Derek Johnson bought a new truck one year ago.
He looked at his dashboard on Sunday, and there were already 54,000 kilometres on it. According to statistics, the average Canadian drives 15,200 kilometres annually.
As the MLA for Interlake-Gimli, Johnson has been all over the place over the past 12 months. His Facebook page has documented his journey, and last week, it showed him traveling to Ashern for their Rodeo weekend.
The 33rd annual event welcomed scorching temperatures for a packed weekend. Johnson was in attendance on the Saturday.
"It was an amazing day. They've held that rodeo for decades; it's such a special community," said Johnson. "Great people and a great event."
The weekend opened with the street dance on Friday, followed by an incredible fireworks show. When Derek arrived on Saturday, he started at Centennial Hall for the pancake breakfast before going to the market. He then headed just out of town for the rodeo, which started at 4:00.
Johnson, who has attended the Ashern Rodeo for years, says it was a special day.
"The pancake breakfast was a fundraiser for the Fire Department," offered Johnson. "That was outstanding. The number of people who showed up to show support shows the community spirit."
Derek then hit the road and days later, found himself in Fisher Branch. That's where he recognized 12 women of the Fisher Branch Women's Institute. The 12 have been serving in the Institute for a combined 476 years. The longest serving member is Rose Barrett. She's 90 years old and has served for 70 years.
Johnson was elected to his first term as MLA for Interlake on April 19, 2016. He was re-elected in the newly-established riding of Interlake-Gimli in 2019 and 2023.
He has also previously held the role of Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Municipal Relations. He currently serves as House Leader and Critic for Seniors and Long-Term Care.
A proud resident of the Interlake, Johnson says it's a must-visit part of the province.
"Oh, absolutely. It's pretty much a hidden paradise," ended Johnson. "We have great beaches on Lake Manitoba. The diversity of our population is outstanding. We're attracting many new Ukrainians and the older generation of Ukrainians who came decades ago and have made the Interlake what it is today. The Lundar Lobster Fest is a staple. They serve 700 people in less than an hour with all of the community support they get."
Before becoming an MLA, Derek served as a councillor for the R.M. of St. Laurent.
