Alberta's Summer Villages Gear Up for a Busy July

It's that time of year when municipal candidates across Alberta begin launching their campaigns ahead of the October general elections. However, for many of Alberta’s Summer Villages, election season is already well underway.

Several Summer Villages are in the midst of their municipal election cycles, with nomination deadlines rapidly approaching and voting already beginning in some communities. Saturday, July 5 marks a particularly important date as nomination periods close in Grandview, Norris Beach, Poplar Bay, Rochon Sands, and White Sands. On the same day, residents in Jarvis Bay, Norglenwold, and Sunbreaker Cove will head to the polls to elect new councils that will guide their communities through the 2025–2029 term.

In Jarvis Bay, current Mayor Julie Maplethorpe and Councillor David Garratt are both seeking re-election, while Deputy Mayor Annabelle Wiseman has announced her retirement from politics. Challenging the incumbents for three available seats are Anglinia Wedderburn and John Cuthbertson. Over in Norglenwold, Mayor Cyril Gurevitch, Deputy Mayor Jeff Ludwik, and Councillor Rod Miller are running for another term. They face competition from Murray Munro and Jamie Willson, with voters choosing three council members for this Sylvan Lake community.

In Sunbreaker Cove, Mayor Jim Willmon and Councillor Michael C. Bruni are also running again, while Councillor Adele Poratto steps down. Bryan Bennett and Kelsey Finch have joined the race, vying for one of the three available council seats.

Ten Summer Villages - so far - will not hold elections, as their councils have been acclaimed. In Argentine Beach, Mayor Lisa Turchansky, Deputy Mayor Tom Bland, and Councillor Sarah Osterhout return for another term. Birchcliff will also see continuity, with Mayor Dufresne, Deputy Mayor Ann Zacharias, and Councillor Jonathan Paulgaard reappointed.

The council of Ghost Lake — Mayor John Walsh, Deputy Mayor Carey Fougere, and Councillor Karen Foundy — will continue unchanged, as will the team in Horseshoe Bay, where Mayor Jonathan Johnston, Garth Dushanek, and Mike Paskah were acclaimed.

Island Lake South residents will once again be represented by Thomas Tarrant, Jim Storoschuk, and Gary Tym. Sunset Beach retains Jon Ethier, Mike Benson, and Brian Benning on council.

The Summer Village of Bondiss has also acclaimed its next council: Mayor April Clark and Deputy Mayor Leah Iwaniuk return, and they are joined by Rebecca Skoreyko, who replaces Larece Habiak.

Some Summer Villages will welcome a mix of returning and new representatives. In West Cove, Wendy Henderson joins incumbents Rob Giebrecht and Christopher Scott Kelly, as outgoing Deputy Mayor Greg Woronuk steps away. Sundance Beach will be represented by returning councillors Brina Waterhouse and Allan Harris, along with newcomer Amy Munro, who fills the seat left by Rich Miller.

At Itaska Beach, Mayor Csilla Fee and Councillor Anne Agnew are back, and Joan Rogers joins council, replacing outgoing Deputy Mayor David Alton. Crystal Springs will see the biggest shift, with Mayor Ian Rawlinson returning as the sole incumbent. He will be joined by newcomers Dwayne Richard Manning and Annalee Butterwick, as Ron LaJeunesse and Margaret Gagnon chose not to seek re-election.

Looking ahead, Saturday, July 12 is another major date in the Summer Village election calendar. Nomination periods will close for Gull Lake, Horseshoe Bay, and Nakamun Park, while Silver Beach and Sundance Beach will head to the polls.

The busiest day of the month comes on July 26, with Betula Beach, Kapasiwin, Lakeview, and Larkspur all wrapping up their nomination periods. Several other villages will open for advance voting or hold elections, including Silver Sands, South Baptiste, and South View.