Meet the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo's Council Members. For more information on Mayor Don Scott, visit the Mayor's webpage.
Councillor Profiles – Ward 1
Mike Allen |
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Mike began transitioning from business to community leader when he was nominated to a position on the Board of Directors with the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, where he served two terms as President beginning in 2004. Throughout his role as former Councillor for two terms commencing in 2007, as well as in his capacity as former Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo, Mike has demonstrated his desire to see Fort McMurray thrive time and time again. One week after being elected, Mike was appointed by the Premier as the special advisor to the Minister of Transportation. On June 29, 2012, Mike tabled a report titled Towards a Safer 63. This report helped secure funding to accelerate the twinning of Highway 63, a major priority for residents and stakeholders across the region. Mike also served as a member of three Standing Committees during his tenure as MLA: Private Bills, Resource Stewardship, and Public Accounts. Mike also currently sits on the Standing Policy Committee for Environment and Energy and the Standing Policy Committee for Municipalities, Transportation and Infrastructure. Throughout the past several years, Mike has donated his time to local social profit organizations such as the Centre of Hope and the Fort McMurray SPCA. As a political leader, businessperson and resident, Mike spends every day working towards making Fort McMurray a better place because when all is said and done he intends to retire right here in Fort McMurray. |
Krista Balsom |
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Moving to Fort McMurray in 2001 and attending Westwood Community High School and Keyano College before heading to the University of Ottawa to study political science and then public relations at Algonquin College, Krista returned in 2009 after stints working on Parliament Hill as a legislative assistant, to work and put down further roots in Fort McMurray. Krista's experience working for the Municipality, at MacDonald Island Park and for the provincial legislature has given her a diverse background in community engagement and local initiatives. Living in Fort McMurray -- Canada's economic engine -- has provided incredible opportunities and allowed her to work and play with some incredibly talented people. She is the president and owner of Balsom Communications Inc., which is the publisher of Your McMurray Magazine, now celebrating its fifth year in business. She is a passionate and active volunteer in the community and is currently the 2017 Campaign Vice-Chair for the United Way of Fort McMurray, where she has sat on the Board of Directors for four years. She recently spearheaded the inaugural Constant Comfort Fort McMurray Food Festival where she led a team of volunteers to raise funds for Waypoints. She currently serves on several boards and can frequently be found out and about in the community. Krista's extensive community involvement has been recognized in the past with awards for Female Business Leader of the Year from the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce (2016), the Woman of Inspiration Award from Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta (2015), the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce Microbusiness of the Year (2013), and a nomination for the Municipality's Citizen Recognition Award (2016). A huge advocate for recreation and engagement in our community, Krista helped deliver the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games and sits on the Board of Directors for the 2018 Alberta Winter Games Wood Buffalo. Krista is also a tremendous champion of the arts and actively participates in the local theatre community as a volunteer actress with the Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre. A love of Fort McMurray and its people is what drives Krista as Councillor in Ward 1, along with her passion and commitment to making Fort McMurray and our entire region even stronger. |
Keith McGrath |
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He went on to have a three-decade career in the oil sands. Over the years, he also has been privileged to work with many great community leaders volunteering, working on numerous boards and committees that include the Bill 21 Steering Committee, Community Health Council, Fort McMurray Housing Authority, the Regional Roads Committee, MacDonald Island Park, McMurray Newfoundlanders Club, Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, and was the President of the Friends of Miskanaw Golf Club. Keith has served on the Board of Directors of the Alberta Catholic School Trustee Association, Finance Committee and is currently in his fifth term on the Board of Trustees with the Fort McMurray Catholic School District. Keith also spearheaded the idea of the Wood Buffalo Recovery Committee and helped lead recovery efforts following the devastating 2016 Horse River Wildfire – the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history. Keith is passionate about building a community where no one gets left behind. “While on Council, I want to champion a community plan that's family friendly and sustainable as well as a community that supports both big and small business respecting the diversity of our region and its people. I want to work with stakeholders to shape a region that attracts and retains the young and old alike, and one that delivers core services to ensure economic growth.” Keith has three children and he and his partner, Teresa, have been together for over 25 years. To unwind at the end of a busy day, he walks the trails with his dog, reads, travels, follows hockey and is a keen golfer. But his true passions continue to be his family and his community. “I will never stop learning. I like to think of myself as approachable, respectful and a good listener. My dream is to see that all voices and people are represented. I hope to continue to be a man of the people, for the people.” Keith has received the 2012 and 2016 JD Hole Humanitarian Award, the 2012 St. Thomas Service Award and was honoured with one of 38 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals distributed by the Canadian Construction Association among over 17,000 Canadian firms, in recognition of achievements that have helped to build the Canada of today and the future. |
Phil Meagher |
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"Every Citizen, Every Day, No Exceptions!" is Phil's motto for public service. As a matter of fact, Phil doesn't look at being a municipal Councillor as service, he looks at it as a privilege to be upheld in every way possible. Phil's grandfather always told him that no matter where he lived, or for how long, he should always leave the place better than he found it. Phil has been trying to do this for the last 35 years he has lived in Fort McMurray, with over 22 of those years being a member of Council. Phil says that every vote holds a chance to make Fort McMurray a better place to live. Phil and his wife Sherri have been married for 33 years. They are proud parents of five children and two grandchildren. The Chief Deputy Superintendent of the Fort McMurray Public School District, Phil's hobbies and interests include cross country skiing, both as a coach and competitor, hockey referee (at 25 years of service, Phil is the longest serving linesman in the Alberta Junior Hockey League), biking, hiking, shoveling as part of the Municipality's Snow Angel Program, auctioneering at social profit fundraising events, participating in parades and walking his dog, Uno. Phil is one of the founding fathers of the Fort McMurray High School Challenge Cup, now in its 34th year, and is currently ranked as one of the top three masters cross country skiers in Alberta. A silver medalist at the 1991 Canadian National Marathon Championships, Phil is a three-time provincial marathon champion and was inducted into the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame as an athlete in 2009. In 2011, Phil was honoured by Keyano College with its Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award and in 2012, he was a recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for Public Service. In 2017, Phil was honoured by the Municipality for Excellence in Public Service for his efforts in the first 100 hours of the historic 2016 Horse River Wildfire. Phil has been an elected member of Council since the 1995 amalgamation of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. He has called Fort McMurray home since 1983 and feels that it has all been a natural fit for him and his family. "Wood Buffalo has been such a wonderful place to bring up a family, a place to burn off my excessive energy and always a challenging adventure, whether that be in the board room or on the trails and rivers!" Phil would like to thank all his supporters for their continued trust in him. |
Verna Murphy |
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Through her work and hearing the stories of the people of Fort McMurray, Verna realized that she wanted to be working with seniors to tell their stories, but also to help their voices to be heard. The week after Verna moved to Fort McMurray she had gone to find out about palliative care and ended up writing about the lack of a long-term care facility in our community. That was 11 years ago, and she has felt the frustration of seniors over the years as they have fought for Willow Square to be developed. She is hopeful that the Continuing Care facility will be started in the spring of 2018, and that over the next four years an Aging in Place facility will follow. For the last two years Verna has served on Council's Advisory Committee on Aging. Verna has also served on the Community Advisory Committee for the last two years and has worked with the Support Through Housing for three years and served on that board for two years. In her downtime, Verna enjoys volunteering, reading and listening to or dancing to Matt Minglewood (and she had to fit him into her bio). She looks forward to serving the residents of the entire region, and always loves hearing from anyone about their issues, or just to share their story. |
Jeff Peddle |
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Jeff arrived in Fort McMurray in the fall of 2012. He took one look at the community and knew that it was where he would spend the rest of his working life and hopefully find the love of his life. Thankfully, he has already been successful with that latter goal. It is Jeff's honour and pleasure to be married to the most amazing woman in the world, Maxine, his best friend and business partner. His career in Fort McMurray started out in a position with Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation (WBHDC). During his time at the WBHDC, he implemented many positive and successful changes that continue to make many procedures more effective and efficient to this day. The following leg in his career was with On-Site Solutions Inc., where he managed the condominium corporation known locally as the River Park Glen. When Jeff started at River Park Glen, the task ahead was thought by many to be insurmountable. But with extremely hard work, long hours and a great team, within 18 months Jeff had transformed River Park Glen into the first and only property in Fort McMurray to be officially designated as crime-free. Jeff recently resigned from his position with On-Site Solutions Inc. so he would be able to focus on his new job on Council for Ward 1, and of course to provide his loving wife much needed time and support as she continues to operate her extremely successful restaurant, catering company and chef to go, Chez Max. Jeff is also the owner/operator of a business consulting company, JP Consulting Ltd. This company provides services to businesses within Canada on Crime Free Housing, Policies and Procedures and how to ensure that businesses are successful going forward. Jeff has had the honour of being a part of many amazing organizations in the region, some current and some past. Some of these include the Masonic Lodge and Al Shamal Shriners. During Jeff's career he has been honoured to be recognized by many organizations for his commitment to Fort McMurray. Some of these recognitions include:
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Mike Allen is no stranger to both politics and business in Fort McMurray. Having moved to Fort McMurray back in 1993, he immediately integrated himself into the business community while purchasing Campbell's Music, which fostered his love for jazz music. He has successfully run Campbell's Music in the downtown core of Fort McMurray since that time -- a business that has been a staple in the community for over 40 years.
Born and raised on Random Island, Newfoundland, Krista Balsom grew up dreaming big.
“I believe that there are two important landmarks in life – one when you are born and one when you die. But what matters most is what you do in between.” And Keith McGrath has made sure that his “in between” is full indeed. Originally from Newfoundland, while working in the small business sector of Fort McMurray, he took Keyano College Heavy Industrial courses when he first arrived here and was soon part of the construction team that built the Fort McMurray Golf Club.
Verna Murphy is a freelance writer in Fort McMurray, and she has been writing about everything related to Fort McMurray for over 12 years. Verna has been married to husband Tim for 22 years, and they have three children: Mitchell is 20, Nathanial is 18 and Shayleen is 8. Verna hails from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and loves that so many from the East Coast now call Fort McMurray home. For eight years, Verna and her family brought in foster children from across our region.
“Change will only come to those that go out and find it” – these are the words that Jeff lives by. He believes that change is always needed, and with change comes great things. Jeff is a specialist in change management and his greatest strength is creating change in areas to create more productive and successful businesses. Jeff was born and raised in Labrador City, Newfoundland before moving with his family to Conception Bay South, Newfoundland. He first started his professional career in 1997.Councillor Profiles – Ward 2
Bruce Inglis |
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Claris Voyageur |
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Born and raised in Fort Chipewyan, Claris is a mother and grandmother with a long history of community service, both in her career and as a volunteer. As the manager of Ayabaskaw Seniors Home for almost three decades, Claris knows the needs and demands of her community firsthand and has built strong relationships with the Province of Alberta. Claris also serves as the Chair of the Athabasca Delta Committee on the local advisory board for the Northland School Division and has been a member of the Fort Chipewyan Volunteer Fire Department for more than 20 years, where she currently serves as Deputy Chief. Claris is champion of “fair and equal” representation for Ward 2 residents in Fort Chipewyan, Fort Fitzgerald and Fort McKay. |
Profile for Bruce Inglis coming soon.
Claris Voyageur is a lifelong resident of Fort Chipewyan and is proud to serve her community as a Councillor for Ward 2.Councillor Profile – Ward 3
Sheila Lalonde |
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Sheila has her certificate in Occupational Health and Safety from the University of Alberta and has recently completed the Heavy Equipment Operator program at Keyano College. She believes that learning new things is the secret to staying young. Sheila and her husband of 32 years have lived in Saprae Creek since 1996 and have two children and four grandchildren. They enjoy travelling to various countries and she enjoys gardening, sewing and reading, mostly murder mysteries. Her priorities for Ward 3 are to maintain the country residential characteristics of both neighbourhoods, have a second egress from Saprae Creek and ensure the rural water, sewer and road rehabilitation project is completed in a timely manner. |
Born in Newfoundland and raised in Fort McMurray, Sheila Lalonde embraces the rural lifestyle and enjoys the many activities that living in a boreal forest provides.Councillor Profile – Ward 4
Jane Stroud |
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She also is very involved in Council appointed boards that include the Rural Committee, Audit Committee, Land Planning and Development Committee, and the Oversight Committee, along with external community committees and associations such as the Rural Coalition, Bill 21 Steering Committee and the Veterans Memorial Highway Board of Directors. Jane is committed to the fulfillment of essential core services for those in Ward 4 which includes water and sewer servicing, a sidewalk for youth to walk on when travelling to and from school, usable skating rinks, family community support services for seniors/elders, walking trails and ongoing road repairs. She continues to lobby for high-speed Internet for Gregoire Lake Estates, Janvier and Conklin as well as giving Janvier and Conklin the ability to listen to local Fort McMurray radio stations. Jane has two children and three grandchildren. In her free time, she enjoys visiting with family and golfing. She is humbled and very happy to be re-elected to Council by the residents of Ward 4 and looks forward to her next four years on Council. A recipient of the Citizen Recognition Award for her work in environmental protection, Jane was named a ‘Woman of Inspiration' by Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta in 2017. Jane represents Council on the Board of Directors for Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation. |
"Our region has the opportunity to become an attractive, progressive and sustainable community.” Jane Stroud lives by those words. Born and raised in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, she cares deeply about its future. She especially embraces being a Councillor for Ward 4. Passionate about environmental protection, she is a strong advocate for the bag bylaw. “It is so nice to drive into Fort McMurray and see the trees without plastic bags around them.”