Shirley Kalyniuk

Shirley Kalyniuk has set an example by encouraging women to break barriers and become involved in the democratic process.

The first woman municipal politician in the town of Rossburn, elected in 1983. She was elected the first woman mayor of Rossburn, a position she held until 2014. Kalyniuk is the recipient of many honours, including the Rural Economic Leadership Award, the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee medal, the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee medal, and the LCIF Melvin Jones Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services. In 1999, she was elected as the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Midwestern Urban District Director. In 2006, she was elected Urban Vice-President, a position she held until 2010.

In 2014, Kalyniuk retired from municipal politics after 31 years. In 2015, she was the recipient of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ prestigious Ann MacLean Award for Outstanding Service by a Woman in Municipal Politics. She continues to be very engaged in her community and serves on the Parkland Employment Resource Centre Board and Lifelong Education for Adults: Reading and Numeracy. She chaired the local Age-Friendly committee, the Affordable Senior Housing committee. She is vice-chair on the Transportation Options Network for Seniors. She is secretary for the Rossburn Senior Resource Council and Handi-van committees. Kalyniuk is a member since 1978 of the Rossburn Health Centre Auxiliary as well as president since 2017. In 2021, Kalyniuk was made secretary for the newly formed Community Pantry – Rossburn Food Bank Board.