      In 1967, Dave Popowich started a new career as administrative assistant for the RM of Buchanan.
           Fifty years later, he is still going strong, but now as the reeve of the RM of Good Lake.
           October 2 marked the anniversary of a fulfilling career in municipal governance, said Popowich.
           As a young man, in 1967 he was administrator assistant for the RM of Buchanan.
           Upon receiving his certificate in local government administration from the University of Saskatchewan, he obtained employment in 1970 as administrator at the RM of Prairiedale, near Kindersley, followed by the RM of Foam Lake from 1971 to 1982.
           Popowich joined the RM of Good Lake in 1983 and worked there until his retirement from administration in 1998, he said.
           After many rewarding years with the RM, while farming grain and beef cattle at the same time, he ran for reeve and was elected in the fall of 1998, a position he still holds.
           Apart from day-to-day RM operations, Popowich served as councillor at the Town of Foam Lake and currently serves on the Burgis Conservation and Development Board, Good Spirit Watershed Board, Canora Rural Public Utility Board, Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency Rural Advisory Committee and Good Spirit Lake Provincial Park Advisory Board.
           He was a founding member of the Rural Public Utility Board in 1999 along with Gary Sleeva, and helped with the introduction of water lines to the Canora rural area in 2000-2001. He facilitated the development of the Canora and District Fire Board in 2001.
           Throughout his career Popowich has received numerous awards including the RM Administrator Association service award in 1998. He received Conservation and Development long service awards, and was the recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the Centennial of Saskatchewan, presented by Lieutenant-Governor Lynda Haverstock.
           He is actively involved with Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church parish council, presently as president and church elder. Involvement in the church for the past 19 years has been under Rev. J. Rac.
           Popowich is involved with the Knights of Columbus, Eparchial Pastoral Committee and the Archangel Gabriel Eparchial Ministries (Sheptytsky Institute) in Saskatoon.
           Popowich and his wife Audrey currently reside on their farm outside Canora.
           To acknowledge his achievement, a barbecue was held at the farm on July 9. A book was presented outlining the history of his 50-year career.
