Progressive Conservatives announce Transcona nominee

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This article was published 22/02/2016 (3698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Progressive Conservative Party’s nominee for Transcona may be new to politics but he’s no stranger to Transcona.

Blair Yakimoski grew up in Transcona, ran a business there, and now he hopes to represent the area in the provincial legislature following this spring’s provincial election.

Yakimoski grew up on Melrose Avenue, where he spent his childhood playing baseball and hockey at East End Community Club and football for the Transcona Nationals. He is also active at St. Michael’s Church, which he attends with his wife Amy and children Scott, 21; Michaella, 20; and Laryssa, 19.

While in school, Yakimoski worked at the multiple grocery stores his father ran in the city, and fell in love with the family business. When the opportunity came, Yakimoski opened the Plessis IGA in 2001, running it until it closed in 2013.

“I used to dream about the first day in a new store,” Yakimoski said. “And I got to do that. I’m very lucky.”

Transcona is a unique community in a unique period, Yakimoski said. Along with the many local institutions there are several new developments reflective of the area’s growth, including condos, a new library and the East End Arena expansion.

“People who worked for me, whose parents I went to school with are not going downtown. They are buying homes here,” he said.

“Many people are also choosing to move here from elsewhere.”

Running a business is an education Yakimoski hopes to put to good use representing Transcona.
“I was a grocer and  a retailer,” Yakimoski said. “I understand labour, production, distribution and human resources.”

The issues Yakimoski said he expects to hear about are not unique to Transcona, but they are ones important to people across the province.

“Tiger dams, Bipole III, poor outcomes in education and health, and increasing taxes,” he said.
“People want respectful, responsible representation. This government’s not respecting their tax dollars, or whom they represent.”