Alberta's Municipal Leaders Gear Up for FCM Board Elections

The upcoming annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is set to take place in Calgary, Alberta from June 6th to June 9th.

During the three-day event, a new board of Directors and table officers will be elected to guide the organization through the coming year, with each province selecting board members to represent their municipalities.

In Alberta, the municipal landscape on the FCM Board will see some changes - particularly for the Urban representatives.

Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton, St. Alberta Mayor and Past President of Alberta Municipalities Catherine Heron, Red Deer Councillor Lawrence Lee, and Councillor for Lac La Biche County Charlyn Moore are the four candidates running for 2 urban representative positions on the FCM Board.

The two current urban representatives Mayor Mike Yargeau of Penhold, and Councillor Katie Berghofer of Strathcona County have both announced their intentions to stand for 3rd Vice President of the Municipal Organization.

Councillor Neal Comeau, from Sturgeon County, is slated to continue as the rural representative of Alberta on the FCM board. He joined the board in 2023.

Among Alberta's seven board positions on the FCM Board, four are appointed or guaranteed. The two appointed positions are reserved for representatives from the two largest communities in the province, Edmonton and Calgary. Courtney Walcott, a City of Calgary councillor, has been appointed to the board this year. In Edmonton, no candidate's name appears as of publication. Sarah Hamilton, a Councillor from Edmonton served as the appointed Municipal representative from Edmonton over the past year.

The remaining two positions will be occupied by members from FCM's provincial organizations in Alberta: the Association of Alberta Municipalities and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta. Tyler Gandam, President of the Association of Alberta Municipalities, and Paul McLauchlin, President of the Rural Municipalities of Alberta are anticipated to fill those seats. McLauchlin will serve until he steps down from the RMA Presidency later this year. His successor as President will replace him on the FCM Board.

The election will take place on June 9 with only members the Alberta delegations to FCM being able to vote.