Ian Froese

A former Winnipeg Blue Bomber is filling a new spot on the roster of the Manitoba Liberal Party.&nbsp;

Willard Reaves, a star candidate for the party, is the new deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberals, Cindy Lamoureux, the interim party leader, announced Tuesday at a news conference.

Lamoureux&nbsp;said Reaves' new position is an opportunity to build up the party, which was relegated to one seat in the recent provincial election.

Reaves will serve in a volunteer capacity. He'll work to sign up new members, fundraise, convey the party's ideas to Manitobans and represent the Liberals at public events.

"I plan on assisting Cindy and the party in building a strong, very prosperous&nbsp;Liberal Party that will serve the people and serve them well," Reaves said. "I look forward to this endeavour immensely."

In a 2022 byelection, Reaves came within 200 votes of taking&nbsp;Fort Whyte, a Tory stronghold, from the then-governing party.&nbsp;

A man in black winter clothing stands on the street.

Liberal candidate Willard Reaves hasn't let extreme cold warnings stop him from hitting the doorstep in Fort Whyte.

Willard Reaves

He also ran in the same seat in the recent election, but the vote differential between Reaves and PC MLA Obby Khan had widened.&nbsp;

Before entering politics, Reaves was a&nbsp;star Blue Bomber running back in the 1980s&nbsp;who went on to work in the provincial justice department and in retail.

Reaves' new position within the Liberals is another example of Lamoureux, the MLA for Tyndall Park, building up the profile of other people in the party.

Past election candidates have been attending some public events alongside Lamoureux, or on her behalf. She has referred to them as her "caucus of candidates," borrowing an idea from former leader Sharon&nbsp;Carstairs, who led a resurgence of the party in the 1980s from one seat to 20.&nbsp;

"We are a small party right now, but we are building up, and through having a deputy leader, through having a very strong and competent board at the Manitoba Liberal Party and through our caucus of candidates, we're hoping to still represent Manitobans across the province," Lamoureux said.

Neither Lamoureux nor Reaves say they have decided if they'll run for party leadership.

Lone Manitoba Liberal MLA Cindy Lamoureux named party's interim leader

Manitoba Liberals have named Cindy Lamoureux as their interim leader. She the only Liberal who retained her seat in the Oct. 3 provincial election, as former party leader Dougald Lamont and longtime politician Jon Gerrard were defeated by the NDP.

Manitoba Liberal Cindy Lamoureux is the only MLA of her party to retain her seat in the Oct. 3rd provincial election.

Cindy Lamoureux

Cindy Lamoureux, who was re-elected in Winnipeg's Tyndall Park riding earlier this month, will be the Manitoba Liberal Party's interim leader.

'You have the power of one': An outgoing MLA's advice to the lone Liberal in Manitoba's Legislature

Jon Gerrard, who for years was the only Liberal member in the Manitoba Legislature, has some advice for Cindy Lamoureux, the lone Liberal to win a seat in this month's provincial election. Some of the challenges she will face apply to any new MLA, he writes. "Some, however, will be unique to you."

A man with short grey hair, wearing a grey sweater, stands on a sidewalk and stares into the camera.

Jon Gerrard's advice, drawn from his experience as a longtime lone MLA for his party: "Stand up for yourself when you need to."

Dr. Jon Gerrard

Jon Gerrard says as Manitoba's only Liberal MLA, Cindy Lamoureux will face challenges similar to those he faced when he was the province's lone Liberal. Some are challenges other MLAs will face, he tells her. 'Some, however, will be unique to you.'

Manitoba Liberal Party deputy leader Willard Reaves says he's honoured by the chance to represent the party in this new volunteer role.

Manitoba Liberals pick former Blue Bomber Willard Reaves as deputy leader

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