Linda Sopp is known to many in the Estevan area as the president of Metis Nation of Saskatchewan’s Estevan Local 25, and as a former town councillor in Bienfait.
Being born and raised in Estevan and area, she’s been involved with the community in many different aspects, from volunteering at the legion to working as a direct support worker for people with disabilities at Estevan Diversified Services. Now Sopp has decided to take it a step further. She will be running for the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan in the upcoming provincial election in the Estevan constituency.
“I’ve been a Progressive Conservative since I can remember. I was approached to run in the Estevan area,” said Sopp in an interview with the Mercury. “I’ve always thought of doing it.”
In her campaign, Sopp plans to focus on helping Saskatchewan to get back on its feet in the oil sector, coal and energy.
“(We want to) get everything back up and running as it used to. Stand up for our area,” said Sopp. “We will be keeping money and jobs in Saskatchewan … Our main focus is to get everybody back to work and help them.”
Sopp said that they believe that stronger opposition to the federal government will help get some vital processes such as the construction of pipelines going and substantially will help the province to get back in shape. She has many personal connections to the energy sector and feels the concerns people are experiencing, which gives her motivation to try to change it for the community around her.
Mental health and addiction services is another important focal point for Sopp.
She has a rich experience in leadership as well as in working with vulnerable groups. She worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital for many years as well as at Beaver Lumber. The Metis Nation of Saskatchewan Estevan Local 25 has been active since 2017, and Sopp took it upon herself to restart the Saskatchewan chapters.
“We have come a long way since then,” said Sopp.
She believes that being the president of the Metis local chapter, she’s been “able to meet the right people and able to help our society.”
“It will be the same with everyone in this area. If you are having issues, I should be able to figure it out because I should be able to find the people that I need to talk to … to get the answers.”
This experience has also opened her up more and helped her to become more vocal for other people.
Sopp is also currently serving as a board member of the Souris Valley Museum, which also enhances her experience and gives her more tools for future elections.
Sopp said that the party doesn’t have a campaign set up yet, but she believes that they’ll have plans laid out and the campaign starting soon. She expects to have a meet and greet at some point but said that going door to door might not be an option during the COVID times. Besides, Sopp prefers a more personal way of meeting people and explaining their agenda.
“I would prefer to do it as meeting and having coffee with people in a group, because (when you are) going door to door, a lot of people aren’t home,” said Sopp.
She has experience with campaigns, raising awareness and funds for cancer and diabetes, in which the door to door way of approaching people proved to be less effective. Sopp also believes that her previous experiences will help her a lot in this campaign. She has established herself as a person who is eager to find answers and fix things when they aren’t working.
“I may be a soft-spoken person, but I can talk. And … my voice will be heard. If not, there is something wrong with this system,” said Sopp. “I’m here for Saskatchewan’s people, I’m here for Estevan. I’ll be your voice.”
In her biography, she said, “I want to see the schools, hospitals, small businesses, oil, mines and power plant thrive like we once had. I want my family and friends to be proud to say they are from Saskatchewan and that we matter.”
