Winter knocks: Regina-Lewvan Liberal candidate running in first election

It may be more than a month ahead of the fall election, but Winter is already knocking on the door.

Winter Fedyk, Liberal candidate for Regina-Lewvan, is trying to make a name for herself, campaigning in her first election.

Walking into her campaign office on Scarth Street in downtown Regina, it’s hard to miss the Game of Thrones-themed poster with the popular quote from the HBO show “Winter is coming.”

Fedyk said politics doesn’t have to always be stuffy business and encourages having fun on the campaign trail.

In August, she was doing research on funny student council pictures and came up with some slogans for posters to put up in the campaign office window. One showed a picture of a horse with the caption “She’s your neighhhhhbour.” The other was of an owl with the caption “She’s who-who-who is the best choice.”

“We’re going to have the most fun campaign in Regina, hands down, guaranteed, and everybody’s welcome to join us,” said Fedyk. “The campaigns that have the most fun win.”

One of Winter Fedyk’s creative campaign posters she uses in vying for the Regina-Lewvan riding in the 2019 federal election. (Facebook)

While she hopes her creative style and personality appeals to the younger voter and draws people into her downtown office, the real campaign work is done on the doorstep.

Winter has been door knocking and kissing — or at least posing for pictures with — babies since she was nominated in July. She calls herself a lifelong learner and said meeting her neighbours across the riding has been the highlight of the campaign thus far.

She wants to meet as many voters as possible leading up to the election.

“I am going to be a sponge for the next 40 days,” said Fedyk.

Winter may be a first-time candidate but she’s a longtime public servant with 20 years working for the federal and provincial governments, advising ministers and making recommendations for them.

However she admits campaigning is a new process for her and she is still learning along the way while juggling her personal life. She has two kids and launched her own consulting business, but is not currently drawing any income while working on her campaign.

“That’s how important this is to me. I came into it eyes wide open knowing that this was going to be a financial investment on my part, but it’s worth it,” said Fedyk.

Winter decided to run after growing frustrated with the erosion of civil discourse in politics.

“I think people who don’t like what they see, it’s time to step out and into the public realm, and say that publicly and get involved in the campaigns that do have a positive vision that aren’t focused on stoking fear and division,” said Fedyk.

Winter said her campaign is about encouraging a positive future for Canada.