Kayla Gillis is a name many Dauphinites will be familiar with. She's played a number of roles within the Parkland, including 15 years with Canada's National Ukrainian Festival.
She now has another title to add - Manitoba Progressive Conservative Candidate for Dauphin.
Some of her other accolades include a Global Citizen Award and Community Leadership Award from the Royal Bank of Canada, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, and the One to Watch Alumni Award from Assiniboine College, right here in Dauphin. In the PC Party's news release announcing Gillis' nomination, she says she looks forward to using this new role to help better the Parkland and address some of the area's concerns.
"“From the recent flooding and hospital closure, to the economic fallout of tariffs, to everyday cost-of-living pressures, Dauphin families have gone through a lot in a very short amount of time. Now more than ever, they need an optimistic path forward with real, practical solutions. I’m ready to deliver that leadership as part of a Progressive Conservative team," said Gillis in the news release.
As the Parkland is a very agriculture-focused area of Manitoba, it's fitting Gillis has agricultural knowledge and experience, with a focus on agribusiness. Raised on a farm, and graduating from the agribusiness program at Assiniboine College, she previously held the role of Manitoba Farm Women's Conference Vice-Chair, among other agribusiness positions.
In the last provincial election, Ron Kostyshyn, current Dauphin NDP MLA, won over PC candidate Gord Wood by 323 votes - a victory by 3.2% of the vote.
