As the calendar flipped over to the New Year last Monday morning, it left behind an event-filled year for the City of Swift Current.

Mayor Denis Perrault chose a variety of great events as his theme for 2017 in the city.

"I really feel like we're a community that supports volunteerism and none of these events happen without our volunteers," he said. "I think we're an inviting community for events and also for people that aren't residents of Swift Current, they get a chance to partake in some of these things."

Perrault added that the feedback from visitors to the city is very positive, with many impressed at how good the events turnout to be.

Included in the list of events that stood out to the mayor was Canada 150 celebrations, Windscape Kite Festival, Living Sky Casino's Annual Pow Wow, Market Square, Go Green, CCA Rodeo, 57's championship, and Broncos first playoff win.

As the City shifts its focus to the 2018 calendar year, the first-term mayor said they have three big goals that include growth, finding efficiencies, and working with the Sask Party government.

"Definitely to see growth in our community," Perrault added. "It will also be working on efficiencies and trying to do the best we can with the resources we have. Another goal we have is to continue to work with our provincial government on revenue sharing, grants in lieu or infrastructure that we believe we should be participating in."

One of Perrault's platforms while running for mayor that he has continued since being elected is the theme to #growswift, something he wants to continue to focus in on as the community pushes to hit its goal of 25,000 residents by 2025.

"What that means is going out and finding manufacturing companies that are looking to relocate or to start up," he said. "It means talking to our local businesses and encouraging them to expand when it makes sense. It also means working with our entities like the Newcomer Welcome Centre who have brought in thousands of newcomers to the southwest."

According to Sask Health statistics, 18,185 health cards were registered in Swift Current for the 2016 year, and those numbers will be updated this summer.