significant planning and grant applications.
Clark also wants to strengthen the town’s relationship with local businesses, recognizing their contributions to the community through donations and support for various organizations.
He plans to focus on volunteerism, encouraging younger generations to get involved while easing the workload through town council support.
The rink, curling rink, pool and golf course each have their own boards, but Clark envisions council managing financial matters, allowing volunteers to focus on other essential tasks.
Clark is optimistic about his term as mayor and looks forward to collaborating with council and the community to make Stoughton a place where people want to live.
