Jamie Martens (left) shares a lighter moment with supporters prior to the start of the nomination meeting in Martensville March 27 (Gazette photo by Terry Pugh)

Jamie Martens will carry the colours for the Saskatchewan Party in the newly-created constituency of Martensville-Blairmore when the provincial election is held this fall.

Martens won the nomination at a meeting of the constituency association on Wednesday, March 27 at the North Ridge Centennial Community Centre. The other candidate in the race was Sunny Kals. A third candidate, M.S. Gill, who had also been in the running, withdrew from the race on March 23 and threw his support behind Martens.

Martens said she was “honoured and humbled” to accept the nomination, and committed herself to work hard for her constituents, and everyone in Saskatchewan, if she is elected to the provincial Legislature.

“I want to thank everyone who encouraged me to run for this nomination, and especially everyone who came out to vote tonight,” Martens said. “By working together, we can ensure that Martensville-Blairmore has a strong, direct voice in our Legislative Assembly.”

Martens, a member of Martensville City Council since 2012 and current Deputy Mayor, was born and raised in Martensville. Her parents both grew up in Martensville, and many of her relatives still live there. She told the nomination meeting she is looking forward to bringing discipline, hard work, determination and integrity to the Legislature.

“I was raised in a  strict Mennonite family,” she said, adding her upbringing instilled  those values in her.

“Two years ago, my mother passed away,” said Martens. “And right before she passed away I was asked to run for this position. I called her and I was very emotional because I couldn’t believe this was something that someone felt I could do. I told her this. It was only three weeks later that she passed away. We didn’t know she was sick at the time, but I have a feeling that she knew her children were going to be okay, and that is when she let go.”

Before entering municipal politics, Martens served as an Auxiliary Constable with the RCMP. She later joined the Deputy Sheriff’s Office in Regina, where she worked for 16 years.

Martens was elected and served for three successive terms as a Saskatchewan representative at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. During her three terms at the FCM, her duties included being the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Rural Forum and as a delegate to the ongoing Canadian Women in Local Leadership Project.

Martens lives in Martensville with her three children.

The Saskatchewan Party has now nominated 44 candidates ahead of the 2024 provincial election, slated to take place Monday, October 28.

Former Sask Party MLA Rob Norris introduced Martens at the nomination meeting.

Martensville-Warman MLA Terry Jenson, who will be the Sask Party candidate in the new constituency of Warman in the coming election, was the guest speaker at the nomination meeting in Martensville.