After nearly three decades working for the city, Helen Geisler is ready to take a seat in council chambers in the Oct. 18 municipal election.

The former city employee of 28 years wrapped up her work there last September.

Her career saw her be a receptionist and administrative assistant, work in the warehouse, with parks and recreation staff and in purchasing and finance.

She now works for the Yukon government.

Geisler said she knew that when she finished working for the city, she would run for council one day.

Now is the right time to "be able to offer my insight, knowledge and experience as a councillor,” she said.

"I feel it is important that there be open communications between the mayor, council, City of Whitehorse management/staff, and community associations and organizations as well as developers and citizens,” she said in a statement Friday.

"In my opinion, I feel it is extremely important to have open, honest and fair practices for all to adhere to. It is important to me that the City of Whitehorse shows accountability, transparency and integrity to all citizens.”

While the city has substantially grown "and that is to be expected,” Geisler said she believes Whitehorse must stay true to its "Wilderness City” tag line.

"The City of Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territory, and along with that comes all the amenities we have grown to know and love, but I would like to get the "small town” feeling back to this fine city,” she said. "I strongly believe that Whitehorse is a great place to live, have a family and grow.”

As one voice on a council of seven (including the mayor), Geisler said she doesn't want to make any "grand promises” at this point.

Geisler has lived in the city since 1980, when she moved here from Saskatchewan to attend a 10-month program at the Yukon Vocational and Technical Training Centre (currently Yukon College).

She remained in the city after the program, buying her first Whitehorse home in 1985 – a house trailer in the former City Trailer Court at Second Avenue and Ogilvie Street where Easyhome, Domino's Pizza, The Investors Group and the Greyhound Bus Depot now sit.

The 51-year-old purchased other homes in the city since, currently living in Porter Creek with her husband, Rob. She also has two step-children, four step-grandchildren and a step-great-grandchild.

Her mother, stepfather and a brother also live in Whitehorse while her father and another brother and his wife and children live in Regina.