For more information on Mayor Sandy Bowman, visit the Mayor's webpage.
Councillor Profiles – Ward 1
Ken Ball |
Ken and his wife Lisa raise Samoyed dogs that they show all over Western Canada and the Northwest United States. Ken was the president of the Northland Kennel Club for several years and along with the rest of the executive hosted several Canadian Kennel Club endorsed events. Ken is an avid outdoorsman and loves the Northern lifestyle. Ken spends a significant amount of his spare time exploring our region whether it’s going for a hike, driving to a remote lake, riding his OHV and snow mobile or taking a float plane to a remote fishing lodge. Ken has visited almost every corner of this amazing region. Councillor Ball has been involved in local sport for the duration of his time in Fort McMurray and has led the local Men’s Hockey league and been a member of the Executive for the Coed Slow Pitch League. Ken still plays both of these sports and it’s not uncommon to find him at the ballpark during the summer or at one of the rinks throughout the winter. Ken was co-chair for the Dog Mushing event for the 2004 Arctic Winter Games and was co-captain of a team of riders from Fort McMurray that rode in the Ride to Conquer Cancer 4 times and collectively raised over 300,000 dollars for cancer research. Ken was recognized as a Ride Ambassador several times for this event. "I was fortunate to meet a very special man early in my career and he took the time to tell me plenty of stories about how Fort McMurray grew over the years. We need to celebrate our rich history along with our cultural diversity. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is an incredible place, and it needs to remain that way." Ken is focused on being fiscally responsible in the delivery of services to residents and advancing local initiatives. Ken will work with all members of Council to develop a Strategic Plan that is supported by our residents. Ken will work hard to resolve the Lower townsite, Waterways and Draper flooding issues. Councillor Ball currently represents Council on the Advisory Committee on Aging, the 2023 Arctic Winter Games Committee and the Waterfront Advisory Committee
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Funky Banjoko |
My family and I arrived in Fort McMurray in July 2011 and this has become home for us. I am a mother who has raised two amazing kids. One is an active community advocate and most recently completed her law degree studying in the UK. MY son is a division 1 football player, studying his undergraduate at Princeton University. I am a supply chain management professional with about 30 years of experience and mostly in the Oil and Gas industry. I have a Bachelor’s degree, MCIPS - Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply United Kingdom (Certified) and an SCMP - Supply Chain Management Professional {Certified). I also worked in Mental Health Case Management for a few years. Not including my previous various community volunteering prior to arriving in Fort McMurray, my volunteering and community activities in Fort McMurray are but not limited to:
These experiences have given me the opportunity to connect with citizens in the region, I have also been able further develop community building, collaboration, and negotiations with a focus on what’s best for the people. What is your community passion/interest and priorities?
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Lance Bussieres |
Born and raised in Fort McMurray, Councillor Bussieres has been a proud community member for his entire life. Lance is humbled and honoured to have been elected by residents to Council for a second term after previously serving as a Ward 1 Councillor from 2013 to 2017.
Married to his wife Kelly for 26 years and father to Mitchell, Jacob and Blake, Lance believes in community service that is rooted in family and taking care of those that call this place home.
Lance has been a practicing Real Estate Sales Agent in Fort McMurray since 1991 and in addition to his term on Council, has contributed to the success of the community by serving in various volunteer capacities including the Board of Directors for MacDonald Island Park (now the Regional Recreation Corporation of Wood Buffalo), Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fort McMurray Oil Barons and the Fort McMurray Real Estate Board.
Holding a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Calgary, you can often find Lance supporting the local community sports scene or taking the field himself – whether it’s at the Fort McMurray Oilsands Curling Club, playing or coaching softball, teeing off at one of our golf courses or lacing up the skates at one of our rinks.
Lance is dedicated to making the region a place we are all truly proud to call home and it is imperative that residents benefit from his service on Council. As priorities, Lance is focused on core service delivery, downtown development and local business advocacy, advancing equity and inclusion and supporting our people.
Councillor Bussieres currently represents Council on the Fort McMurray Airport Authority, the Public Art Committee and the Downtown Revitalization Committee.
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M. Shafiq Dogar |
A business man (trucker), I am an avid community advocate. I have volunteered for many social profits, organizations and campaigns like the Golden Years Society, RMWB’s Community Clean-up, the SPCA, the Soup Kitchen, and Western Canada Summer Games 2015, to name a few. These efforts were recognized when I was named one of the winners of the 2018 Citizen Recognition Program – Mayor and Council Toast of Champions. I am also a member of the Royal Canadian Legion. Additionally, I took the initiative to voluntarily assist with the 2016 wildfire efforts and visited evacuation centres across Alberta in Lac La Biche, Edmonton and Calgary to offer support. I was awarded the Heroes of the Wildfire 2016 Medal for this and was a recipient of MP David Yurdiga’s Parliament Insignia for volunteering during the wildfires.
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Allan Grandison |
In the 1980’s he was the band manager of Fort McKay First Nations. This was a tremendous experience that allowed him to understand the challenges in maintaining indigenous culture, sense of community and re-establishing relationships and trust.
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Keith McGrath |
“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. He went on to have a storied three-decade career in mining, construction and the oil sands. The rest is history, they say. Keith is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the NOHA Group, where he fosters relationships with Indigenous communities across Wood Buffalo and from Labrador to Kitimat and all points in between. In his role, he is humbled and honoured to form partnerships and agreements that will positively impact Indigenous communities and social and economic development now and for future generations. 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 served five terms 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.” 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 passion continues to be 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. First elected in 2013, Keith is now in his third term on Council and is the longest serving Councillor for Ward 1, representing Fort McMurray. Keith is proud to be Council’s current representative on the Community Identification Committee.
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Councillor Profiles – Ward 2
Kendrick Cardinal |
Kendrick was born in Edmonton and raised in Big Point. Kendrick grew up with three brothers, Kirby (who has now passed away), Nathan, Wesley and one sister, Evangeline. He has three kids of his own, Brace, Keannu and Levi. Along with being a Councillor representing Ward 2 for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Kendrick serves on the board for the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation, as President. As Councillor, his priorities include the prosperity, accountability and future health of the region. Kendrick is open about sharing difficult experiences in his like, acknowledging that he made bad choices at a young age which resulted in him being incarcerated until 35, at which point he made some major changes to better his life. Kendrick has undertaken vigorous personal growth and training to help him be an influential leader and has set a personal goal to receive his MBA by age 50. He is an avid fisherman and hunter. He enjoys helping the Elders and youth in the community and loves instilling the passion for sport. He prides himself on being able to support the Elders going out hunting, fishing and enjoying the beauty of nature, acknowledging being out on the land and what it means to indigenous people. Kendrick appreciates how important it is for youth to have somebody to look up to. He loves to bring people together with food, sport, and true honesty with shared values. His main passion is being a steward of the land and animals and protecting mother nature. He believes we all need to do our part, whether it’s picking up garbage or sharing the message of what mother earth really means to us. If there’s one thing he can leave as a message to the people it is: “As long as you stick to it, work together, try harder, and stick to your schedule, I believe that you are able to make a difference in the goals you set by being rigorous, resilient, respectful and humble.”
Email Kendrick.Cardinal@rmwb.ca
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Loretta Waquan |
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Councillor Profile – Ward 3
Stu Wigle |
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Councillor Profile – Ward 4
Stella Lavallee |
My family’s history here spans over 110 years on my paternal side and close to 200 years on my maternal side. Being raised here, I’ve always felt a strong connection to the land, the people, and the stories that have shaped our community. Now I’m raising my own children here, passing on the traditions, values, and love for this place that my ancestors instilled in me. There’s something special about living in a place where the past feels alive in every corner, and I’m proud to be part of that ongoing story. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in a variety of roles that have allowed me to develop a well-rounded skill set — skills that I now bring to my work in municipal government. For the past 20 years, I’ve worked in government and community relations within the oil and gas industry, where I’ve gained invaluable experience in building partnerships, managing stakeholder relations, and advocating for community needs at both local, provincial and national levels. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the challenges that can arise between industries, governments, and the communities they serve. In addition to my work in the private sector, I’ve had the honor of serving as President of the Willow Lake Métis Nation for the past eight years, currently in my third term. In this role, I meet regularly with provincial and federal ministers across various levels of government to advocate for the interests of the Métis community. This leadership position has allowed me to strengthen my skills in negotiation, policy advocacy, and intergovernmental collaboration, which are essential when serving in municipal government. I’ve volunteered and sat on many boards throughout the years; I’ve been recognized for my community involvement by winning the Top 50 under 50 WB Award, McMurray Girl Award, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and most recently the International Stevie Awards, Woman in Business. These awards have reinforced my belief that good leadership is about more than accolades—it’s about making a real, tangible difference in the lives of the people we serve. My goal is to continue fostering a sense of community, inclusivity, and growth, while addressing the needs of every resident. I am committed to making decisions that are rooted in collaboration, transparency, and a deep understanding of the needs of our region. Together, we can continue to build a vibrant, prosperous, and welcoming community for everyone. Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey, my volunteer work, and how these experiences have prepared me to serve in municipal government. I’m excited about the opportunity to work alongside each of you to create positive change in our communities. |