Longtime River Heights councillor to leave politics

Coun. John Orlikow will not run for re-election in his River Heights-Fort Garry ward, after serving 17 years in the role.

The councillor announced Friday he will not seek another term in the Oct. 28 municipal election.

“It’s really just time for me to do something different. I’ve been doing this for 17 years. I had 10 years (at) school board. I kind of want to try the private life … find … my own path,” said Orlikow, 57.

The city councillor spent 10 years as a trustee for the Winnipeg School Division before he was elected to represent River Heights-Fort Garry in a 2009 byelection. He has been re-elected in each municipal election since.

In 2023, Orlikow took a three-month medical leave from city council, following a sudden hike in blood pressure that led to vision issues, severe headaches and exhaustion. After recovering, he returned to city hall but did not resume his previous roles as chairperson of the community services committee and a member of the executive policy committee.

On Friday, the councillor briefly mentioned some health concerns as one reason for his departure but declined to provide further detail.

“It just puts a little bit more in perspective that if I do have that time to do something else, now is the time before it’s too late,” he said.

In July 2023, a judge’s ruling blamed the city councillor for directing municipal staff to deliberately delay progress on a proposal to develop the former Parker lands. Orlikow was not a defendant in the case and has told media he was “quite shocked” by that finding and would take steps to clear his name.

An appeal decision later found in favour of the city and stated Orlikow’s actions did not amount to directing planners to delay the development.

On Friday, the city councillor said the initial judge’s decision was extremely difficult to address.

“That rocked my world, for sure, because I pride myself on being honest and open and to have those accusations where I didn’t have a say, even know they’re coming, that was brutal,” he said.

Orlikow said he plans to take a break “at the cabin,” then volunteer with tree preservation and inner-city groups.

He said his elected role brought ample criticism but also a chance to work with dedicated colleagues. At one point, he briefly stopped speaking to reporters to accept a hug from St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes.

“Every councillor here, their heart’s in the right place. They’re trying to do their best,” said Orlikow.

He lists building the Waverley Underpass, developing the Bill and Helen Norrie Library, securing funds to expand Winnipeg’s tree canopy, adding community centre investments and modernizing bus rapid transit among key accomplishments he worked on with colleagues.

Mayor Scott Gillingham said Orlikow helped him adjust when he was first elected to city council.

“When I was first elected to council in 2014, Coun. Orlikow had already been on council for a while, so I learned so much from him. He was always generous with his time and advice. We worked closely together on many files and I’m grateful for the way he served the people of Winnipeg,” said Gillingham.

Orlikow said he hopes his executive assistant Georgina Sabesky will enter the race to replace him, though she has yet to declare her interest in the role. Sabesky declined comment Friday.

One candidate has announced plans the race to replace Orlikow.

Sara MacArthur, a general manager currently overseeing Camp Stephens, said she decided to run for office to address issues she’s experienced first-hand as a lifelong resident of River Heights.

“Having that ward experience for that long gives you a deep affection for the neighbourhood but also … it gives you a really good sense of what the issues are that I face and my neighbours face,” said MacArthur. “I also think that this is a really good opportunity and a great alignment of my academic background, being a city planner.”

MacArthur holds a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Manitoba and worked as a municipal policy analyst for the city from 2004 to 2008.

She plans to list specific platform pledges later in the campaign, after consulting with the community.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga