The Yorkton Business Improvement District is gaining new leadership. Starting in 2020, Donna Brothwell will be taking the reigns as executive director from Phil de Vos, who is retiring from the role.
Brothwell, who has been an active part of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, both as executive director from 2000-2008 and as a current Chamber director, said that her goal will be to bring optimism to YBID and the business community as a whole.
“This role is going to give me the opportunity to use what I call my superpower, the power of positivity, to get the business community rocking and rolling again. We’ve got some work to do to bring us back.”
The other goal is to get new and fresh ideas to the organization. She intends to go to businesses to get new people on the YBID board and bringing new ideas and projects.
YBID’s legacy in Yorkton is clear, whether it’s in the wide range of permanent projects it has supported across town, or in events such as the Santa Claus Parade, which it has ran for the past several years. Brothwell wants to continue that legacy, and thanks the former director for the work that he has done with YBID in the past.
“I have some big shoes to fill, no pun intended! I think that with my experience and with my background, I can bring a lot of changes, a lot of positivity and enthusiasm, and new ideas.”
Brothwell sees opportunity in mentorship programs, more economic development, and working with organizations and businesses. She wants to get the business community back involved in Yorkton to get people back to shopping local. She said that the organization has a strong strategic plan, and a focus on improving and beautifying the business district of the city to make it somewhere people want to spend time and money.
“Number one, we want to focus on the business district. Number two, we want to bring that business to Yorkton.”
